The best city breaks in Europe in December

Lisbon has the warmest December days on the list, 60°F (15.7°C), with lows of 50°F (10°C) and 7.4 hours of sunshine, a weather score of 8.3. Its Snack Score, 7.7, includes a hedge for the hills and a day split between Belém and the old town. Winter shortens the castle: São Jorge opens 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November to February, last entry 5:30 p.m., so the Santa Luzia terrace at dusk comes straight after. The castle is closed on December 24, 25 and 31, and Jerónimos on December 25. A Baixa room was $89 (£67) on our January Friday.

Barcelona has the best December weather score of the ten, 8.8: highs of 59°F (15°C), only 5.2 rainy days and 7.5 hours of sunshine. It is second because its Snack Score, 7.3, is the lowest here, held down by a cost factor of 5.1 and the timed tickets the Gaudí interiors need. Check the holiday hours: the Sagrada Família opens only 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on December 25 and 26. The Aerobús reaches Plaça Catalunya in about 35 minutes for $8.70 (£6.50; €7.75). The city had not published its 2026 Christmas program when we checked.

Rome is third on 7.70, with highs of 56°F (13.6°C), 10.5 rainy days and editors' marks of 10 for sights and 9 for food. December's short light shapes the plan: the Colosseum's last entry is 3:30 p.m. through February, so start there at 10:30 a.m. with a booked slot, $20 (£15.10; €18). The park is closed on December 25, and so is the Pantheon. A room by the Spanish Steps was $111 (£83) on our January Friday, and the one-night cost, $119 (£89), is the second highest of the ten.

London is fourth on 6.84, more than eight tenths behind Rome. Its December weather score, 4.1, with 3.4 hours of sunshine, gets the full market point from Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, open until January 3, 2027 with timed entry. What puts London ahead of the rest of the north is its Snack Score, 8.0, built on 10s for sights and after dark. Borough Market is closed on Mondays, and the Abbey admits sightseers only until 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The Elizabeth line from Heathrow takes 32 minutes. Travelers on US passports need a UK ETA, $27 (£20).

Prague is the top market city after London, on 6.40, and its markets close latest: the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets stay open until January 6, 2027, daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. December is cold, 41°F (4.8°C) by day and 31°F (-0.3°C) at night, a weather score of 3.0 before the bonus. Do the castle first, since the buildings close at 4 p.m., and the market after dark. Trolleybus 59 and metro line A cost $2.30 (£1.70; CZK 50) from the airport, about 35 minutes.

Kraków is sixth on 6.34. It has the coldest December on the list, 39°F (4°C) by day and 30°F (-1.3°C) at night, a weather score of 2.1, and the market point lifts it. No 2026 dates for the Main Square market were out when we checked on October 21; the 2025 edition ran until January 1. Plan around the holidays: Wawel is closed December 24 to 26 and on December 31. It is still the cheapest night here, $50 (£37). At the market, the snack is grilled oscypek cheese with hot wine.

Vienna is seventh on 6.30. Its Rathausplatz market closes on December 26, 2026, and at 6:30 p.m. on December 24, so a trip after Christmas finds the ice rink beside it, open until January 6, but not the stalls. December is near freezing, 41°F (5.1°C) by day and 32°F (-0.2°C) at night. Rooms stay cheap in season: $71 (£53) in the central districts on our January Friday. In winter the plan does Schönbrunn first thing, $34 (£25; €30), and keeps the Kunsthistorisches Museum for the afternoon, because the palace closes earlier.

Bath is eighth on 6.24, and its market is the first on the list to close, on December 13, 2026, so it only helps a trip in the first half of the month. Bath has the most rainy days of the ten in December, 14.3. The plan barely notices: the Roman Baths, the Guildhall Market and the spa are all under a roof, and the rooftop pool is warm. Dinner is the set menu at Sally Lunn's, $27 (£19.95), before a 7 p.m. spa session. The Roman Baths close on December 25 and 26. GWR takes 73 minutes from Paddington.

Paris is ninth on 6.20 and the only city from fourth place down without a market point. Before that point, its December weather score of 3.8 beats Prague, Kraków, Vienna, Bath and York, with highs of 47°F (8.5°C) and 12.8 rainy days. The Louvre is closed on December 25, and Eiffel Tower fares change on January 11, 2027. A central room was $96 (£72) on our January Friday, and the RER B from Charles de Gaulle takes about 35 minutes for $15.70 (£11.80; €14). Eurostar is 136 minutes from St Pancras.

York closes the list on 6.16, with the least sunshine of the ten, 3.0 hours a day, and highs of 46°F (8°C). Its market on Parliament Street runs until December 21, 2026, closed on Tuesdays. On a short day, walk the walls before lunch. York Minster, $27 (£20), opens for sightseeing 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday but only 12:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Bettys in St Helen's Square stays open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. A room inside the walls was $62 (£46) on our January Friday.