10 magical breaks now winter is here

'Tis the season to wear hats, coats and scarves, so we've picked out the destinations that thrive once the temperature drops.

1. The big chill

“Winter is coming”? Ah yes. A reference to popular TV show “Game Of Thrones”. Its first episode was so-titled, and characters say it a lot, usually just before or after killing someone in a medieval way. Not seen it? Good luck catching up – it’s into its 47th series, or thereabouts.

But we’re getting away from the point. Which is that winter is coming. In fact, it’s here – today being the start of December. So this can go two ways. You can decry the cold – or embrace the season.

Where? Maybe at Winter Wonderland, the carnival of skating and fairground fun currently on offer in Hyde Park, London (until Jan 6; hydeparkwinterwonderland.com). But no swordplay or patricide, if that’s OK.

2. St Mark my words

Many European cities are more enjoyable in the chilly months, when the summer crowds have gone and the spilt ice cream does not assail every footstep. The Baglioni Hotel Luna (baglionihotels.com/venice) offers “The Codega Experience” – winter exploration of a cold, quiet Venice in the company of one of the city’s traditional masked guides. From €526 (£467) a head – including two nights’ accommodation (flights extra).

3. Prague's incredible Christmas markets

Few cities devote themselves to the Christmas-market craze like Prague – which is effectively one big vat of mulled wine in December. And, good lord, that means lots of tourists. So go to its less-loved neighbour, Bratislava, instead. The Slovakian capital also knows its way around a carved wooden toy (visitbratislava.com/christmas), but tends to be far less busy. Three-night breaks, with flights, start at £199pp, via citiesdirect.co.uk.

4. Father Christmas in Finland

It does seem a trifle unfair. An old man, who has been labouring at his largely seasonal job for several centuries, hits his busiest window in December – just as your kids insist they have to pay him a visit. He should tell everyone to come back in July. But he doesn’t. “Santa’s Secret Grotto” day trips to Rovaniemi, in Finland, cost from £415 a head, including flights through tui.co.uk.

5.  A snowy summer in Antarctica 

Now, you could go to the North Pole proper in winter. But it’s so dark that even the polar bears have gone to bed. Better to try frosted wandering in Antarctica – where, yes, technically it’s summer, but there’s still snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures. Aurora Expeditions has a 12-day “Across the Antarctic Circle” trip set to leave Ushuaia on Feb 19. From $9,100pp (£7,128). Flights are extra; auroraexpeditions.com.au.

6. Whisky a go go in Scotland

Few things say “winter” – of the cosy log-fire type – like a stay at a rural Scottish hotel, such as The Torridon (thetorridon.com) at Wester Ross in the Highlands. Not only does said retreat have double rooms in December from £145 (with breakfast), its Whisky & Gin Bar pours more than 365 different malts. Doubles all round.

7. Nordic Northern Lights

You have to hand it to the Nordic winter. Norway, Sweden, Finland et al spend much of the summer cooing at the midnight sun, and making all their visitors say “oooooh”. But then the coldest season comes along, slaps down the trump card that is the Northern Lights, and everyone goes “oooooh” a little louder. Where to go to see said celestial majesty? Transun (transun.co.uk) dispenses a one-week “Aurora Hunter” break in Swedish Lapland that involves huskies and snowmobiles. From £1,099pp, with flights.

8. Lakeside hot tubs

Why settle for a log fire as defence against the cold when you can sit outside in bubbly water and blow raspberries at Jack Frost? That’s the idea at the Gilpin Hotel (thegilpin.co.uk), near Kendal in the Lake District, where six of the 25 rooms have al fresco cedarwood hot tubs. Double rooms cost from £235 in December, with breakfast.

9. Best kristal

If you want to make categorically certain of paying winter its due, head for the Alps, where snow and ice are all the rage at this time of year. You can book a seven-night stay at Hotel Kristall – at Weidach in the Austrian Tyrol – from £1,180 per person, including flights, via inntravel.co.uk – then spend your week cross-country skiing. 

10. Glass act

The aurora borealis are remarkable. But hanging out in a Scandi forest in December can be like shoving your hands into an ice-box. How to admire the glow in the firmament while still being able to feel your thumbs? Perhaps via a stay at Kakslauttanen (kakslauttanen.fi), a cluster of transparent heated glass igloos in Finland.

Four-night breaks with flights cost from £1,365pp with Best Served Scandinavia; best-served.co.uk.