AUTHOR Rich Jevons

Top Winter Destinations For Hiring a Car

• Whether it’s mid-summer or nearing the colder months, there’s never really a bad time to think about booking ahead for a winter holiday. Not only will you have something to look forward to in the colder times but will also avoid the price hikes when booking nearer the time.

  To get you excited for the winter months, we’ve selected a trio of countries to consider for your pleasure.

  Part One: Sweden

  Stockholm

  Picking up your Indigo hire car in Stockholm you can start on your Swedish road trip heading to Abisko. The Swedish capital is renowned for its sumptuous architecture and fascinating history. You may like to take in some of its prestigious museums including the Vasa Museum, National Museum of Sweden, Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Architecture and Design, Swedish History Museum, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Maritime Museum or Museum of Antiquities of the Far East.

  Umea

  The first stop is Umea, a city brimming with students and situated on the Ume River next to forests and mountains. Outdoor pursuits include hiking and biking, canoeing and kayaking. Make sure to check out the funky nightlife scene!

  Abisko

  Abisko National Park in Lapland is a perfect European winter break. It rates high for Northern lights spotting with its low levels of light pollution and being close to the Arctic Circle. The best time for this is in December and January when the sun is below the horizon on the Polar night.

  Gothenburg

  Gothenburg is a city in Sweden located on the country’s west coast. It is known for its beautiful architecture and rich history, including its role as a major port city. The city is home to several museums and cultural institutions, including the Gothenburg Museum of Art and the Gothenburg Maritime Museum.

  If you’re starting off in Gothenburg, then check out our car hire in Gothenburg options.

  Part Two: Norway

  Bergen

  Bergen will be familiar to viewers of Frozen as it served as a backdrop to that fantasy film and with good reason – the place oozes magic. There is lots to take in from the Vagen harbour in the old quarter Bryggen to Mount Fløyen on the Fløibanen funicular. It is encircled by seven fjords and seven hills with opportunities for both hiking and sledging.

  Voss

  The next stop is at Voss where you will find Voss Gondol, the largest and most modern mountain gondola in Northern Europe. The gondola ride allows you to look over the town centre and the Vangsvatnet lake, with a vista of the area’s magnificent mountains.

  You may want to take in Voss Folk Museum, a local museum which serves to preserve items of historic interest from Voss and the surrounding area. The museum has a huge collection of artefacts, folk art, tools and other objects.

  Leon

  You will pass Tvinnefossen waterfall, a beautiful waterfall that is approximately 152 meters tall. Then on to Flan with its Scenic Flam Railway or else a scenic boat trip. And on to Stegastein Viewpoint offering panoramic views of the fjord. Lots of tunnels in Norway but the king of them all has to be Laerdalstunnelen or Lærdal Tunnel, the largest road tunnel in the world at 24.5km! It starts just after Flam around Aurlandsvangen and finishes near Tonjum. You will need to take route 55 alongside Sognefjorden known as the king of the fjords in Norway because it’s the longest fjord in Norway!

  Molde

  For sheer exhilarating fun take the Loen Skylift which says it gets you from the fjord to the sky in 5 minutes via a Cable Car taking you 1011m high.

  Also check out Lovatnet Lake, Kjenndalsbreen Glacier, Bodalsbreen, Loen Church, Raksetra, Loen Active and Fonnafly Helifly Stryn.

  Next stop is Geiranger which is home to the impressive Geirangerfjord, this is one of Norway’s most popular natural attractions. Geiranger is a popular stop for tourists on cruises and fjord tours so it is catered for tourists with activities and things to do in Geiranger like kayaking and biking. And on to Molde with the Molde Panorama where you can sight the top of 222 mountain peaks.

  Atlantic Ocean Road

  Some 8.3km long, the Atlantic Ocean Road is a very special stretch of road with the opportunity to drive right on the ocean’s edge and is renowned as the world’s most beautiful drive (though if you look through this blog there is some pretty stiff competition. Dating back to 1989 it is toll-free and has National Tourist Route status. You can take in the exquisite coastal scenery as well as the cultural and historical interest.

  Alesund

  Destroyed by a fire in 1904 this city was rebuilt in Art Nouveau style which is a totally unique experience.

  And then back to Bergen unless you decide to take a flight elsewhere, if you do there will be an extra cost involved to leave Indigo to hire a car at a different point to where you started. Norway’s beauty will stick with you for a lifetime and brighten up those SAD (Seasonally Adjusted Depression) winter days.

  Part Three: Belgium

  Antwerp

  You can pick up your hire car in Belgium here to start your exhilarating Belgian road trip. Antwerp has a powerful reputation for its magnificent beauty with a flourishing harbour. The top attractions include the Antwerp Zoo, the Rubens House, the Cathedral of Our Lady, the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS), the Antwerp Central Station, and the Grote Markt.

  Mechelen

  Next is Mechelen where you may want to explore Cleydael Castle and Museum Hof van Busleyden.

  Brussels

  The Belgian capital is brimming with history not to mention beer houses (don’t forget your dry driver!) Check out the sights of Grand Place, Atomium, Mini Europe, Art Nouveau tour, Magritte’s Footsteps, Manneken Pis, and Galeries Royales Saint Huber.

  If you’re starting your Belgian adventure in Brussels of course, check out our Brussels car hire options.

  Namur

  Another stopover is Namur where you can find St Aubin’s Cathedral and Citadel of Namur.

  Bruges

  Bruges boasts many delights such as The Groeningemuseum which houses a comprehensive collection of six centuries of Flemish and Belgian painting, from Jan van Eyck to Marcel Broodthaers. And from the sublime to the ridiculous The Frietmuseum is dedicated to the history of potatoes and the production of Belgian fries. And you just could not miss Choco-Story all about the history of chocolate.

  So take your pick from our trio of top winter breaks in Europe with your Indigo hire car, don’t forget, before you go, book with Indigo for a car to go!

  Looking for further inspiration? Then check out some of our similar winter-themed blog posts:

  • Driving in the Alps in Winter: A Guide
  • The Ultimate Winter Car Hire Guide: Tips & Recommendations
  • Top 5 Ski Locations In Europe
  • 4×4’s & Winter Tyres: Which do I need?

   

Rich Jevons was first published in the Yorkshire Post at the tender age of fifteen. After graduating at University of Humberside, Rich covered the visual and performing arts for a wide range of regional, national and international magazines, journals and newspapers. He has interviewed the likes of Patrick Stewart, Colin Baker and Christopher Eccleston. Currently, he is writing copy on road trips around the world, all from his office in Wortley, Leeds

Rich Jevons

Traveller