Traveling in the winter – and especially traveling in the cold – isn't always everyone's cup of tea. In fact, many long-term travelers perpetually chase summer around the globe so they never have to turn in their flip-flops for winter boots.
But that's not really my style.
I grew up in northeast Ohio on a Christmas tree farm. Snowy winters were a given – and these days I'm actually kind of sad when we don't get a white Christmas.
So, perhaps not surprisingly, traveling to cold places in the winter doesn't really phase me. In fact, I actually kind of love it!
In the past few years, I've traveled to both Ottawa and Manitoba in the depths of winter, gone to Scotland for New Years, and have been to Iceland not once but twice during the winter months.
If you, too, enjoy bundling up in order to explore somewhere new, here are 10 ideas for where to go in winter:
10 Cold-Weather Destinations to Visit in Winter
For atmosphere:
1. Quebec City
There are lots of great Canadian cities worth visiting in the winter (I quite enjoyed Ottawa in January, believe it or not!), but Quebec City has a certain magic about it. With cobbled streets and festive holiday decorations, photos of Quebec in the winter always make me feel all cozy inside.
Plus, the city has a huge winter festival every year (the Carnaval de Quebec) with sleigh rides and an ice hotel.
>> Read more: Fun Facts: Things You Might Not Know About Quebec City
2. Germany
I got to visit Germany around Christmastime for the first time in 2015, and the Christmas markets there are just as incredible as you've heard – maybe even more so. If it's a cheery, gluhwein-filled atmosphere you're looking for, you can't go wrong with Germany.
Even if there's no snow, places like Cologne, Nuremberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, or any of the small cities like Rudesheim or Rothenburg ob der Tauber boast great markets – and great German holiday food.
>> Read more: 23 of the Best Christmas Markets to Visit in Germany
3. Sapporo, Japan
Sopporo is known for its skiing (it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972), but is also known for its very unique snow festival that takes place every February. The festival draws millions of visitors each year to see hundreds of snow and ice sculptures.
For wintery landscapes:
1. Norway
Sure, it can be frigid when you head north of the Arctic Circle, but have you SEEN photos of the Lofoten Islands or Tromsø in winter?
Norway may not get a lot of sunlight during the winter months (especially the further north you go), but your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are pretty good. And Norwegians harbor a special love for the cold, dark winter months, which I think is kind of cool.
>> Read more: A Perfect 10-Day Itinerary for Norway in Winter or 10 Reasons Why Northern Norway in Winter is Awesome
2. Iceland
Like I mentioned earlier, I've been to Iceland in winter now (once in November and once in March). The country doesn't actually get as cold as most people assume since it's an island in the Gulf Stream, meaning there are plenty of cool things to do year-round.
Whether you want to snowmobile, hike on a glacier, visit ice caves, or chase the Northern Lights, you can do it all in Iceland. You can also ride adorable Icelandic horses and soak in natural hot pools year-round.
>> Read more: A 10-Day Itinerary for Iceland in Winter (Without Renting a Car) and 6 Things to Know About Traveling to Iceland in Winter
3. US national parks
Winter can be one of the best times to visit many of the US' best national parks. The Grand Canyon, Zion, Yosemite, and Yellowstone can be magical during the winter months.
Seeing the parks dusted with snow and without tons of tourists is something you can only do in the off-season. Some roads do close due to snow, but I think the views are nevertheless well worth it.
>> Read more: Yes, You Can Visit the Grand Canyon in Winter and Visiting Zion National Park in Winter
For winter sports:
1. Canadian Rockies
Canadians love winter perhaps more than I do, and there's no lack of things to do in the Canadian Rockies when it's cold and snowy.
You can go snow shoeing, dogsledding, snowmobiling, and skiing at world-renowned ski resorts like Whistler. Something else on my bucket list is to go bobsledding on the Olympic bobsledding track in Calgary.
>> Read more: Alberta Bucket List: 40+ Incredible Things to Do in Alberta, Canada
2. Innsbruck, Austria
Do the Alps call to you more than anywhere in North America? If so, the small city of Innsbruck in Austria might be a good fit for you. Not only is the skiing great, but it's also a gorgeous alpine town with snowy mountains as a backdrop.
3. American West
If it's snow sports in the US you're craving, then you'll need to head west. Places in the Rockies like Aspen and Vail and Breckenridge and Alta are a mecca for winter snow sports in America.
There are, of course, SO many other great places to travel in the winter.
Where else would YOU recommend for the cold-weather lover?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
How I wish you included MICHIGAN at your list. Pretty great destination for any kind of winter activities.
I haven’t been to Michigan in winter, but I have no doubt! I was there last fall, which was fantastic – so colorful!
Winter wonderlands definitely have a place in my heart – I adore sunshine & beaches, but one of my favourite trips had to be taking the train across Canada in the middle of winter. I remember the first night we had snow a bunch of grown adults ran off the train and made snow angels by the side of the station. Hilarious! Jasper & Banff in the snow were amazing, would love to go back and do it all over again!
It’s always funny to see how fresh snow can turn adults into little kids! (Especially if those adults haven’t seen much snow before.)
So I dislike the cold a lot. But usually only when it’d cold and not snow. But after seeing some of your posts about Iceland in winter and seeing Germany pop up all over in winter, I think I might need to give winter another shot in some destinations!
I’m definitely with you – bitter cold but no snow isn’t my favorite, either. But some places really are worth it!
Iceland definitely appeals to me! Looking into going sometime in May I hope 🙂
I haven’t ever been in May, but in my opinion any time is a great time to go to Iceland!
I have to add Latvia and the other Baltic countries to the list! The capital cities are beautiful with a dusting of snow and crisp blue skies, and the idyllic countryside and Baltic coast are just a short train ride away. Latvia even has dogsledding and bobsledding courses!
I really need to get to the Baltics soon!
I love winter holidays! I find snowy mountain caps one of the prettiest sights in the world:-) I think Austria is a country that could be added to your winter wonderland list, skiing there is really amazing!
Innsbruck is on this list and is in Austria! 🙂
How could I have missed that?! Well, excellent, a very complete list;-)
I am not so much a winter person but for these stunning sights, I am all set, ready to go and explore right NOW!
Sometimes the cold is absolutely, 100% worth it!
Chicago! It is beautiful in the snow, but still easy to get around on public transit. I spent all of last winter there–and I hate the cold–and I loved it. Lots of great indoor things to do–museums, theaters–and so many great restaurants to help put on some warming winter weight.
Ah yes! I love Chicago any time of year! I’m not sure if I’d want to *live* there through a Chicago winter, but visiting certainly isn’t bad!
Beautiful, beautiful destinations. I like the cold so would it be greedy of me to say that I would take them all as long as I can get a nice cup of tea at the end of the day and a little bit of hot chocolate spiced with grog lol!
Lovely!
Haha, not greedy at all! And I’m with you – as long as I can get a hot drink (or a hot shower) and a snuggly blanket at the end of the day, I’ll take any cold destination!
I am a southern girl and never learned how to downhill ski, but for some reason I’ve always wanted to try snowboarding but have been scared I’ll break a leg or something. In fact, my first time on skis was in January 2013…in the Alps…I know dramatic. This February, I’m hitting the cross country trails in Sweden.
I feel like cross-country skiing is much safer than downhill. 😉 I’ve been skiing before, but never snowboarding. I’m pretty sure I’ll break myself, too!
Yellowstone and Yosemite in winter are both on my bucket list! I’ve spent several Christmas vacations in a tropical destination, but one year we did to go Colorado, to a little town near Aspen and that was fun. The biggest challenge is praying your flights go smoothly with winter weather!
I’ve actually never spent a winter holiday somewhere warm – though I have traveled to warm places plenty of times in the winter. 🙂 You’re right, though – always good to build in a little buffer time when flying this time of year!
I’m really looking forward to visiting snowy destinations next year. I’d like to be surrounded by snowy mountains on one trip – like what you would see in Switzerland for example – and I’d like to see the Northern Lights during another trip. Bring on 2016! 🙂
I definitely have a thing for mountains, so I totally understand wanting to be surrounded by them!
We’ve yet to see snow here on the east coast! When it comes, it comes.
One of my college friends did snow tubing in Montreal and had a blast.
Snow tubing is always so much fun!
We’ve got a similar dearth of snow here in Michigan this winter as well 🙁 However, when there IS snow, I enjoy heading north to head out and visit lighthouses, especially along the coast of Lake Michigan. Definitely a different landscape than during the summer months and you often will have it largely to yourself! Closer to home, I like heading out to the Detroit Zoo for an afternoon when there is snow…a lot of animals are quite active in the winter, and if it’s sunny, polar bear tunnel is a great place to visit and take photos while you watch the polar bears play!
I keep meaning to head up to Lake Erie in the winter when it’s frozen and the lighthouses are all covered in icicles. Who knows if that will happen at all this winter, though!
I completely agree with Michigan!! Though I’m probably biased because its my home-state, winter is so beautiful on the shores of Lake Michigan. Especially when those ice-boulders formed the past couple of years. Such a cool phenomenon! Not sure we’ll see much of that this year, though. We’ve only seen snow 1 or 2 days this year.
You’re starting to convince ME to go to Michigan this winter! 😉
Come on up! I’d love to show you around.
I totally agree with Cappadocia and Norway, Amanda! I visited both in winter and loved them. (Oh, and I’m freezing my butt off in the Midwest at this very moment). 🙂
Haha, this is nothing compared to a typical Midwest winter! 😉 In fact, we STILL haven’t had snow here in Ohio!