While many people think of the beach and sun when they think of a holiday, there’s a lot of the world that you’re missing out on if you don’t fancy somewhere cold. We explore the best cities to visit in the winter, some of which are better in the cold than they are in the summer. If you’re planning a winter break for late 2015 or early 2016, this is your ultimate guide.
Christmas in New York
While temperatures in the summer can be quite impressive, they can get rather low in winter too. The city seems to suit the cold weather better than the hot, with clear, bright blue skies and crisp mornings and lots of snow. The winter fun kicks off with the Thanksgiving Day Parade – 50 foot balloons in the shape of cartoon characters and superheroes make their way down from Central Park through Broadway. After that, it’s Christmas season. 5th avenue shop fronts have their holiday displays, the Rockefeller Centre lights their 70ft tree with five miles of lights and a Swarovski crystal star atop, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is in its 84th year.
Oslo
Dawn takes all morning, and fine mist hovers over the trees. Oslo is a beautiful city in winter. Very cold, but very beautiful. You shouldn’t go without adequate clothes to keep you warm. With a wealth of culture to keep you entertained and educated, just outside of the city there are parks where you can practice your skiing, snowboarding or sledding skills. If you’re a keen winter sportsperson, then making sure that you have the right equipment can mean the difference between a good time and a great time.
Venice
Venice can be very crowded in summer. Plus, the canals do make it a bit smelly too. In winter, on the other hand, it is practically deserted. You don’t have to queue for anything (the basilica of San Marco has queues to rival Disneyland in the summer), and you have the city to yourself. From enjoying a coffee or a delicious hot chocolate in one of many secret gardens to looking over a romantically misty lagoon, to watching an opera at the Fenice, Venice might be deserted in winter, but there’s lots to keep you entertained. If you go during the Carnival of Veice, however, you’ll find that the city is definitely not deserted – and the prices that you pay will go up – but it is an incredible time to be in the city.
