Olivia Simpson

It’s officially winter. There’s no denying it. It was only Halloween a second ago and now we seem to be hurtling ever closer to Christmas. But don’t let it feel like Christmas is the only thing going for this time of year – there’s plenty of time for nesting in December. In our opinion, this is the perfect time for a holiday. After all, European breaks weren’t all they cracked up to be this summer, marked by heatwaves and overtourism. So we’d go as far as to argue that a ton of the most well-loved holiday hotspots are even better in winter, when summer destinations lose their throngs of tourists, and cosy breaks get even cosier. On our list of the best winter destinations in Europe, we’ve got everything from Italian foodie breaks to the official home of Santa Claus. Here are our favourite spots in Europe for winter to embrace the cold for 2024. RECOMMENDED:⛲️ The most underrated destinations in Europe⛷️ The most affordable ski holidays in Europe🏞 The most beautiful places in Europe⛄ The world’s best Christmas destinations🏔️ The best places to travel in December, January and February Ella Doyle is Time Out’s guides editor. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Everyone should visit Barcelona at least once. Everyone. No excuses. The Catalan capital is a bustling city that lives up to its reputation, a thriving cultural centre with brilliant museums, magnificent restaurants and a club scene to go all night.  Barcelona is brilliant, bombastic, and bloomin’ marvellous. And what are the best things to do while you’re here? We’re glad you asked, because we’ve done the hard yards and put together the ultimate Barna bucket list. You can’t go wrong with this place. Here are its best things to do right now.  RECOMMENDED: 🥘 The best restaurants in Barcelona🍸 The best bars in Barcelona📍 The best attractions in Barcelona🏨 The best hotels in Barcelona Maria Jose Gomez is the Time Out Barcelona editor. This piece was written by the editorial team. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Vegetarian food has come a long way in recent years, shaking off the old associations of plain boiled vegetables, bland tofu and sad omelettes served with a measly mixed salad. Even Lisbon, famed for its seafood and sandwiches stuffed with pork or beef, has taken note. The Portuguese capital has seen a tremendous uptick in restaurants with meat-free menus, and even the most meat-centric spots now have better veggie options. From hearty Indian buffet food to swanky Michelin-starred fare, there’s a vegetarian restaurant in Lisbon to suit every palate and budget. Here’s our guide to the very best of them.RECOMMENDED:🎭 The best things to do in Lisbon🪩 The best clubs in Lisbon🍴 The best restaurants in Lisbon🍹 The best rooftop bars in Lisbon⭐️ The best Michelin-starred restaurants in LisbonThis guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Lisbon. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

With its colourful buildings, tiled houses, and alleys that wind up steep hills before opening onto viewpoints overlooking the Tagus, Alfama is one of the most picturesque districts in Lisbon. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s popular with tourists, but there are still some under-the-radar places waiting to be discovered. That’s where our team of local editors come in. They’ve put together a list of the very best things to see, eat and do in Alfama, from the classic (trying traditional goods at a pastry shop, or even getting a haircut at an old-fashioned barbershop) to the modern (sipping Copenhagen-style coffee or checking into one of the areas best hotels). RECOMMENDED:🍴 The best restaurants in Lisbon🍸 The best rooftop bars in Lisbon🎵 The best places to listen to fado in Lisbon🛍️ The best shops in Lisbon🎷 The best jazz clubs in Lisbon

Almost 15 years have passed since fado – a traditional Portuguese musical style that is known for its mournful, expressive sound – was included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. Long before this recognition came, the genre and its stars were already beloved by the many fans who filled concert halls and venues worldwide. Fado has evolved with new styles and influences over the years, but one thing hasn’t changed: it can still be enjoyed at restaurants, tascas (taverns) and multipurpose venues across Lisbon. While catching a fado performance is now a staple on visitors’ Lisbon to-do lists, there are still a few spots that remain off the tourist trail. In this list, our Lisbon editors share the very best places to hear fado, whether sung by professionals or amateurs (fado vadio). RECOMMENDED:🏠 The best restaurants in Lisbon🎭 The best things to do in Lisbon🪩 The best clubs in Lisbon🛍️ The best shops in Lisbon This guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Lisbon. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

There’s no shortage of places to take in the amazing views in Lisbon (check out our guide to the city’s best viewpoints), but let’s be honest – wouldn’t you rather soak up those vistas with a drink in your hand? If the answer is a resounding yes, then this list is for you. From hotel bars with an epic pool to the trendiest car park in the city, there’s something to suit any taste. What better way to relax after a long day – whether you’ve spent it exploring the best of the city or working away at your computer screen – than taking in sunset views at the best-situated bars in the city?  RECOMMENDED: 🍴 The best restaurants in Lisbon🏠 The best Airbnbs in Lisbon🎭 The best things to do in Lisbon🛍️ The best shops in Lisbon🎷 The best places to listen to jazz in Lisbon This guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Lisbon. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.    

Winding streets, epic viewpoints, a riverside that’s perfect for a leisurely stroll: you could spend every second of your time in Lisbon just ambling around. But if you fancy getting some culture, Lisbon’s excellent museums have plenty to offer you. Our list, put together by local editors, has all the must-see spots as well as some more niche collections that often go overlooked. Fancy being dazzled by the royal jewels? Head to Museu do Tesouro Real. Want something more cutting-edge? The MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) is the place for you (we recommend planning this as your last stop for the day – it also happens to be a great place to watch the sunset).RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Lisbon🎭 The best attractions in Lisbon 🍷 The best wine tours in Lisbon 🏨 The coolest hotels in Lisbon This article was written by the editorial team at Time Out Lisbon. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

  Before reading this list, you should know it’s not set in stone – Lisbon is constantly changing, as are its attractions. Use this list not as a definitive guide, but as a snapshot of some of the best things the Portuguese capital has to offer. When it comes time to explore Lisbon, make sure to wear comfortable shoes, pop a bottle of water in your bag, fuel yourself with one of Lisbon’s best brunches, and get ready to explore some of the best of what the city has to offer, from the iconic Belém Tower to the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, from luxury shopping centre Loja das Meias to second-hand market Feira da Ladra.RECOMMENDED: 🏠 The best Airbnbs in Lisbon🎭 The best things to do in Lisbon🪩 The best clubs in Lisbon🛍️ The best shops in Lisbon This guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Lisbon. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Picture the scene: relaxed after a day spent exploring a new city, a delicious dinner under your belt (followed up by a couple of cocktails, naturally), you decide on a whim that you’re just not done with your night yet. But if you’re overwhelmed by choice, don’t panic: that’s where we come in. Our list of the city’s best clubs, written by our local editors, has all the info you need. Whether you want iconic dancefloors like LuxFrágil or Ministerium, one of the city’s impressive and exuberant LGBTQ+ clubs, or one of the many very late-night spots, you’ll find an option to suit you on this list. Then, when you need a little TLC the next morning, why not treat yourself to brunch at one of Lisbon’s best brunch spots? Don’t say we’re not good to you. RECOMMENDED: 🍴 The best restaurants in Lisbon🏠 The best Airbnbs in Lisbon🎭 The best things to do in Lisbon🍷 The best wine tours in Lisbon🏨 The best hotels in LisbonThis guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Lisbon. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Lisbon’s music scene is thriving: if you want something traditional, there are wonderful fado bars; if you want a big night, Lisbon’s best clubs have something to suit every taste; and if you want something a little more sophisticated, the city’s jazz bars have just what you’re looking for. That’s not to say that all of the jazz bars on this list are genteel spots where people sip martinis and quietly nod along to the music. Our team of local editors have rounded up quite the range of jazz locales: there’s Pensão Amor, with its storied history; there’s wine and cocktail specialists, Bacchanal; and there are cultural centres, like Fábrica de Braço de Prata, which host jazz nights amongst the varied programming. With such a mix of places, even the jazz-adverse are sure to be won over. RECOMMENDED: 🍴 The best restaurants in Lisbon🏠 The best Airbnbs in Lisbon🎭 The best things to do in Lisbon🛍️ The best shops in Lisbon🏨 The best hotels in Lisbon This guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Lisbon. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

There’s something special about eating seafood on a sunny summer’s day, especially after a dip in the sea, but no matter when you’re visiting Lisbon, it would be a mistake not to try the city’s seafood offering – after all, it’s right on the coast, so fresh, diverse seafood is easy to come by. Our Lisbon editors have selected the very best seafood restaurants in Lisbon and the surrounding areas for this list, including true institutions, reinvented classics, and fresh new spots. The best approach is to pick a place, peruse the menu, grab a bib – better to be safe than stained and sorry – and dive in. Finish it all off with a lemon-scented wipe, a prego do lombo (a steak sandwich, which the Portuguese traditionally eat after seafood), and an ice-cold beer.  RECOMMENDED: 🍴 The best restaurants in Lisbon🏠 The best Airbnbs in Lisbon🎭 The best things to do in Lisbon🛍️ The best shops in Lisbon🎷 The best places to listen to jazz in Lisbon This guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Lisbon. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  

Paris is home to the world’s most recognisable smile (well, smirk), but there’s much more to the City of Light's museum offering than just Mona Lisa’s grin. And sure, you have to explore the Louvre's sprawling collection at least once, but that shouldn't mean missing out on the rest of the great museums Paris has to offer. While there is still progress to be made around the promotion of young artists, when it comes to heritage, Paris knows what it’s doing: you’ll find over 100 museums that reflect this city’s obsession with artistic preservation. Below, you’ll see names you recognise, like the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, as well as smaller, more daring institutions that you’ve yet to discover. Time to get cultured à la française. When’s the best day to visit a museum in Paris? Some of the city’s biggest museums open their doors for free on the first Sunday of every month, including the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, as well as some of the less obvious options, such as the Musée National Gustave Moreau, the former home and museum of the Symbolist painter. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Paris 🍴 The best restaurants in Paris🎨 The best art galleries in Paris🏡 The best Airbnbs in Paris This article was written by the editorial team at Time Out Paris. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influenc