Travel plan optimized for Fri–Sun weekends + Clean Monday

Winter Weekends Travel Plan (Jan–Feb 2026)

Built around Friday–Sunday availability in January–February 2026 (excluding 30/01/2026 and 28/02/2026), plus the Greek public holiday on Monday 23/02/2026, with an optional day off on Friday 20/02/2026.

Usable date blocks (Athens time)

Jan: 02–04, 09–11, 16–18, 23–25 (skip 30 Jan–01 Feb) Feb: 06–08, 13–15, 20–22 (+ Mon 23/02 = 4 days), skip 27 Feb–01 Mar

Vienna (Austria) Best easy weekend win

  • Why: direct flights, compact city, minimal logistics, great in winter.
  • Perfect for: 2-night Fri–Sun city break.
  • Weekend flow:
    • Fri night: arrive, old town + dinner
    • Sat: Schönbrunn / museums / coffeehouses
    • Sun: markets / Danube stroll, fly back

Zurich (Switzerland) Doable but tight for Alps

  • Why: direct flights; Zurich is great for a winter weekend.
  • Reality check: doing the full Jungfrau list in 2 nights is rushed.
  • Weekend-friendly plan:
    • Option A: Zurich + day trip to Rheinfall
    • Option B: base Interlaken, quick Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald on Saturday
If you want “proper Alps”, use the 4-day window or keep it Zurich-focused.

Dolomites (Italy) Weekend only with the right base

  • Best gateways: Venice (VCE) or Milan (MXP).
  • Strategy for 2 nights: pick one cluster (don’t try everything).
  • Winter-friendly idea: fly to Venice → rent car → base around Cortina/Misurina.
Winter driving may require snow tires/chains; plans depend on conditions.

Tromsø (Norway) Ideal for your 4-day window

  • Why: you need multiple nights for realistic Northern Lights chances.
  • Best slot: Fri 20/02 → Mon 23/02 (using Clean Monday).
  • Suggested flow:
    • Fri 20/02: fly out (likely via Oslo/Stockholm/Vienna)
    • Sat + Sun nights: aurora chase tours
    • Mon 23/02: fly back

Airticket proposal “packs” (practical)

  • Pack A — Easy Weekend City Break: ATH ↔ VIE (Vienna)
  • Pack B — Alps Without Overcomplicating: ATH ↔ ZRH (Zurich)
  • Pack C — Dolomites Gateway: ATH ↔ VCE (Venice) or ATH ↔ MXP (Milan)
  • Pack D — Northern Lights Long Weekend: ATH → TOS → ATH (usually 1 stop); consider ATH ↔ OSL + onward connection

Quick recommendation (based on your calendar)

  • Weekend trips (Jan/Feb): prioritize Vienna + one of (Zurich or Venice/Milan for Dolomites).
  • Long weekend 20–23 Feb: prioritize Tromsø (best ROI for aurora).


//ctzoum comments:



Προτεινόμενα date blocks

Scenario 1 — Switzerland (Zurich) ~459€

Zurich hotel pricing ATH to ZRH flight pricing

Scenario 2 — Dolomites (Italy) ~335€

Bolzano apartment pricing ATH to Venice flight pricing

Scenario 3 — Vienna (Austria) ~300€

Vienna hotel pricing ATH to Vienna flight pricing

Discarded ideas