Spain’s climate varies from temperate in the north to dry and hot in the south. Winters in Spain are cold with the average temperature being 15 & 30C.

December to February is the coldest months. Best places to visit at this time are Costa del Sol, Balearic and Canary Islands. Airfare and hotel accommodation (especially in the Costa del Sol) is relatively cheaper and the crowds are less at this time. For shoppers, it is the best time as sales start in the first week of January. Eating twelve grapes at Puerta del Sol on New Year’s Eve and the Cabalgata (the Magi Kings Parade) on January 5 are much awaited events.

Food lovers can enjoy eating traditional sweets such as Turron and Marzipan. You can enjoy winter sports and the cities are livelier! For skiing, Pyrenees (with ski resorts stretching all along the border with France) and Sierra Nevada are great options. Catalonia is a top bird-watching place as you enjoy a walk through the Garraf National Park. Spring is an ideal time to visit the central regions of Castilla as well as Andalucia, the Mediterreanean Coast and the Balearic Islands.

You can watch the colorful St.Joseph’s Day celebrations at this time. Summer is hot with average maximum temperature being 20 & 40C. The northern regions of Spain are good places to visit at this time. You can undertake the medieval pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela during June and early August. August is also the perfect time to laze at the beach. September is still warm but October is cooler. Do carry light-medium weight clothes and rain wear, according to the season. Winters in Spain are the best months to explore the beauty of the country. So if you are planning a European vacation this time, Spain is a highly recommended destination!

Disfrute de sus vacaciones!

Winters in Italy are accompanied by cold, rains and snow. Winters in the northern regions of Italy and in the Po valley are very long and cold. This region experiences fog and snow too. However, due to varied topography, winters are not the same in all parts of the country. Parts of Italy that share their border with Slovenia, France, Austria and Switzerland enjoy warmer winters as compared to other regions of the country despite of the rain. On the other hand the islands in the Italian peninsula experience milder winters and the coastal areas unpredictable patterns of clouds and rains.

Since the overall weather condition in Italy during winter is wet and cloudy, very few visitors prefer visiting Italy during this season. As a result tourists can avail of low travel cost and some entertaining local activities which come to the forefront due to slack in tourism.

Additionally, winters in Italy does not change the flavor of Italian food, so planning a cooking tour during winter would be perfect. There is nothing comparable to learning Italian dishes from a native master chef. To participate in winter sports visit Dolomites and visit the Italian Alps to go skiing.