Top 10 Winter Wonderlands Around the World

Crans-Montana, Switzerland

In winter, the Swiss resort towns of Crans and Montana become a skier's paradise with world-class Alpine trails and even a flat plateau that offers more than 10 miles of cross-country terrain. When not playing in the snow, visitors can try handmade Swiss chocolate in town or thaw out in one of the area's many steamy thermal baths.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

When it's cold enough for Amsterdam's network of canals to bear a thick coating of ice, locals and visitors strap on skates and take to the frozen water. If temperatures stay below freezing for long enough, the city holds Keizersrace, a 150-meter ice-skating race, on a frozen canal.

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Quebec City, Canada

From dogsledding excursions to the Red Bull Crashed Ice extreme skating competition, Quebec City is home to a wealth of fun seasonal attractions. There's also Carnaval de Quebec, the world's largest winter carnival, which will take place in January and February 2014. For a true winter experience, book a stay at the Hotel de Glace, the only ice hotel in North America.

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Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland's much-photographed Blue Lagoon, an expansive outdoor pool of geothermal water, is one of the region's most popular attractions. But there's more to do around Reykjavik during winter than thawing in therapeutic spas. Visit Aurora Reykjavik, the city's new northern lights exhibition; celebrate the season at the Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival; or take a dogsledding tour outside the city.

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Harbin, China

Massive snow sculptures and structures carved from ice are some of the arctic attractions at the monthlong Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which takes place annually in northern China. At night, the brightly illuminated ice displays light up the dark winter sky. Daytime activities include ice-skating, ice boxing, and even mass wedding ceremonies.

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Budapest, Hungary

This winter, plunge into warm turquoise thermal pools with a wintertime trip to Budapest, a historical urban center known as "The City of Baths." There are many indoor and outdoor options for bathers in Budapest. Our suggestion? Get your spa on (and try your hand at a game of water chess!) in the spring-fed basins of the Szechenyi Baths, one of the largest public spas in Europe.

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United MileagePlus Explorer Card

With the MileagePlus Explorer card, you can get treated like an insider at the airport and beyond on your next international trip. Perks include priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees, a free checked bag on every flight, and more. Learn how you can easily earn 30,000 bonus miles, too!

Tromso, Norway

Every winter, travelers brave the cold weather to enjoy Tromso's Northern Lights Festival, a musical event that takes place in this lively Arctic hamlet in northern Norway. Tromso serves as one of the best bases in the world for viewing the northern lights. By night, chase the colorful aurora borealis on a northern lights tour, and enjoy a full schedule of live music by day.

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Nagano, Japan

Two words make Nagano an ideal winter destination: Snow monkeys. Have a dip in a natural hot spring on a cold winter's day—next to a furry, red-faced creature (that is not your spouse). This animal is a Japanese Macaque, and one of the best ways to see it in its natural habitat is to visit Jigokudan Yaenkoen park in Nagano, Japan, where snow-dusted simians stave off winter chills by brewing in steamy outdoor springs.

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Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is well-known for its delightful "Winter Wonders" Christmas market, at which travelers can find artisan-made gifts, go ice-skating, or take in an evening light show. Additionally, the International Festival of Ice Sculptures "Ice Magic" show, with its colossal ice sculptures, will be exhibited in Brussels for the first time this winter.

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Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg's medieval city squares, cobbled streets, and historical palaces look perfectly dreamy when dusted with snow. The city embraces the coldest season of the year with outdoor ice-skating and lively Christmas markets. To warm up, duck into a stately theater for a classical performance. Salzburg is, after all, Mozart's birthplace!

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