Best Places to Visit in Winter
Winter is a traveler’s imagination. Snow settles on rooftops, cities light up in the dark, and somewhere distant there is always a warm beach waiting. I love winter for its contrasts, for the way it asks you to choose your adventure. Do you chase the snow and the lights, or do you run toward the sun? Both are valid, and both have given me some of my favorite trips.
Zermatt and the Swiss Alps
For the definitive snow experience, Zermatt is hard to beat. The village sits at the foot of the Matterhorn, car free and superb, with the great mountain watching over everything. I ski the big runs, but equally I love the rawness of the winter, the icicles hanging from the chalet roofs and the steam rising from the slopes on a cold morning. After a day out, nothing beats the fondue and the soft glow of the village. It is winter at its most beautiful.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Winter is the northern lights season in Iceland, which makes it the perfect time to go. I base myself in Reykjavik, warm and snug and full of coffee and coziness, and head out on nights when the forecast says the sky will be clear. When the green lights dance over the snow, it is a memory that stays. The geothermal pools, the glaciers, the black beaches, it is all astonishing in the deep winter light.
Thailand and Southeast Asia
If you want to escape the cold entirely, winter is the dry season across much of Southeast Asia, and the perfect time to go. I spend a stretch in Thailand in January, island hopping from the warm turquoise water of the Andaman Sea, eating my way through Bangkok’s street food, and watching sunsets over the long beaches. It is the antithesis of winter, and exactly what the cold months are for.
Prague, Czech Republic
No city does winter charm quite like Prague. The old town is a tangle of cobblestones and gorgeously lit gothic arches, and in the snow it looks like a storybook. I walk over the Charles Bridge at dawn when it is quiet, warm up in a cafe with a hot chocolate that is more chocolate than drink, and spend evenings exploring the Christmas markets. It is romantic, atmospheric, and completely enveloping.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Australia’s summer is the Northern Hemisphere’s winter, so December through February is prime time for the reef and the east coast. I snorkel the barrier reef when the water is warm and clear, and laze through the beaches and rainforests of Queensland. It flips the whole idea of winter on its head. If you want to stand the season on its ear, head south for summer while everyone else is shivering.
How to Handle Winter Travel
Winter travel comes with logistics. I pack for serious cold if I am heading north, with layers, a warm coat, and good boots, and I plan outdoor activities around the short daylight. If I am chasing sun, I book far in advance, because winter escape destinations fill up fast. And I always accept that the weather is part of the adventure. Winter rewards the traveler who embraces it.
A Season of Contrasts
Winter is my reminder that travel is about contrast. The snow of the Alps and the sun of Thailand, the lights of Prague and the darkness of Iceland, they are all the same season in different keys. Winter does not have to be endured. It can be celebrated, in the mountains or by the sea. Pick your winter and go, and you will come home with stories to keep the cold away.
