The most beautiful winter travel destinations

During winter many tourists soak up the sunshine on dreamlike beaches at all-inclusive resorts in the "DomRep," as its known by Germans. In fact, the Dominican Republic has diverse terrain, including mountains and sand dunes. For city vibes, head to the Zona Colonial area in the capital Santo Domingo, which has plenty of historic buildings, as well as great nightlife. You won't find any snow here!

Sun, sea and classic cars — the Caribbean island of Cuba is a dream destination for those seeking to escape the winter blues. The capital, Havana, with its old town and the fortress Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, offers many attractive photo opportunities. What's more, winter days are long, with nearly 11 hours of daylight.

The Cape of Good Hope in Table Mountain National Park near Cape Town is the ideal place to start an adventure while escaping winter in the Northern Hemisphere. South Africa has plenty to explore, including national parks, an incredbile wine region, safari opportunities and vibrant metropolises like Cape Town.

Portugal's "flower island" of Madeira, with its predominantly mild climate and an average winter temperature of 19 degrees Celsius (66 Fahrenheit), quickly makes you forget the cold, gray winter weather back home. Steep coastlines, hiking trails and lush vegetation delight visitors even in winter.

Those who like to bask in the sun on a sandy beach in front of impressive skyscrapers in winter will find ideal conditions in Dubai, which has a constant temperature of more than 30 degrees Celsius (86°F). An even hotter winter pastime is a trip to the nearby Rub al Khali desert, the world's largest sand desert.

Austria remains a popular winter destination for travelers seeking optimal snow conditions. On the Hohe Salve in Tyrol, thrill-seekers can even enjoy magnificent views over the mountains while paragliding. In total, Austria also has 7,280 kilometres (4,523 mi) of slopes for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy, so there's plenty to explore in the winter months.

Breathtaking views of snow-covered mountains and stunning fjord scenery can also be found on the Norwegian Lofoten archipelago. Since this area is north of the Arctic Circle, there's little to no daylight in the winter months. But it's the perfect place to see the northern lights or steam up in a sauna under the moonlight.

Another great place to see the dancing colors of the northern lights is in Iceland — and winter is hands-down the best time to do so. The island in the North Atlantic, just below the Arctic Circle, claims visitors can marvel at the mystical celestial phenomena from September to April.

If icy winter landscapes aren't your thing, the Maldives just might do the trick. This remote archipelago of some 1,200 islands is known for having plenty of palm trees, long sandy beaches and top-notch luxury accommodations. It's also famous for world-class snorkeling and scuba diving — the perfect remedy for the winter blues.

The beach of Maya Bay on the Thai island of Ko Phi Phi Leh, made famous by the 2000 movie "The Beach," was closed for four years due to overtourism. In January 2022, it opened again to tourists but shut briefly during the low season. It's one of many splendid beaches in Thailand, a country which is best visited between November and April, when temperatures are low in the Northern Hemisphere.