In the Northern Hemisphere, the 21st of December marks a turning point where the longest night gives way to gradually lengthening days.
The winter solstice is a great excuse for travellers to go on epic adventures.
All around the world, you’ll find places that have been purposely laid out to connect with the ancestral and unique traditions of the cultures that came way before us.
This is an opportunity to embrace a celestial moment and witness unique traditions, stunning natural phenomena, and a teeny little bit of winter wonder 😉
Chase northern lights, soak in ancient rituals or bask in the cosiness of a fire-lit celebration — whatever it might be, I strongly advise you to just go and do it.
Photo: Ana Pereira
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Why Travel For the Winter Solstice?
Ancient cultures saw the winter solstice as a time of renewal, a signal to celebrate light in the darkness.
Today, this energy carries on and it undeniably draws travellers to all kinds of places around the globe…
How cool is it to show up for a cosmic event that’s been celebrated for millennia??
If you think it’s as cool as we do, then you’ll want to check this list of places to witness the winter solstice — I’m sure you’ll find something you’ve never heard about before, from places in Europe to festivals as far out as Pakistan and Egypt!
Where to Celebrate the Winter Solstice
The shortest day of the year is celebrated all around the world (duh) — but there are some pretty spectacular locales we need to highlight.
Below you’ll find The Broke Backpacker team’s recommendations on the best places to visit for the winter solstice.
1) Svalbard, Norway
The archipelago of Svalbard is a Norwegian Territory situated some 1000 KM North of even the top tip of Norway. Situated inside the Arctic Circle, it’s the northernmost population centre on Earth and gets the Arctic winter at full throttle. This means that the period around the Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Year are all passed in total darkness, 24 hours per day!
While not exactly pleasant, staying in Svalbard and spending your days in the moonlight is by far one of the most unique and enlightening travel experiences you can have. It’s disorientating in every way possible. When your alarm sounds at 8am, you won’t even feel like coffee and croissants because your body clock will be saying “ah it’s dark, time to hit the pub for a beer!”.
The plus side of so much darkness means that you get to try blind dog-sledding, and the Northern Lights are a possibility 24 hours per day – although if a winter storm blows in from the North Pole, you won’t be able to see them behind the clouds.
Best Place To Stay In Svalbard: Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg
2) Stonehenge, England
Only two hours away from London, there is an undeniable magic to Stonehenge on the winter solstice. As the sun rises, its golden rays perfectly align with the ancient stones, sending beams of light through the circle to coat the rocks in a soft, warm glow. While the history behind this monument remains a mystery, this powerful moment makes you feel as though it must have been designed just for this.
The celebration draws in thousands of people from all walks of life to sing, dance, and bang their drums! The sense of community, spirituality, and festivities are what makes this event even more special. It’s the kind of place where you can channel your inner hippy and literally move to the beat of your own drum.
Whether you want to embrace the spiritual, free-spirited energy – slamming your drum and dancing with the crowd – or simply experience the remarkable natural event, Stonehenge is a legendary place to be over the winter solstice.
Best Place To Stay Near Stonehenge: The Wheatsheaf
3) Brighton, England
Let’s face it—winter in the UK can feel relentlessly bleak. So if you’re looking for somewhere to brighten up those gloomy days (metaphorically, not literally—I’m no witch), why not check out my favourite city in the UK?
On the shortest day of the year, the good folks of Brighton come together for the “Burning the Clocks” festival. Locals create lanterns adorned with clocks, parading through the city before gathering on the beach for the main event: a bonfire to bid farewell to the year gone by and its worries and fears.
Photo: @taya.travels
The clocks, symbols of the past year, burn away in a celebration of fresh starts and the promise of longer, brighter days. It’s a communal release, a chance to let go of the year’s weight and look forward with renewed hope—something we could all do with considering how the year has just been wrapped up.
For a self-proclaimed Grinch like me, this festival captures everything worth celebrating at Christmas—a secular celebration that unites communities, celebrates creativity, and stands as a well-needed antidote to holiday consumerism.
Best Place To Stay In Brighton: Brighton Harbour & Spa Hotel
4) St Lucia’s Day, Scandinavia
Way up in Sweden, Denmark, and parts of Finland, you can find a truly special festival on the day of the winter solstice. It’s one of the biggest holidays in the region and is deeply linked to the shortest day of the year. St Lucia is a saint who was killed for being Christian, and the occasion commemorates her.
Entire towns become awash in candlelight, and local lore says it’s dangerous to be out on the street during the long night. So you’ll find that plenty of heavy food is linked to the day. It’s a truly unique experience that most travelers haven’t even heard of, never mind been to!
Though it doesn’t quite give off winter vibes the way the others do, the holiday is also celebrated in Italy too if you want to experience the Winter Solstice in a warmer climate.
If you choose to brave the cold for the full Scandinavian experience, I can assure you it’s worth it – you can also combine it with other Christmas-themed North Pole trips in the region.
Best Place to Stay in Sweden: NOFO Hotel BW Premier Collection
Best Place to Stay in Denmark: Steel House Copenhagen
Best Place to Stay in Finland: The Yard Hostel
5) Karnak Temples, Luxor, Egypt
Any trip to Egypt is characterized by its breathtaking ancient sites, and judging by their usual spiritual significance, it shouldn’t surprise you that they’ve got their very own Winter solstice delight.
Photo: Ana Pereira
In the heart of Luxor, the Karnak Temple complex is one of the country’s most beautiful sites, and it reveals a rare celestial secret on the shortest day of the year.
As the sun rises, it aligns perfectly with Karnak, casting a brilliant beam of light through the halls and into its inner sanctuary, where it honours the sun god, Amun-Ra. How fucking cool is that??
It honestly feels like you’re witnessing a ceremony that has been happening for millennia. A brilliant display of ancient Egyptian engineering.
Best Place To Stay In Luxor: El Mesala Hotel
6) Reykjavik, Iceland
A day of darkness sounds depressing, right? Well, it couldn’t be further from the truth. On the shortest day of the year with only four hours of daylight, the city of Reykjavik comes alive with festivities and celebration.
With low crowds of tourists, Reykjavik is the best place to see and celebrate the winter solstice. There’s no better time to witness those magical colours dance across the sky and experience the full force of Icelandic beauty. Join the locals and celebrate their festivities – enjoy traditional Icelandic dishes, candle-lit walks, live music and the best night sky (well, dark daytime sky) you’ll ever lay eyes on.
Some moments in life stay with you forever and I can safely say the winter solstice in Reykjavik will be etched into your memory for life.
Best Place To Stay In Reykjavik: The Reykjavik EDITION
7) Choimus Festival, Kalash Valleys, Pakistan
One of the coolest Winter Solstice events on the planet takes place in a remote and incredibly unique valley deep in the Hindu Kush mountains of Chitral, Pakistan. Each year right around the day of the solstice, the Kalash people hold their annual Choimus festival to welcome winter.
Unlike most other tribes in the country, the Kalash are traditionally not Muslim and many still follow an indigenous religion that’s similar to animism. The three-day celebration involves rituals, bonfires, and a lot of homemade wine. The Kalasha women are known for their brightly coloured dresses and hats, and there will no doubt be a ton of dancing to both behold and take part in.
The community holds three festivals annually, but the best part about Choimus is that it’s the most intimate since tourists usually avoid the cold weather. Personally, I think that makes it the very best one to attend! You’ll encounter a culture that ONLY exists in this remote valley, and is actually endangered, which makes attending even more special. As long as you pack well for winter travel, you’ll be grand.
A lot of the action will take place in Bumburet, the largest village, but you can also plan to stay in Rumbur as more will happen there too. It’s a truly once and a lifetime type of experience, in the most unexpected of places. I promise you it’s the least touristy spot on the list too!
Best Place To Stay In Chitral: Ayun Fort Inn
FAQs About Traveling for the Winter Solstice
A few commonly asked questions about this epic event…
Travel Insurance for Winter Holiday Destinations
All those long, dark nights and all that slippery, treacherous ice can add to an accident just waiting to happen. While TBB wishes you a safe and celebratory Winter Solstice, accidents can happen when we are on the road, especially when travel conditions are a bit harsher.
It’s not just accidents either. Flight cancellations and other travel mishaps are also more likely during the wintry months so it’s especially worth making sure you think about getting travel insurance before you take your Solstice getaway.
There are many insurers out there but our personal pick is SafetyWing. Created by travellers for travellers (rather than ‘by moneymen for suckers’ like other insurers) they offer a simple and user-friendly monthly subscription model and provide some of the best coverage that I have personally ever had.
And hot of the press, I can confirm that Christmas Twenny-Twenny-Four has come early for us safety conscious nomads as SafetyWing have announced 2 new product offerings; Nomad Insurance Essential and Nomad Insurance Complete. As the names suggest, the former offers the essentials and the latter offers almost everything you could ever want.
Check out by offerings by clicking here to find out more.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts On Where to Celebrate the Winter Solstice
Regardless of where you want to spend the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope you’ve found the very best place to spend the winter solstice for you! From the polar island of Svalbard to a remote valley in the Hindu Kush mountains of Pakistan, there’s gotta be a mid-winter event that fits in with your travel bucket list.
If you want to experience a really unique vibe, Stonehenge has long been a traveller favourite on this day for a reason – you just can’t go wrong with it! If you’re looking for an entirely different climate, the Karnak Temples in Egypt experience some of its most ideal weather in mid-December. Plus it’s not every day you get to see the sun rise perfectly with an ancient relic…
I have no doubt you’ll find the perfect Winter Solstice spot for you – an often-forgotten day that’s seriously worth travelling for!
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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