Winter Trips

The Belfry of Bruges tower and ornate Gothic buildings in the main market square of Bruges, Belgium, under a cloudy sky with market stalls and flagpoles in the foreground.

Celebrate Christmas in Bruges: 15 Memorable Reasons to Visit

Why visit the quaint Belgian city of Bruges (also known as Brugge) for Christmas? There are so many reasons to spend Christmas in Belgium. Bruges…

Waterfront view in Nice, France on New Year's Eve

How to Have an Unforgettable New Year’s Eve in Nice (7 day itinerary)

Looking for ideas of where to ring in the New Year in style? Let’s go to Nice, France! This charming city on the French Riviera…

Colorful light projections on the Landesmuseum building facade during the Illuminarium Zurich winter festival.

Things to Do in Zurich in Winter: 38 Ideas for Your Trip

Are there things to do in Zurich in winter? That’s what I aimed to find out when I visited Switzerland for business in the middle…

A scenic view of the Reuss River in Lucerne, with a weir in the foreground where water rushes over. On the far bank, colorful traditional buildings with gabled roofs are reflected in the water. A bridge and the Jesuit Church with its two domed towers are in the background.

Winter in Lucerne: From Work to Weekend

Many people would see a business trip to Zurich in the middle of winter as an inconvenience; hibernating in the hotel and only emerging into…

The towers of the large, pink Mainz Cathedral stand tall against a blue sky, framed by trees and lights from the Christmas market below.

18 Things to Do in Mainz: Your Ultimate Guide to a Winter Workcation

Workcations have become the hot trend of the 2020s! What is a workcation? Instead of taking vacation time to explore a new place, why not…

The medieval stone walls of Mourão Castle (Castelo de Mourão) overlooking the Alqueva Lake and the rural landscape of the Alentejo region in Portugal.

Drive Alentejo and Alqueva Lake for A Memorable Road Trip in Portugal

Alentejo is the largest wine-producing region in Portugal. Tucked away in the far eastern corner of Alentejo near the border with Spain, nearly due east…

Historic architecture in Badajoz city center, showing a decorative carved wooden entrance with coat of arms details and traditional Spanish craftsmanship.

Is Badajoz Worth Visiting on a Trip to Spain?

Badajoz is a Spanish city that is home to approximately 150,000 people. Located in Extremadura near the Portuguese border, Badajoz may not be a well-known…

A panoramic cityscape of Lisbon, Portugal, viewed from an elevated vantage point. The foreground and middle ground are filled with a dense cluster of traditional buildings with terracotta tiled roofs and colorful facades in shades of white, cream, pink, and yellow. A prominent building in the lower center features a blue-tiled facade and laundry hanging from its windows. In the background, the white twin towers and dome of the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora rise above the rooftops against a clear blue sky with scattered clouds. To the right, a yellow construction crane stands near the edge of the Tagus River, which stretches across the horizon. The scene is bathed in bright, warm daylight.

Lisbon in January: 29 Fun Things to See, Do & Eat

Are you wondering what it’s like to visit Lisbon in January? We moved to Lisbon in 2022 and have had the good fortune to experience…

The exterior of Devitt's Lounge Bar at night, covered in a wall of fairy lights and featuring a sign that reads: "Christmas Time Is Guinness Time."

Dublin in December: 11 Fun Things to See, Do & Eat

Are you wondering what it’s like to visit Dublin in December? I lived my expat life in Ireland for 12 years, close to Dublin City Centre…

A large, glazed ceramic sculpture of a yellow and black grasshopper sits nestled in a manicured green hedge in the foreground. In the background, a weathered white stone wall features the green lettering "JARDIM BORDALLO PINHEIRO" and a blue and white tiled circular emblem. Behind the wall, a tall, slender green cypress tree stands next to a white flag against a clear, bright blue sky. To the left, a portion of a white building with a black wrought-iron balcony and a traditional window is visible.

Lisbon in February: 44 Fun Things to See, Do & Eat

Are you wondering what it’s like to visit Lisbon in February? We moved to Lisbon in 2022 and have had the good fortune to experience…

A line of historic, colorful houses in Copenhagen, Denmark, on a gloomy winter day, featuring a red building, a dark pink building, and a bright orange-yellow building with white-framed windows. In the foreground is a wet, cobblestone square with a small, tiered bronze fountain.

Cool Things to do in Copenhagen in Winter

Discover the magic of Copenhagen in winter! From historic streets to cozy cafés and incredible day trips, find out how to make the most of…