Where to go for winter holidays 2026 with a schoolchild

Winter is not a reason to sit at home, wrapped in a blanket, especially when schoolchildren have their long-awaited free days. This is the ideal time to change the scenery, gain new impressions, and recharge before the longest academic quarter. However, choosing a destination often puzzles parents: they want it to be interesting for both the child and adults, comfortable in terms of climate, and reasonable in terms of budget.

If you are still deciding where to go for winter holidays to please all family members, we have prepared a selection of the best options for you. Here you'll find snowy peaks, a warm ocean, and the country's main festive events. Let's figure out where to buy tickets for the New Year holidays right now.

For skiing: Dombay

If your family loves active recreation and isn't afraid of frost, then Russia and its majestic Caucasus are the best choice. Dombay is a classic of ski tourism that is experiencing a rebirth. This is a good option for schoolchildren of any age: toddlers are taught to ski in special schools ("frog ponds"), while teenagers can master snowboarding on more challenging slopes.

Dombay is famous for its incredible panoramas. The mountains surround the village from all sides, creating a cozy bowl protected from winds. January is the snowiest month, so skiing will be comfortable.

Where to go during holidays in Dombay, besides the slopes?

1. Teberda Nature Reserve. Here you can see bison, deer, and bears in enclosures.
2. Ascent to Mount Musa-Achitara. Even if you don't ski, take the cable car for views of Elbrus and a photo session with a tame yak (kids will be thrilled).
3. Tubing parks. Sledding on "vatrushkas" (snow tubes) is a fun alternative to skiing.

To get to the resort, it's most convenient to buy tickets to Mineralnye Vody on Kupi.com, and from there, book a transfer or take a bus (about 3–4 hours travel time). This journey itself will be an adventure, as the road passes through picturesque mountain passes.

To the sea: Goa

When there's a blizzard outside, many wonder: where to go for holidays to urgently see the sun? The Indian state of Goa is a great way to pull a child out of winter and show them another world.

Unlike many Asian destinations, Goa offers gentle adaptation. It's not as humid here as in Thailand, and the Indian Ocean in January is calm and warm. For a holiday with a child, it's better to choose South Goa (Varka, Benaulim, Palolem beaches). It's cleaner, quieter there, and the sand crunches underfoot like starch.

What to do:

• Spice plantations. It will be interesting for a schoolchild to see how vanilla, pepper, and cinnamon grow, and to ride an elephant.
• Fort Aguada. A real Portuguese fortress with a lighthouse – an excellent open-air history lesson.
• Dudhsagar Waterfall. A jeep trip through the jungle to one of India's highest waterfalls will be remembered for a long time.

This is a place where you can simply relax, build sandcastles, and eat the freshest fruits. Logistics are quite well-established now: you can find tickets Saint Petersburg – Goa (Dabolim airport or the new Mopa airport) with a convenient connection, or use charter flights.

Visa-free: China

China has opened up to tourists and is rapidly gaining popularity. If you are looking for exoticism without red tape, pay attention to Hainan Island (tropics) or Harbin (snowy fairy tale). For a schoolchild, a trip to China is a cultural shock in a good sense of the word and an opportunity to see future technologies.

Option 1: Hainan (Sanya city). Direct flights go here, and a visa is not required for Russians. This is a full-fledged beach tour: warm South China Sea, monkey parks, a huge statue of the goddess Guanyin, and thermal springs.

Option 2: Harbin. If you want to spend your New Year holidays like in an ice kingdom, this is the place for you. In January, the grand Ice and Snow Festival takes place here. Huge ice castles with illumination, slides hundreds of meters long – it's a world-class spectacle.

To get to the tropical island, it's enough to buy tickets to Sanya on Kupi.com. And if you choose Harbin, be prepared for a transfer in Beijing or Shanghai – you can also show your child the Great Wall of China.

To museums: Saint Petersburg

The Northern capital is beautiful at any time of year, but in winter it acquires a special charm. Petersburg is the perfect answer to the question "where to go for holidays for enlightenment?".

Of course, the Hermitage and the Russian Museum are must-visits, but with a schoolchild, it's worth focusing on interactive venues:

1. Grand Maket Russia. A huge model of the country where trains run, night falls, and life bustles. Children can get absorbed here for 3–4 hours.
2. Museum "Universe of Water". A fascinating story about water in an old water tower.
3. Kunstkamera. A classic that is interesting to teenagers.
4. Planetarium No. 1. The largest dome in the world, where you can lie on beanbags and watch movies about space.

Evenings can be spent at the ice rink in "New Holland" or at the fair on Manezhnaya Square. It's time to find tickets Yekaterinburg – Saint Petersburg (or from your city) and plan a cultural visit. And for Muscovites, it's even simpler: the "Sapsan" will get you there in 4 hours.

To Ded Moroz: Veliky Ustyug

Every child (and adult at heart) dreams of visiting the country's main wizard. Veliky Ustyug in the Vologda region is a brand that maintains its reputation. A trip here is an immersion into childhood.

Ded Moroz's Estate is located in the forest near the city. It's a huge amusement park:

• Fairy Tale Path with beloved characters.
• Ded Moroz's Tower, where you can see his bedroom, wardrobe, and throne room.
• Zoo (a branch of the Moscow Zoo) with northern animals.
• Ded Moroz's Post Office, from where you can send a letter with a branded stamp.

Such a trip needs to be planned well in advance, as demand is huge. It's most convenient to buy tickets to Vologda on Kupi.com, and from there, take a transfer, or use special tourist trains that go directly to Veliky Ustyug or Kotlas station.

To the New Year Capital 2026: Ryazan

This year, Ryazan is the main destination for domestic tourism, as the city officially received the status of "New Year Capital of Russia 2026". Ryazan accepted the baton and the symbol of the holiday – the Crystal Snowflake – last year, and now the city is preparing to surprise guests with a large-scale program.

If you want to arrange an unforgettable weekend not far from the central part of the country, you won't find a better option. The city will turn into one big fairy-tale decoration.

What Ryazan will surprise with as the capital:

1. Lybedsky Boulevard and Pochotovaya Street. These locations will become the epicenter of the celebration with grand illumination, art objects, and fairs. Here you can meet the main fairy-tale characters of the region – Ryazan Kosopuz, Avdotya Ryazanochka, Zabava Putyatishna, and Evpaty Kolovrat.
2. Nightingale the Robber's Residence. An interactive zone with a fairy-tale trail is planned to open in Lesopark, where children will find quests and winter fun.
3. Ice Sculpture Festival. Masters from all over the country will create transparent masterpieces that will be illuminated with all the colors of the rainbow in the evening.
4. Gastronomic discoveries. Ryazan is famous for its culinary traditions. Be sure to try kalinnik (a pie with viburnum berries) in local cafes and visit the Museum of Ryazan Lollypop History to paint the famous rooster on a stick.

Getting there is very easy: you can take a branded express train or buy tickets to Ryazan on Kupi.com on a regular commuter train (only 2.5–3 hours travel time). It's best to book hotels for holiday dates right now, before tourists from all over the country snatch up the spots.

How to save on holidays with children

Winter holidays are traditionally high season, and prices bite. But there are ways not to go broke:

1. Shift dates. The most expensive tickets and hotels are from December 29 to January 3. If you fly on January 4-5 or, conversely, return by the very beginning of school, you can save up to 30%.
2. Choose apartments. For a family with a child, an apartment with a kitchen is often more convenient and cheaper than a hotel. The ability to cook breakfast or dinner at home will save your budget on restaurants.
3. Buy tickets on Kupi.com in advance. The rule is as old as time, but it works. If you've already decided where to fly for the New Year holidays, don't wait until December.
4. Use the "Pushkin Card". If your schoolchild is already 14 years old, they can visit many museums (including in Petersburg and Moscow) for free at the state's expense.
5. Look at non-obvious destinations. Instead of overcrowded Sochi, consider, for example, winter Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, or Karelia. They also have snow, entertainment, and excellent museums, but the price tag might be more humane.

The main thing about winter holidays is not the amount of money spent, but the time spent together. Whether it's the palms of Goa or the lights of New Year's Ryazan, these memories will stay with your child for a lifetime.