The best destination for winter travel depends entirely on the traveler. Some travelers dream of experiencing Europe's fairytale Christmas markets while others trade the cold weather for long warm days and tropical weather.
That's why we've put together a guide that covers the best journeys for every type of traveler. Discover our top picks for The Northern Lights, Luxury Ski Adventures, Christmas Markets, Winter Festivals, and Warm Sunny Escapes. Our guide shares insider tips on making the most of each of these trips, from the best times to visit to hidden gem experiences you won't find by asking ChatGPT.
One of the most charming ways to experience the spirit of Christmas is to wander along a cobblestone street where festive stalls, twinkling lights, freshly baked gingerbread and holiday cheer greet everyone who visit. The charm of Europe's traditional Christmas markets can be found across the continent, where local traditions come to life in the form of handmade ornaments, mulled wine, live music and so much more.
With nearly every European nation participating in the centuries-old tradition, it can be overwhelming to try and find your perfect Christmas market experience. That's why we've chosen our top picks for the most mesmerizing and memorable Christmas markets in Europe.
What makes it our number 1 choice: Traveling through Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and Germany means you're not just visiting one Christmas market, you're experiencing the full sweep of Central European holiday tradition across four distinct cultures. Each city adds its own chapter to the Christmas story, making this one of the most complete and memorable holiday journeys available anywhere.
What makes it a close second: Paris's grand boulevards are strung with lights, the patisserie windows are filled with bûche de Noël, and the air carries a mix of cold and warmth that only Paris in December produces. Add Reims, home to the great Champagne houses and a Gothic cathedral that rivals Notre-Dame in its grandeur, and you have a holiday journey that balances festive charm with genuine luxury.
The Northern Lights are one of the world's most elusive and sought-after natural phenomenons. Unlike everything else included in this list, there's no way to guarantee (even with the most careful planning) that you'll actually get to witness the Northern Lights. That's part of what makes seeing them so special. Even with the best planning in the world, you'll still need a little bit of luck.
Don't let the lack of guarantee stop you from planning a trip around them, even a 5-minute sighting can be life-changing. Planning a Northern Lights adventure can feel all too overwhelming, which is why we have highlighted two journeys which take as much of the guesswork (and luck) out of the equation.
What makes it our top pick: Norway's Arctic north gives you the best statistical chance of seeing the Northern Lights of anywhere on earth. Tromsø sits directly beneath the auroral oval, the band of sky where the lights appear most frequently and most dramatically.
What makes it a close second: Iceland earns its place on this list for a reason that goes beyond the lights themselves. The country pairs one of the world's best Northern Lights seasons with a holiday atmosphere unlike anywhere else. Geothermal hot springs steaming against a snow-covered landscape, traditional Icelandic Yule celebrations, and the dramatic volcanic scenery that makes every day here feel genuinely otherworldly.
For travelers who measure a great winter holiday by the quality of the run, the warmth of the apres-ski, and the view from the mountaintop, a ski adventure is in a category of its own. But not all ski trips are created equal. The destinations that make this list combine exceptional skiing with the kind of scenery and travel experience that stays with you long after the snow melts.
We've chosen two journeys that go well beyond the typical ski resort experience, pairing world-class skiing with some of the most breathtaking landscapes winter travel has to offer.
What makes it our top pick: Switzerland is the benchmark for luxury ski travel, and this journey earns its top spot by combining two extraordinary experiences in one. It's a ski holiday and a bucket list train journey wrapped into a single trip. Ski some of the finest slopes across resorts like Zermatt and St. Moritz. Travel between them aboard the Glacier Express, which crosses 291 bridges and passes through 91 tunnels in one of the most visually spectacular rail journeys on earth.
What makes it a close second: Banff is North America's answer to the Swiss Alps, and this journey makes the most of everything the Canadian Rockies have to offer in winter. The skiing across Lake Louise and Sunshine Village is exceptional, with runs that suit every level and a mountain scenery of frozen lakes and snow-dusted peaks.
For travelers who would rather swap the gray skies and cold temperature for long warm days and the kind of sunshine that reminds you summer still exists somewhere, a winter sun escape is the answer. The destinations on this list aren't just warm, they're best experienced during the Northern Hemisphere's winter months when the weather is the most favorable and landscapes are at their most dramatic.
What makes it our top pick: While the Northern Hemisphere bundles up, Patagonia is in the height of its summer season, and it's one of the most striking landscapes on earth. This journey takes you through the raw wilderness of both Argentina and Chile, from the iconic towers of Torres del Paine to the Perito Moreno Glacier.
What makes it a close second: While much of the world is bundled up in January and February, Australia's tropical north is in the height of its summer season, and it's one of the most sun-drenched and wildlife-rich environments on earth.
Some of the world's most amazing cultural experiences happen in winter. Away from the Christmas markets and ski slopes, a handful of destinations come alive in the colder months with festivals and traditions that have been drawing travelers for centuries. These are experiences that go well beyond sightseeing, placing you inside a living cultural moment that most tourists never get to witness.
What makes it our top choice: For ten days in February, Venice transforms into a living theater of elaborate masks, Renaissance costumes, and centuries-old traditions that turn every bridge, canal, and piazza into a stage. This isn't a festival that happens in Venice. It is Venice, at its most theatrical, historical, and unforgettable.
What makes it a close second: Toji, the Japanese winter solstice, falls on December 21st and marks one of the most important dates in the Japanese cultural calendar. In Kyoto, the tradition is celebrated with yuzu baths, believed to ward off illness and bring good fortune, and a series of winter ceremonies at the city's ancient temples and shrines. Toji offers an intimacy and cultural depth that makes it one of the most moving winter experiences available anywhere.
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