Lisbon
Hills, trams and golden light over the Tagus. Pastel de nata for breakfast, Alfama by night, a day trip to Sintra or the beach at Cascais.
Nice
The Riviera at its calmest: the Promenade des Anglais, the Cours Saleya market, and a train along the coast to Villefranche or Monaco.
Tenerife
Proper winter sun. Black sand beaches, a cable car up Teide, and long lunches with the Atlantic in front of you.
Rome
Winter Rome is the best Rome: short queues at the Vatican and Colosseum, cacio e pepe in Trastevere, and the city to yourselves at dusk.
Vienna
Coffee houses, Sachertorte, the Opera and Schönbrunn. Crisp, elegant and very easy to love in winter.
Venice
Misty canals with hardly any crowds, cicchetti and spritz along the Grand Canal, a vaporetto out to Burano.
Athens
The Acropolis in soft winter light, Plaka's tavernas, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon and mild days for wandering.
Madrid
Tapas crawls in La Latina, the Prado and Reina Sofía, and churros con chocolate at midnight.
Malaga
Andalusian sun by the sea, the Picasso Museum, grilled sardines on the beach and Ronda or Nerja an easy drive away.
Florence
Renaissance everything, bistecca and Chianti, and the Duomo from Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset.
Seville
Orange trees, the Alcázar, flamenco in Triana and a city dressed for Christmas.
Palma
The honey-coloured cathedral by the sea, a stroll through the old town and Tramuntana villages a short drive away.