It’s the most wonderful time of the year… for a great escape! Whether your idea of a winter vacation is escaping into a sunny sanctuary. Sipping frozen margaritas all day, or embracing the cold in full, fleece-layered glory, these are the best places to visit in winter!
Best Winter Haven to Visit: The Ultimate Winter Wonderland in the Finnish Lapland
If your idea of the perfect winter vacation includes 30 inches of snow, reindeer-drawn sleigh rides. Or the Northern Lights, then scratch every other list you have of the Winter Haven to visit. This is the place to beat every other in that category: the Finnish Lapland! Located in Finland’s northernmost region, this subarctic wilderness is the textbook definition of a winter wonderland. It offers picture-perfect winter scenery, adventurous days-out skiing, snowshoe hiking, or snowmobile driving. Romantic nights-in for couples – sauna trips and hot chocolate optional but highly recommended. And family-friendly day trips to bring your children’s Frozen fantasy to life. Take a flight to Rovaniemi, the capital and main town in Lapland. And from there, Lapland’s most unique attractions are all within easy reach!
Make your winter vacation to the Finnish Lapland even more memorable and stay at our recommended hotels in one of the best places to visit in winter:
- Arctic Light Hotel
- Scandic Pohjanhovi
- Nova Skyland Hotel
Best Places to Visit in Winter: Sunny Escape to Cape Town, South Africa
Ask any experienced snowbird for their list of the best places to visit in winter for a sunny escape. And we guarantee you that Cape Town, South Africa is on that list. What earns Cape Town its spot in the “best places to visit in winter” rankings, you ask? Well, when the Northern Hemisphere is blanketed in gray skies, soaked in rain and snow. And calls for several layers of clothing, Cape Town glistens in the summer sunshine from December through March. Summers in Cape Town are characterized by pleasant temperatures averaging in the 60s to high 70s with very little rain. To the adventurer’s dictionary, that translates to hours and hours of marvelous outdoor adventures. And Cape Town has plenty – surfing its Atlantic surf spots, hiking the famed Table Mountain, picnicking at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens,…
A good nightcap is the only way to end a full day in Cape Town – here are some local hotels that are sure to give you just that:
- Blaauwberg Beach Hotel
- The Table Bay Hotel Cape Town
- City Lodge Hotel Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
Best Places to Visit in Winter: White (Sand) Winter in The Bahamas
Close your eyes and picture your perfect winter day. If what you’re seeing involves sparkling white sand, turquoise waters. And being in the middle of it all, then the Bahamas is the perfect winter vacation destination for you. This Caribbean gem is a permanent fixture on every list of the best places to visit in winter. And for a good, undeniable, utterly irresistible reason. Snowbirds everywhere descend on this island-nation just as the winter season peaks in the Northern Hemisphere to enjoy the pleasant weather. The world-famous beaches, and explore its historic cities. Winter vacationers are spoiled for choice with activities – swimming with pigs on Pig Beach. Taking endless selfies on Pink Sand Beach, or taking a rum and food walking tour of Nassau for an authentic taste of the Bahamas!
Raring to go get your sunshine in one of the best places to visit in winter? Book a cheap flight to Nassau, the capital of Bahamas, and stay at any of these top-rated hotels:
- British Colonial Hilton Nassau
- Rosewood Baha Mar
- Breezes Resort Bahamas All Inclusive
Best Places to Visit in Winter: Crowd-Free, Budget-Friendly Winter Vacations in Venice, Italy
Everybody talks about Venice in the summer – the romantic gondola rides, the magical views from the canals, people watching from the terrace of an outdoor café. What doesn’t get talked about often enough is how Venice is one of the best places to visit in winter. Under the blanket of mist, gray clouds, and the unmistakable absence of the peak season crowds. The city transforms into a dreamier, enigmatic and, strangely so – a more romantic version of itself. Think: misty canals, rain-soaked Piazza San Marco, a Casanova-themed tour of Venice. Or tucking into old cafés for warm cups of cioccolata calda – all without the frenetic energy of the summer tourist crowds. And it doesn’t hurt that Venice is generally more affordable, with plenty of cheap flights to Venice this time of the year!
Plan your winter vacation to Venice and stay at some of our top recommended hotels:
- Hilton Garden Inn Venice Mestre
- Sina Centurion Palace
- Carnival Palace – Venice Collection
Best Places to Visit in Winter: Spectacular Sapporo and a Snow Festival for the Ages
When the last of the fall leaves have yellowed and blown. The city of Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido transforms into a snow-blanketed paradise and becomes one of the best places to visit in winter. Sapporo is a winter wonderland that can convince seasoned snowbirds into falling back in love with cold. Cold winter – with offerings that include some of Japan’s most exquisite seafood, exceptional winter sporting including skiing and snowshoe hikes, shopping galore, and cold days warmed by picturesque onsen trips to nearby mountain towns. But if you vacation in February, you can fly to Sapporo just in time for the spectacular Sapporo Snow Festival! The annual, weeklong festivities transform three major Sapporo locations – Odori Park, Susukino. And the Tsudome – into wonderlands that feature hundreds of ice sculptures.
Sapporo’s winter offerings await! Plan your trip today and check out these hotels:
- Hotel Keihan Sapporo
- Tokyu Stay Sapporo
- Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo
The perfect winter vacation awaits you in any of these best places to visit in winter! No matter what your idea of a perfect winter is, you won’t have trouble finding your joy in these destinations.
FAQs about Best Places to Visit in Winter
There are many places for an idyllic winter in Europe. If your idea of winter vacation is abundant snow and freezing temperatures, the Finnish Lapland is definitely on top of the list of the best places to visit in winter. Along with the neighboring destinations in the Scandinavian Arctic Circle (i.e., Sweden and Norway).
Destinations with lower tourist volume in wintertime, like Venice, Italy, are generally cheaper this time of the year, making them some of the best places to visit in winter if you’re looking to save on cost.
Besides the ski destinations in Europe, Sapporo, Japan offers pristine ski conditions. Making it one of the best places to visit in winter for skiing and other winter sports.
If you’re dreading the freezing temperatures, South Africa and the Bahamas are two of your most ideal winter vacation destinations.
There is a plethora of activities and places to visit in winter depending on what your interests are. Although skiing and other winter sports are popular, going to the beach in a destination in the Southern Hemisphere also offers a unique way to enjoy wintertime.
