The Coldest Inhabited Places You Can Actually Visit in 2025

For travelers who want more than just snow—they want the extreme.

If you think you’ve experienced cold by visiting a ski resort or catching a winter storm, think again. In 2025, a new breed of adventurous travelers is heading to the coldest inhabited places on Earth, not for the thrill of danger, but for the beauty of life lived on the edge of frozen reality.

These aren’t ghost towns or frozen outposts. These are villages and towns where people live, work, and thrive in sub-zero temperatures year-round. Ready to swap your beach towel for a down parka?

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❄️ Why Cold Destinations Are Trending in 2025

• Climate-conscious tourism is shifting away from over-touristed beaches

• Travelers want once-in-a-lifetime adventures and unique bragging rights

• TikTok is flooded with “coldest village” content—especially during polar night

• Snow, silence, and northern lights = visual content gold

Here are the coldest inhabited places you can actually visit, sleep in, eat in—and survive.

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1. Oymyakon, Russia 🇷🇺

The coldest permanently inhabited village on Earth

With winter temperatures that can plunge to -50°C (-58°F), Oymyakon in Siberia is a brutal yet beautiful village that still holds its population. The air freezes mid-breath, cars run 24/7, and schools close only below -52°C.

What to experience:

• Snap a selfie at the “Pole of Cold” monument

• Visit a traditional yak farm

• Try frozen raw fish called stroganina

🧳 Best time to visit: January–February (with a guide only).

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2. Norilsk, Russia 🇷🇺

The northernmost city with over 100,000 people

Located above the Arctic Circle, Norilsk is cut off from the rest of Russia by permafrost. It’s dark for 45 days straight in winter and temperatures hover around -30°C—but people still work, party, and live full lives.

Why visit:

• Soviet-era architecture under snow

• Ice sculpture festivals and art in extremes

• A rare look into Arctic urban life

⚠️ Note: Entry may require special permits for foreigners.

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3. Yellowknife, Canada 🇨🇦

Sub-zero luxury under the Northern Lights

Capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, Yellowknife is remote, freezing, and magical. While not as cold as Siberia, it sees consistent -30°C winters and is a top spot for aurora hunters.

Top experiences:

• Glass-domed lodges under the lights

• Dog sledding across frozen lakes

• Indigenous culture and smoked arctic fish

🔥 Stay cozy in heated tents or wilderness cabins via Flyvoye Hotels.

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4. Barrow (Utqiaġvik), Alaska 🇺🇸

Where the sun sets—for 65 days straight

The northernmost town in the U.S., Barrow is locked in ice much of the year. For over two months each winter, the sun doesn’t rise, but life continues with snowmobiles, subsistence hunting, and cozy indoor traditions.

Why go:

• Polar night photography

• Inupiat Eskimo culture

• The edge of America—literally

🚁 Book your cold frontier flight via Flyvoye Flights.

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5. Harbin, China 🇨🇳

Cold with a side of fantasy

Harbin may not be the coldest on this list, but it’s certainly the most magical in winter. With temps dropping to -25°C, the city transforms into an ice kingdom for the Harbin Ice & Snow Festival—a world of frozen castles and neon-lit sculptures.

Must-do:

• Walk inside a glowing ice palace

• Ride an ice slide like a kid again

• Eat street food in -20°C air

🎆 A family-friendly cold adventure with extreme photo potential.

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6. Røros, Norway 🇳🇴

Frozen fairytale meets UNESCO history

This charming mountain village sees brutal winters, yet its wooden homes and cobbled streets come alive with Christmas markets and horse sleigh rides. Temperatures regularly drop to -20°C and below.

Top attractions:

• Copper mining museums

• Cozy log-cabin cafes

• Reindeer sausage and cloudberry jam

🎄 Come in December for a snow globe-style holiday.

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🧤 How to Survive (and Enjoy) the Coldest Places

✔️ Layer smart: Thermal base, wool mid, waterproof outer
✔️ Invest in hand/foot warmers
✔️ Drink hot local beverages: Berry teas, meat broths, Arctic cocoa
✔️ Protect your electronics: Cold drains batteries quickly
✔️ Embrace slowness: Cold travel isn’t rushed—it’s savored

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🧊 Why Travel to the Coldest Inhabited Places?

Because they change you.

You’ll learn to appreciate warmth like never before. You’ll discover silence deeper than sound. You’ll meet people who laugh in minus 40. And you’ll gain stories no beach resort could ever offer.

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🧳 Plan Your Frozen Journey

✈️ Book Arctic Flights → Flyvoye Flights
🏨 Sleep in Snowy Stays → Flyvoye Hotels
🎒 Gear Up Smartly → Shoppytown Travel Gear

In 2025, go where most won’t. Brave the chill. Find the beauty.