The Top 7 Winter Destinations Around the World

If you don’t consider yourself a “winter person,” then you haven’t visited the destinations on this list. Even though I’m a beach girl at heart, I’ve come to love snow season. There’s something magical about the way newly fallen snow glistens in the sunlight and how ice can glow a brilliant hue of blue.

Snowboarding fresh powder gives me the same thrill as surfing an ocean wave, and sledding still brings me a childlike joy. If you’ve only skied in the United States and didn’t think it was your jam, head to Europe, where skiing isn’t just a sport; it’s a culture rooted in leisurely lunches and rowdy après-ski parties. And you don’t have to ski or snowboard to appreciate the season. Every country has quirky winter pastimes, from ice fishing and curling to sledding under the stars.

I guarantee that when the snow starts to fall, these seven spots provide endless reasons to turn off Netflix, bundle up, and get outside. From racing electric snow scooters across frozen lakes in Finland to night tubing under neon lights in New Hampshire, these are the adventures that will have you doing a snow dance all season long.

Furano, Japan

Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, is a powder mecca. Westerners flock to resorts such as Niseko and Rusutsu now that they’re included on the Ikon and Epic passes, respectively. Furano, however, still feels undiscovered. Nicknamed the bellybutton of Hokkaido due to its central location, the town delivers pristine powder with a serious dose of culture and out-of-this-world food. Its ski resort averages 23 feet of snow a season and has one of the steepest vertical drops in all of Hokkaido at 3,116 feet.

Nearby, you’ll find great ski touring on the backside of small mom-and-pop ski areas like Kamui Ski Links, and in Daisetsuzan National Park, you can tour past the smoking fumaroles of Asahidake volcano,  then end your day in the local onsen. Zach Husted, owner of Limitless Guiding, is an expert on the best ski tours in the area, not to mention onsen, or hot springs,  and izakayas (casual Japanese pubs), like Robata, a tiny spot known for its fried chicken and potent homemade sake.

If you have a down day, stop by the Furano Shrine, visit the Statue Guanyin Temple Complex, and tour the gorgeous Nihonga-style paintings of the late Japanese artist Goto Sumio at his eponymous gallery. You’ll have to fly in and out of Sapporo, which is two hours away, so try to plan your trip around the annual Snow Festival (February 4-11, 2026) and witness gigantic ice sculptures on display in Odori Park.

Where to stay: Fenix Furano is an upscale hotel with a prime location across the street from the Kitanomine gondola, an on-site rental shop, and a fantastic hotpot restaurant (from $590). For something less pricey, La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot Spring hotel is a short drive from the resort and has an entire floor devoted to onsen and saunas (from $140). If you plan to ski tour, you won’t find a better base than Rising Sun in Kamifurano (from $290). This three-room B&B has sensational views of Asahidake and the Tokachi mountain range, and the husband-and-wife owners also own a butcher shop and prepare delicious meals starring local pork sagari.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

There’s a reason some of the planet’s top winter athletes (freeskier Lynsey Dyer, snowboard phenom Travis Rice, mountaineer Jimmy Chin, and former Olympian Tommy Moe) call Jackson Hole home. The Tetons are a serious proving ground, with Jackson Hole Mountain Resort living up to its nickname, “The Big One.” You’ll find some of the gnarliest resort skiing in North America here, as well as plenty of mellower runs off the Bridger Gondola. The cherry-red tram delivers skiers and riders to the resort’s most hardcore terrain, as well as the tasty waffles at Corbet’s Cabin. Each year, the fearless freeriders huck themself off the resort’s infamous couloir during the King’s and Queen’s of Corbet’s event (February 8-15, 2026).

Just 12 miles away, lesser-known Snow King Mountain, aka “the Town Hill,” may be smaller, but it’s just as steep, and is the place to go for a killer uphill workout (uphill passes from $35). The oldest guide service in North America, Exum is the gold standard for everything from backcountry safety 101 to skiing the Grand Teton, one of the planet’s most lusted-after descents. Non-skiers find plenty of reasons to love Jackson, too. Winter wildlife viewing is spectacular. Take a sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge ($42), ogle snow-dusted bison and moose from a snowmobile on a tour of Grand Teton National Park with Backcountry Safaris ($275), or embark on a three-day wolf viewing trip in Yellowstone with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris ($7,295). And let’s not forget the town’s awesome dining scene (Persephone Bakery is a must), locally owned shops, and honky-tonk après scene at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

Where to stay: In Teton Village, the 87-room Gravity Haus is a short walk to the tram and owns bragging rights for having the best après-ski hot tub scene (from $468). Half way between town and the resort, the Virginian Lodge (locally known as “The Virg”) is locally loved for its drive-through liquor and convenience store, karaoke nights at the Saloon, and the half-pound burgers served at Billy’s. Guests appreciate the friendly service, heated pool, fire pits, and on-site adventure center (from $160). Trailborn Hotels recently took over Snow King Resort, so keep an eye out for reimagined rooms with ski-in/ski-out access (from $243).

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt oozes European alpine charm with its car-free, cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, homespun bakeries, and cogwheel train that deposits skiers up the mountain. The town, with its backdrop of the famed Matterhorn mountain, looks like it belongs in a snow globe. Skiers of all abilities can find a challenge across Zermatt’s four huge ski areas. Plus, the new Matterhorn Glacier Ride II now links the entire stretch between Zermatt and Cervinia, Italy by cable car, connecting the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise mountain station with the Testa Grigia valley station.

If you do hop the border, be sure to pop into the slopeside Chalet Etoile for a bowl of house-made pasta and an electric yellow, brandy-spiked Bombardino cocktail. On the Swiss side, reserve in advance to score a table at Chez Vrony, a family-run mountain hut renowned for its burger. For more extreme terrain, consider a heli-ski excursion to a remote peak like the Monte Rossa massif (from $1,470) or complete the bucket-list Haute Route and ski tour between Zermatt and Chamonix ($1,980 for a six-day trip). For a more child-like thrill, go tobogganing on the 3.6-mile sled trail in Täsch. Or take a sled to dinner at Gitz-Gädi. This on-mountain restaurant within Hotel Silvana is known for its Valais classics like fondue and encourages diners to sled back to town by headlamp.

Where to stay: The epitome of alpine luxury, ski-in/ski-out Cervo Mountain Resort (from $880) has one of the town’s liveliest après-ski scenes, a restaurant specializing in fondue, and a sprawling indoor-outdoor spa with unique features like a Bhutanese bath. Budget-conscious mountaineers have relied on the comfy, dorm-style rooms of Hotel Bahnhof for more than a century (from $112).

Lake Louise, Banff, Canada

Don’t get us wrong, the skiing in British Columbia is epic. But when it comes to the ultimate all-around winter playground, you can’t beat neighboring Alberta. The province’s SkiBig3 area is an easy 90-minute drive from Calgary International Airport. Located in the heart of Banff National Park, it’s home to a trio of awesome resorts, including Banff Sunshine, Mt. Norquay, and Lake Louise Ski Resort, which recently opened 200 acres of new terrain called Richardson’s Ridge. Canada’s first national park is home to some of the darkest skies in North America, which makes it ideal for spotting the northern lights.

When the sun sets, Mount Norquay remains open for night skiing and the gondola at Banff whisks guests up Sulphur Mountain to Nightrise. This Indigenous storytelling experience that incorporates stargazing. The park is laced with trails for snowshoeing and Nordic skiing, and the hike through Johnston Canyon leads to towering frozen waterfalls popular with ice climbers. And a winter wildlife tour with adventure company Radventures ($86) takes in iconic sites like Cave and Basin thermal springs while scouting resident animals like bighorn sheep and elk.

Where to stay: In downtown Banff, the newly opened, 67-room Kenrick has a hydrotherapy spa with a saltwater pool and a locavore-focused Italian restaurant that serves hearty dishes like Alberta lamb osso bucco (From $160). The castle-like Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has a dreamy setting overlooking frozen Lake Louise and a network of Nordic ski trails (from $360). Another reason to splurge on a stay: Only guests have access to BASIN Glacial Waters, the hotel’s stunning indoor-outdoor thermal bathing experience designed by acclaimed Italian architect Matteo Thun ($200 for three hours).

Lakeland, Finland

Everyone flocks to Lapland in the far north, but Finland’s Lakeland region is just as enticing. Winter is known as ice season. Europe’s largest lake district transforms into a frozen labyrinth of lakes, rivers, and canals surrounded by vasts swaths of forest. The region’s jewel, Lake Saimaa, spans nearly 17,000 square feet and becomes one massive ice rink marked with trails for hiking and ice skating. Favorite ice trails include the nearly 12.5-mile winter hiking trail from Oravi through Linnansaari National Park to Rantasalmi, and the nearly 10.5-mile skating track in Punkaharju, which has a rental shop, plus warming areas and a cafe along the route ($10 for a skating pass). Local outfitter Best Lake Nature Adventures arranges ice-fishing trips where you can try to hook a pike or perch ($70 for two hours). For a bit more action, try a guided electric snow scooter safari along the Norppapolu Trail in Saimma Geopark ($370 for two hours). Those looking to embrace the elements can don survival suits and try ice floating in the Puumala Strait with Finnish guide Arto ($65 for 90 minutes) or channel your inner Wim Hof and polar plunge. Finland boasts more than 3 million saunas, so you’ll always be able to find a spot to warm up.

Where to stay: In Puumala, family-run Sahanlahti Resort has a lakefront setting and accommodations ranging from hotel rooms and traditional cottages to cozy cabins and modern villas. Guests have their choice of five saunas, including a unique frozen igloo sauna only available in winter (from $111). Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän in Rantasalmi provides easy access to Linnansaari National Park and boasts a grotto-like spa, a “sauna world” with three types of saunas, and one of Finland’s most ambitious restaurants, Solitary (from $160).

Southcentral Alaska

A last frontier for winter adventure, Alaska offers it all from heli-skiing and ice climbing to dog sledding and glacier hiking. You don’t have to go far, either. In downtown Anchorage, you can rent a fat bike from Pablo’s (from $30) and explore the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail,which leads to Kincaid Park, or book a fat bike tour with Alaska Trail Guides ($129 for 90 minutes). Alaska Helicopter Tours, which is a 45-minute drive north in Palmer, offers mind-boggling excursions on the glowing blue Knick Glacier, from cave exploration and ice climbing ($1,299 for four hours) to ice skating and trekking (from $799). Head 45 minutes south and you end up in the funky little town of Girdwood, where Alyeska Resort delivers some serious steep-and-deep terrain and some serious pampering at its 50,000-square-foot Nordic Spa (from $125). No one knows the surrounding terrain of the Chugach Mountains quite like Aaron Brill, owner of Silverton Mountain Guides. His chopper will scoop guests up directly at the Alyeska resort heli-pad, then head out in search of untouched powder (from $9,890 for a six-day trip). One of the best ways to explore the area is on a snowmobile trip with Glacier City Tours. The Girdwood-based operation brings guests to glowing cerulean glaciers and has access to groomed trails at a private gold mine surrounded by 7,000-foot glaciated peaks (from $275 for 3.5 hours).

Where to stay: In downtown Anchorage, the newly opened Wildbirch Hotel has 252 rooms decorated with local touches, such as headboards carved with topographical maps pinpointing the summit of Denali, plus an on-site brewery and tasting room from Midnight Sun Brewing Co (from $199). Alyeska Resort has every imaginable amenity, from a saltwater pool and fitness center to a killer sushi restaurant and a market with local ice cream and an impressive selection of books (from $269).

North Conway, New Hampshire

The gateway to the White Mountains, North Conway is a dream base for alpine, backcountry, and Nordic fanatics. Visitors are within a 30-minute drive from seven ski resorts, including the state’s largest ski area, 464-acre Bretton Woods, six cross-country networks, 30,000 vertical feet of backcountry gladed terrain, and legendary backcountry ski lines, like Tuckerman Ravine, a 280-degree glacial cirque sitting on the southeastern side of Mount Washington. Often touted as the birthplace of American skiing, North Conway is steeped in alpine history; get a lesson at the New England Ski Museum in the heart of town.

For an intro to the backcountry, hire a guide from local outfitter Red Line Guiding (from $175 for a half-day). Experienced mountaineers can test their mettle and summit Mount Washington—one of the tallest mountains in the east with an elevation of 6,288 feet—with Northeast Mountaineering (from $375). Families love Cranmore Mountain Resort’s tubing and mountain adventure park. New this season: night tubing under a kaleidoscope of LED lights ($49 for two hours). There are plenty of options for après, including local favorites like Barley & Salt Tap House and Kitchen and Moat Mountain Brewing Company.

Where to stay: White Mountain Hotel & Resort’s newly updated rooms feature pieces crafted by local artisans; breakfast is included with a stay (from $169) at the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa, home to Bretton Woods, is a 40-minute drive north and has one of New England’s most impressive spas. Its grounds are home to one of the largest cross-country ski areas on the East Coast, with more than 60 miles of trails (from $239). Guests get discounts on ski passes and rentals. Villa Hygge Hotel in North Conway transports guests to Scandinavia with its minimalist design and Nordic Spa (from $409).

Jen Murphy is a regular contributor to Outside. Night tobogganing in the Alps is her favorite winter pastime.