20. Park City, Utah
Park City, Utah is considered to be one of the best places to ski in the entire United States. In addition, the city also has a thriving arts scene. Should you visit between January 18th and 28th, the great and good of the independent filmmaking world will be in town for the Sundance Film Festival.
19. Costa Rica
Mid-December marks the time when the rainy season ends in Costa Rica, so it’s the perfect place to enjoy a few warm, sunny days at the beach.
18. Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Mexico has numerous destinations that are highly popular with tourists, and Zihuatanejo doesn’t happen to be one of them. This makes it the perfect winter vacation, with January and February temperatures normally hovering in the high 70s.
17. Lima, Peru
Due to its location in the Southern Hemisphere, the Peruvian summer begins in December, making Lima the perfect getaway from the cold in the Northern Hemisphere. What’s more is that the city is home to no less than three of the 50 best restaurants in the world.
16. Singapore
Singapore doesn’t actually have any distinct seasons, so temperatures are constant year-round, making it an ideal place for a winter getaway. A great time to visit is during the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated annually in mid-February.
15. Cartagena, Colombia
This beautiful and historic city is home to stunning colonial architecture, and the climate provides mild weather throughout the whole year. There are also numerous festivals, such as the Hay Festival, for you to enjoy during the winter.
14. Cape Town, South Africa
Escape to the far reaches of the Southern Hemisphere during the winter on a visit to Cape Town – summer will be in full swing there. After the long journey, you’ll be able to enjoy numerous outdoor sporting events and concerts. The Kirstenbosch Sundowner Concerts are a particular highlight.
13. Miami, Florida
Although Miami is normally thought of in terms of skimpy bikinis and sizzling summers, late February is a great time to visit the city due to the excellent weather and lack of crowds. Enjoy the sun, sand and Miami’s vibrant culture to rid yourself of the winter blues.
12. Taipei, Taiwan
The Taiwanese capital is home to Taipei 101, which was once the world’s tallest building. Taipei is a fantastic place to consider if you’re thinking about a winter getaway over New Year’s Eve – the city lights sparkle, and there’s some of the best street food in the entire country to be enjoyed too.
11. Phuket, Thailand
Temperatures in Phuket drop to milder levels between January and March following the end of the monsoon season. Furthermore, there’s usually very little rainfall. The Phuket Old Town Festival, which takes place each February, is a vibrant cultural celebration that isn’t to be missed.
10. Breckenridge, Colorado
Should alpine holidays be your kind of thing, then you should definitely consider Breckenridge in Colorado. The town has plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy, as well as excellent slopes at the Breckenridge Ski Resort.
9. The Big Island, Hawaii
Hawaii is a dream destination at any time of year, but it’s also a great place to escape the winter. Life on the big island in winter is characterized by mild temperatures, so you can enjoy all that this tropical paradise has to offer.
8. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The Serengeti has both “short rain” and “long rain” seasons, but the drier months of January and February are sandwiched in between them. This makes them the perfect time to visit the Serengeti National Park for a safari. There, you’ll be able to see the early stages of the annual Great Migration, which sees millions of wildebeest and other animals migrate across the African plains.
7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro’s tropical climate can be sampled during the winter months, and if you visit in February, you’ll be able to get a glimpse of the world-famous Rio Carnival. It is scheduled to take place between February 9th and 13th in 2018, and includes parades, dancing, street band performances and more.
6. Seville, Spain
Winters in the Spanish city of Seville can be quite mild, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to low 60s. As a result, winter is an excellent time for sightseeing and exploring all that the city has to offer. An added benefit is that there won’t be the crowds of tourists around as there are in the summer.
5. Auckland, New Zealand
Summertime in New Zealand takes place in December, January, and February, so you should definitely think about enjoying the outdoors in Auckland. If you’re in the city for New Year, the Wondergarden music festival is an excellent place to celebrate.
4. Quebec City, Canada
The charming historic architecture of Quebec City, together with its delicious French-Canadian cuisine, make it a fantastic cold-weather retreat. What’s more is that the city is even more beautiful when it’s covered in snow.
3. Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
There are few places in the world that are better to be in during the Northern Hemisphere winter than Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach. The Sheraton Waikiki hotel makes festive sculptures from sand that are just on another level to your traditional snowman!
2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai is, of course, in a desert, so you don’t really have to worry about cold weather regardless of when you visit! It’s simply one of the most exciting places in the entire world to spend New Year’s Eve. Try ascending the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, for stunning views of the city’s fireworks.
1. Rome, Italy
Winters in Rome are usually quite mild, with temperatures typically in the mid-50s. The weather is more than manageable, and an added bonus of heading to Rome this time of year is that there are considerably smaller crowds of tourists for you to contend with. Tick the Colosseum off your bucket list!
Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
