Winter is coming and if you’re looking for some ideas or places to spend Christmas and year-end vacation, here are some of the best places to visit this winter:

New York City

The truth is, there’s no place like New York. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have visited this city so many times and still am not tired of it. Summer, spring, winter, autumn…New York never disappoints. But let’s be honest here, nothing compares to Christmas time in the Big Apple. It’s during the most wonderful time of the year New York attractions transform into festive winter extravaganzas. From Times Square to Rockefeller Center to ice skating at Central Park and of course Macy’s, I believe everyone should experience NYC during Christmas at least once in a lifetime.

Austria

I visited Austria for the very first time exactly last December 2018 with a mission to find the prettiest Christmas market in Europe. As much as I love summer and wearing shorts and summer dresses all year ( I’m a tropical girl in the end of the day ) it’s actually nice to escape the warm weather for a while and put on some chunky knitwear, beautiful coat, and big scarf exploring Europe. I started my journey in Vienna, then Salzburg and Hallstatt. Not only Austria has some of the prettiest Christmas markets full of sweets, mulled wine, souvenirs, but also this country offers beautiful nature, history, and great food.

Myanmar

Tropical Christmas? Why not?

While of course Bali, Thailand, Singapore, anywhere really in South East Asia can be a great place to spend your year-end holidays but why not visiting Myanmar this time? From Yangon to Inle Lake to Mandalay to Bagan, not only you’ll find this country is simply amazing but also Burmese people are incredibly warm and generous. If you have extra budget, I’d recommend you to experience the hot air balloon over Bagan with .a specific date on the first day of January. Just because nothing beats starting a new year bright and early with your feet on the ground and head in the clouds.

Bhutan

Looking for an extraordinary place with beautiful people and culture? Then Bhutan is the place to be! I visited Bhutan for one week last February 2019 and if I had to pick top 10 best experiences in my life, Bhutan would be one of them. If you don’t believe me or want to know more about Bhutan, read here and here

China

I visited Beijing, China for the first time back in December 2012 with a mission to visit the Great Wall covered in snow. Checked. Not only it was extremely cold, but I found Beijing, Shanghai, even Guilin and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park were absolutely stunning and magical in the winter.

France

Of course you can’t skip France! From Paris to Colmar to Strasbourg to Rennes then Provence, the more I visit France the more I fall in love with this country especially during winter season!

Peru

Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, great food, culture, or something different and new you never experience before, Peru has everything for everyone. Read more about Peru here

Belgium

All I want for Christmas is…Belgian waffle, chocolate, and beers!!! Leave it to Belgium when it comes to the best beer and Christmas market. I remember I found myself incredibly happy like a 5-year-old kid walking around Brugge with fries and mulled wine in my hands. Curious, cold, and always hungry…few seconds later I’d stand in front of a chocolate shop, thinking whether I should get my fifth Belgian waffle or another cup of hot chocolate. Of course I got both! Belgium ( especially Brugge ) perhaps has everything I ever dreamed about a winter wonderland ( I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia and we don’t really have winter wonderland or Christmas market there ). From beautiful small towns to colourful Christmas markets, Belgium is definitely a perfect winter destination.

Prague, Czech Republic

If you’re thinking to spend Christmas or winter holidays in Europe, be sure to put Prague on your list. Why? Read more here

London

I know it sounds a little too crazy to recommend you to visit London in December ( and honestly I’ve only been to London once and that was back in April 2017 ) but with all those Christmas lights, events, and activities - I could only imagine how magical this city. So perhaps it’s not that bad to spend your year-end holiday in London ( OK honestly I’d pretend as if I’m filming a new sequel of Love Actually, Notting Hill, Last Christmas…just any rom-com movies out there )

Obviously there are many more places you should visit from South Africa, Tokyo, Kyoto, Bergen, Oslo, Italy, to Portugal. I hope you had a great year so far and excited to make the most of the last two months in 2019!

Top 10 Winter Destinations