Are you tired of celebrating Christmas and New Year holidays at home chopping salads? Then let’s plan a trip to some of the most beautiful and magical places in the world. There you will meet the city’s entertainment, fairs, ice rinks, Christmas atmosphere, and outdoor activities!
Czech Republic: Prague
Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe! It is mostly visited in summer, but in winter, it remains relatively free from tourists. Sparkling in the winter months, this city entertains visitors and locals with an ice rink. The Christmas market offers delicacies, wine, and music, while in February, Bohemian Carnevale provides many fun activities.
Prague is a city that you can go to all year round. Its architecture is flawless. With snow-covered spires and cobblestone winding streets, fabulous Prague is really worth seeing at least once in your life. In winter, one of the most beautiful areas is the Old Town, with its towers and Romanesque vaults with gas street lamps adding a romantic atmosphere into the winter evenings.
Austria: Vienna, Salzburg
Salzburg is an ideal place for winter vacations! There you will listen to Christmas carols and visit traditional fairs. The famous song “Silent Night” was once performed for the first time on Christmas Eve in 1818 on Salzburg’s outskirts in Oberndorf.
Behind the Salzburg Hohensalzburg Fortress, you can visit the Main City Market. And if you’re a gourmet, you should definitely visit the Mirabelle Market and try the local specialties, such as halusky – dumplings combined with fried bacon.
The center of attraction for many tourists is the city of Vienna, a historical town located in the Alpine region. In winter, the town hosts numerous entertainment events. Just imagine how you skate surrounded by beautiful Austrian architecture. There are also many fairs on Christmas Eve with lots of sweets, gastronomic delicacies, and local handicrafts. Winter in Vienna is the opera and ball season, so I advise you to visit such performances to enjoy Austrian culture’s wealth!
Norway: Tromsø, Bergen
Bergen is a city buried in fjords, surrounded by untouched nature! Here you will experience the atmosphere of an idyllic northern village. In the mountains, you can go skiing, snowboarding, and sledding. And if you want to admire the panoramic views, you can climb to the top of Mount Ulriken by cable car.
Have you ever dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights? Then a city like Tromso will be an ideal destination for your journey. You will also have the opportunity to visit exciting museums: Tromsø Museum – where you will find out about Sami exhibitions and Polar Museum – where you will learn more about Arctic expeditions.
In general, Norway is a great place with wonderful nature, numerous winter outdoor activities, and many SPA centers.
Canada: Banff, Ottawa
Ottawa is known for its festivals! Spending your holidays in the capital of Canada, you can visit:
- Winterlude – one of the world’s largest annual winter festivals with ice sculptures, outdoor concerts, and toboggan courses.
- “Christmas Lights Across Canada” – a program where you will see the city’s sights, such as the most massive monuments and buildings, decorated with festive lights.
- A 7.8-kilometer-long road for skating in Ottawa. For skate lovers, this is just paradise!
Surround yourself with mountain scenery in Banff, Canada. This city is popular among tourists all year round because there are many opportunities: climbing, skiing, biking, and much more. You can always drop by cafes, restaurants, and museums in addition to the beautiful snow scenery. And Banff Avenue is one of the most picturesque streets in all of Alberta, which is worth a stroll!
Japan: Tokyo, Nagano
In winter, Tokyo becomes a center of attraction for tourists. Of course, who doesn’t want to celebrate New Year being in the country which meets it the first in the world!:)
At Christmas, the Japanese decorate everything around so innovatively and beautifully that it is worth seeing for everyone in real life!
During the holidays you can go shopping, skiing, snowboarding, swimming in hot springs, and visiting many winter festivals. I advise you to attend Tori no Ichi and Jingu Gaien Icho Matsuri festivals. Besides the entertainment in Tokyo, you can always find peace and relax in the temples and nature.
Nagano once hosted the Winter Olympic Games. This city has an excellent base for exploring ski resorts located nearby. You can visit the natural hot springs, walk the slopes, and look at the Buddhist temples. I also advise you to see the Togakushi Minzoku-kan Folk Museum, which exhibits a fascinating exposition about a ninja who previously trained there.
Ireland: Dublin
City of frosts, snowdrifts and a huge number of pubs where you can get warm! Dublin is one of the most friendly cities in all of Europe. Here you can walk in Dublin and Wicklow mountains, where there are many convenient hiking trails and outstanding panoramic views! Dublin has a rich cultural life and musical scene performances, so you will have the opportunity to visit many cool parties.
