Derived from an Old Norwegian word associated with wellbeing and adopted by the Danish towards the end of the 18th century, hygge has been cultivating the art of cosy contentment for hundreds of years. It also happens to serve as something of a blueprint for a luxury winter holiday: unhurried days in tune with nature, restorative hygge activities – perhaps a hot-stone massage, yoga or an afternoon lost in a good book – and, most indulgently of all, nowhere in particular to be.
It’s not just on Scandinavian shores where you’ll find the hygge spirit ready to welcome you. From the peaks of the Dolomites to the countryside of the Cotswolds, some of Europe’s most beautiful winter destinations have their own take on the comfort and companionship at its heart. Here, we recommend ten of the best places to embrace hygge season in style.
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
The homeland of hygge, it’s no surprise that Denmark has perfected the craft of enjoying simple pleasures. Copenhagen captures the concept in its truest sense, from cinnamon buns savoured in softly lit coffee shops to the velvety heat of the city’s saunas after a bracing walk beside the harbour. Christmas is peak hygge season, when garlanded window displays glow beneath canopies of fairy lights and the spiced scent of gingerbread and gløgg lures you to market stalls.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel d’Angleterre has graced Copenhagen’s centre for over 270 years, pairing the understated opulence of its suites and Michelin-starred dining with the tranquillity of its spa. Ease into the day over a champagne brunch, book a Nordic spa ritual, then claim a fireside chair in the lobby and lose an hour or two to reading.
FINNISH LAPLAND, FINLAND
Finland’s sauna culture is as much a way of life as hygge is for the Danes, and shares many of the same values, too: stillness, connection and the harmony of shutting out the world for a time. In Finnish Lapland, this is felt in the profound silence of its Arctic forests, during languorous sauna sessions and over cups of kahvi (coffee) and pulla (sweet cardamom buns). For those in search of a luxury winter holiday that truly eases the pace, the snowbound wilderness is hard to beat.
WHERE TO STAY
Few places capture Finnish winter in style quite like Octola Lodge. Just ten suites sit among snow-laden pines, their wall-wide windows drawing the Arctic landscape right into the room. Memorable hygge activities range from husky sledding deep into the forest to an eight-course North Pole dinner prepared by your private chef.
DOLOMITES, ITALY
Hygge in the Dolomites is best characterised by Alpine warmth and contentment – wood-burning stoves, leisurely lunches and the joy of returning cold-cheeked to a mountain refuge after a day in the snow. Fortunate then, that the region is peppered with exceptional ski lodges and spa hotels designed for precisely this rhythm. Mornings lend themselves to skiing or mountain walking, giving way to afternoons spent wine tasting and soaking in a hot tub.
WHERE TO STAY
You’ll feel as though you are floating among the mountaintops at FORESTIS. A winter holiday at this boutique wellness retreat begins by waking to the sound of freshwater springs and ends beside an outdoor fire, nightcap in hand. Salt baths and Wyda yoga restore tired bodies while a cooking class led by chef Roland Lamprecht brings the flavours of the forest to the table.
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, UK
Scotland may not have a direct hygge equivalent, but Highland winter culture evokes the same wholesome appeal through fireside hospitality and the delicious contrast between untamed landscapes and cosseting interiors. As for how to experience it, a day might begin out in the glens, boots crunching over frost, or clay-pigeon shooting. Trade the elements for a drawing-room armchair, a dram of whisky and the lure of a game supper.
WHERE TO STAY
Sheltered between mountains and evergreen parkland, the 17 country-inspired rooms at Inverlochy Castle Hotel are the definition of a stylish winter stay. Cuisine created by Michel Roux Jr lends dinner a sense of occasion, and boat trips on the estate’s private loch tempt you back outdoors. Stay over New Year for Hogmanay celebrations fuelled by mulled wine and a sumptuous black-tie dinner.
ÅLESUND, NORWAY
Norway’s take on hygge, kos, is centred on life’s simpler pleasures. It can be found as easily in the intimacy of gathering around a kitchen table as it can in the satisfaction of returning to good food after spending hours outdoors. Pair Ålesund’s Art Nouveau centre with a private journey into the surrounding fjords, followed by a sauna steam and seafood supper, and you’ll have captured the spirit.
WHERE TO STAY
Storfjord Hotel was made for a luxury hygge holiday. Its 30 timber-framed rooms, dressed in natural textures, invite you to drift off by the last embers of the fire; the outdoor Jacuzzis melt away the chill of the brisk Norwegian weather; and seasonal feasts await in the restaurant. Views over Storfjord and the Sunnmøre Alps add another reason to press pause.
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND
Mastering the art of slow living is in Iceland’s DNA. Geothermal pools and a renowned coffee culture make a luxury winter holiday here decidedly enticing, and Reykjavik is the gateway to both. Devote a morning to the steaming waters of the Blue Lagoon, linger over coffee on Laugavegur, then look skywards after dark for the Northern Lights. Museums and bowls of creamy fish stew provide a remedy for any wet spells.
WHERE TO STAY
Comfort and style are effortlessly combined at Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel. Its contemporary Icelandic design is distinctive throughout, softened by warm-toned furnishings and deep Chesterfield sofas, creating an inviting refuge from the winter streets. Embrace the hygge season over a wine flight at Konsulat Wine Room or a dip in the bathhouse whirlpool.
SWEDISH LAPLAND, SWEDEN
Home to both fika – the concept of deliberately taking time for coffee, something sweet and conversation – and mys, a Swedish expression associated with cosiness and simple comforts, Sweden is well seasoned in the rituals of winter. Here, a luxury hygge holiday is less about staying indoors than relishing the prospect of lazy evenings after exhilarating Arctic days. Think cross-country skiing beneath snow-heavy branches rewarded by mugs of hot chocolate and a blissful soak in the bath.
WHERE TO STAY
Arctic Bath is Lapland at its most exclusive. This floating complex of glass-fronted suites instantly immerses you in the frozen landscape, pellet stoves and sheepskin rugs keeping the interiors wonderfully snug. Walkways lead to a central spa, where traditional fire and ice therapy can be practised in the cold plunge and dry sauna. Dog sledding brings the daytime thrill before dinner is served beneath the canvas of a lavvu tent.
ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND
Picture a snow-dusted mountain chalet, windows aglow by firelight, and it’s easy to see how hygge can be embraced in Switzerland. Beneath the mighty Matterhorn, Zermatt is a playground for snow sports come winter. Carve across immaculate pistes by day and glide through the village by horse-drawn carriage come dusk. Back at your hotel, sink into a hot tub, order the fondue and surrender to an evening that requires little beyond a comfortable chair and the mountain view.
WHERE TO STAY
Radiating Alpine charm from top to toe, Monte Rosa Zermatt has been an icon on Bahnhofstrasse since 1839. A luxury hygge holiday here takes its pleasures seriously. Serene rooms offer sanctuary after a day on the mountain, spa treatments soothe ski-weary limbs and afternoon tea supplies a suitably decadent interlude. Heated cherry-stone cushions keep any cold toes at bay.
COTSWOLDS, UK
The Cotswolds have long inspired daydreams of a cosy rural retreat, where chocolate-box villages give way to rolling countryside and a good walk invariably seems to end beside the fire in a country pub. Hygge season is an excellent excuse to indulge in exactly that. Come Christmas, the appeal intensifies: lights twinkle above historic market towns and seasonal stalls arrive in Cheltenham, Cirencester and at Blenheim Palace.
WHERE TO STAY
A Grade II-listed country manor set within 500 acres of parkland, Lucknam Park offers an exquisite stay any time of year, but a winter holiday dials up the romance considerably. Ride through the grounds on a crisp morning and thaw out afterwards in the thermal spa cabins. Once darkness settles, take your table for a seasonal tasting menu at Michelin-starred Restaurant Hywel Jones.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Austria’s answer to hygge, Gemütlichkeit, is rooted in comfort, social connection and an abiding sense of ease – something Vienna has down to a tee. It reveals itself in unhurried hours spent in the city’s coffee houses, the merriment of its Christmas markets and the welcome warmth of its concert halls. Leaning into it on a luxury winter holiday is easily done. Browse the stalls of the Christkindlmarkt cradling a cup of weihnachtspunsch before an evening of classical music at the Vienna State Opera.
WHERE TO STAY
Gemütlichkeit is second nature at Hotel Sacher Wien. Antique furnishings, wood panelling and walls hung with photographs create an intimate counterpoint to the hotel’s grandeur. A restorative treatment at the Sacher Boutique Spa sets the tone for an indulgent evening, followed by a candlelit dinner at Restaurant Rote. Second helpings of Sachertorte are encouraged.
Inspired by The Season of Hygge?
To embrace hygge season in style on a tailor-made winter holiday, call our Europe specialists today on +44 (0)1242 787 808 to start planning your journey.
