Words Vidula KotianDate 09 January 2026
From Austria to Japan, winter travel isn’t just about snow. Think thermal springs and avant-garde art installations in the Gastein Valley, crisp Swiss pistes and cozy village evenings in Adelboden, or minimalist timber ryokans framing the misty peaks of Niigata. These are destinations where powder mornings, panoramic horizons, and exceptional design collide.
Once Europe’s most glamorous spa town, Bad Gastein drew emperors, artists, and aristocrats
The spa town’s belle époque elegance now thrives with modern creativity
Bad Gastein sits at the heart of Ski Amadé, with Stubnerkogel and Graukogel just outside the door
the cōmodo is a midcentury retreat tucked into an old Austrian wellness town where thermal springs, art, and mountains collide. Here, you wake to views of the Gastein Valley before diving into one of Ski Amadé’s vast networks of pistes—nearly 760 kilometers of runs—and return to a refuge where local farm‑to‑table fare, and restorative spa rituals with genuine Gastein thermal water erase any tension leftover from your black‑diamond bravado.
Bad Gastein itself is a study in contrasts: a once “forgotten” belle époque spa town now buzzing with creative energy, fueled by events like “Art on Snow”—the largest open-air art festival in the Alps—which transforms the slopes into a frosty studio, scattering installations and sculptures across the valley.
At The Cambrian, the Alps don’t just loom—they fold Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland charm into modern alpine design that feels warm where it counts and clever where it matters. Perched above the picture-postcard village of Adelboden, this is a place where crisp mountain air, 210 kilometers of finely groomed pistes, and an après-ski scene that’s more hyggelig than hectic make even the simplest ski day feel rich with possibility—whether you’re carving Silleren’s wide slopes or simply splaying out with a view from the hotel’s spa and outdoor pool.
Off the course, evenings might mean strolling through the village under snow-dusted eaves, discovering cozy bars and savory local fondue, or simply watching the stars wink on above the valley.
Restraint, subtle contrasts, and reverence for natural beauty define the aesthetic
Textured walls and regional materials give the space a tangible, grounded feel
Stieg’nhaus Restaurant turns elemental inspiration—pasture, water, earth, fire, nectar—into a sensory feast
The whisper of quiet luxury meets the roar of the Hochkönig massif at stieg’nhaus, a sanctuary of natural materials, subtle curves, and a pared‑back, mindful aesthetic. Nestled in Mühlbach am Hochkönig, this six-suite hideaway features a rooftop spa that gazes over snow-dusted peaks and evenings that unfurl beside the fire ring with wine and elemental cuisine echoing pasture, water, earth, and flame.
Beyond its doors lie perfectly groomed slopes linking Maria Alm, Dienten, and Mühlbach into one of Austria’s most elegant ski circuits—crowned by the epic Königstour. This season, the new “Family Run Hochkönig” adventure trail launches: a 2.5-kilometer run of curves and speed sections for all ages—while the region’s “Kulinarische Königstour” weaves piste skiing with gourmet hut-to-hut dining
Rather than hide from the raw power of the Caucasus, Rooms Hotel Kazbegi frames it. Inside, its unapologetically bold blend of minimalist geometry mixes reclaimed wood, exposed brick, and vintage touches with floor-to-ceiling panes, so that morning light and mountain silence become part of the décor.
During winter, Stepantsminda’s landscape transforms into a pristine playground of powder and panoramic horizons, ideal for guided winter treks, snowshoe excursions, and day trips that trace the Georgian Military Highway past the historic Ananuri Fortress or up to the Gergeti Trinity Church high above the valley. Evenings at Rooms mean Georgian fare at Kazbegi Kitchen, and cocktails by the fireplace, followed by the heated pool’s glass-walled views of starlit peaks.
High in Japan’s snowy Minami‑uonuma region, Satoyama Jujo is where centuries-old timber beams meet contemporary design. Set in traditional kominka (folk houses) renovated with refined minimalism and bathed in natural light, the ryokan blends food, art, architecture, and nature into a holistic experience that feels both rooted and rare.
In winter, guests can join guided snowshoe treks at sunrise across pristine fields, glide down nearby ski slopes, or sip local sake warmed by the fireside as the heavy snow thumps against the roof. Back at the inn, dinner at Sanaburi showcases organic mountain vegetables and Niigata’s celebrated Koshihikari rice—dishes born of centuries-old preservation traditions—while the open-air onsen looks straight onto misty peaks.
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