5 unforgettable winter attractions

Tivoli Gardens - Copenhagen, Denmark 🇩🇰

‘Winter Wonderland’ is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot this time of year, but Tivoli Gardens, an expansive Amusement park in the Danish capital truly deserves the title. It has been enchanting visitors for almost 200 years and is officially the second oldest theme park in the world! 🎢

During the winter months, the park offers its usual range of roller coasters, rides, panoramic views and sprawling gardens with some unique twists for the holidays. Tivoli Gardens boasts a large Christmas bazaar, a park decorated with thousands of Christmas trees and baubles, classic holiday cuisine and much more wintery goodness! ❄️

This attraction is perfect for families but it’s also well suited to couples, groups of friends and thrill-seekers of all ages. A top tip from our partners at Tiqets is to check out a performance at the Pantomime theatre if you’re there in the afternoon or early evening. 🎭

Disneyland Paris - Paris, France 🇫🇷

The launch of the Disney Plus streaming service has put Mickey and the gang back at the front of our minds, and this legendary attraction is sure to put a smile on your face this winter! From the 6th of November to the 6th of January the park runs their Christmas program which as you can probably imagine is nothing short of spectacular! 🎄

Highlights of the winter program at Disneyland include the Disney Christmas Parade, Mickey’s Magical Christmas Lights, A Fairy Tale Waltz with Disney Princesses, Mickey’s Christmas Big Band and the Disney Christmas Village. As you can see, on top of all the usual rides and activities in the park, the holiday season makes the atmosphere that much more special. 🎉

Like Tivoli Gardens, Disneyland is a great match for the whole family and the priority access that you get through our partnership with Tiqets ensures that you won’t have to wait in line to enter the park! You can also enjoy FASTPASS access to certain rides in the park. Tiqets recommends that you also download the Disneyland Paris app to check waiting times for rides. 📱

One World Observatory - New York, USA 🇺🇸

Rising 541 meters above the hustle and bustle of the New York City streets is the One World Observatory, located at One World Trade Center. This skyscraper majestically rose from the site of the 9/11 attacks as a symbol of the resilience and unity of the city. The observatory itself is situated on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of the biggest building in the United States. 🗽

The scale and exterior of the building is impressive enough by itself, and once you enter the magic really begins. The observatory experience starts with a ride up the Sky Pod elevators which are the fastest in the world, you won’t find monotonous elevator music and uncomfortable silences in these elevators as they take you on an immersive visual journey through the history of the Big Apple. 🍎

Once you’ve zipped up to the 100th floor, the real experience begins. You’ll find three floors of breathtaking panoramic views of the city, activities like the Sky Walk, restaurants and even an immersive augmented reality experience with an iPad that Tiqets recommends trying. One thing is certain, there is no better way to take in the New York skyline than from the very top of it! 🏙

Amsterdam Light Festival - Amsterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱

You didn’t really think we would write a winter attractions article without promoting the birthplace of bunq, did you? 🌈

From the 28th of November to the 19th of January the famous canals of Amsterdam come alive in the evenings as international artists create spectacular light displays alongside the water. The annual event always has a new theme attached to it, so year on year they are very different. For 2019, the theme is ‘Disrupt!’ which is drawing attention to the climate crisis and humanity’s effect on the earth. 🌍

By far the best way to see the light festival is on an open-top canal boat tour with a special audio guide available in Dutch or English which explains all the different light installations and their significance. They also provide you with fleeces to keep warm while you are exploring the canals. The tour lasts 90 minutes and departs from just outside Centraal Station. These open-top cruises are ideal for taking great pictures and really immersing yourself in the artwork. 📸

Christmas Market Tour - Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹

There are few cities in Europe that are as picturesque as Vienna and during the winter season the city’s charm truly shines through. One special experience that you can take during the holiday season is the Vienna Christmas Market Tour. 🎅

This activity will take you in small tour groups (maximum 20 people) to four different Christmas markets: Mariahilfer Market, Spittelberg Market, MQ Market and Karlsplatz Market. These markets are all quite distinct and your guide will talk you through the significance of each one as well stories which explain some of the local holiday traditions. Of course, there is plenty of time to browse the many market stalls to pick out gifts for everyone on your list! 🎁

Make sure you bundle up for this tour and enjoy the sights, sounds, lights and warm holiday cheer you’ll experience at the markets. ⛄️