Top 10 Destinations and Things to Do in Winter: Skiing, Snow Tubing, and More!

With autumn in full swing, that can only mean one thing: we’re one step closer to enjoying our favorite outdoor activities in winter! There are tons of winter wonderland destinations around the world with different activities — ski resorts, national parks, Christmas markets, ice climbs, hiking trails, and more. It’s really never too early to start planning your holiday, so here are the top 10 places and things to do in winter in Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland:

Muster up the courage and enjoy a walk across the frozen waters of the Okhotsk Sea in Hokkaido. You’ll be suited up in a specialized dry suit and be led by an expert through the surface’s ice formations. This ice walking experience is only open between late January to March and is one of the best outdoor activities for winter.

Bibai Snow Land is a unique winter theme park in Hokkaido with fun-filled activities for the entire family. Take part in exciting activities like snow tubing, snow soccer, bubble ball, snow rafting, and mini snowmobiling. You can even explore the park’s scenery, including its seven ponds, on a snow bicycle!

Japan is home to some of the best ski and snowboard trails in the world. Take your pick from four of Japan’s best ski resorts — Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Annupuri, Rusutsu Resort, or Kiroro Resort — for private lessons. You can take three hours, six hours, and even seven hours of in-depth lessons alone or with your family and friends. Each resort has its own beginner slopes that your professional instructor will guide you through.

Just an hour's drive away from Sapporo, you can play with your friends and family in the snow to your heart’s content! North Snow Land is made up of five areas for tube sliding, cross-country skiing, snow rafting, 4-wheel buggy rides, and mini snowmobile rides. They even let guests go horseback riding in the snow. After all the fun, have a tasty shabu shabu nabe meal with pork, chicken, or salmon.

Nami Island is one of the few destinations that’s picturesque and stunning all year round. In the winter, there are campfires sprinkled throughout the island for visitors to cozy up at. K-drama fans will also love the opportunity to recreate the drama ‘Winter Sonata’ as you wander through the snow-covered Metasequoia Lane — don’t forget to add this to your things to do in winter!

South Korea’s biggest theme park completely transforms during the wintertime and is still a must-visit for groups of families and friends visiting the country. From November to December, Everland Resort holds its Christmas festival aptly named “Winter Wonderland.” The theme park is made up of five themed zones: Global Fair, Zootopia, Magic Land, American Adventure, and European Adventure. The last zone is the star during the winter as the location of the T Express roller coasters (Korea’s first wooden roller coaster), and the Four Seasons Garden, which holds the Magic in the Sky night show during this season. The most fun things to do in winter are in Everland!

Simply take an hour-long subway or train ride from Seoul and you can have your own ski and snowboard lessons from a professional instructor! The Elysian Ski Resort is home to 10 ski slopes of different ski levels from beginner to advanced. Experienced skiers will certainly love the thrills of the Leopard and Jaguar slopes, but if skiing’s not your speed, they also have a sledding slope!

Drive through the snowy Bernese Oberland landscape to the Grindelwald and suit up for a whirlwind ski adventure in the Jungfrau region! These slopes are every skier’s and snowboarder’s dream with perfectly white gentle slopes, drops, and once-in-a-lifetime views of the Alps — easily one of the best places to go in winter.

Stroll through the charming and historical town of Lucerne before hopping on the Titlis Xpress aerial cable car to make your way to Titlis Snow Park for an exciting day of skiing and snow tubing. You can even head to the summit of Mount Titlis through the revolving Rotair cable car for a magnificent view of the Swiss Alps. From there, you have the opportunity to test your courage on the Cliff Walk — Europe’s highest suspension bridge — it’s definitely one of the most thrilling things to do in winter.

The fairytale-like town of Gruyeres is a unique trip definitely worth making when you visit Switzerland, especially in the winter. The snow-covered streets are a magnificent backdrop for your winter holiday, as well as the town’s top attractions. Gruyeres is known for being the home of two of Switzerland’s best delicacies: cheese and chocolate! Learn the secret to making the perfect Gruyère cheese at La Maison du Gruyère, plus indulge in a fondue for lunch. Then, explore the local Gruyeres chocolate factory, the Maison Cailler, for an in-depth look at how they make their sweet tooth-satisfying creations.

Make your festive winter plans as soon as possible to ensure your spot at these exciting experiences!