Europe’s top 10 city breaks to beat winter burnout revealed With Christmas over for another year and Blue Monday round the
Europe’s top 10 city breaks to beat winter burnout revealed
With Christmas over for another year and Blue Monday round the corner, Brits are turning to booking holidays to try and get a serotonin boost. To help with this, new analysis from Viva Holidays has identified the European city breaks that best help Brits shake off winter burnout, with Valletta, Málaga, and Valencia topping the list.
91% of UK adults experienced high/extreme pressure or stress in the past year, and the NHS says that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can trigger a persistent low mood, fatigue and loss of interest in everyday activities. So, to help travellers choose a city break that genuinely feels restorative, Viva Holidays analysed the most popular European city breaks for UK travellers, and scored each city across six wellbeing-focused data points:
- Daylight hours
- Average temperature
- Walkability
- Life evaluation (happiness) score
- Population (to judge crowd intensity)
- Air quality (PM2.5)
Shubhang Gupta, Director at Viva Holidays, has also shared his top picks for what to do in each city, so travellers can create restorative itineraries.
The top 10 city breaks to beat the January blues (ranked)
1) Valletta, Malta
With just under 10.5 hours of daylight per day and an average temperature of around 13°C, Valletta is a popular destination in the winter months. With the population being just 6,001, it has a ‘small city’ feel, welcomed by those who are fed up with crowds and live in busy cities in the UK. “I’d spend a trip to Valletta by wandering the city’s streets, admiring the baroque architecture, and making sure to visit St John’s Co-Cathedral. I’d also go to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, which have panoramic views over the Grand Harbour. I would also try to take a harbour cruise to experience the feel of the city by water and get some good sea air.
2) Málaga, Spain
With more than 10 hours of daylight (10h 22m) and an average January temperature of 13°C, Málaga is another reliable pick for anyone wanting a brighter winter city break without going long-haul. It also scores a perfect 100 for walkability, meaning you can explore at an easy pace without relying on taxis or public transport, plus its PM2.5 level of 8.4 µg/m³ is relatively low for a major city. “If I was recommending an itinerary to someone who has never visited before, I’d start with a relaxed walk along the waterfront around the Muelle Uno shopping centre, then head up to the Alcazaba for the views and history. I’d follow that with an hour or two at the Picasso Museum, before rounding the day off with some tapas in the old town, which is exactly the kind of low-effort, high-reward routine that helps people reset in winter”.
3) Valencia, Spain
Valencia is the kind of place I point people to when they say they want to feel better in January, but they do not want a hectic itinerary. You still get a solid dose of winter daylight (10h 10m) and a comfortable average temperature of 11°C, and it comes out exceptionally well on the practical stuff that makes a city break feel effortless. It scores a full 100 for walkability, so you can stay active without thinking about it, and its PM2.5 level of 6.5 µg/m³ is strong for a city of its size. “If you want a simple “reset” formula, I’d start with a slow morning in the Turia Gardens, then spend the middle of the day at the City of Arts and Sciences for a change of scenery and plenty of space, before settling into Valencia’s food culture with a long lunch around Ruzafa or the Central Market, where you can take your time and properly unwind”.
4) Nice, France
Nice is a smart choice for anyone who wants fresh air and gentle winter sunshine without feeling like they have to rush through the city. You still get close to 10 hours of daylight (9h 53m), an average temperature of 10°C, and can easily get around the city on foot. “If I were planning this as a January break to recharge, I’d make the sea the centre of the trip. Start with an unhurried walk around the Promenade des Anglais, take my time heading up Castle Hill for the views, then spend the afternoon drifting through the Old Town with coffee stops, small galleries and a long, late lunch”.
5) Seville, Spain
Seville is one of the easiest ways to get that “I’ve escaped winter” feeling without getting on a long-haul flight. With 10h 19m of daylight and an average January temperature of 11°C, plus a perfect Walking Score of 100, it’s built for days outdoors. “When I recommend Seville, I tell people to lean into the big hitters early, do the Alcázar and Cathedral while you’ve got the energy, then slow the pace right down with a sunset stroll through Plaza de España. If you want the trip to feel memorable rather than just restful, I’d always add a flamenco show to round off an evening”.
6) Funchal, Madeira (Portugal)
If warmth is the priority, Funchal is the standout on this list. It has the highest average January temperature of the top destinations at 17°C, along with 10h 37m of daylight and very good air quality at 4.0 µg/m³, which is exactly the kind of combination that can lift people out of that winter slump. “It’s not as walkable as some mainland city breaks, so I’d treat it as a ‘scenery and breathing space’ trip. Take the cable car up to Monte for the gardens, pick one levada walk that matches your pace, then spend the rest of the time chasing coastal viewpoints and finishing the day with a relaxed seafood dinner by the harbour.
7) Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux is ideal for travellers who want something restorative, but still grown-up and food-led, rather than chasing attractions all day. The data backs it up as a comfortable winter option, with 9h 46m of daylight, a Walking Score of 100 and a strong PM2.5 figure of 4.3 µg/m³. “My advice is to build the break around simple pleasures. Do an easy riverfront walk starting at Place de la Bourse, let the Marché des Capucins set the tone for lunch, then keep one afternoon free for La Cité du Vin or a vineyard visit”.
8) Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam proves you do not need heat for a winter reset if the city is easy to live in for a few days. It scores 99 for walkability, has a strong life evaluation score of 7.306 and a PM2.5 reading of 4.6 µg/m³, which helps explain why it remains such a popular city-break all year round. “If I were recommending Amsterdam to someone for January, I’d keep it balanced, start the day with a canal walk before the crowds build, choose one major museum for some culture, then lean into the cosy side of the city with a café stop and a slower wander through De Pijp or Jordaan”.
9) Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is a classic recommendation for a restorative city break. You’re looking at 10h 14m of daylight, an average temperature of 11°C, and one of the best air-quality readings in the top 10 with PM2.5 at 3.5 µg/m³. “The way I’d do Lisbon is to keep mornings structured and afternoons loose. Take Tram 28 early before it gets busy, head to Belém for a riverside walk and some pastries, then finish the day at a miradouro (viewpoint) for sunset”.
10) Ghent, Belgium
Ghent is the choice for people who want a winter break that feels calm and uncluttered, rather than a big-city vibe. It combines a Walking Score of 99 with the lowest PM2.5 figure in the top 10 at 2.6 µg/m³. Its population being just 270,473 gives it a slower and less crowded atmosphere, suiting people who need a proper reset. “For a weekend in Ghent, I’d focus on atmosphere. Spend the day around the canals and Gravensteen Castle, visit one or two museums depending on your mood, then make the evening about comfort, with a cosy ‘beer-and-chocolate crawl’ that feels indulgent without being overwhelming.
Shubhang also added, “January in the UK can feel like a slog of a month – it’s cold, daylight is limited, and many people feel mentally and physically drained after the Christmas period. A short city break can work as a genuine reset because it changes your environment, gets you moving, and for many destinations, gives you more daylight than you’re getting at home.
“Our analysis looked at what makes a city break feel restorative in winter: daylight, mild temperatures, walkability, clean air, and the kind of pace that helps you switch off. That’s why places like Valletta, Málaga and Valencia perform so well, they make it easy to spend time outdoors, explore on foot, and come home feeling like you’ve properly recharged.
Viva Holidays is an award-winning online travel company known for specialising in tailor-made multi-centre holidays. Since its establishment in 2008, the company has focused on creating personalised travel experiences, allowing travellers to explore multiple destinations within a single trip. Their services cover multiple destinations, offering a seamless travel experience from booking through return home.