Traveling in winter and during the low season may be just the thing for you. Far less tourist crowds, cheaper hotels and flights, winter scenery and activities, and a cool, dry climate may interest you.

Many cities take the opportunity to create different festivals in winter that are usually celebrated by the locals. From special restaurant menus, shopping discounts to Christmas markets and ice skating, these activities attract more people by the day to experience the real taste of each city.

Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia

The locals call this lake the sacred sea because it’s the world’s deepest and oldest (20 million to 25 million years) existing freshwater lake.

It is perfect for those who are looking for fearless adventures in the Siberian deep freeze with sub-zero temperatures that go as low as minus 40ºF. Baikal in midwinter is a roughly 12,200-square-mile crystal ice rink.

This location is perfect for dog sleds, snowballing, skating, rafting, ice diving and fishing. You can also volunteer to join the Great Baikal Trail, a local conservation group. Environmental threats, including industrial pollution prompted the World Heritage site designation for Baikal in 1996. A pulp-and-paper mill built near the lake in 1966 closed permanently in 2013, but significant ecological threats remain.

Kauai, Hawaii

Outdoorsy types seeking retreat from icy-cold weather are attracted to Kauai’s 80-degree days and dramatic landscapes. The fleeting mountain rain feeds abundant waterfalls and lush rainforests that are yours to hike and explore. It’s the perfect destination to escape from the snow and cold weather and simply head to the calm South Shores for snorkeling, surfing, and scuba diving. At sunset, set sail and watch the migrating whales put on a show.

Paris, France

Paris is always at its best in the winter season. With fewer crowds, there’s space to linger over a morning café latte and croissant while wandering through the famous Louvre museum.

When the season is low on tourists, it is a golden opportunity for you to get lower hotel and airplane fares. You will find free entrance to local museums and monuments especially on the first Sundays from November to March. You will also love the six-week sales, which will begin on January the 8th. Don’t miss the Christmas market- it is said that is one of the best in the country. The sales return in June, but by then, so will the crowds.

Beijing, China

Beijing experiences very cold, dry, long winters that begin in early November and extend into March. Average temperatures are below freezing, but frequent sunny days are the perfect opportunity for sightseeing.

Lakes, canals, and fountains are often frozen solid, which makes it a perfect opportunity for locals to practice Ice skating on the lakes of Beijing’s parks. There are even bicycles designed to be ridden on the ice.

The nearby sections of The Great Wall of China remain open to visitors during the wintertime. Tourists enjoy climbing the Great Wall and viewing the white wintry landscape in peace without the crowds.

Transylvania, Romania

You can’t visit Dracula’s lair on a sunny day with lambs bleating in the fields, right? Try steel-grey skies, bare trees and a smattering of snow. Brasov and Sighisoara, two hours apart by rail, are gorgeous medieval towns with various connections to Vlad Tepes, the historical Dracula, though it’s doubtful that he ever set foot in his so-called castle.

Mallorca, Spain

Beautiful almond trees typically begin to bud in late January and bloom through mid-February. It is the perfect opportunity to witness the white-sandy Mediterranean beaches ring, the largest of Spain’s autonomous Balearic Islands.

The month of November is where the mountainous island’s highest peaks can be covered in magical white snow. But the landscape is at its most dazzling white and pale pink in winter, when Mallorca’s millions of almond trees come into full flower, blanketing the valleys, hills, and plains with a layer of delicate blossoms.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam

The heart-shaped Phu Quoc Island offers some of Vietnam’s best beaches. They are closer to Cambodia than the Vietnamese mainland. Located in the Gulf of Thailand just off the Cambodian coast, Phu Quoc once housed the so-called coconut tree prison where Vietcong prisoners of war were held through 1973. It has now been transformed into a museum. What’s bringing international travelers and, so far, restrained development to Phu Quoc today are its warm, turquoise waters; secluded, sandy beaches; and lush, mountainous landscape, protected as a national park. December is the start of the dry season. You cannot miss the Cau Night Market and make sure to try whatever local fishermen have hauled in that day.

Copenhagen, Denmark

This city offers the best European winter fairytale for winter wonderland.

Forget the over-hyped Little Mermaid and head to the city’s cozy lounges and cafes and enjoy a warm meal while watching snow falling outside.

In the heart of the town, the 19th-century Tivoli amusement park is a fun place to enjoy with the family around Christmastime, with heartwarming illuminations and body-warming mugs of hot cocoa.

Chicago, USA

It is known as the Windy City. While it may not sound that enticing to stroll outside and admire the top-ranked architecture during winter, it’s hard to argue with that soul-warming pizza, a night of theater, or a cozy evening in a lounge, for which Chicago ranked in the top 3. To embrace the weather, go to one of the Polar Adventure Days on the city’s Northerly Island, featuring ice sculptures, snowshoeing, and meet-and-greets with Siberian huskies.

Prague, Czech Republic

With its snow-capped spires and cobbled, winding streets, Prague is a fairytale city that remains relatively tourist-free in the winter months.

The stunning architecture looks even prettier under a sheet of white snow, with one of the most beautiful areas being the old town, with its towers and Romanesque arches.

Gas street lamps were recently reinstalled throughout the city center, adding a romantic hue to the evenings. Cafes here are ideal for escaping the bitter cold.

Fes, Morocco

Fes has a wonderful, labyrinthine medieval souk and being far less touristy than Marrakech, is sometimes described as the real Morocco. The city is famous for its Arabesque architecture, and the city’s medina of Old Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is thought to be the world’s largest contiguous car-free urban area. You’ll probably want to get behind those glorious Arabesque façades: the recent conversion of many of the smarter traditional houses into hotels means you can recharge your batteries in luxurious comfort before heading out into the swirl of people, goods and overburdened donkeys thronging the center.

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