Windy City Limousine Chicago clients often ask us the same question as the weather turns colder: where in the world should we go this winter? If you are looking to broaden your horizons and experience something completely different from the usual holiday routine, the answer is to chase one of the world’s most unique winter holidays. From candlelit ghats in India to a molten metal fireworks show in northern China, these are some of the most unforgettable winter holiday celebrations on the planet, and the exact places you need to be to experience them properly.
Below, you’ll find seven international winter holiday destinations, each tied to a specific cultural or religious celebration, along with updated 2026 and 2027 dates so you can actually plan around them. Whether you are looking for something spiritual, festive, or just visually unforgettable, this list covers a wide range of experiences worth building a trip around, and a few practical notes on how to plan for each one.
Why Travel Specifically for Winter Holidays
Most people default to the same handful of destinations every winter: a beach somewhere warm, a ski trip, or staying close to home for the usual family gatherings. There is nothing wrong with any of that, but building a trip around an actual cultural or religious celebration tends to produce a far more memorable experience than visiting the same city outside of its festival calendar ever could. Seeing Varanasi during Dev Deepawali, for example, is an entirely different experience from visiting on a random Tuesday in March. The crowds, the lighting, the energy in the streets, all of it is shaped by the specific date on the calendar.
Traveling for a winter holiday celebration also tends to come with built-in structure. Instead of trying to piece together an itinerary from scratch, you are working around an event that already has its own schedule, its own traditions, and usually a community of locals and fellow travelers who are happy to explain what is happening and why. It takes some of the guesswork out of travel planning while still delivering an experience that feels far more authentic than a typical sightseeing trip.
The other advantage is timing. Many of these celebrations fall during periods that are considered off-peak for general tourism in that region, even though the destination itself is busy with festival crowds. That can mean better flight availability and more reasonable hotel rates compared to traveling to the same country during its standard high season.
Dev Deepawali in Varanasi, India
Dev Deepawali, also known as Dev Diwali, falls on the full moon of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartika, exactly fifteen days after the main Diwali festival. In 2026, Dev Deepawali falls on November 24, a Tuesday, with the main lighting ceremonies beginning around sunset and continuing well into the evening. This particular winter holiday is sometimes called the “Diwali of the Gods,” based on the belief that deities themselves descend to bathe in the Ganges on this night.
Varanasi is already one of the most spiritually significant cities in the world, but Dev Deepawali is the single best time of year to experience it. During the day, visitors can explore temple complexes such as Kashi Vishwanath, sample regional street food, and learn about the roots of Hinduism along the ghats lining the Ganges River. As night falls, millions of earthen oil lamps, called diyas, are lit along all 84 ghats simultaneously, while priests perform a grand Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat. The reflection of the lights on the water, combined with chanting, drumming, and the occasional firework or laser display, makes for one of the most visually striking religious festivals anywhere on earth.
Boat rides along the river are the best way to take in the full scale of the celebration, and they tend to sell out well in advance, so booking ahead is essential if this destination is on your winter holiday list. Many visitors also extend their stay by a day or two to explore Sarnath, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site located just outside the city.
Winter Solstice at Newgrange, Donore, Ireland
Roughly 40 minutes north of Dublin, the small village of Donore is home to Newgrange, a Stone Age passage tomb older than both Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza. Every year around the Winter Solstice, typically between December 18 and 23, the rising sun aligns perfectly with the tomb’s roof box, sending a beam of light down the 19-meter passage and into the inner chamber. It is one of the oldest known solar alignments built by human hands, dating back more than 5,000 years, and remains one of the most fascinating winter holiday experiences in Europe for anyone interested in ancient history.
Unlike Stonehenge, which draws large crowds for its solstice gatherings, access to Newgrange’s inner chamber during the solstice is intentionally limited. A public lottery held each September selects just 60 people, ten per morning across six mornings, to witness the alignment in person. Even if you are not one of the lucky winners, the surrounding Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site is open for general tours throughout the season, and the Irish countryside in late December has its own quiet, atmospheric charm that makes the trip worthwhile regardless.
For travelers who want to combine ancient history with a lighter holiday atmosphere, Dublin is just a short drive away and offers its own seasonal markets, pub culture, and festive lighting throughout December, making it easy to pair the solstice visit with a few extra days in the city.
Hanukkah in Jerusalem, Israel
Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights, begins on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. In 2026, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and concludes at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. As one of the more widely recognized winter holidays celebrated around the world, it draws Jewish travelers and curious visitors alike to Jerusalem each year.
There may be no better place on earth to spend Hanukkah than Jerusalem, the city where the holiday’s origins trace back to the rededication of the Second Temple more than two thousand years ago, following the Maccabean revolt. Throughout the eight nights, the Old City lights up with public menorah lightings, and the Western Wall plaza becomes a gathering point for residents and visitors alike. Many neighborhoods also display large outdoor menorahs, and it has become common to see candle lightings happen right at the doorways of homes throughout the city.
Beyond the religious significance, Jerusalem during Hanukkah offers a packed calendar of cultural events, theater performances, and the chance to try sufganiyot, the jelly-filled doughnuts that are a Hanukkah staple across Israel, alongside latkes and other traditional fried foods. Mild winter weather also makes Jerusalem one of the more comfortable Middle Eastern destinations to explore on foot this time of year, and many travelers extend their trip with a stop in Tel Aviv or the Dead Sea.
Christmas in Ylläs, Finnish Lapland
If you want the closest real-world experience to the snow-covered, fairy-tale version of Christmas shown in holiday movies, Finnish Lapland is about as close as it gets, making it one of the most popular winter holiday destinations for families chasing a true white Christmas. Ylläs, one of the larger ski resort areas in the region, offers husky sled rides, reindeer sleigh tours, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and a real shot at seeing the Northern Lights, all set against the kind of deep snow and pine forest scenery that feels almost staged.
Christmas Day itself, December 25, tends to be a quieter, more low-key affair locally, which makes it a good fit for travelers who want a peaceful holiday rather than a packed one. Most visitors base themselves in a cozy log cabin and split their days between outdoor activities and simply enjoying the scenery, with the long winter darkness making the occasional glimpse of aurora borealis even more dramatic. Many resorts in the area also organize visits with Santa Claus, gingerbread baking sessions, and traditional Finnish sauna experiences, rounding out a trip that feels equally suited to couples, solo travelers, and families with young children.
Because Lapland sits well above the Arctic Circle, daylight hours are extremely limited in late December, which only adds to the magical, almost otherworldly feel of the region during this particular winter holiday season.
Kwanzaa in New York City, U.S.A.
Kwanzaa is the youngest holiday on this list, created in 1966 to give African-American communities a dedicated celebration centered on heritage, family, and core principles like unity, cooperation, and creativity. It runs from December 26 through January 1 each year, with each day dedicated to one of the seven founding principles, known as the Nguzo Saba.
New York City hosts some of the largest and most varied Kwanzaa programming in the country, but if you only have time for one stop, the American Museum of Natural History typically puts on a full schedule of performances, storytelling, and an artisanal market during the holiday. Harlem and Brooklyn also host community celebrations throughout the week, often featuring live drumming, dance performances, and traditional foods, making it easy to build an entire winter holiday itinerary around the city’s Kwanzaa events.
Because Kwanzaa overlaps with the broader winter holiday season already happening in New York, including Christmas lights still up around the city and the lead-up to New Year’s Eve in Times Square, travelers visiting for Kwanzaa often find themselves with no shortage of other things to see and do during the same trip.
New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh, Scotland
Scotland does not just celebrate New Year’s Eve for one night, it celebrates it for nearly three days straight. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival typically runs from December 30 through January 1, and is widely considered one of the best New Year’s winter holiday celebrations in the world.
Highlights include a torchlight procession through the Old Town, a major concert and fireworks display over Edinburgh Castle on December 31, traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing, and the Loony Dook, a charity tradition where brave participants take a freezing dip in the Firth of Forth on New Year’s Day. There is also a strong lineup of family-friendly daytime events throughout the festival, including a children’s afternoon torchlight procession and street performers scattered throughout the city center, making it one of the more well-rounded winter celebrations for travelers bringing kids along.
Hotel rooms in central Edinburgh tend to book up months in advance for Hogmanay, so travelers serious about this particular winter holiday destination should plan well ahead, especially if they want a room within walking distance of the Old Town festivities.
Lunar New Year in Nuanquan Town, China
Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, falls on the first day of the new lunar year. In 2027, Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, February 6, marking the start of the Year of the Goat, with the full 15-day celebration running through the Lantern Festival on February 20. While this falls slightly outside the traditional winter holiday window for some travelers, it caps off the broader winter holiday calendar for anyone planning a season-long trip through Asia.
Nuanquan, a small metalworking town in northern China roughly four to five hours from Beijing, has built its own unique New Year tradition around its industrial roots. Instead of a standard fireworks show, a local artisan throws molten iron, heated to over 1,000 degrees Celsius, against a stone wall, scattering it into a dazzling shower of sparks known as dashuhua, or “beating the tree flowers.” It is a genuinely one-of-a-kind spectacle that you will not find anywhere else in the world, and it has slowly become a must-see for travelers looking to experience Lunar New Year somewhere off the typical tourist path.
Because Nuanquan is a small town without much in the way of large hotel infrastructure, most visitors base themselves in Beijing and arrange a day trip or overnight stay specifically around the performance dates, which are usually announced a few weeks ahead of the festival itself.
How to Plan Around These Winter Holiday Dates
Because most of the celebrations on this list are tied to lunar or lunisolar calendars rather than fixed Gregorian dates, the exact timing shifts slightly from year to year. This is one of the most common mistakes travelers make when planning a winter holiday trip around a cultural festival: booking flights and hotels based on the previous year’s dates instead of confirming the current year’s calendar.
A few practical tips apply across nearly every destination on this list. First, book accommodations as early as possible, ideally several months out, since lodging in smaller festival towns like Donore or Nuanquan can be extremely limited compared to major cities. Second, check whether the specific event you want to see, such as the Newgrange solstice lottery or boat bookings for Dev Deepawali, requires advance registration, since several of these experiences are not simply walk-up activities. Third, build in a buffer day or two before and after the main event date, both to account for travel delays during a busy winter holiday season and to give yourself time to explore the surrounding region without rushing.
Finally, keep in mind that some of these celebrations draw significant local crowds even though they may not be widely known to international tourists. Hanukkah in Jerusalem and Dev Deepawali in Varanasi, in particular, see major increases in domestic travel and pilgrimage traffic, so transportation, hotel pricing, and even restaurant availability can be affected well beyond what a typical tourist guide might suggest.
Planning Your Winter Holiday Trip from Chicago
Wherever your winter travels take you this year, getting to and from O’Hare or Midway without the usual stress makes a real difference, especially before a long international flight. Windy City Limousine Chicago provides dependable Chicago airport car service and luxury chauffeur transportation for travelers heading out on these kinds of trips, whether you are catching an early connection to Tel Aviv for Hanukkah or flying out for a multi-leg journey to Lapland or Beijing.
Winter travel days are already unpredictable enough between weather delays and holiday crowds. Many of the trips on this list involve early morning departures, tight connections, or long-haul itineraries that start days before the actual winter holiday event itself, which makes a reliable airport pickup even more important than it would be for a standard domestic trip. A private car service means one less variable to worry about, with a driver tracking your flight, arriving on time, and getting you home safely after a long trip.
We also handle corporate transportation, point-to-point rides, and special event transportation throughout the Chicago area, so however your winter travel plans shape up, whether it is a spiritual trip to Varanasi, a family Christmas in Lapland, or simply a flight out before the holidays get busy, we can help you get there comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is Dev Deepawali in 2026?
Dev Deepawali, also called Dev Diwali, falls on November 24, 2026, fifteen days after the main Diwali festival, with the main lighting ceremonies along the Varanasi ghats beginning around sunset.
2. When does Hanukkah start in 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12, covering eight nights of candle lighting.
3. What is the best place to celebrate Hanukkah?
Jerusalem is widely considered the best place to experience Hanukkah, given the holiday’s historical connection to the city and the public menorah lightings held throughout the Old City each night.
4. When is the next Lunar New Year after winter 2026?
The next Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027, marking the start of the Year of the Goat, with celebrations running through the Lantern Festival on February 20.
5. How do I get tickets to see the solstice alignment inside Newgrange?
Access to the inner chamber during the Winter Solstice is determined by a public lottery held each September, with only 60 spots available across six mornings.
6. What dates does Hogmanay run in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival typically runs for about three days, from December 30 through January 1, with the main fireworks and concert taking place on New Year’s Eve.
7. What is the molten iron festival in China called?
It is known as dashuhua, or “beating the tree flowers,” a traditional fireworks alternative performed during Lunar New Year in Nuanquan Town, where molten iron is thrown against a stone wall to create a shower of sparks.
8. When does Kwanzaa take place each year?
Kwanzaa runs annually from December 26 through January 1, with each of the seven days dedicated to one of the holiday’s founding principles.
9. Is Finnish Lapland a good destination for Christmas with kids?
Yes. Ylläs and other parts of Finnish Lapland offer husky sledding, reindeer rides, and snow activities that are well suited for families, along with a realistic chance of seeing the Northern Lights during the darker winter months.
10. How can I book reliable airport transportation in Chicago before an international winter trip?
Windy City Limousine Chicago offers dependable pickup and drop-off service to and from O’Hare and Midway. You can book directly through our online reservation page, or reach out on WhatsApp for quick scheduling.
Ready to plan your winter holiday trip? Let Windy City Limousine Chicago take care of your airport ride so your trip starts and ends without any added stress. Book your airport reservation here, or message our team directly on WhatsApp.
