Where to go abroad in winter?

Winter is not an excuse to sit at home. This is a great opportunity for bus trips in Europe! 

Someone misses warmth and sunshine in winter - that's why they go to southern countries. And for those who want to get into the Christmas atmosphere and go skiing, they travel to the countries of Central and Western Europe. Therefore, here we have collected the best destinations for winter bus trips in Europe. 

Italy

This country attracts tourists with incredible architecture, picturesque nature, high level of service, quality shopping and, of course, unsurpassed Italian cuisine.

Places worth visiting. Florence has a mysterious spirit of the Middle Ages. The building under whose walls Dante wrote the "Divine Comedy" or the workshop where Michelangelo sculpted the statue of David is still preserved here. Pompeii is a perfectly preserved ancient Roman city, whose life was cut short by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican - its interior is decorated with frescoes by Michelangelo. 

Dishes worth tasting. Lasagna is a multi-layer casserole in which sheets of dough, minced meat and bechamel sauce alternate. Ravioli is an "Italian dumpling", a dough dish with a wide variety of fillings: meat, cheese or sweet. Osobuko - prepared from veal shanks, slowly stewed with vegetables, white wine and broth.

Ski Resorts. Alta Valtellina - more than a hundred tracks for beginners and experienced skiers. San Martino di Castrozza is a cozy resort in the heart of the Alps. Bormio - in addition to skiing, has a thermal complex.

France

In the rating of the popularity of tourist destinations, France has the 1st place in the world. It is not in vain - every tourist, whatever his requests, will find something interesting for himself. There are mountains and the sea, picturesque cities and modern resorts. Well, where would you go without famous wine and delicious cuisine?

Places worth visiting. Mont-Saint-Michel - on a rock in the middle of the plain rises a whole city with a monastery, narrow streets and many beautiful places. Lyon - the old city of which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, because this quarter has remained unchanged since the Renaissance.  Loire Valley - this region is filled with many cultural and historical architectural monuments and medieval castles.

Dishes worth tasting. Burgundian-style beef - the meat is stewed in a wine sauce with the addition of garlic, shallots, carrots, mushrooms and spices. Tartar - according to the classic recipe, it is prepared from diced raw beef, egg yolk, shallots, capers, olives, parsley and a mix of sauces. Onion cream vichysoise soup - as a rule, it is cooked in beef broth with spices and cream, often with the addition of white wine.

Ski Resorts. Alpe d'Huez is the largest resort in the French Alps. Mezhev is a prestigious resort with more than a century of history. Port du Soleil is a real ski area near the border with Switzerland.  

Poland

A trip to Poland for Christmas vacation is almost a "home" affair. The closest country to us is geographically and very similar in culture, language and customs.

Places worth visiting. Wroclaw is a charming city with colorful stone houses. Gdansk is the most beautiful city on the sea coast. Warsaw and historical Krakow are the two capitals of Poland, two beautiful cities with completely different characters - they are both worth visiting.

 Ski Resorts. Kaspriv top - for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Bialka Tatsanska – picturesque ski slopes and balneological resort, Krynytsia-Zdroj – a cozy resort in the Tatras with developed infrastructure.

Dishes worth tasting. Bigos is a nutritious dish made from stewed cabbage, meat and sausages. Zhurek is a thick sourdough soup served with a generous portion of smoked sausage and a boiled egg. Flyachki is a spicy soup, which is usually prepared from beef or pork stomach.

Bulgaria

Although this country is associated by many with warm seas and summer vacations, in winter it turns into one of the best places for ski tourism in the Balkans. Also, due to the "off-season" of beach holidays, many people take advantage of lower prices and less occupancy in hotels to explore the cities and culture of Bulgaria.

Ski resorts. Bansko is the most modern in Bulgaria, Pamporovo has many trails of varying difficulty, Borovets is the oldest and most prestigious in the country.

Dishes worth trying: Bob chorba - a spicy tomato-based cheese soup with beans and meat. Kapama is a stew with several types of meat and homemade sausage. Tsatsa is a typical street food of the seaside regions of Bulgaria - fried small sea fish: tulka, capelin, anchovy and hamsa.

Places worth visiting. The Rila Monastery is the main shrine of Bulgaria, located in the mountains not far from the capital Sofia. Veliko Tarnovo is a cozy city, the cultural center of Bulgaria. The fortress and rocks of Belohradchyk are a perfectly preserved structure, the first structures of which were built by the Romans.

Turkey

Turkey is a unique country located in Europe and Asia, so it combines a rich history, cultural heritage and breathtaking natural beauty: sunny beaches of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, majestic Taurus Mountains and impressive ancient architectural monuments.

Ski resorts. Uludag is the most popular resort in the country, Erjies is one of the oldest in the country, Palandoken has a modern, developed infrastructure, and Kartepe is a top resort for beginners.

Dishes worth tasting. Kebab is meat roasted over an open fire. It has many serving options and is usually served with appetizers and sauces. Baklava is a delicate dough with pistachio filling, generously soaked in honey syrup, Midje dolma is mussels in shells, stuffed with rice, nuts, vegetables, dried fruits and spices.

Places worth visiting. Istanbul is a must-have for a visit. A huge metropolis, which during its history managed to change several names and was the capital of four empires: Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman. Cappadocia is a picturesque region with rocky terrain, volcanoes and stone pillars. Pamukkale is a white mountain consisting of white terraces filled with clear water. 

Georgia

Georgians themselves call their country Sakartvelo - the land of the Kartveli. This is a wonderful country for tourism - delicious cuisine, interesting culture, incredible views of the mountains and the sea await you in Georgia. 

Ski resorts. Gudauri - located at an altitude of more than 2000 m, Bakuriani - suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers, Hatsvali - a small resort in Svaneti with the best views, 

Dishes worth trying Khinkali is the pride of Georgian cuisine: a dough inside which is juicy meat and a fragrant broth. Chkmeruli - tender chicken fried to a crust, then stewed in a creamy garlic sauce. Khachapuri in Adjara are open "boats" made of dough, inside which cheese, butter and egg.

Places worth visiting. Tbilisi is the capital and heart of Georgia, a cozy old city with rich architecture and a beautiful river. Batumi is a city on the shores of the Black Sea with an incredible embankment and wide, cozy streets. Mestia is a cozy town hidden among the mountains in the Svaneti region.

Spain

Winter in Spain is usually warm and sunny: in December, January and February, the average temperature in the north and center of the country is +10°C, in the southern regions +20°C, in the mountains up to -10°C, it can be colder at night.

Ski resorts. Sierra Nevada is a developed resort in Andalusia, Baqueira Beret is the largest resort in the Catalan Pyrenees, not far from the French border. La Molina is a resort located in the mountains of the province of Girona at an altitude of 1700/2445 m, near the borders of France and Andorra.

Dishes worth tasting. Paella is a traditional rice dish made with seafood, chicken, rabbit, and there are also vegetarian and vegetable options. Turron - almond nougat, a great option for a nutritious dessert. Sea scallops - they are fried in olive oil with ham, herbs and a drop of brandy, then sprinkled with breadcrumbs and baked.

Places worth visiting. Madrid in winter has a wonderful Christmas atmosphere, fairs and lots of festivities. Seville will surprise you with its heritage that has been preserved for years. If you are a history buff, you should visit this city during your winter vacation. The warmest in Spain in winter is the Canary Islands, where daytime temperatures range from +20°C.

Portugal

An incredible, compact country with a special culture, hospitable people and very tasty wine. Portugal will delight you with affordable housing prices and an incredible ocean.

Beaches that are warm even in winter. Carcavelos is the birthplace of Portuguese surfing. Albufeira is a city near the ocean, surrounded by pine and orange groves that saturate the air with a special aroma. Alvor is a cozy resort where you can rent a yacht, sailboat or catamaran.

Places worth visiting. Lisbon is a city of a mixture of different eras in architecture, culture and cuisine. Cape Rocca is the westernmost point of Eurasia. Madeira is an archipelago of islands in the Atlantic Ocean with a mild maritime climate.

Dishes worth tasting. Pateisha – puff pastry baskets with custard inside. Polvo-a-ragareiro - grilled octopus. The former inhabitant of the depths is generously poured with olive oil, onions and garlic are added and baked with vegetables.  Cataplana - stew with fish, mussels, shrimp, octopus and vegetables. 

Winter is a great time to travel Europe by bus. At this time, you can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and the fabulous snowy nature. And in southern countries - even without crowds of tourists and for less money!