Where to go
Best places to visit in winter: six trips from festive lights to tropical sun
Winter is the season of contrasts: a cosy city under festive lights, a riverbank in snow or a beach far from the cold. These are the places we would choose between December and February.
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It is four degrees and grey, and only four in the afternoon, but on the Grand-Place in Brussels the lights are coming on. The guildhalls turn gold, the stalls smell of waffles and mulled wine, and people stop in the middle of the square to look up. That is winter's best consolation: cities that turn darkness into a reason to travel.
Winter trips come in two kinds. One is the cosy kind, with markets, warm cafés and a hotel you look forward to returning to. The other is the escape south to heat and light. Our six picks cover both, with an emphasis on places that are at their best in the darkest months.
Short answer: where should you go in winter?
For festive atmosphere, Brussels and Hamburg are excellent in December. Trondheim gives you snow and winter light without a long journey, and Las Vegas is at its most comfortable in winter. For sun, the Maldives in the dry season and Palm Beach in Florida are the best long-haul choices.
Best for festive markets: Brussels
Best cosy city weekend: Hamburg
Best for snow in Norway: Trondheim
Best for shows and desert sun: Las Vegas
Best for tropical sun: the Maldives
Hotel Amigo
Hotel Amigo in Brussels.
Brussels: lights on the Grand-Place
From late November to early January, Brussels runs its big winter market, with stalls from the Grand-Place to Sainte-Catherine, an ice rink and a light show projected on the guildhalls. It is one of the most central festive markets in Europe, and everything is within walking distance.
The rest of winter is about indoor life: chocolate shops around the Sablon, the comic strip museum, beer in old cafés and mussels and chips in the lanes behind the square.
The catch: winter here is mostly grey and damp, and the square is packed during the light show. Go early in the morning to see it almost empty. Read our Brussels guide.
Hotel Amigo: a minute from the square
Hotel Amigo stands in the street directly behind the town hall, in a building that was once the city jail, and its rooms are decorated with Belgian comic art. In winter the location is everything: you step out into the lights and are back in your room before the cold sets in. It is expensive, and the streets around it are busy at weekends in Advent.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Amigo
The Fontenay
The Fontenay on the Alster in Hamburg.
Hamburg: the Alster, concerts and long evenings
Hamburg in winter means the Alster lake, Christmas markets around the town hall and concerts at the Elbphilharmonie, the concert hall built on top of an old warehouse by the Elbe. Several markets open in late November, and the one on Rathausmarkt is the largest.
When the markets close, turn to the red-brick warehouses of the Speicherstadt, the Kunsthalle art museum and the fish restaurants by the harbour. A walk around the Alster is lovely in snow.
The catch: Elbphilharmonie tickets sell out fast. Book when the programme is released, or settle for the public viewing plaza. Read our Hamburg guide.
The Fontenay: a white hotel on the lake
The Fontenay sits on the western shore of the Aussenalster, a curving white building with an indoor pool and spa. On a dark winter afternoon it is a hotel you are happy to stay in, with lake views from the rooms and a rooftop bar. The centre is a long walk or a short taxi ride away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Fontenay
Scandic Bakklandet
Scandic Bakklandet in Trondheim.
Trondheim: snow, a Christmas market and floodlit ski trails
Trondheim is a Norwegian winter city at its best. In December a Christmas market fills the main square with stalls and fire pits, Nidaros Cathedral holds Christmas concerts and snow settles on the wooden houses of Bakklandet.
After snowfall, take the tram or bus up to Bymarka, the forest above town, and ski the floodlit trails with views over the city and the fjord. Afterwards, coffee in one of the cafés by the river.
The catch: days are short in December and January, and the weather swings between snow and rain. It suits people who enjoy winter, not those trying to avoid it. Read our Trondheim guide.
Scandic Bakklandet: wooden houses and the river outside
Scandic Bakklandet sits among the old wooden houses on the east bank of the Nidelva, with clean Nordic rooms, several facing the river. In winter you cross the Old Town Bridge to the Christmas market in five minutes. The streets are cobbled and steep, so bring good shoes for icy days.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Scandic Bakklandet
Bellagio
Bellagio and its fountains in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas: the desert city once the heat has gone
In summer Las Vegas is scorching. In winter the days are mild and the evenings cool, which makes it a good season for shows, restaurants and trips into the desert.
Drive to Red Rock Canyon west of the city for a walk among the red cliffs, and give a day to the Hoover Dam. In the evening there are shows, and the Bellagio fountains are free.
The catch: the huge CES technology fair takes place in January, when hotels fill and rates soar. Check the dates before you book. Read our Las Vegas guide.
Bellagio: the fountains from your window
Bellagio sits behind the lake with the famous fountains, and rooms facing the Strip look straight onto the water show. The lobby ceiling is a canopy of coloured glass flowers, and the indoor conservatory changes its display with the seasons, including at Christmas. Ask for a fountain view, and expect queues at check-in on Fridays.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Bellagio
Soneva Fushi
Soneva Fushi in the Maldives.
The Maldives: the dry season in the Indian Ocean
From December to April it is dry season in the Maldives, with the most sunshine, calm seas and clear water. That makes winter the best time to snorkel and dive on the reefs around the atolls.
Choose your resort for what you want to do: some are built for diving, others for families or for couples who want to be left alone. The seaplane from Malé is part of the experience.
The catch: rates peak over Christmas and New Year, and the journey is long. Plan at least ten nights. Read our Maldives guide.
Soneva Fushi: beach villas in the jungle
Soneva Fushi is in Baa Atoll, with villas hidden in thick greenery and private paths to the beach. You stay in a beach villa rather than over the water, and many are big enough for a family. It is among the most expensive resorts in the Maldives and suits a longer stay.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Soneva Fushi
The Breakers
The Breakers in Palm Beach.
Palm Beach: Florida's winter season
Palm Beach in Florida has its high season in winter, when North Americans head south for the warmth. From December to April there is sunshine, low humidity and a sea warm enough for most people to swim.
Stroll Worth Avenue with its shops and galleries, cycle the Lake Trail along the water and drive south to Miami for a day of art deco and Cuban food.
The catch: Palm Beach is quiet and costly. If you want nightlife and pace, stay closer to Miami. Read our guide to Florida resorts.
The Breakers: a Renaissance palace by the sea
The Breakers was built in Italian Renaissance style in the 1920s, with painted ceilings in the lobby and a long facade facing the Atlantic. It has a beach club, pools, golf and a spa, and works well for families who want everything in one place. Winter is full season, and rates follow.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Breakers
Good to know before you book
Markets open in late November: most run until just before or after Christmas. Check the dates for the year you travel.
Christmas and New Year cost more: in the cities and on tropical islands alike, this is the priciest period. January is often cheaper.
Short days in the north: in Norway and northern Europe it gets dark early, so plan around the daylight.
Long-haul needs time: the Maldives and Florida give the best value with at least ten nights.
Winter travel: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to visit in winter?
Brussels and Hamburg for festive markets, Trondheim for snow and winter light, Las Vegas for shows and mild desert weather, and the Maldives or Palm Beach for sun.
Where is warm in winter?
The Maldives has its dry season from December to April, and Palm Beach in Florida has its main season in winter. Closer to Europe, the Canary Islands are the safest bet.
When is the Brussels winter market?
The Brussels winter market usually opens in late November and runs until early January, with stalls from the Grand-Place to Sainte-Catherine.
Is Las Vegas good in winter?
Yes. Days are mild and evenings cool, which makes it pleasant to be outdoors. Avoid the week of the CES technology fair in January, when hotels are full.
When is the cheapest time to travel in winter?
January and early February are usually cheaper than Christmas and New Year, in cities and sun destinations alike, apart from school half-term weeks.