13 Winter Destinations and Attractions to Check Out in 2022 Including Dog-Sledding and “Crash Landing on You” Paragliding

Coming from a tropical climate, the months of November to February present an opportune time for Singaporeans and other folks living near the equator to venture somewhere for a winter wonderland kind of holiday. While the mere thought of seeing snow is more than enough to get many of us excited, there are a myriad of other activities you can do as well – from the conventional to the slightly off-the-beaten path.

To help with your travel planning, do note that Citi Credit Cards have a tie-up with several travel booking sites such as Klook, Traveloka, Hertz, Qatar Airways, etc so you can grab discounts to various attractions, hotels as well as transport bookings when you travel overseas.

• Klook: Up to S$50 off with min. S$300 spend. More information here
• Traveloka: Up to S$100 off with min. spend via Traveloka App with promo code: CITIXPLORE. More information here
• Qatar Airways: Up to 10% off bookings with promo code CITIQR22. More information here
• Hertz: 10% off base rates for car rentals worldwide. More information here

To check out more travel deals with Citi Credit Cards, find out more here. Remember to use your Citi PremierMiles Card to enjoy the card benefits too:

Citi PremierMiles Card

Benefits: Earn 1.2 miles per S$1 on local spend and 2 miles per S$1 on international spend. Earned miles will never expire. Citi also has the most number of airline partners to redeem from. Citi PremierMiles Cardmembers also get 2 complimentary airport lounge visits per year with the Priority Pass.

Don’t have a Citi PremierMiles Card yet? Apply now and get 30,000 bonus Citi Miles* Welcome Offer when you apply and spend S$800 within 2 months. You can apply here or find out more here.

*T&Cs apply. The welcome offer promotion is valid until 31st October 2022. Applicable for New Citi Credit Cardmembers only.

Switzerland

Check flights to Zurich here.

Citi Credit Cardmembers can enjoy discount of up to S$100 off on flights, hotels and Xperience bookings with minimum spend via Traveloka App using promo code: CITIXPLORE. More information here

Stroll Through the Ice Palace and Journey Through the Highest Railway Station in Europe

Jungfraujoch is a saddle connecting 2 mountains in Europe – the Jungfrau and the Monch. It is often considered to be the rooftop of Europe due to it having the highest railway station in the continent. Here, one also finds the Aletsch Glacier – the tallest one in Europe. There are several activities that you can do here even as a non-skier. Take the train and cable car up to the summit of Jungfraujoch. Marvel at the breathtaking view of the alps and wander around the mirror-smooth Ice Palace.

You can book tours to Jungfraujoch here.

Have Your “Crash Landing On You” Moment Paragliding in Interlaken

Interlaken is a popular resort town in the Swiss Alps and a visit here can easily be combined with the Jungfrau region. Located in between Thunersee and Brienzersee, this scenic town is a haven for outdoor pursuits. Popular activities include kayaking amidst a snowy spectacle, sledding, ice skating and more. Paragliding has become a popular activity here especially after the Korean series Crash Landing on You featured the star doing exactly this in Interlaken. Winter is also the best time to try cheese raclette and fondue, preferably while soaking in a hot tub with a view of the lake and mountains. 

Take the Rotating Cable Car Up Mount Titlis and Experience Year-round Snow

Mount Titlis is one of Switzerland’s most popular destinations. At a height of 3,238 meters above sea level, the mountain is known for possessing the world’s first rotating cable car. It’s also a great place to visit for those looking to see snow year-round (yes, even during summer). Compared to Jungfraujoch, Titlis is more accessible and cheaper to visit. Other than the cable car (Titlis Rotair), visitors can expect to see a glacier cave and the Titlis Cliff Walk which is the highest suspension bridge in Europe.

You can book tours to Mount Titlis here.

South Korea

For somewhere closer to home, South Korea offers a myriad of winter activities for those looking for a change of scenery towards the end of the year. From snow festivals to skiing and hiking trips, Korea has something to offer everyone.

Check flights to Seoul or to Busan here.

Citi Credit Cardmembers can enjoy discount of up to S$100 off on flights, hotels and Xperience bookings with minimum spend via Traveloka App using promo code: CITIXPLORE. More information here

Spend a day (or a few) in a ski resort

South Korea’s ski resorts are highly popular among Singaporeans due to their relative proximity and cost effectiveness compared to European ones. Popular resorts include Vivaldi Park Ski World and Oak Valley Resort. These venues have seen a surge among non-skiing visitors as well with ski resorts accustomed to newbies by offering them introductory courses.

Book a ski resort experience in Korea here.

Admire Seoul’s many palaces blanketed in snow

Those who have been to Seoul in the past would have undoubtedly visited one (or some) of the city’s many palaces. There is however, a different atmosphere to visiting during winter especially when places such as Gyeongbukgong and Deoksugong are blanketed in snow. The vibe is akin to a medieval Korean drama series. Visitors can go all the way in their Korean indulgences by renting a hanbok while roaming around the grounds.

Hike in Bukhansan

Bukhansan, a series of peaks located in the outskirts of Seoul, provides for excellent hiking opportunities. Winter is also a popular season to visit, although extra care needs to be exercised. One can expect snowy peaks and hiking trails covered in snow – even though it may be dry at ground level in Seoul itself. The mountain’s proximity to the city means visitors can also get sublime views of Seoul’s skyscrapers provided that the air is clear on the day you make the hike.

Mongolia

Mongolia is one of the world’s coldest countries and is the place to go to experience a relatively early or late winter. Visitors can expect subzero temperatures from as early as October lasting all the way until early April. 

Check for flights to Ulaanbaatar here.

Citi Credit Cardmembers can enjoy discount of up to S$100 off on flights, hotels and Xperience bookings with minimum spend via Traveloka App using promo code: CITIXPLORE. More information here

Khovsgol Lake Ice Festival

The Khovsgol Lake Ice Festival takes place in March and this is when residents and visitors dress up in traditional costumes from Mongolia’s different regions. The festival offers a myriad of wholesome activities including ice skating, horse sledge racing, ice sumo wrestling, ice carving and more. Visitors can also sample a good selection of Mongolian food in the comfort of their ger or from a traditional Mongolian home. 

Experience the Nomadic Life in a Traditional Home

Mongols are typically associated with nomads and even though 2/3 of the country’s population now live in cities. Fret not. You can still easily find places where you can live the nomadic life in Mongolia. Those staying in the countryside typically work as herders which means that they move from place to place, depending on the season. You can easily find homestay programs in Mongolia offering a variety of activities, depending on the season. Winter is a highly unique period to experience the nomadic life. You’ll get to participate in household chores such as making dairy products, cooking traditional meals and helping to take care of domestic animals.

Dog-sledding in Gorkhi Terelj National Park

If you are pressed for time, you can easily participate in winter activities in Mongolia even without straying too far from the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Dog-sledding is a popular activity around Gorkhi Terelj National Park which is only 100 kilometers away. Tours running a good portion of the park take about 5 days with a trusty pack of 5 or 6 dogs. 

Italy

Italy presents itself as a do-able yet not immediately obvious winter destination. You will find main tourist highlights such as Rome and Venice devoid of tourists yet in Alto-Adige in the far north, one can find quaint alpine villages and ski resorts that are more affordable than those in Switzerland. 

Check for flights to Rome and Milan here.

Citi Credit Cardmembers can enjoy discount of up to S$100 off on flights, hotels and Xperience bookings with minimum spend via Traveloka App using promo code: CITIXPLORE. More information here

Shop-til-you-drop for fine Italian goods during the winter sale

Those who love to shop should head to Milan for their winter sale. You’ll find reductions in this fashion capital from as early as Boxing Day, lasting all the way to late-January. You’ll find all the relevant Italian brands here and even the luxury houses have in-store promotions that are worth checking out. 

Wander Around Rome Without the Crowds

One of the world’s most visited cities, Rome is known the world over for iconic sights such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps as well as Vatican City. Winter can prove to be a great time to visit as its relatively southern location in Europe means that it won’t be freezing cold and at the same time, one can marvel at the sights without the crowds. 

You can book discounted tickets to attractions in Rome here

Germany

This European country has a word to describe it all – Gemütlichkeit. It conveys the feeling of quaintness, warmth and coziness which essentially aims to describe what it feels like to be in Germany. Visitors will get to experience that “quaintness” in a whole new level by visiting in winter. Germany is after all, well-known for its markets. Coupled with its fairytale-like towns, you’ve got the perfect formula for a year-end break. 

Check flights to Frankfurt or to Munich here.

Citi Credit Cardmembers can enjoy discount of up to S$100 off on flights, hotels and Xperience bookings with minimum spend via Traveloka App using promo code: CITIXPLORE. More information here

Check out Germany’s oldest Christmas market in Dresden

Winter – especially during the weeks leading to Christmas is a popular time to visit Germany due to its many winter markets. While visitors can practically take their pick from Berlin, Munich, Cologne or some of the smaller towns in Bavaria; the eastern city of Dresden in Saxony is known for having the oldest one in the world. Surrounded by baroque architecture, the Christmas market here is also among the most atmospheric. The oldest Striezelmarkt is the best known one but there are many other markets scattered around town.  

Explore Bavaria’s Quaint Towns

If you’d like to visit as many towns as possible within your 1 or 2 week leave, you can take a road trip around Bavaria to explore the variety in the winter atmosphere. Munich is the best place to start with its direct flights to Singapore and other Asian cities. From there, a typical circuit will bring you to Regensburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Rotherburg aub der Tauber and back to Munich via Augsburg. You can also easily visit magical Neuschwanstein Castle as a day trip from Munich.

You can book car rentals for Bavaria here and get 10% off if you are a Citi Credit Cardmember.

To find out more travel deals with Citi Credit Cards, find out more here.

Don’t have a Citi PremierMiles Card yet? Apply now and get 30,000 bonus Citi Miles* Welcome Offer when you apply and spend S$800 within 2 months. You can apply here.

*T&Cs apply. The welcome offer promotion is valid until 31st October 2022. Applicable for New Citi Credit Cardmembers only.