Travel with You, Me, Away

Seven romantic winter getaways

A romantic winter trip can mean a snowshoe outing, a museum and dinner, or a few days by a warmer coast. Choose Bath for a rail-and-spa weekend, Stowe for snow activities, or southern Tenerife for a milder beach base. This guide compares trips for December 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027, the Northern Hemisphere meteorological winter. Conditions and opening dates can change, so check your exact travel dates.

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Map data: Natural Earth · Place data: GeoNames, CC BY 4.0, modified

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4 places

All places
  1. Bath (Approximate city location)
  2. Paris (Approximate city location)
  3. Lisbon (Approximate city location)
  4. New York (Approximate city location)

Location coordinates: Bath, Paris, Lisbon, New York.

Choose the kind of winter you want

Start with the time you can spend on the ground. Two nights can work for Bath from London or Stowe from within driving distance. Three or four nights give you more room for Paris, Lisbon or New York. Give Tenerife or Palm Springs longer if the journey itself takes most of a day.

Choose the activities you would both enjoy and check the local conditions before booking. A city with a museum plan works differently from a ski trip that depends on snow. The right departure point can matter more than the country you live in.

  • Choose Stowe, Vermont, for snow activities. Check trail conditions and build in a non-ski day.
  • Consider Paris or New York for a city break in cold weather. Both pair a major art museum with a nearby walk.
  • Choose Bath, England, for a rail trip and a spa. Visit the historic baths, then book a separate spa session.
  • Consider Lisbon for a milder city break with an indoor plan for rain.
  • For a milder outdoor break, compare a beach base in southern Tenerife with a desert stay in Palm Springs. Both can still have cool or disrupted days.

Sources: Stowe Recreation Path, Weather in Paris month by month, Visit the Musée d’Orsay, Plan your visit to The Met Fifth Avenue, Spa sessions at the New Royal Bath, Roman Baths frequently asked questions, Lisboa / Gago Coutinho climate normals, 1991-2020, Visit the Museu do Fado, Tenerife Sur Airport climate normals, 1981-2010, Greater Palm Springs weather and safety

A rail and spa weekend in Bath

Choose Bath for two nights if you want a compact break with history and a spa. Great Western Railway normally runs direct from London Paddington to Bath Spa. The Roman Baths is less than ten minutes on foot from Bath Spa station.

On 25 and 26 December, there are no GWR trains on this route. Engineering work diverts Bristol-bound GWR services from Paddington to London Euston from 27 December 2026 through 3 January 2027. Check whether your train calls at Bath Spa, and confirm the return journey before booking.

Visit the historic Roman Baths in the morning and pause for lunch in the centre. Book a separate afternoon session at the modern Thermae Bath Spa if you want to bathe in the shared pools. The spa recommends booking ahead.

The Roman Baths closes on 25 and 26 December and opens later than usual on 1 January. The main Thermae Bath Spa closes on all three dates. Both venues publish shorter hours on Christmas Eve. Pick another day if the spa is the reason for the trip, and confirm the hours for your dates.

Sources: Trains from London to Bath, Visit the Roman Baths, Roman Baths frequently asked questions, Spa sessions at the New Royal Bath, Paddington engineering work, 26 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, Holiday opening hours at the New Royal Bath

Art and a winter walk in Paris

Paris suits couples who would enjoy art, a meal and a walk even if it is cold or wet. Plan two or three nights from within easy reach of London, or allow longer if crossing the Atlantic. Eurostar usually runs direct from London to Paris Gare du Nord. On 25 December it suspends services to and from London. Check your exact dates around Christmas. Leave time for station check-in and the onward journey to your accommodation.

For one day, begin with the Musée d’Orsay, then walk along the Seine when conditions suit and choose an indoor meal for the evening. The museum is closed on Mondays and December 25, and its reception areas are being renovated, so check its latest visitor information. Choose Tenerife instead if warmth is more important than museums.

Sources: Weather in Paris month by month, Trains from London to France, Visit the Musée d’Orsay, Christmas Day service information

Milder days and a rain plan in Lisbon

Lisbon offers a city break for couples who prefer milder winter weather to a snow trip. Three or four nights allow time for neighbourhood walks and indoor alternatives. At Lisbon’s airport station, the metro connects to the network. Check the change and last stretch to your chosen accommodation, particularly for a late arrival.

On an example day, explore Alfama and visit the Museu do Fado, then leave time for a meal nearby. The museum lists Tuesday to Sunday opening and closes on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1. Lisbon airport’s 1991-2020 climate normals show appreciable winter rainfall, so keep the museum in reserve for a wet spell rather than promising terrace weather. Pick southern Tenerife for a better fit if a warm beach base is your priority.

Sources: Lisboa / Gago Coutinho climate normals, 1991-2020, Visit the Museu do Fado, Lisboa by Metro from the Airport

A warmer coastal break in southern Tenerife

Choose southern Tenerife for a four- to seven-night coastal break when winter sun matters more than a big-city itinerary. At Tenerife South Airport, AEMET’s 1981-2010 normals put the average daily high near 22 °C (72 °F) across December, January and February. These are historical air temperatures measured at the airport. Check the forecast and swimming conditions for your specific beach.

Base yourselves near Los Cristianos or Costa Adeje, then spend a day around Las Vistas beach. Airport operator Aena lists bus 40 between Tenerife South, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje, plus the 711 night route. Check your arrival time, direction and the final walk or taxi to the hotel. Confirm the actual service before travel.

For a different day, consider Teide National Park. The mountain is a high-altitude environment, so take suitable layers and check the forecast and cable-car operation. Get separate advance permission for the final Telesforo Bravo route to the summit if you plan to hike it after taking the cable car. If it matters to you, consider a hotel with a heated indoor pool and check the specific pool and conditions before booking.

Sources: Tenerife Sur Airport climate normals, 1981-2010, Tenerife Sur Airport buses, Las Vistas Beach, Climbing Mount Teide: routes and permits, Manage your booking

Winter walks and indoor art in New York City

Pick New York for a two- or three-night city break from a convenient US departure point, or add time if you are flying across the Atlantic. You can build days around neighbourhoods and public transport instead of arranging a mountain drive. Central Park’s historical winter normals support packing for cold, though conditions on a particular day can be different.

One practical day pairs The Met Fifth Avenue with a walk in neighbouring Central Park, followed by dinner indoors. The Met says it is closed on Wednesdays, December 25 and January 1. Check opening times before you arrange the day and shorten or skip the park walk if weather or ice makes it uncomfortable. For a snow-sports trip rather than a city visit, consider Stowe instead.

Sources: Central Park normals and extremes, 1991-2020, Plan your visit to The Met Fifth Avenue

Snow activities and alternatives in Stowe, Vermont

Stowe is the snow-focused choice for a long weekend if you can reach northern Vermont comfortably and are happy to adapt to conditions. Allow at least three nights if a travel day and a possible weather delay would otherwise consume the trip. A car offers flexibility, but plan for winter driving and check the route before leaving.

For an example day, try a short part of the Stowe Recreation Path on cross-country skis or snowshoes if snow and trail conditions allow, then return to the village for a meal. The path is free to use. Some separate Nordic trail networks require a pass and rental equipment may cost extra. Keep off groomed ski tracks when walking or snowshoeing. Conditions in early December and February can both vary, so do not assume fresh snow or open trails.

For the 2026-2027 season, Go Stowe lists the free Mountain Road Shuttle from November 27, 2026 to April 4, 2027. It serves the Mountain Road corridor and resort. Check the stop near your lodging and plan your journey to Vermont separately. If neither of you wants to adjust plans for snow, ice or driving, a museum-and-spa city break is easier to build around indoor time.

Sources: Stowe Recreation Path, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in Stowe, Winter Mountain Road Shuttle

A desert winter in Palm Springs

Choose Palm Springs for a milder desert stay when your idea of a winter break is an outdoor day and an art stop rather than a beach or ski slope. Three or four nights can work for a regional trip. Add time when flying a long distance. A car gives you more flexibility for Joshua Tree National Park and the journey back to your accommodation.

Plan a town day around the Palm Springs Art Museum and a relaxed meal, then save a separate day for Joshua Tree. The main museum lists Tuesday and Wednesday as closed and announces Monday opening from 23 November 2026. Check the hours and any holiday changes for your dates. The National Park Service says winter days in the park can be cool and nights near or below freezing. Carry water and food, check alerts and the forecast, and return before you are uncomfortable driving in the dark. If a swim is part of the plan, look up the pool temperature and hours for your dates.

Sources: Greater Palm Springs weather and safety, Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum, Joshua Tree National Park frequently asked questions

Before you book

Compare the full cost for two. Add travel to the departure point, baggage, the airport or station transfer, accommodation, local transport and the activities you both want. A cheaper flight can be a poor fit if it arrives after the last practical connection or leaves too little usable time.

Check the exact dates and cancellation terms for your chosen transport and activities, plus current access, accessibility and weather information. Holidays, the beginning of the ski season and a mountain forecast can change the plan. If the one activity that matters most is unavailable, make sure you would still enjoy the destination.

Sources