Does anyone else suffer from January blues? These cold, dark days seem to never end and spring is so far away!
I didn’t book my winter break this year due to the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus restrictions, but I think I’ll definitely be there next year. There are so many things to do during winter break!
I’ve been thinking about some of my favorite trips I took between January and March. I wanted to share some of my favorite trips to give you some winter holiday inspiration!
1. Iceland
A five-day trip to Iceland was my first great winter vacation and completely changed my perception of vacations to cold places. I had only ever skied in cold places before, but Iceland opened my eyes to how magical snowy, cold places can be.
Sam and I rented a car and explored some of the most popular spots in Iceland.
Despite sub-zero temperatures, we were able to:
- go on a glacier hike
- Exploring the Golden Circle
- snorkeling between the plates
- Visited waterfalls and glacial lagoons
- Visited the iconic Blue Lagoon
Luckily, I was able to go to Iceland again this summer. If you’d like, I’d appreciate it if you could read about it:
- Best 36 hours ever in Iceland
2. Transylvania
One of the most unusual winter holidays I ever took was a four-day tour around Transylvania. We found cheap holidays under £300 on TravelZoo. We went from Bucharest to Peles Castle, Brasov, spent a night at the Ice Hotel, and then went on to Bran Castle (famous as the home of Dracula!)
My winter vacation in Transylvania
3. Marrakech
If you’re looking for a different holiday and some bright winter sun, Marrakech is the place to be!
I’ve been to Marrakech several times, but my favorite trip was a few years ago in January. We went there for Sam’s birthday and had the most amazing time. I only stayed for two full days, but it felt like more than enough time. We spent the first day exploring Marrakech and the second day hiking in the High Atlas Mountains.
3 day trip to Marrakech
What to bring when traveling to Morocco
4. Budapest
Budapest is a very cold city in winter, but it is also very beautiful and has a magical charm in the frosty morning light. There are also many cozy places to warm up! Cafes, bars and restaurants become even more inviting when it’s cold outside. Hot springs are also great when they are steaming everywhere!
10 great things to do in Budapest
5. Gothenburg
Nowhere else can you experience the cozy and hygge atmosphere like in Sweden. This winter getaway to Gothenburg was a welcome break from the winter blues.
Before this trip, Gothenburg wasn’t high on my list of places to visit, but I fell in love with how stylish, cozy, and welcoming the city was. Sam and I basically ate our way around town!
Read more: The ultimate guide to Gothenburg, Sweden
6. New York City
Maybe not all locals love New York City in the snow, but I loved New York City. It was magical and brought to life every Christmas movie set in New York that I’ve known and loved since I was a kid (yes, all those Home Alone 2 vibes!)
Read more: Mini guide to New York: 4-day itinerary for beginners
7. Valencia
If you want to enjoy warm weather without going too far, head to Valencia, Spain. It’s not exactly hot, but temperatures in January usually reach 15 degrees, so for Brits who don’t get much sun, the warmth is welcome!
Valencia is a beautiful city and also has the advantage of being close to the coast. Even though you don’t often get to sunbathe on the beach during the winter, I loved riding my bike to the sea and enjoying the sea breeze!
Read more: Varenika’s perfect weekend itinerary
8. Florida Keys
I know that for most Brits a quick trip to the Florida Keys isn’t an option, but I was lucky enough to do it on a press trip a few years ago.
It was a most welcome break from the gray skies of the UK and I spent several days of sunshine, jet skis, colorful houses, beautiful beaches and great food
Read more: The perfect 3-day Florida Keys itinerary
9. Finnish Lapland
A trip to Finnish Lapland now feels like a dream. Five days of skiing, reindeer rides, ice hotels, great food, magical adventures, saunas and ice pools, ice carts, electric bikes, and more. It was amazing and proved that you can have just as much fun in the snow as you can in the sun!
A stunning 5-day itinerary through Finnish Lapland
10. Dubai
To be honest, we were pretty spoiled on our family trip to Dubai and it was the most amazing itinerary imaginable!
Check out my 8-day itinerary for a family trip to Dubai and my Dubai packing list for women.
If you’re looking for more holiday inspiration, we have 52 weekend getaway ideas!