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There's a moment every Israeli knows. It's late December, the rain hasn't stopped for three days, and you're scrolling through Instagram watching friends post photos from snowy European squares with cups of mulled wine. The FOMO is real, and honestly? It's justified.

Europe in winter is a different continent. The summer crowds disappear, prices drop, and cities that felt like tourist theme parks in August become actual living places. Christmas markets light up medieval squares, thermal baths steam in the cold air, and there's something deeply satisfying about walking into a warm café after hours in the freezing cold.

We looked at flight data from Ben Gurion over the past month to see where Israelis are actually going — and talked to travelers who just came back. Here's what's worth your time and money this winter.

Prague: The Fairytale That Lives Up to the Hype

Let's start with the obvious choice. Prague has become almost a cliché for Israeli winter travelers, and there's a reason for that — it delivers exactly what it promises.

The Old Town Square in December looks like someone designed it specifically for Instagram. Gothic spires, baroque churches, a massive Christmas tree, and wooden market stalls selling everything from hand-painted ornaments to increasingly creative versions of trdelník (the spiral pastry you'll see everywhere). The astronomical clock chimes every hour, tourists gather, and yes, it's touristy — but it's touristy because it's genuinely beautiful.

What most guides won't tell you: skip the Old Town Square market for actual shopping. It's overpriced and the quality is mediocre. Instead, walk 15 minutes to the Náměstí Míru market in Vinohrady.

The real Prague magic happens after dark. Cross Charles Bridge when the lamplights reflect on the Vltava river. Get lost in Malá Strana's narrow streets. Find a wine bar in a medieval cellar — there are dozens, and most are better than anything in the main tourist areas.

Budget tip: Prague is still affordable, but it's not the "cheap Eastern Europe" it was ten years ago. Expect to pay €15-20 for a decent dinner, €4-5 for a beer in tourist areas (half that in local pubs). Hotels in Old Town are expensive in December — consider staying in Žižkov or Vinohrady, both a short tram ride away and significantly cheaper.

Flight time from TLV: 3 hours 20 minutes
Weather: Cold. Really cold. Average highs around 3°C, often below freezing. Pack properly.

Budapest: The Underrated Champion

If Prague is the popular kid everyone knows about, Budapest is the cooler friend who doesn't try as hard but somehow ends up being more interesting.

Hungary's capital is divided by the Danube into Buda (hilly, historic, quieter) and Pest (flat, vibrant, where the action is). The Christmas market at Vörösmarty Square has won "Best in Europe" multiple times, and unlike some overhyped attractions, it deserves the title. The kürtőskalács (chimney cake) here is better than the Czech version, fight me.

But here's what makes Budapest special in winter: thermal baths.

The city sits on over 120 natural hot springs, and Budapestians have been soaking in thermal waters since the Roman era. After a day walking in the cold, sinking into 38-degree water at Széchenyi Baths while steam rises around you and snow falls on your head — that's an experience you don't forget.

Széchenyi is the famous one, the yellow neo-baroque palace with the outdoor pools you've seen in every Budapest photo. For something more local, try Rudas Baths — Ottoman-era, recently renovated, with a rooftop pool overlooking the Danube.

The food scene has exploded in recent years. Forget the tourist-trap "Hungarian goulash" restaurants in the center. Head to the Jewish Quarter for the best options:

Kőleves — modern Hungarian
Mazel Tov — incredible hummus in a beautiful greenhouse setting
Szimpla Kert — the original ruin bar, Sunday morning farmers market inside
Flight time from TLV: 2 hours 50 minutes
Weather: Similar to Prague, highs around 3-5°C. The baths help.

Vienna: When You Want to Feel Fancy

Vienna is for when you want Europe to feel elegant. The coffee houses are institutions, the museums are world-class, and even the McDonald's looks like it belongs in a palace.

This is not a budget destination. Vienna is expensive, and it doesn't apologize for it. But there's something to be said for a city that takes quality seriously. The Sachertorte at Hotel Sacher is €8 a slice, but it's also legitimately the best chocolate cake you'll ever eat. The standing-room tickets at the Vienna State Opera are €15 and let you experience one of the world's great opera houses without destroying your budget.

Winter in Vienna means Christmas markets — plural. There are over 20 across the city:

Rathausplatz — biggest and most commercial
Schönbrunn Palace — prettier but further out
Spittelberg — best for actual shopping, mixed with art galleries

For a day trip, Salzburg is 2.5 hours by train — Mozart's birthplace, "The Sound of Music" filming locations, and an old town that's UNESCO-protected for good reason.

Flight time from TLV: 3 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Cold and often grey, 0-4°C. Dress in layers.

Barcelona: Winter Sun Without the Summer Crowds

Not everyone wants cold. If you're escaping Israeli winter rain just to stand in European winter rain, you're doing it wrong.

Barcelona in December averages 14°C. That's jacket weather, not freezing. The beaches are empty, La Rambla is walkable, and restaurant reservations that were impossible in August are available same-day.

The city feels different in winter. More local, less frantic. The tapas bars are full of Catalans, not tourists. You can actually appreciate Gaudí's architecture without being pushed by crowds.

Christmas in Barcelona has its own traditions. The main one is the caganer — a figurine of a person defecating that Catalans hide in their nativity scenes. Yes, really. You'll find caganers of politicians, celebrities, and football players at the Santa Llúcia market. It's weird and charming and very Catalan.

Where to eat:

Skip anything on La Rambla
Gràcia and Poble Sec — best value neighborhoods
El Xampanyet in El Born — cava and anchovies
Bar Cañete — exceptional quality, higher price
Flight time from TLV: 4 hours 15 minutes
Weather: Mild, 10-15°C. Rain is possible but not constant.

Krakow: The Emerging Favorite

Polish cities have been quietly rising on the Israeli travel radar, and Krakow deserves the attention.

The main square (Rynek Główny) is one of Europe's largest medieval squares, and the Christmas market that fills it is magical without being as crowded as Prague or Vienna. The prices are genuinely low — a full meal with drinks for under €15 is normal, not a budget hack.

The elephant in the room: Auschwitz is an hour away. Most Israeli travelers will visit, and should. It's not a pleasant experience, but it's an important one. Book the official guided tour in advance, and give yourself time afterward — you'll need it.

But Krakow itself is more than a gateway to dark history. The Kazimierz district, the old Jewish quarter, has become the city's trendiest neighborhood. Synagogues and Jewish heritage sites sit alongside hipster cafés and cocktail bars.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is an hour-long tour underground through chambers carved from salt over 700 years. Chapels, chandeliers, statues — all made of salt. Book ahead; tickets sell out.

Flight time from TLV: 3 hours 10 minutes
Weather: Cold, often snowing. -3°C to 2°C in December.

The Practical Stuff

Packing for European Winter

Israelis consistently underpack for cold weather. You need:

A proper winter coat (not the "winter" jacket you wear in Tel Aviv)
Layers (buildings are heated, outside is freezing)
Waterproof shoes
Gloves and hat

Budget Realities 2025

Cheapest: Krakow, Budapest
Mid-range: Prague, Barcelona
Most expensive: Vienna, Paris

Before You Fly

Check your flight status on Wingly's live flight board. Average delay from Ben Gurion is currently around 28 minutes. If you're connecting through European hubs, give yourself adequate layover time — winter weather causes more delays than usual.

Got a winter Europe trip planned? See real-time departures and arrivals from Ben Gurion on our Flights Board.

Escaping to Europe: Where Israelis Are Flying This Winter