“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” – Edith Sitwell.
Avoid the expected
The truth is, some places become more themselves when the crowds thin out and the cold settles in. Take Romania, Europe’s biggest up and coming luxury destination. Brașov and Sibiu aren’t on most people’s winter lists, but that’s exactly why they work. The medieval streets look exactly how you would hope they do. The Carpathians, imposing as ever and a country with so much mystery, needs to be explored.
Iceland gets strange in winter. Not strange, strange, but perhaps alien. A lot of the country is now inaccessible and the waterfalls everyone photographs in the summer, freeze into something unrecognisable. The contrast of the brilliant white snow against the black volcanic sand will have you feeling like you’re standing on an extra terrestrial film set. Some nights the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) shows up, sometimes it doesn’t.
A country offering both world-class ski slopes and vibrant cultural centres, Germany in winter feels like stepping into a storybook. Beyond the mountains, riverside cities such as Nuremberg and Heidelberg glow with Christmas markets, while Baden-Baden hides peacefully in the Black Forest. Frosted baroque façades and cobblestone streets wash over you, and from steaming mulled wine to intimate concert halls, the winter months turn everyday scenes into moments of warmth and tradition.
Turkey, a country not often associated with winter, takes on a new identity under a dusting of snow. In Cappadocia, the transformation is breathtaking; its surreal landscape becomes even more magical when viewed from a hot air balloon at sunrise. Cave hotels with roaring fireplaces offer cosy retreat, while winding streets lead to hidden cafés serving spiced tea. With fewer visitors, ancient rock churches and sweeping vistas feel deeply intimate, creating a serene escape.
It’s no less glamorous
Some destinations sparkle in winter even without ascending a ski lift. St. Moritz becomes a stage for the season’s most stylish events: the Snow Polo World Cup plays out on the frozen lake, while The ICE St. Moritz sees vintage sports cars displayed and driven across the ice in a two-day spectacle. All of it unfolds against a backdrop of luxury hotels and a social calendar as polished as the ice itself. Across the Atlantic, Aspen offers more than its famed slopes, with luxury boutiques, art galleries, and a dining scene that rivals major cities, all framed by the crisp air and dusted peaks of the Rockies.
Gastronomy
Winter’s deep months, January to March, bring a table shaped by the season’s final offerings and celebrate ingenuity in colder climates. In Europe, the last of the white truffles give way to hearty dishes of slow-braised meats, winter greens, and rich mountain cheeses. In Japan, snow crab remains at its sweetest, oysters are plump and briny, and citrus like yuzu and dekopon are as fresh as the weather outside. Across the Alps, game, root vegetables, and fondue carry the warmth indoors, while in Nordic kitchens, winter cod, pickled vegetables, and preserved berries take centre stage. Travelling in these months offers the chance to taste a place at its most authentic.
Create Your Own Winter Story With Faber Sett
Your membership can include winter journeys that move far beyond the ordinary, the kind curated by a luxury travel expert who understands how to match the colder climates to your style. That could mean exploring cities at their quietest, stepping into the world’s most glamorous events, or tasting a destination at its most authentic.
