Posted on
December 19, 2025
in
Trip Ideas
As we venture into the first official day of winter, many people are getting ready to travel for the upcoming holidays. After that, many people are getting ready to vacate the cold north to beaches and resort towns with swim-up bars and lounge chairs. However, there are many beautiful locations around the world that are only made more beautiful by winter. While it may be hard to believe, there are many people who enjoy the cold and snow for many reasons other than skiing and winter sports. Here we present to you our top ten winter hotels and the activities that accompany them that will make you want to venture to a cold location for the winter.
Cristallo Hotel and Spa, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Located in the
Dolomite Alps, Cortina d’Ampezzo is a popular skiing destination. Add that to its idyllic Italian locale and you have a vacation made in heaven. And the winter sports don’t end with skiing. Every type of sport imaginable, even climbing frozen waterfalls, is available to the adventurous traveler. And when you are done outside, you can get pampered at the hotel’s Transvital Swiss Beauty Center or get a taste of Italy at one of its three restaurants. If you visit in the middle of January you will catch the Cortina Ice Sculpture Festival.
Hotel Borg, Reykjavik, Iceland
As one of the most luxurious hotels in this capital city, the Borg boasts the title of oldest hotel in Reykjavik. After you are done brunching on some traditional Icelandic food, the hotel can arrange transportation to one of the many hot springs that are located in the area such as the
Blue Lagoon.
The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado, USA
For a different type of chilling vacation check out the beautiful Stanley Hotel. The Georgian-style hotel was the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel, The Shining. You can decide for yourself if the building is haunted or not while watching Stanley Kubrick’s movie interpretation, which the hotel plays on a continuous loop on one of its TV channels.
Photo by ASK ROSEMARIE CCC
, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada
AS one of the catch-all winter sports resort towns, Mont Tremblant truly offers everything a winter sports enthusiast needs in Canada. From dog-sledding to the luge, the winter brings this town alive. And once you are done with your adventures, relax in the luxury of the Le Grand. With spas and saunas, this hotel will cater to your every whim.
Stein Eriksen Lodge, Park City, Utah, USA
Another winter sport Mecca, Park City attracts skiers and snowboarders alike. The concierge at the Lodge can provide you information on any of the activities going on at the hotel or in the area and can provide transportation to most. And when you are done with your spa treatment for the day, a romantic moonlight ride on a horse-drawn sleigh around the lodge grounds can top of your night.
Ice Hotel, Jukkasjarvi, Sweden
Yes, this is that infamous hotel that is literally made of ice. Rebuilt every winter, this hotel takes you back to the days of fur and fire pits. Although the Swedish version is the original, these have been popping up all over the world. Many come complete with an Absolut Icebar and dog sledding.
The Rimrock Resort Hotel, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Offering unparalleled views of the Canadian Rockies, the Rimrock is one of Canada’s most beautiful resorts. With easy access to
Banff National Park, the hotel can organize everything from ice fishing escapades to helicopter skiing and ice walks.
Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, St Moritz, Switzerland
The Spa at the Kempinski might just distract enough from the skiing that you never venture outdoors. The spa only uses the resources from the alps- the glacial water, the wood from the alpine forests. With a variety of services available, pamper away at the two story spa. The Mauritius spring originates in one of the hotel’s buildings, and is available to all the visitors of the resort.
Hotel Schlossle, Tallinn, Estonia
The capital of Estonia comes alive when the temperature drops. The old town erects a massive ice-skating rink and Nõmme’s Adventure Park is a pseudo winter ropes course. The hotel is one of the oldest, and located in the Old City so you will be in the heart of Tallinn. This quaint hotel offers spa and massage service as well.
Kempinski Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg, Russia
An iconic world-class hotel, the Grant Hotel is one of the most famous in the world. With five restaurants serving only the best Russian caviar and vodka, this hotel attracts those looking for the finer things in life. And even though the thought of traveling to Russia in the winter may be a chilling thought, much of the city’s beauty is amplified by the snow (
The Hermitage is also known as the Winter Palace, after all). And when the water gets cold enough to ice, you can see many of the city’s ice sculptors creating art around St. Petersburg., a tradition that dates back to the 1700’s.
More
Ice Hotels
More
Skiing and Snowboarding
More
Winter Festivals
Posted by jhartmann13 (JJ Hartmann)