Ready to Taste Winter?

Winter isn’t just a season; it’s a sensory journey. From steaming maple syrup in snowy Canada to crab safaris above the Arctic Circle, these travel experiences combine winter wonder with unforgettable cuisine.

Below are eight bucket list trips perfect for food lovers who crave culture, adventure and great flavors.

1. Sapporo Snow Festival + Hokkaido Street Food

Where: Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
When: 4 – 11 February 2026
The famed Sapporo Yuki Matsuri transforms the city into a snowy art wonderland with gigantic ice sculptures and dozens of food stalls serving miso ramen, fresh seafood, grilled crab, Hokkaido milk soft serve and shellfish skewers.

• Crab, scallops & seafood grills are sold by street vendors at Odori & Susukino
• Miso ramen & jingisukan (barbecued lamb) is a loved local comfort food

Approximate Costs:

• Festival walk-in: Free
• Guided tours (7 – 9 days including hotel & flights): about US $3,800 – $5,300 per person

Book hotels early as January – February is peak winter tourism.

2. Québec Winter Carnival & Maple Sugar Shacks

Where: Québec City, Canada
When: 6 – 15 February 2026
One of the largest winter carnivals in the world, where snow sculptures, parades, night shows, toboggan runs and food stands featuring Québec classics await.

• Tire d’étatble, or maple taffy on snow, is a sweet treat made by pouring hot maple syrup over fresh snow.
• Caribou (warm wine from the area)
• Local sausages, poutine, and hearty tourtière

Estimated Expenses:

• Sugar shack meal: approximately $25 – 40 CAD per adult for traditional spreads
• Carnival pass: approximately $29 CAD + tax (adults) if purchased in advance

3. Thorrablot Festival + Geothermal Dining

Where: Iceland,including Reykjavík

When: From the mid-January till the mid of February

A traditional Icelandic winter feast, Thorrablot honors seasonal dishes including pickled fish, smoked lamb, fermented shark (hakarl), and regional cheeses.

• A dish of pickled and fermented foods
• High-end tasting menus at places like Moss in the Blue Lagoon area (Michelin-level seasonal cuisine)

Approximate Costs:

• Festival buffet experiences are frequently included in restaurant packages, however they vary greatly.
• Michelin dining: about IS K20,000+ (about US $150+) each person (tasting menus)

Bonus: Beautiful drives over snowy scenery and thermal bathing.

4. King Crab & Northern Lights Safari

Where: Arctic Norway (above Arctic Circle)
When: Winter (December till March)
Venture on a snowmobile crab safari, haul giant king crabs from the ice and enjoy them fresh by an open fire in traditional lavvu tents beneath the northern lights.

• Fresh king crab boiled with butter, lemon & local sides
• Traditional Sami bread with fish or reindeer

Approximate Costs:

• Arctic adventure + lunch packages costs about €300 – €600+ depending on tour duration.

5. Dining in a Rustic Alpine Hut in the Dolomites

Where: South Tyrol, Italian Dolomites
When: Winter ski season (December till April)
Snowshoe into alpine huts like the Jora Mountain Hut for wood-fired South Tyrolean, local cheeses, speck, pasta and alpine herbs.

• Warm polentas and local mountain cheeses
• Tagliolini with chive blossoms and cress pesto

The approximate cost of ski passes and hut dinners, which include guided winter hiking access, ranges from €20 to €70+ per dish.

6. Budapest Thermal Baths + Michelin Dining

Where: Budapest, Hungary
When: December through March
After warming up in the famous Széchenyi or Rudas Baths, savor elegant Hungarian cuisine at the Michelin-starred Stand Restaurant, which serves game dishes and rich goulash with sweet Tokaji wine.

• Smoked beets with venison
• Delicious gulyás soup

Approximate Costs:

• Michelin dinner: €90+ per person (tasting menus)
• Thermal baths: €25 – €35

7. Northern Winter Foraging & Fine Dining in Swedish Lapland

Where: Lapland, Sweden
When: Winter (December through March)
With foraging expeditions and tasting meals that include birch sap, Arctic char, Kalix caviar, and regional game, discover a New Nordic culinary return.

• Wild berries and herbs that were foraged

• Reindeer cuisine and Arctic char at woodland lodges

Estimated Expenses:

• Lodge dinners and foraging: SEK 1500 – 3000 (about US $150 – $300+) each experience.

These are just a few of the exciting food experiences you can enjoy this winter. Give them a try, we’re sure you’ll love every bite and adventure.

*Please note the prices above can tend to fluctuate