Fun things to do indoors or out this winter

Winter is here, and with that comes longer nights and much colder weather. However, this doesn’t mean that the fun has to stop; there are tons of things to do, even in the coldest months of the year on a seasonal getaway.

Whether it’s for those who love standup comedy and a good show, people who enjoy heading off to a resort for the winter, or even those who are planning on staying at home, here are the best ways to spend the winter days.

Winter sports

There are numerous sports and activities one just can’t do during any other time of year. Snowboarding, skiing, sledging, ice skating – winter is the perfect time to jump in.

Almost every winter resort offers snowboarding and skiing lessons for anyone who hasn’t hit the slopes before. The slopes for snowboarding or skiing aren’t nearly as steep as the mountains, and there is little to no risk of getting hurt.

Date nights

Sometimes it is just too cold to do anything outdoors, but there is a tonne to do indoors. Frost outside and the warmth of the fire make a perfect combination for romance, so date nights should be at the top of any winter to-do list.

There’s no need to go out to a restaurant either: a delicious home-cooked meal, a couple of drinks and a roaring fire are all that’s needed for a quiet and, most importantly, warm date night. Having dinner at home also means it’s easy to avoid the crowds.

Movie nights

Winter is also the perfect time for movie nights. Whether it’s just two lovers or getting a group of friends together, getting cosy on the couch with some blankets and snacks is not the worst way to spend an evening.

Amazon now stocks small projectors as well, meaning film lovers can hang up a white blanket or use a blank wall and turn the lounge into a cinema. It is most certainly a brilliant spin on the typical movie night.

Winter markets

Winter and Christmas are the time for markets. Most major cities worldwide have markets that go all through November and December, offering locals and visitors a range of Christmas goodies, food, and drinks.

For those travelling, Germany is known as the Christmas market hub of the world, with thousands of stands and stores across multiple cities offering customers everything they need for a merry and cosy Christmas.

Camping

Winter isn’t often associated with camping, but perhaps it should be. While we all know how popular camping is in the hotter months, winter camping is severely underrated. Being outdoors when it’s cold offers new experiences, such as the opportunity to see new animals and birds as the scenery changes and the landscape evolves. Camper can also experience remote areas without the need for a hotel nearby.

It’s important to remember to stay safe, though, as winter camping does come with its challenges. Campers must take more care to pack winter supplies such as a firestarter or gas for a heater, and ensure they have the tools to get their vehicle out of the snow if there happens to be a prolonged and heavy downfall.

Hobbies

Being stuck inside due to the cold is a great time to pursue any hobbies that don’t usually get any time. Considering many of us start a hobby but then forget it because we just don’t have the time, being indoors during winter is a chance to change that.

Even something as simple as reading a book with a cup of hot chocolate may seem clichéd and like something out of the movies, but it really is as relaxing as the actors make it out to be.

Personal growth

Much like picking old hobbies up again, the downtime associated with winter makes it possible to expand skills and knowledge. Websites like Udemy provide access to hundreds of courses on a variety of topics.

One can learn the basics of finance, map creation, video editing and everything in between. Countless courses offer 30+ hours of video and lecturing content, and there are sales several times a year, allowing learners to purchase multiple courses for a fraction of the price.

On the other end of the spectrum, apps like Duolingo are free and offer basic tuition in 106 different language courses, broken up into levels, from essential words to advanced phrases. The language variety is also incredible, considering they offer more mainstream languages such as Spanish and French and more unusual ones like Navajo and Yiddish.

Explore

Being a tourist in the city is criminally underrated. No matter how long you have lived somewhere, there are dozens of exciting places to visit that haven’t yet been explored, ranging from new and exciting restaurants to eclectic art galleries and exciting museums.

Considering the majority of time during this period is spent indoors, simply Googling where the nearest gallery, museum or exhibition is will open up to a new world of exploration possibilities.

Many major cities offer guided tours, too, allowing visitors and residents alike to learn about the history of specific buildings or parks.

A night out

Winter nights can be brutally cold sometimes, but that doesn’t mean the party has to stop. Restaurants, bars, and clubs don’t close just because it’s cold, and therefore revellers can still head out with some friends and dance the night away.

Once again, there is probably a spot that will be cosy and warm, and topping it off with some good food and fun with friends is one of the best ways to spend an evening.

Clearly, winter doesn’t mean the fun has to stop for a few months. There are so many activities and things to do, either from the comfort of home or in the city.

The editorial unit