Best Places to Visit in Winter
Winter (roughly December to February) means genuinely different things depending on hemisphere and climate — a ski season in Banff, warm relief from summer heat in Dubai, and peak summer itself in Cape Town, Sydney, and Rio.
Banff, Canada
December to March turns Banff into a ski destination, with three resorts a short drive from town, plus cold-weather draws like the Banff Upper Hot Springs and the Johnston Canyon ice walk that are genuinely better in winter than summer.
Dubai, UAE
November to March is by far Dubai's most popular window, and for good reason — daytime temperatures are warm but manageable, a sharp contrast to summer's genuinely intense heat that pushes most outdoor activity indoors.
Cape Town, South Africa
December falls within Cape Town's Southern Hemisphere summer (November to March), its warmest, driest, and most popular season for the city, Table Mountain, and the Cape Peninsula.
Sydney, Australia
December to February is Sydney's Southern Hemisphere summer, its warmest stretch for the harbor and beaches, and includes the city's famous New Year's Eve fireworks display.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
December to February is Rio's summer, its busiest and most expensive season — but also when the New Year's Eve celebration on Copacabana Beach and, in February or early March, Carnival happen, if a big event is specifically what you're after.
Looking for a different season? See our guides for spring, summer, and autumn.