Every winter, just as the nights settle in early, Geneva transforms into an open-air gallery of light and imagination. The Geneva Lux Festival returns from 16 January to 1 February 2026.

The festival spreads across the lakefront, bridges and squares, bringing together international artists and local talent to turn the city into a trail of glowing sculptures, projections and playful surprises. And the best part? It’s completely free to explore.

There are winter cities that feel cold, and there are winter cities that feel alive. Leipzig belongs firmly in the second category.

As temperatures drop, the city becomes a warm invitation. Candlelit cafés ease you into your day. The scent of roasted almonds drifts through historic lanes. Brass musicians rehearse behind old stone doors. Lakes take on a Nordic stillness. And everywhere you turn, there is culture, creativity and comfort waiting to wrap around you.

This is a winter destination full of personality and pleasure.

When the first warm days arrive, Frankfurt changes its rhythm completely. The city loosens its shoulders. Terraces fill with people enjoying the light. Cherry trees brighten the riverbanks. Museums unveil major exhibitions. The skyline becomes a constant backdrop to your days, shifting from morning blue to golden evening reflections.

Cologne wears winter in soft, shimmering layers. The spires of the cathedral stand etched against pale skies, and the Rhine moves slowly, almost thoughtfully, beneath bridges lined with gentle winter light. By late afternoon, the city settles into a warm atmosphere, the kind that spills from café windows, gently steams up glasses and invites you to linger just a little longer on a cobbled lane.

With the lake glittering below and the Alps rising on the horizon, Geneva is a city that invites you to pause and then play. In winter, it becomes the ultimate base for mountain lovers. Within a short drive or train ride, you’ll find yourself surrounded by some of Europe’s most spectacular ski destinations, both in Switzerland and the French Alps.