If You've Been Gatekeeping A Travel Destination That Most People Wouldn't Think Of For Winter Vacations, Now's The Time To Share It

There may be a "tourist season," but true travelers know that exploration is year-round. Too often, we devote all our vacation days and fun plans for the summer, living for just a few hot, crowded months. But what if we flipped the script? I'm on a mission to get people excited about traveling in winter — when the crowds thin, the landscapes transform, and the world feels a little more magical.

In December of 2022, I took a 10-hour FlixBus to Venice. Yes, the gorgeous Rennaisance city is known and popular with tourists for sunny gondola rides and walking tours. My experience of Venice was not like depictions of the city in Summertime or The Tourist. The temperature did not go above 40°F during my trip, and it rained nearly all of the time, but I have to say, it was one of the most magical places I've traveled to. I think going in the Winter was a major part of what made my experience there so wonderful.

But I want to hear from the BuzzFeed Community: What other travel destinations get overlooked for the winter months? Have you discovered that Madeira, Portugal, was surprisingly pleasant in February?

Perhaps you chose to travel to Marrakesh in winter because of a cheap plane ticket and discovered an entirely new side of the city most summer tourists don't get to see.

Maybe a romantic partner brought you to their family's home in Nova Scotia for the holidays, and while you had zero expectations, the scenery, food, and company made you surprised more people hadn't discovered it yet.

Tell us all about the winter travel destination you've been gatekeeping until now in the comments or anonymously via this form. Your submission might just end up in a future post.