Winter & Christmas breaks

December

What better way to end the year than with a touch of winter magic? Festive breaks in December are crisp but warming, offering the perfect escape before the new year shenanigans start. Just picture twinkling lights, cosy retreats and jolly gatherings with family and friends – all great reasons to visit a new place before the end of the year.

Keep reading to find more places to explore and things to do in December.

February

Step out of winter hibernation in February to explore Scotland’s dramatic landscapes, rugged coastlines and award-winning attractions as towns and cities reawaken after the winter months.

Add the Cairngorms National Park to your travel itinerary and you won’t be disappointed with the vast offerings to enjoy. If you’re lucky to catch snowfall during your trip, get out on the slopes to see the park from a different perspective. If you’d like to keep your feet on the ground, explore the routes, trails and paths that weave in all directions across the area that let you see the ancient Caledonian forests up close. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for native wildlife and stop off at the many welcoming towns and villages across the park too.

Keep reading to find more destinations to Visit in February.

Explore the sights, sounds and marvels of Scotland this winter with a variety of passes, offers and experiences that will take you around the country without breaking the bank.

• ScotRail – take part in the Kids for a Quid offer where up to four children can travel for £1 when one full price adult or concession ticket is purchased.
• Hostelling Scotland – treat yourself to a ‘buy 2 nights get 1 free’ offer from 1 November to 31 March at all open hostels. You can also save 20% on stays at the Top 10 Walking Hostels (Aviemore, Braemar, Cairngorm Lodge, Crianlarich, Gairloch Sands, Glencoe, Glen Nevis, Loch Ossian, Torridon and Ullapool).
• Historic Environment Scotland Days Out – enjoy child tickets for just £1 at a range of attractions when one full price adult or concession ticket is purchased.
  Please book online directly with the attraction to redeem and use the code ‘VSKIDS4AQUID’. Offer valid from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.
• Scotland Gifts Local - if you're not quite sure what to gift your loved ones this Christmas, why not put a Scottish twist on it with a Scotland Gifts Local gift card? With over 8,000 businesses and shops to browse, they're bound to find something they'll love.

• Hogmanay: 31 December – Welcome in the New Year with local celebrations across Scotland, with live music, performances, fireworks, traditions and more, it’s a great event to witness the warmth of Scotland.
• Burns Night: 25 January – Celebrate the life and works of Scotland’s National Bard with poetry, recitals, traditional ‘haggis, neeps, and tatties’, and events across Scotland.
• Aberdeen Christmas Village: November – December – Join in the season of joy, celebration, and festive spirit with family-friendly rides, an open-air ice rink, a range of food and drink from local favourites, alongside a Lights Parade, Santa Run, and a Nativity Scene.
• Oban Winter Festival: November – December – Bringing festive cheer and celebration to the west coast of Scotland each year, delve into parades, workshops, ice rinks, comedy nights and more!
• Bute Yard Christmas Market: 6 – 7 December – Head to the Isle of Bute to stock up on local produce and home-grown goods that are the perfect addition to your festive gatherings with family and friends.