30 most picturesque winter cities

Winter is not a reason to hide from it at home, wrapped in a blanket and drinking hot tea. Why not go to places that only become truly magical in winter?

There are many places in our world that are good at any time of the year, but there are some that are especially worth visiting in winter. These cozy and quiet places seem to be wrapped in a fluffy blanket of a winter fairy tale. In this issue, we have collected the most cozy and picturesque of the coldest and snowiest cities from around the world. A trip to such a place is guaranteed to take you into a winter wonderland.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany.

This is a beautifully preserved medieval town that every winter turns into something like a fairy tale.

Mount Buller, Australia.

This is one of the few places in Australia where snow falls. This beautiful snow-capped mountain region is popular with cyclists, skiers, snowboarders and other tourists.

El Xalte, Argentina.

Queenstown is built around the beautiful Lake Wakatipu with stunning views of the surrounding mountains, including Walter Peak.

Surrounded by mountain trails, El Xalte is especially popular with hikers in the summer. In winter, the city becomes empty, leaving its charms only to those who dare to come here in the cold.

Queenstown, New Zealand.

Naarden, Netherlands.

Narden is a city built within a star-shaped fort, with fortified walls and a moat. In winter, the defensive ditch that once protected the city freezes over.

Bled, Slovenia.

Nestled in the picturesque mountains, the town of Bled was founded in 1004, and the Holy Roman Emperor considered it so beautiful that he donated it to the Bishopric of Brixen. The castle in Bled is located in the center of the charming lake of the same name, which borders the city. The city now has a population of 5,000 and is famous for its excellent spas.

Gris Fiord, Canada.

If you've ever wanted to escape civilization, this is the place. Gris Fiord is Canada's northernmost settlement, with 104 consecutive days of darkness in the winter, and the nearest human settlement is more than 320 km away. Yeah, the network probably doesn’t pick up here...

Štramberk, Czech Republic.

Štramberk lies on the slopes of a fortified hill, dominated by a magnificent medieval tower that still dominates the town. Beautiful wooden houses keep residents warm during the cold winter months.

Shirakawa, Japan.

Shirakawa is a small, traditional village known for the incredibly steep roofs of its houses, which were built to withstand even the world's heaviest snowfalls.

Damuls, Austria.

Damüls receives up to 9 meters of snow every year, making it the snowiest place in Europe. It's no surprise that this town of just 300 inhabitants is so popular among winter sports enthusiasts.

Serfaus, Austria.

There is evidence that people inhabited this region as early as the Bronze Age, when it was used as pasture. Nowadays it is used as a place for entertainment, and the city itself is a stopover on the way to the famous ski resort Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis.

Marloy, England.

Marloy is a sleeping parish on the River Thames. Although the city is only 48 km from London, it feels like being from another world - especially in winter.

Vyborg, Russia.

Vyborg lies on the border between Russia and Finland and is surrounded by the Saimaa Canal, which freezes over in the winter. From the castle tower you can see the entire city in its snow-covered beauty.

Bamberg, Germany.

Bamberg's magnificent city center is considered a world heritage site and was founded back in 902. This incredibly well-preserved medieval town and its cobbled streets are especially popular in winter.

Hallstatt, Austria.

Siglufjordur, Iceland.

It is a small fishing town along a narrow fjord, surrounded by huge mountains. Until the 1940s it was impossible to reach this town (at least by land) until a tunnel was dug through the mountain.

Loket, Czech Republic.

Loket means “elbow,” and the town is so named because its center and castle are surrounded on three sides by the rushing Ohře River.

Funes, Italy.

Surrounded by the Italian Alps, the town of Funes is blanketed in a layer of crystal-white snow every winter.

Reine, Norway.

Reine is a quiet fishing village on the beautiful polar island of Moskenesøy. The population of this port is only 329 people, but it has rightly been called the most beautiful village in Norway, and especially in winter it’s clear why.

Calitri, Italy.

Calitri is built on the beautiful hills of Campania. The city is a labyrinth of ancient houses and cobbled streets, which are even more interesting to explore in winter, after a snowfall.

Zermatt, Switzerland.

Zermatt lies in the picturesque Mater Valley at an altitude of over 1520 m, in the shadow of the highest peaks in Switzerland. Sometimes the roofs of houses are difficult to see because of the snow.

Qaqortoq, Greenland.

People have been living here for about 4,300 years; these lands were first inhabited by representatives of the Saqqaq culture. The modern city is famous for its colorful houses, which contrast brightly with the white snow.

Chichilyan, France.

Above Xishilian rises the beautiful Mount Aiguille, almost 2100 m in height. From here you can enjoy amazing views of the French Pre-Alps.

Breckenridge, Colorado, USA.

It's a sleepy rural town in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. The small houses of this ski town are especially beautiful in winter. And if you climb the peaks surrounding the city, you can fully enjoy the stunning panorama of the city.

Illokqortoormiut, Greenland.

From the capital of Iceland, you need to take a plane to Greenland, which departs once a week, and then take a helicopter to this colorful little town that lies next to the longest glacial river in the world.

Langwies, Switzerland.

This town of several hundred people hangs precariously on the edge of the vast valley of the same name. Lucky visitors to the city can take the train to the valley and then stroll among the snow-capped mountain peaks.

Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic.

This Czech town is incredibly beautiful and is located near the Nysa Lusatka River. It was founded in 1356 and became famous in the 18th century for its production of the first costume jewelry in history.

Jamnik, Slovenia.

Yamnik is located on the slopes of the Elovika plateau. The local church is built on a hill that offers breathtaking views of the Julian Alps.

San Marino, Italy.

San Marino is a micro-republic with an area of only 61 square meters. km, lying on the picturesque terraces of the Monte Titano hills. Its capital of the same name was founded in 301 AD by the mason Marinus. Today, San Marino is one of the oldest surviving sovereign states and constitutional republics in the world.

Engelberg, Switzerland.

It is a resort town surrounded by the Alps on one side and the crystal clear waters of four lakes on the other.