Long European Winter Weekends: Ski & The Northern Lights

Winter is wonderful. Layered up like an onion for the great outdoors and then layers off for a spot by a fire.

The season brings with it snow and so the opportunity to hit the slopes. In the Arctic Circle, Winter brings with it almost entire days of darkness and so the chance to see the Northern Lights. If time is not on your side but you got a snow angel itch you got to scratch, scroll for whistle-stop inspiration.

Megeve, France

A mountain resort with swag, Megeve has a reputation as high end and cool thanks to the Rothschild familys appearance in the early 1900s. The village centre is charming and picturesque complete with a 13th century church tower. Now the tourist board is heralding the destination as ‘foodie’ so bare that in mind when you are packing your salopettes

FAST FACTS

  • 70 minutes drive from Geneva

  • 400km of slopes

  • 3 Day Ski Pass: €180 per adult

BEST HOTELS IN MEGEVE

Alpaga from £450 a night B&B

Flocons de Sel from £300 a night B&B

Hotel Coeur de Megeve from £200 a night B&B

Tromso, Norwegian Arctic

Located in the Arctic Circle, Tromso is the type of place people probably shouldn’t be. Yet 80,000 people do live here. In summer the sun does not set and come winter the Northern Lights dance in the sky whilst migratory whales swim the fjords.

Reindeers, floating saunas and a Troll Museum dedicated to Norse fairytale and mythology are all on offer alongside cinnamon buns and lingonberry juice.

Stay in the city centre if you want restaurants and nightlife or get out into the wilds if you want Northern Lights from your bedroom window, hiking and extraordinary scenery.

GETTING THERE

Wizz Air flies directly to Tromso from Luton :( Get a seat on the left hand side of the plane if you are arriving in the dark for Northern Lights spotting oppertunities before you touch down.

BEST HOTELS IN & AROUND TROMSO

MOXY Tromso, from £180 a night B&B

Sommarøy Arctic Hotel (1 hour drive from Tromso) from £120 a night B&B

Hamn i Senja (3 hour drive from Tromso) from £120 a night B&B

Courmayeur

Skiing in this corner of Italy affords you views of not just Mont Blanc but also the Matterhorn. There are ski runs for all levels and tiramisu for all at the end of the day. The town itself is build fit for a novel with cobbled streets and chocolate box shops housing boutiques and high end. Simply put, it is mountain dolce vitae.

FAST FACTS

  • 1 hour 45 minutes drive from Geneva / Turin

  • 3 Day Ski Pass: €234 per adult

BEST HOTELS IN COURMAYEUR

Le Massif, from £200 a night B&B

Mont Blanc Relais & SPA from £220 a night B&B

Auberge de la Maison, from £340 a night B&B

Venice Carnival

Tobogganing, snow ball fights and vodka luges - that’s right its Venice Carnival!! Clearly not a snow destination but a worthy long winter weekend taking place two weeks prior to Shrove Tuesday, the Venice Carnival is something to behold.

Elaborate customs and masks adorn beautiful people who grace the streets and gondolas as they travel from party to soiree and luncheon.

GETTING THERE

Fly to Venice and then either take the slow and clumbersome public water taxi in or hop on the train or bus which is quicker and cheaper albeit less romantic. Although take it from me the public water taxi is not either.

BEST HOTELS

Cima Rosa, from £155 a night B&B

Il Palazzo Experimental, from £240 a night B&B

Venice Venice Hotel, from £500 a night B&B