8 Places in the World that Look Like a Winter Wonderland

Winter wonderlands only exist in fiction or in the Christmas song of the same name where you laugh and you play the Eskimo way, right? Think again, pal! The world is full of incredible winter paradises that you need to put on your travel list. Because we want your holiday season to be festive and jolly, here is a list of eight places around the world that feel like a real winter wonderland.

1. Harbin, China
When most people are feeling festive about wintertime, they build a snowman. But Harbin, China takes it to entirely different level. This city of more than 5 million, located in the frigid northern end of the country, hosts an annual ice and snow sculpture festival, an event that attracts talented artists from all over the world who show off their mad ice sculpture skills. We don’t mean a quaint sculpture of a life-size penguin or whatever either. They go all out and create these huge ice castles, towers, trains and basically anything that would make you feel like you’ve entered a fantasy world.

2. Grindelwald, Switzerland
The village of Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland is nestled between the mountains of Eiger and Wetterhorn. The breathtaking mountainscape makes for an unforgettable winter holiday experience. Going for walks in the village or renting a car and visiting the quaint surrounding villages are just a few ways to keep yourself occupied. As a bonus, if you’re into snowboarding, this is the perfect place to show off your McTwist maneuver or whatever it’s called.

3. Hallstatt, Austria
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage region, Hallstatt is the oldest village in Austria, having been settled around 100 BC. In the winter time you can enjoy the powder snow, dog sledding, and skiing activities. In the evenings you can go on a leisurely walk through the village by torch light. In addition, you can take the Skywalk up the mountain and get a panoramic view of this wintery paradise.