10 best cities for a winter vacation according to CNN - winner is Prague!!!

Incessant rain and gray skies make winter a trial. But hot drinks, snowy slopes, frozen lakes and a bright yellow sun? That's the kind of winter we can all wrap our mittens around.

Prague, Czech Republic

With its snow-capped spires and cobbled, winding streets, Prague is a fairytale city that remains relatively tourist-free in the winter months.

The stunning architecture looks even prettier under a sheet of snow, with one of the most beautiful areas being the old town, with its turrets and Romanesque vaults.

Gas street lamps were recently reinstalled throughout the city center, adding a romantic hue to evenings. Cafes here are ideal for escaping the bitter cold. "Choco Cafe is a great place to take a breather from intense winter sightseeing in the Old Town," says travel blogger Girl in Czechland. "It's full of comfy chairs and sofas and they have more than a dozen kinds of hot chocolate, which is so thick you can practically stand a spoon up it in it."

Where to eat: Lokál Dlouhá. This recently opened restaurant is known for its svíčková na smetaně (beef tenderloin and cream sauce).

Lokál Dlouhá, Dlouhá 33, Prague 1; +420 222 316 265

Where to sleep: The Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa is a five-star, fairytale-like hotel in the middle of the city's old town.

The Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa, Tržiště 19, Prague 1; +420 257 286 011

What to do: After the Christmas markets, there's the fascinating Estates Theatre, where Mozart conducted the world premiere of "Don Giovanni" in 1787.

Estates Theatre, Ovocný trh/Železná Street, Prague 1, +420 224 901 448

Other cities in order:

2. Salzburg, Austria

3. Tromso, Norway

4. Amsterdam, Netherlands

5. Nagano, Japan

6. Reykjavík, Iceland

7. Berlin, Germany

8. Ottawa, Canada

9. Washington D.C.

10. Edinburgh, Scotland

For further information, please contact:

CzechTourism Scandinavia and Finland

Villagatan 21, 114 32 Stockholm

tel. + 46 8 08 04 239

E-mail: info-se@czechtourism.com

Web: www.czechtourism.com