What to Do in Winter

Every year we await the first snow like a miracle, and then, wrapped in a scarf at the bus stop, we catch ourselves thinking: “Summer can't come soon enough.” But winter is not just a pause between autumn and spring. It's a separate little life, full of coziness, adrenaline, and beauty. Meteorologists guess what winter will be like, scaring us with frosts or thaws, but the truth is that the weather inside us is more important than the forecast outside. Even if you wonder what winter 2026 will be like – harsh or mild – there is only one answer: it will be whatever you make of it.

To avoid falling into seasonal hibernation and spending three months binge-watching TV shows (though that's sometimes necessary too), we've put together this guide. It contains everything about what to do in winter so that by March you'll have a collection of vivid memories, not just vitamin deficiency.

Frost and Sun: Outdoor Activities

Winter is not meant to be hidden from, but to be played with. Cold air invigorates better than a double espresso, and rosy cheeks suit everyone without exception.

Go Ice Skating

Ice skating is the main ritual of the season. And we're not talking about training in indoor rinks, but about beautiful gliding under the open sky. Moscow has many ice rinks in the city's most charming locations. We consider a visit to the VDNKh rink an essential winter activity: gliding along the alleys around the “Friendship of Peoples” fountain to retro music is a classic. In St. Petersburg, you should head to “New Holland” or “Sevkabel Port” with a view of the bay.

Tip: choose evening hours when the illumination is turned on. This transforms the sport into a romantic stroll.

Skiing and Snowboarding

It doesn't matter if you're a pro or someone who confuses an edge with a binding. Mountains are a philosophy. If you live in the capital, “Sorochany” or “Volen” in the Moscow region are suitable for a start. But for real emotions, you need to go where the mountains touch the clouds. The best solution is to buy tickets to Sochi on Kupi.com and head to the Krasnaya Polyana resorts. There you'll find not only skiing but also luxurious après-ski: high-altitude restaurants, mulled wine, and dancing in ski boots. For residents of the Northern Capital, the “Igora” resort or a trip to Khibiny will be an excellent option. By the way, tickets Saint Petersburg – Murmansk (the closest airport to Khibiny) can often be found at very pleasant prices in winter, and the Northern Lights will be a bonus to your skiing.

Hot Tubs and Outdoor Pools

It sounds crazy, but it's one of the most pleasant winter sensations. The contrast of icy air and hot water (+35…+40°C) provides a powerful endorphin rush.

• In the city: we've compiled a whole list of outdoor pools across the country – from Sochi to Yekaterinburg – worth visiting in winter.
• In nature: rent a country house with a Siberian wood-fired hot tub or furo. The smell of smoke, hot water, coniferous forest around, and silence – this is the best detox for a city dweller.

Huskies and Reindeer

If you don't know what to see in winter with children or your significant other, head to ethnoparks. Dog sledding is pure delight. Huskies and Malamutes are born to run; their energy is contagious. And meeting reindeer, feeding them lichen from your hands, will transport you to a real tundra, even if you are just a few kilometers from the city.

Indoor Hobbies and Creativity

Even when the weather outside isn't pleasant, you don't have to stay home all day. Move in short dashes from home to your desired destination and catch the proverbial “hygge” through creativity. Winter is the perfect time to learn something new.

Pottery Art

Clay modeling has become a big trend in recent years, and its popularity soars in winter. It's an incredibly tactile activity. Working with warm, moist clay calms the nerves, grounds you, and allows you to clear your mind. Sign up for a master class and sculpt your own crooked but beloved mug for cocoa or a bowl for your morning porridge. The process itself is more important than the result.

Theater Season

Winter is the peak of the theater season. What to see in winter? Of course, “The Nutcracker.” Tickets are hard to get, but it's worth it. If ballet isn't for you, choose experimental productions or classical drama. Theater in winter is an occasion to wear evening attire, have a glass of sparkling wine at the buffet, and touch high art while a blizzard rages outside.

Culinary Master Classes

Instead of just going to a restaurant, learn to cook restaurant-quality dishes yourself. In winter, master classes on baking gingerbread, preparing steaks, or making the perfect mulled wine are especially popular. This is a great option for a date or a corporate event. The aromas of cinnamon, orange, and fresh pastries are the best antidepressants.

Art Parties

Even if the last time you held a paintbrush was in school, you'll enjoy an art party. Under the guidance of an artist, you paint a picture while tasting wine and socializing. Winter themes – snowy forests, cozy houses, or abstractions in cool tones – will make excellent interior decorations.

Russian Winter: Travels Across the Country

If the question “where to go in winter” keeps you awake, but your passport is gathering dust, look around. Russia transforms into a fairytale setting at this time of year.

Golden Ring: Suzdal and Yaroslavl

Suzdal is a living 19th-century postcard. Especially on New Year's Eve. White-stone churches against white snow, the ringing of bells, sleigh rides with jingling bells, and mead tasting. Time seems to stand still here. Yaroslavl, on the other hand, will delight with its beautiful embankment adorned with lights and magnificent museums. Getting here is easy: you can buy train tickets to Yaroslavl (only 3-4 hours travel) or drive. This is a weekend trip that will completely reset your perception of reality.

New Year's Moscow

In December and January, Moscow becomes arguably the most festive city in Europe. Nikolskaya Street, Red Square, the boulevards – everything shines with millions of lights. What to do: stroll through the fair near GUM, eat a powdered donut, visit Zaryadye Park and look at the frozen Moskva River from the Floating Bridge. Attend the “Journey to Christmas” festival, where you can try dishes from different parts of the country.

Saint Petersburg: Intellectual Winter

St. Petersburg in winter is strict and beautiful. The frozen Neva, snow-covered palace roofs, and cozy donut shops where it's so pleasant to warm up after a walk. What to do: visit the Hermitage (there are fewer queues in winter), attend the Mariinsky Theatre, go to Tsarskoye Selo or Pavlovsk to walk through the snowy imperial parks. If you're from the capital, it's enough to buy tickets to St on Kupi.com. Petersburg on the “Sapsan” train, and in 4 hours you'll be drinking coffee on Nevsky Prospekt.

Karelia: Visiting a Fairytale

Winter Karelia offers the Ruskeala marble canyon with artistic lighting, icy waterfalls, and a ride on the “Ruskeala Express” retro train. It's an opportunity to see true northern nature without going beyond the Arctic Circle.

Escape the Cold or Big Mountains

Sometimes, what to do in winter is a settled question: you need to leave. And there are two paths: either seek the best snow or summer.

To the Mountains

If Russian slopes have already been explored, it's time to discover new horizons.

• Serbia (Kopaonik): an excellent visa-free option. European service, delicious food, and slopes of varying difficulty levels. Easy to get to if you buy tickets to Belgrade on Kupi.com and then take a transfer.
• Turkey (Erciyes, Palandöken): many are surprised, but Turkey has excellent ski resorts. Modern lifts, all-inclusive hotels, and the opportunity to combine skiing with shopping in Istanbul. You can buy tickets to Istanbul on Kupi.com, spend a couple of days there, and then fly to Kayseri.

To the Beach

When the grayness outside starts to weigh on your mind, the best cure is a ticket to summer.

• Thailand: a classic winter escape. Mangoes, massages, warm sea, and smiles. If you're tired of the cold, it's worth buying tickets to Bangkok or directly to Phuket in advance. This guarantees you'll return tanned and rested.
• UAE (Dubai): the weather here is ideal in winter – no scorching heat, you can walk, sunbathe, and swim. This is an option for those who love comfort, shopping, and skyscrapers. You can easily find tickets Saint Petersburg – Dubai and in 6 hours find yourself in a world of the future.
• Maldives: if your budget allows, this is the best way to disconnect from reality. Just you, the ocean, and white sand.

Educational Tourism Without Crowds

Winter is a great time to visit popular tourist cities that are overcrowded in summer.

• Istanbul: it can be windy here in winter, but you can calmly explore Hagia Sophia and Topkapi without hours-long queues, and warm up in hammams and coffee shops.
• Yerevan: a gastronomic tour to Armenia in winter means endless feasts and views of Ararat. If you live in the north, tickets Saint Petersburg – Yerevan will be your pass to the world of Caucasian hospitality.

The Main Rule of Winter

Don't wait for winter to end. Live in it. Make your personal list: build a snowman (yes, even if you're over 10), cut out a snowflake, spend a day without your phone in the forest, read a book by the fireplace. Or even better, dress warmer, grab a thermos of tea, and leave the house – adventures begin beyond your doorstep!