There is now only one month until Christmas, and many people have started to get their decorations out, put their trees up and are frantically deciding on which presents to buy.
However, this also means there is still time for a holiday or a quick weekend abroad over the winter, and now is often the cheapest time to travel across Europe as the tourist season is now over.
On social media, Italy has been named the best country to travel to in the colder seasons after one person posted to Reddit to say they were looking for somewhere easy to get to, cheap, and with lots of good beer.
The top-voted comment to the forum was a resounding vote for Italy. The comment said: “It’s far, far less crowded and you see actual Italians doing Italian things instead of just tourists everywhere. Yes, you’ll need to bring a jacket and a scarf, but it’s a pretty mild winter.”
Not only are the weather temperatures much warmer than in most European countries, but it is very varied depending on if you are visiting either the north, where the average temperatures will be around 0C to 7C but in the south the temperature can go as high as 15C in winter.
The warmest place in Italy in winter is likely to be Sicily, known for its rich history with ancient landmarks like Motya, but is also known for its unique Baroque architecture and delicious food.
The biggest benefit of visiting Italy now in November or December is also the lack of crowds, which means you can peacefully visit some beautiful landmarks that are usually overrun with tourists.
According to CNN, Venice has been voted as one European that is “even more charming” to visit in the wintertime and gives you an even more unique experience when visiting during its off-peak season.
CNN wrote: “Come wintertime, the city actually lives up to its La Serenissima (“The Serene”) nickname. The canals are quiet and shrouded in mist, hotels give discounted rates, and you can actually visit St Mark’s Basilica without a stranger’s selfie stick poking you in the eye.”
You can explore Venice at your own leisure without tourists making it a rushed or claustrophobic experience. Grab a hot chocolate and coffee from a local shop and have fun exploring the city’s canals, and bridges or even take a ride in a gondola.
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Italy also has several festivals in the run-up until Christmas. The holidays begin on December 8 with the Feast of Immaculate Conception, in which a huge Christmas tree will be lit up in Rome and there will be feasts, parades, bonfires and other fun activities depending on where you are.
There will be incredible light displays and Christmas markets popping up all over Italy where the celebrations typically end on January 6 the following year on Three King’s Day, which means you visit anytime in December for a festive time.
According to Etiasitaly, November and December also tend to the the cheapest and “best time” to visit Italy due to it being off-season, and they recommend visiting from November 1 to December 14, but you can also get cheap deals from December 24 to March 31.
They wrote: “In addition to cheaper flights and rooms, you will be able to find plenty of discount rates for guided tours – a highly recommended activity, especially for cities rich in Italian art history such as Florence.
“During the off-season, you can find the best deals at companies that sell tour packages from street booths or local offices, so avoid the temptation to book online in advance.”
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