Often, when the days start to shorten, travelers split into two camps: those chasing the snow and those running from it. Some find joy in a chalet with easy access to fresh powder and a lively après scene. Others crave a bungalow on the beach where they can feel the sun on their skin. No matter which group you fall into, winter often brings a bonus: smaller crowds and better travel deals, especially in the shoulder weeks between holidays.
Some destinations shine brighter in the colder season, albeit for different reasons. So we’ve rounded up 14 of the world’s best to tempt you into traveling during winter’s short few months.
Boston knows how to handle—and celebrate—cold weather, from the Back Bay to the Frog Pond.
Photo by Keith J Finks/Shutterstock
1. Boston, Massachusetts
Will you need layers for a snowy-season trip to Boston? Sure. But for a city break with all the totems of winter, Boston more than delivers.
The season transforms the city’s historic streets into something out of a snow globe—brick row houses dusted in white, gas lamps flickering through the early dusk, and the smell of soul-warming seafood chowder drifting from restaurants in the Seaport area. You can lace up your ice skates on Frog Pond in the Boston Common, thaw out over afternoon tea beneath the soaring ceilings of the Boston Public Library, or hear the crunch of snow as you walk through the winter wonderland that is the Arnold Arboretum. Catch a hockey game at TD Garden, browse the boutiques of Beacon Hill and Newbury Street, or duck into a cozy tavern for a pint in the Back Bay. In Boston, winter isn’t just endured—it’s part of the charm.
Where to stay: The Newbury Boston
- Book now: thenewburyboston.com
Situated across the street from the Public Garden and surrounded by snow-capped brownstones, this is one of Boston’s best hotels. It reopened in 2021 after a two-year renovation that updated all of its 286 guest rooms. (We recommend booking one of the 90 suites; many of them come with cozy wood-burning fireplaces and an extensive fireplace menu, including filet mignon and spicy pink lobster chowder.)
Winter has us longing to be marooned on Castaway Island in Fiji.
Photo by Nina Janesikova/Shutterstock
2. Fiji
Winter in the Northern Hemisphere means summer sunshine in Fiji, where December through February brings warm ocean breezes, turquoise lagoons, and that signature island slow-down. This is technically the wet season, but showers tend to be short and dramatic—followed by brilliant bursts of blue sky—so travelers still find plenty of time to explore. It’s also shoulder season, which means fewer crowds and better rates at Fiji’s boutique resorts and private-island hideaways.
Divers and snorkelers can head to the Great Astrolabe Reef or the Somosomo Strait, famous for its technicolor soft corals and manta ray sightings. On land, you can hike through rainforest trails to waterfalls on Taveuni, kayak along the mangroves of Viti Levu, or take a boat trip through the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands, where you’ll find sandbars that disappear at high tide and villages that welcome visitors with kava ceremonies.
Where to stay: Kokomo Private Island
- Book now: kokomoislandfiji.com
A 45-minute seaplane flight from the city of Nadi, Kokomo Private Island sits on the edge of Fiji’s Great Astrolabe Reef, one of the largest and most pristine reef systems in the world. Days here tend to unfold in and around the water: snorkeling over coral gardens that shimmer with parrotfish, diving with manta rays, paddleboarding in water so clear it looks lit from below, or sipping wine on the restaurant patio overlooking the surf. Each of the 21 beachfront villas and residences are equipped with breezy living areas, a private infinity pool, open-air showers, and hammocks strung between coconut palms near the ocean.
The design and colors of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West are as warm as the desert sun.
Photo by Carrie A Hanrahan/Shutterstock
3. Scottsdale, Arizona
Winter—when temperatures dip to a cooler 72 degrees Fahrenheit by day on average—may be the most comfortable time to visit Scottsdale. That’ll be the case in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a desert habitat that boasts 225 miles of shared-use trails lined with towering saguaro cacti and feathery mesquite trees.
Scottsdale is also home to a thriving art scene. The Arts District has hundreds of specialty shops, galleries, and museums, many featuring the work of Indigenous artists. And for design lovers, there’s Taliesin West, built by Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices in the 1930s (and expanded upon until the architect’s death in 1959). Considered one of Wright’s most influential creations, it was once his winter home and studio. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and open to the public.
The city also has a reputation for being a foodie haven. For dinner, consider Citizen Public House, a James Beard Award–nominated upscale American restaurant (the coffee-rubbed boneless short ribs are delectable), or the Americano, an Italian-inspired steakhouse that opened in 2020 and has an impressive cocktail menu.
Where to stay: The Global Ambassador
- Book now: globalambassadorhotel.com
Set at the meeting point of Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley, the Global Ambassador feels more like a neighborhood hub than a resort, with locals and travelers mingling over coffee in the lobby café or sunset drinks on the rooftop terrace overlooking Camelback Mountain. Opened by famed restaurateur Sam Fox in 2024, the 141 pied-à-terre inspired guest rooms feature oak floors, woven textiles, and sun-warmed tones (and many have balconies that overlook the city or the mountains).
The skies steal the show all winter long in Fairbanks.
Photo by Hailin Chen/Shutterstock
4. Fairbanks, Alaska
Despite the subzero temps (winter temperatures can dip to -20 degrees Fahrenheit), the darkest months of the year are when Fairbanks shines, literally. Because Fairbanks sits directly below the auroral oval (a naturally occurring atmospheric band that hugs the northernmost climes and denotes where auroral activity is most likely to occur), it is an ideal staging point for watching one of nature’s greatest shows: the northern lights. According to Explore Fairbanks, the local tourism board, streamers of light unfurl over the interior Alaskan city an average of 240 nights per year.
If you want to stack the deck in your favor (especially as we approach a solar maximum), companies like Salmon Berry Tours and Last Frontier Mushing Co-Op can lead the way.
During the day, visitors can check out the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North, which displays Indigenous artwork, a mummified bison from the Ice Age, and, soon, the famous Into the Wild bus. If you’re keen on spending time outside, Running Reindeer Ranch leads guided hikes through the boreal forest, a place that features a herd of domesticated reindeer. A visit to Chena Hot Springs Resort is also a must, if only for the 106-degree, spring-fed outdoor soaking pool.
Where to stay: Borealis Basecamp
- Book now: borealisbasecamp.net
On 100 acres of boreal forest just north of Fairbanks, Borealis Basecamp is a truly intimate stay. Guests have interesting options for lodging: one of its private fiberglass igloos (much like the kind used by polar research stations) with a see-through ceiling, or one of its cubes that feature floor-to-ceiling windows. You can’t go wrong with either option, as you’ll be able to watch the northern lights from the comfort of your bed in both spots.
This little island is often overshadowed by the wealthier Mustique next door, but Bequia has distinctive charms of its own.
Photo by Nancy Pauwels/Shutterstock
5. Bequia, St. Vincent and Grenadines
Bequia is best known for its yachties, a legacy of the pirate-driven era in the region, when its harbor lured the likes of the infamous English pirate Blackbeard. The first tourists here in the 1960s had a creative vibe, including Bob Dylan (who arrived keen to buy one of the handmade boats for which it was long known).
It retains that off-kilter appeal even now: Take Grenadine Sea Salt, run by erstwhile commercial photographer Jerry Simpson, who designed his own pans to improve on age-old production methods. Now he offers everything from tasting dinners to tours of his operation on the island. Make sure to swim in the waters off Princess Margaret Beach, where the late British royal would come to escape the socially constricting confines of Mustique island.
Where to stay: Bequia Beach Hotel
- Book now: bequiabeachhotel.com
Swedish entrepreneur Bengt Morstedt operates the Bequia Beach Hotel, an upscale, laid-back option. This family-run property is spread across 10 acres on Friendship Bay Beach.
Ski, snowboard, or soak in hot springs in Lake Tahoe.
Courtesy of nathanguzman/Unsplash
6. Lake Tahoe, Nevada and California
Because Tahoe is the nucleus of the country’s largest concentration of ski resorts, it’s a great getaway for skiers and snowboarders. Here you can spend a day exploring the legendary slopes at Mt. Rose Ski Resort (which features more than 50 trails, backcountry access, a bevy of terrain parks, and the highest elevation in Tahoe), Palisades Tahoe (with terrain so varied it hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics), or perhaps Heavenly Ski Resort (the largest in the area). Afterward, pop over to Reno to explore the public art sculptures from Burning Man, which dot the downtown area.
A winter trip to Tahoe is worth it even if you don’t ski or snowboard. Surely you can appreciate a destination that is rife with stunning scenery, stellar shopping and spas, and a much-lauded après scene. Consider spending an afternoon at the hot spring–fed tubs at David Walley’s Resort, following the South Lake Tahoe Beer Trail, going for a scenic drive around the lake, taking a snowshoe or cross-country skiing class, or soaking up mountain views from the comfort of a gondola.
Where to stay: Desolation Hotel
- Book now: desolationhotel.com
Equidistant from the beach and the gondola at Heavenly, this South Lake Tahoe stay is one of the best for the wintertime. Each of its 21 rooms has a kitchenette, a fireplace, and a soaking tub on a private balcony. The hotel also includes a saltwater pool and Jacuzzi, a sauna and a cold shower plunge, a fitness studio, and a dog-friendly policy.
With the Mayan archaeological city of Lamanai and the world-famous Blue Hole, there are memorable sights in Belize above and below water.
Photos by Thomas Prior
7. Belize
There are lots of reasons to love Belize. The tiny Central American nation packs a lot into its borders: the world’s second-largest barrier reef (which includes the Great Blue Hole, a UNESCO World Heritage site), rainforests alive with howler monkeys and Mayan ruins, and a coastline dotted with laid-back beach towns and resorts.
Winter is the dry season in Belize, when the skies stay clear and temperatures hover comfortably between the mid-70s to the low 80s—ideal for both reef and jungle adventures. It’s also when the country hosts some of its most vibrant festivals and events, from the End of the World Marathon along the Caribbean coast to the four-day San Pedro Carnival to the epic La Ruta Maya Canoe River Race, which traces more than 170 miles of the Belize River.
Where to stay: The Placencia
- Book now: theplacencia.com
Located on a private beach, this resort is an easy base camp for water-related activities like sailing and snorkeling. Each of the 88 rooms has a furnished patio and air-conditioning. Other perks include a free airport shuttle and complimentary bicycle hires.
Deer Valley has 9,000 acres of some the most powdery, soft, and “greatest snow on earth.”
Photo by Larry Zhou/Shutterstock
8. Park City, Utah
Park City is arguably most alive from December through March. Once a mining outpost, the town now draws skiers and snowboarders from around the world to its two major resorts—Park City Mountain and Deer Valley—where more than 9,000 acres of runs sprawl across the Wasatch Range. The snow here is famously light and dry, making for ideal conditions whether you’re carving down groomers or exploring high alpine bowls, often under bluebird skies and that famously dry Utah snow.
But the season’s appeal stretches well beyond the lifts. Off the runs, visitors can snowshoe through aspen groves, ride horse-drawn sleighs, or soak in steamy outdoor spas as snowflakes fall. Better yet, the historic Main Street hums with après-ski energy, cozy cocktail bars, and fireside dining.
Where to stay: Grand Hyatt Deer Valley
- Book now: hyatt.com
Opened in 2025 at the base of Deer Valley Resort, the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley is one of Park City’s newest stays—and one of its most comfortable. The design leans modern but warm, with fireplaces, natural stone, and big windows that frame the Wasatch Mountains. After a day on the slopes, guests can relax in the heated outdoor pool or grab a drink at the cozy Hidden Ace bar. Remington Hall, the hotel’s main restaurant, serves hearty mountain fare made with local ingredients. It’s an easy, ski-in, ski-out base for anyone looking to experience Deer Valley’s new East Village and the mountain’s ever-growing terrain.
Visit Charleston for the African American Museum, warm weather, and amazing food—all with fewer crowds.
Photo by Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto
9. Charleston, South Carolina
Winter may be Charleston’s quietest season, but that’s exactly what makes it such a rewarding time to visit—the summer humidity long gone and the city’s cobblestone streets blissfully uncrowded. Daytime temperatures hover in the 60s, perfect for strolling past the pastel-hued homes of the French Quarter, biking along the Battery, and visiting places like the famous International African American Museum.
It’s also prime to experience the city’s celebrated food scene without a waitlist—grab a seat at spots like Husk for mole pork ribeye, FIG for brioche crusted flounder, or the Circa 1886 for its antelope polenta and seasonal souffle.The colder months also shepherd in the return of Charleston’s oyster season. If slurping the bivalves at restaurants isn’t enough, there are oodles of festivals celebrating the Lowcountry staple throughout the winter, including the Lowcountry Oyster Festival, the world’s largest oyster festival, which takes place on February 1, 2026.
Where to stay: The Pinch Hotel
- Book now: thepinch.com
This boutique hotel (which is also one of the best in the city) is spread over three buildings, including two restored Victorian-style homes (both are part of the National Register of Historic Places) and one new building. There are only 25 rooms, and they all have a midcentury vibe, thanks to custom art and furniture in earth tones and wood accents. The Pinch is also centrally located in the city’s Ansonborough neighborhood—close to all the shops, wine bars, and eateries that make Charleston what it is.
Winter in the U.S.A means summer in Patagonia.
Photo by Snowscat/Unsplash
10. Patagonia
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere means Patagonia is at its most inviting. From December through February, this vast stretch of southern Chile and Argentina gets up to 17 hours of sunlight, making it easy to spend days packing in hikes to turquoise glacial lakes and evenings lingering over local wines.
On the Argentine side, Bariloche offers a gentler introduction with alpine-style lodges, lakeside trails, and craft chocolate shops, while farther south, El Chaltén draws hikers into Los Glaciares National Park for treks toward the spires of Mount Fitz Roy. Across the border, Torres del Paine National Park showcases Chile’s most dramatic scenery, with jagged granite towers, bright blue glaciers, and vast valleys where it’s possible to see pumas stalking in the grasses.
Where to stay: Hotel Las Torres Patagonia
- Book now: lastorres.com
Tucked inside Torres del Paine National Park at the base of its namesake granite towers, Hotel Las Torres Patagonia is as close as you can sleep to the park’s heart. What began as a family cattle ranch has evolved into an eco-minded lodge with direct access to some of Patagonia’s most iconic trails, including the trek to the Mirador Las Torres. After a day of hiking or horseback riding across the pampas, guests gather for hearty Chilean meals of spit-roasted lamb and chargrilled steaks and pisco sours by the fire.
For consistent snow and gorgeous scenery, Andermatt is the place to be.
Photo by Marcial Gamma/Shutterstock
11. Andermatt, Switzerland
High in the Alps, where trains wind through snowbound passes and peaks rise like fortresses, Andermatt is one of Switzerland’s most dynamic winter destinations. Once a sleepy mountain outpost, the two ski areas (Gemsstock and Nätschen, now on the Epic Pass) make it one of the country’s most varied mountain playgrounds. Gemsstock’s steep off-piste runs draw advanced skiers, while Nätschen’s wide-open, sunlit groomers suit families and beginners. The snow here is famously consistent, the terrain spans more than 75 miles of pistes, and the lines are far shorter than at other hotspots in the country.
When you’re not skiing, there’s plenty to do. The Glacier Express and Matterhorn Gotthard Railway, two of Switzerland’s most scenic train lines, pass through Andermatt on its route to ski towns like Zermatt and St. Moritz. You can also try snowshoeing through the valley, ice climbing, or simply wandering the cobblestoned streets lined with cafes, boutique shops, and snow-topped timber chalets.
Where to Stay: The Chedi Andermatt
- Book now: thechediandermatt.com
With its soaring timber beams and walls of glass that frame the Alps, the Chedi Andermatt is the quintessential mountain retreat. Each of the 119 rooms is spacious and serene, outfitted with deep soaking tubs, Hästens beds, and balconies that open to crisp mountain air. After a day outdoors, the nearly 26,000-square-foot spa beckons with hydrotherapy pools, a 115-foot indoor lap pool, an outdoor pool surrounded by snowdrifts in winter, and saunas scented with pine. Some dining options include the two Michelin-starred The Japanese Restaurant, with its modern omakase menu, and The Restaurant, featuring its “Cheese Library” with over 40 regional Swiss cheeses.
Whales, wharves, and wine make Santa Barbara a winter wonderland.
Photo by Jon Bilous/Shutterstock
12. Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California, sometimes called the American Riviera, is a solid choice for those who have European dreams but U.S. PTO policies. Beyond the Mediterranean-inspired architecture, Santa Barbara also has a blossoming Urban Wine Trail, which includes more than two dozen member wineries. Most of them are within walking distance of each other, making it easy to get around.
Winter also brings two important migrations in Santa Barbara. Between December and April, visitors can watch from the shore as gray whales breach and puff water as they make their way to and from their breeding grounds in Mexico. For a better look, it’s worth hopping on a whale-watching tour with companies like the Condor Express. And from mid-November to mid-February, hundreds of thousands of monarch butterflies visit the region. (The Goleta Butterfly Grove is an excellent place to see them.)
Surfing is stellar year-round in this part of Southern California, but winter swells generally mean bigger and better waves, and the colder local weather translates to quieter beach days, so you may even have the surf to yourself.
Where to stay: Kimpton Canary Hotel
- Book now: canarysantabarbara.com
This boutique hotel, in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, wrapped up renovations of its public spaces in 2022. You can see the changes in the revamped Finch & Fork restaurant and the rooftop patio, from which you can take in the surrounding mountains and the sea. Each of its 97 guest rooms, many of which have separate soaking tubs, features a canopied four-poster bed and bathrooms with Spanish tiling.
Several places in the U.S., including on the West Coast , offer nonstop flights to the Bahamas.
Photo by Montez Kerr/Shutterstock
13. The Bahamas
On Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year’s Day, the Bahamas throws one of its most exuberant celebrations of the year: Junkaroo, a kaleidoscopic, centuries-old street parade rooted in West African traditions and a joyful window into Bahamian heritage. Downtown Nassau’s Bay Street is the epicenter of celebrations across the country. While you’re there, stop in at the Educulture Junkanoo Museum, where you can see past examples of elaborate costumes and make your own Junkanoo-style mask (masquerades have been a hallmark since the slavery era).
Beyond the festivities, winter is one of the best times to visit the Bahamas. The weather is warm but not sweltering, hovering in the high 70s with little rain—perfect for snorkeling among the coral reefs of Andros, kayaking through the Exumas’ turquoise shallows, or simply sinking into a hammock with a book and beer in hand.
Where to stay: The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort
- Book now: fourseasons.com
Open since the 1960s, the Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort features whitewashed colonial-style buildings, gardens modeled after Versailles, and a stretch of pale sand. The 107 rooms and villas are bright and coastal, with vaulted ceilings, private terraces, and views of the Atlantic or the gardens. Guests can spend their days snorkeling off the beach, swimming in the oceanfront infinity pool, or booking a massage in one of the Balinese spa villas surrounded by lily ponds.
Tassili n´ Ajjer National Park—a Unesco World Heritage Site—is finally open to tourists in Algeria’s Sahara desert.
Photo by imageBROKER.com/Shutterstock
14. Algeria
After years of closure due to security concerns along the Libyan border, Algeria’s Tassili n’Ajjer—a UNESCO World Heritage–listed expanse of sandstone canyons, wind-carved rock arches, and ancient rock art—has reopened to international travelers. The site, which sprawls across more than 28,000 square miles of the southeast Sahara near Djanet, is often described as an “open-air museum” for its thousands of Neolithic paintings and carvings that depict giraffes, elephants, and hunters from a time when the desert was still green.
Travelers can now once again explore the labyrinth of ochre cliffs and narrow wadis on guided treks with companies such as Explore Worldwide (a B Corp–certified small-group adventure operator and the first of its kind to return to Algeria). January brings the best weather for exploration, with mild daytime temperatures that make trekking and camping in the dunes not just possible but deeply rewarding.
The reopening signals a broader tourism revival across Algeria. The government has relaxed its once-cumbersome visa process and invested heavily in airport and road upgrades to make the country’s immense, underexplored landscapes more accessible.
Where to stay: Sofitel Algiers Hamma Garden
- Book now: sofitel.accor.com
Set on a leafy boulevard in Algiers’ Hamma quarter, Sofitel Algiers Hamma Garden offers a calm, contemporary base in Algeria’s lively capital. Guests can unwind by the pool, sip mint tea in the airy lobby, or dine on French-Algerian cuisine at one of the hotel’s three restaurants. It also has direct access to the historic Jardin d’Essai (Botanical Garden).
This article was originally published in 2024; it was most recently updated in November 2025.
