Winter travel: 9 magical destinations to visit for cool climates and snowy scenery

Hokkaido averages more than 15 metres of snowfall per year, the result of cold Siberian air sweeping across the Sea of Japan. Niseko, Furano and Rusutsu have built reputations on their dry, powder-fine snow, attracting skiers from across Asia and Australia. In Sapporo, the February Snow Festival fills the city centre with large ice sculptures, while Otaru’s canal district glows under lantern light. Onsen resorts in Noboribetsu and Jozankei offer a quieter experience, where outdoor baths steam beside frozen landscapes. Seafood markets continue to operate through the season, supplying king crab, scallops and salmon roe harvested in winter waters.

The Kashmir Valley, ringed by the Pir Panjal range, records regular snowfall from December through February. Gulmarg, located 50 kilometres from Srinagar, has one of the world’s highest ski lifts, reaching nearly 4,000 metres on Mount Apharwat. The snow depth can exceed two metres in midwinter, attracting visitors for both skiing and snowboarding. Srinagar’s Dal Lake partially freezes, and wooden houseboats remain moored along its edges. While the region’s infrastructure continues to develop, improved road links and air access from Delhi have made winter travel to Kashmir more feasible. Traditional Kashmiri dishes such as rogan josh and harissa are widely served during the cold season, offering a warm contrast to the climate.

Officially named Shuangfeng Forest Farm, China Snow Town sits 280 kilometres southeast of Harbin, at an altitude of 1,100 metres. The area receives some of the heaviest snowfall in China—often exceeding two metres—and remains covered from November to March. Wooden houses with thick, rounded snow drifts across their roofs create a distinctive landscape that has become a subject of domestic photography and film. Visitors typically arrive via Harbin, where the annual Ice and Snow Festival features illuminated sculptures carved from frozen blocks of the Songhua River. The region’s subarctic climate keeps temperatures between −10 °C and −30 °C.

Almaty, once the capital of Kazakhstan, sits at the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau range, part of the northern Tien Shan mountains. The city experiences cold, dry winters with average temperatures around −5 °C and consistent snow from December to February. The nearby Shymbulak Ski Resort rises to 3,200 metres and offers a 900-metre vertical drop, making it Central Asia’s most developed ski destination. Beyond skiing, Medeu, an outdoor skating rink built at 1,691 metres, remains a Soviet-era landmark still in use. Almaty’s blend of modern infrastructure and proximity to mountain scenery makes it a convenient yet authentic winter base.

Zermatt sits at 1,620 metres in the canton of Valais, enclosed by some of the Alps’s highest peaks, including the 4,478-metre Matterhorn. The town is car-free, served by electric taxis and trains, preserving both air quality and quiet. Winter snow cover usually lasts from late November to April, with year-round skiing possible on the Theodul Glacier. The Gornergrat Railway climbs to 3,089 metres, offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding summits. Zermatt’s mix of 19th-century mountaineering heritage and high-altitude infrastructure keeps it among Europe’s most reliable destinations for winter travel.

Located within Banff National Park in Alberta, the town of Banff sits at 1,383 metres and regularly records sub-zero temperatures throughout winter. Snow typically arrives by November and lasts into April, covering the peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, both nearby, freeze into solid sheets that attract ice skaters and photographers. The Ice Magic Festival in January features sculpting events against a mountain backdrop. Access is straightforward via Calgary, and roads remain open year-round despite the cold. Elk and deer are often visible near town, offering reminders of the park’s protected wilderness.

Tromsø lies 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and experiences polar nights from late November to mid-January, when the sun does not rise above the horizon. The city averages more than 100 days of snow cover each year, with temperatures typically between −5 °C and −10 °C. Despite its latitude, the Gulf Stream keeps conditions milder than inland areas. Tromsø serves as a base for northern lights observation and for excursions to nearby fjords and reindeer herding camps. Its Arctic Cathedral, built in 1965, remains a landmark visible from the harbour, illuminated even in deep winter darkness.

In the Southern Hemisphere, winter arrives from June to August, when Queenstown becomes New Zealand’s primary alpine destination. Located on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the Southern Alps, the town sits at 310 metres but is bordered by ski fields such as Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, which rise above 1,600 metres. The area averages about two metres of snowfall annually on higher slopes, with temperatures often near freezing. Winter events include the Queenstown Winter Festival and night skiing under floodlights. The town’s compact size allows quick access from accommodation to lifts, making it an efficient base for cold-season travel.

From the Arctic north to Asia’s mountain belts and the southern alpine range, winter travel presents varied climates and cultural rhythms shaped by snow. These nine destinations offer different kinds of cold, from the dry chill of the Kazakh highlands to Japan’s sea-borne powder and Finland’s deep freeze. Planning around daylight, altitude and transport ensures that each setting can be experienced as it is: precise, quiet and distinct in character.

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