Whether you’re after a festive city break to some of Europe’s dazzling Christmas markets, or you want to forget the rain, wind and abominable temperatures altogether and get some January sun, there are plenty of fantastic travel destinations to choose from this coming winter season.
And holiday rental platform Airbnb has put in the work to find out the top trending spots this winter. Based on searches for winter travel between January 1 and September 15 2023, they’ve compiled a list of ten global destinations.
At the top? It’s Hong Kong. The city is especially popular in the autumn and early winter for its moderate temperatures but low humidity. Then there’s the vibrant nightlife and abundance of exciting food – a perfect winter getaway, if you ask us.
Buenos Aires, the sprawling Argentinian capital, is second on Airbnb’s winter travel list. Offering those of us travelling from the chilly northern hemisphere a much-needed dose of sun, the ‘Paris of South America’ makes for an ideal escape from the blistering cold. The best time to visit? Anytime before early January, when the Argentinian summer temperatures really start heating up.
Muang Pattaya is set to be the third most popular destination this winter, also offering travellers warm weather during the December to February period. The Thai city, which sits on the eastern Gulf coast, is known for its stunning beaches – no wonder it’s been dubbed the ‘Hawaii of the East’.
Thailand has proved particularly popular for winter travel this year, accounting for two of the four Asian destinations to make the list. Four European destinations are also in the ranks, including two places in Spain.
Here are the top winter travel destinations for 2023, according to Airbnb:
- Hong Kong
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Muang Pattaya, Thailand
- Playa Blanca, Spain
- Tokyo, Japan
- Ao Nang, Thailand
- Costa Teguise, Spain
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Washington DC, US
- Wroclaw, Poland
Where to travel in 2024
At Time Out Travel, we keep you updated on all the best places to travel to right now. Check out our recent ranking of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, or head to our Travel hub and up-to-date travel guides page for some travel inspiration for 2024, plus all the best things to do, eat and drink around the world.
Did you see that these are the underrated cities to visit in 2024?
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