Seven Winter Olympics Cities to Visit

2026 is coming, and so is the Olympics…the Winter Olympics in Milan!

For obvious reasons (ahem, a lack of snow and related sports perhaps), the Winter Olympics just doesn’t get Malaysians as fired up as the Summer version.

But, although we won’t be breaking the speed skating record or creating toboggan superstars, we can visit the wintry host cities that witnessed the world’s greatest sporting event on ice.

So, here’s a look at some former (and a future) Winter Olympic cities, their sporting legacy as well as some cool attractions on the side!

Grenoble (1968)

Nation: France

Countries Participating: 37

Competitors: 1,158

Most Gold Medals: Norway

One of the first major sporting events to grace postwar France, the Grenoble 1968 Winter Olympics was also the first to introduce doping tests as well as colour broadcasts.

Despite some controversy in the women’s luge event, the event saw the US earn a gold medal after the tragedy of Sabena Flight 548 and the first non-Scandinavian to win cross-country skiing in Italian Franco Nones.

As for the city of Grenoble itself, like most French cities, its origins stretch back as far as the Roman forts of the 3^rd century.

It would grow in importance thanks to its glove-making industry and blossom during the leadership of François de Bonne, Duke of Lesdiguières. Today, it is a major hub for scientific research and development.

Its three main venues were the Stade de Glace (Palais des Sports Pierre Mendès France), the Anneau de Vitesse and the Municipal Ice Rink (Halle Clémenceau). The Olympic cauldron also still stands at the Parc Paul Mistral Park.

Besides Olympic attractions, the city also features many relics and museums related to its long and proud history.

The most prominent of these is the Bastille fort – no, not the one in Paris – perched atop a peak in the centre of town. Make sure to take the scenic cable car ride up!

Right at the foot of the Bastille hill is the fascinating Grenoble Archaeological Museum. Built out of a former 19^th-century church, its star attraction is the expansive Roman crypt that visitors can walk through and explore up-close!

And of course, being called Capital of the Alps, Grenoble is home to a ton of prime skiing slopes, particularly near the alpine region of Isère.

How to Get Here

Both Lyon and Geneva offer access to Grenoble via plane, bus, train or taxi. However, train rides from Paris or Lyon are much more frequent and affordable.

Innsbruck (1976)

Nation: Austria

Countries Participating: 37

Competitors: 1,123

Most Gold Medals: Soviet Union

One of Austria’s many chic cities, Innsbruck is the alpine capital of the mountainous Tyrol region which borders Germany, Switzerland and Italy – a strategic position which has granted it trade, wealth and tons of snow!

In fact, Innsbruck was a last-minute replacement for the 1976 Winter Games, as Denver was rejected after local outcry. The Swiss city had only just hosted a Winter Games just nine years earlier in 1964.

Innsbruck 1976 was also the first to feature ice dancing, a subset of figure skating. American Terry Kubicka was also the first person to perform a backflip in his figure skating run.

Nine venues were featured in these Winter Olympics, with the most prominent venues being the Bergiselschanze ski jump, Patscherkofel ski resort and the Axamer Lizum ski resort – which boasts a state-of-the-art, ten-seater funicular.

Once you’re had your fill of skis and slopes, make sure to stop by the city proper as Innsbruck boasts many landmarks and palaces related to the storied Habsburg dynasty of Austria.

There’s the Golden Roof, an iconic gilded roof that overlooks an ivory balcony as well as sumptuous frescoes. But much more impressive is the Imperial Palace, a massive gleaming complex that once housed luxurious staterooms and apartments for the royal family.

For mountain lovers, there’s also the Nordkette mountains, a cable car-accessible peak that provides stunning views of the highland city. Really, Austria has no shortage of beautiful cities and attractions. First-timers might be better served visiting the palaces, museums and cafes of the capital Vienna though.

How to Get Here

Dozens of coaches and trains depart for Innsbruck from the Austrian capital Vienna as well as neighbouring countries. For more info, take a look at their official tourism guide.

Sarajevo (1984)

Nation: Bosnia and Herzegovina (formerly Yugoslavia)

Countries Participating: 49

Competitors: 1,272

Most Gold Medals: East Germany

Today, most of us only know Sarajevo and the nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as one of the bloodiest battlegrounds of the Bosnian War (1992-1995) and the countless civilian lives it took.

But once upon a time, Sarajevo – then part of Yugoslavia – was known as a symbol of hope.

Amidst the Cold War and sandwiched between the boycotts of the 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympics, it was one of the few international sporting events that brought both East and West together.

Among Sarajevo 1984’s surviving venues, one of the most iconic is the long and winding Bobsled & Luge Track located atop Trebević Mountain, which was one of the most innovative of its day.

Despite suffering war as well as decades of neglect, the track is still remarkably structurally sound and is considered a fascinating if eerie sightseeing spot thanks to its huge stretches of graffiti and surrounding nature. Other notable surviving venues include the angular Zetra Olympic Hall, the imposing Skenderija Hall.

Sarajevo can also lay claim to one of the most beautiful Olympic museums in the Sarajevo Winter Olympics Museum, housed within a rebuilt neoclassical mansion.

Beyond the Olympic glories, visitors to Sarajevo will find one of the Balkans’ most historically rich cities thanks to its proximity to and control under the Ottomans, Austro-Hungarians and Yugoslavia.

There’s the Ottoman-era Baščaršija bazaar with its bustling streets, mosques and the iconic Sebilj fountain. In a testament to the city’s diverse religious fabric and history, the city counts the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and Ashkenazi Synagogue among its many houses of faith.

Looking for more destinations with Ottoman heritage and culture? Check out our in-depth Time-Travelling Itinerary Through Turkey and the Ottoman relics of Northern Greece (best in autumn!).

For a macabre stop on your Sarajevo journey, you can also visit the very street near Latin Bridge where Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated, the very event that would spark World War I.

How to Get Here

Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines operate flights to Sarajevo International Airport via Singapore/Frankfurt and Istanbul.

Nagano (1998)

Nation: Japan

Countries Participating: 72

Competitors: 2,176

Most Gold Medals: Germany

After hosting Asia’s first ever Winter Olympic Games in Sapporo, Japan came roaring back with a thrilling sequel with Nagano 1998.

Deep within the snowy mountains of central Japan, Nagano, formerly called Shinano, was a hub for linen, pottery, and horse-breeding that was fiercely contested by warlords during Japan’s Sengoku period.

Fast forward to Nagano 1998, the Winter Olympics would see the debut of snowboarding as an Olympic discipline, the return of crowd-favourite sport curling and Tara Lipinski – the youngest figure skater champion at just 15 years old.

Today, most of the Olympic venues are still intact and in use. Olympics fans should first stop by the M-Wave arena, which hosts the Nagano Olympic Museum within its carapace-shaped building.

The Games’ Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium and its neon-green slopes are a tourist attraction in their own right too, providing a bird’s eye view of the town of Hakuba and the mountains of Nagano.

As a world-famous alpine destination that rivals many of Japan’s national parks, Nagano is home to countless mountain ranges and sleepy heritage towns and temples.

On the one hand, you have Zenkoji Temple’s awe-inspiring eaves sheltering centuries of Japanese Buddhist tradition. On the other, you have the world-famous Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route which carves its way through solid walls of snow and gorgeous alpine scenery.

Or why not blend both with Togakushi Shrine? These trio of shrines dedicated to fertility, prosperity and harvests are secluded within a forest of towering cedar trees and abundant nature. Just make sure to pick up some of these winter survival tips from a Malaysian traveller before you head there.

How to Get Here

The Hokuriku Shinkansen can shuttle visitors straight from Tokyo to Nagano. Coach buses also depart from Shinjuku, Ikebukuro or Akihabara.

Nagoya’s JR Limited Express Shinano is also another option for those coming in from Kyoto and Osaka.

Salt Lake City (2002)

Nation: United States

Countries Participating: 78

Competitors: 2,399

Most Gold Medals: Norway

Amidst the doom and gloom of the 9/11 attacks, the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics brought some much-needed cheer and relief to the US.

It was here where 18 countries – including first-timers China and Australia – snagged gold medals in a record-breaking Winter Games.

On the personal front, the US’s Vonetta Flowers and Canada’s Jarome Iginla, made history by becoming the first Black medallists in the Winter Games for their respective countries.

To start off your Olympic retrospective, you can visit the Eccles 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum and its collection of artifacts or the Alf Engen Ski Museum and its interactive skiing exhibits.

Both museums are situated within the wider Utah Olympic Park, a year-round sports hub that sees ski jumps, ski slopes and bobsled tracks coexisting with recreational activities like ziplines and climbing walls.

Salt Lake City is also a fascinating city. Established in the 1850s by followers of the Mormon faith – a Christian sect – Utah’s state capital is filled with grand buildings related to this faith.

A must-visit is the surreal Salt Lake Temple, a Gothic Revival church that wouldn’t look out of place among the blocks of Paris or Austria.

For those who can’t make it to D.C., The Utah State Capitol is also another handsome building that’s shockingly accurate to its cousin in D.C.

Salt Lake City is also a great hopping off point to various national parks, particularly in the south like Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park – making it one of the great road trip destinations of the world.

For somewhere closer, you can also stop by the city’s namesake – the Great Salt Lake. This massive body of saltwater – the largest in the Western Hemisphere – has a mirror-like sheen that makes for some great photos.

How to Get Here

Salt Lake City International Airport is reachable by connecting flights from regional airports in Denver or Los Angeles.

Interstate 80 and Interstate 15 also provide access to the city by car.

Pyeongchang (2018)

Nation: South Korea

Countries Participating: 92

Competitors: 2,922

Most Gold Medals: Norway

Twenty years on from Nagano, South Korea’s debut Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang heralded a return to Asia.

There’s a twist though – Pyeongchang’s not a city!

Pyeongchang is a rural alpine county full of mountains and slopes that support tons of snow sports and activities. In 2018, the coastal city of Gangneung also co-hosted indoor events such as figure skating and curling.

Amidst the Olympics’ record 102 events, the Czech Ester Ledecka scored the unbelievable feat of two Olympic golds in two different sports – skiing and snowboarding – the first do so in 90 years.

Even equatorial nations got in on the action, like Nigeria’s first African Olympic bobsledding team. On top of that, Malaysia also made their debut at the games with alpine skiing (Jeffrey Webb) and figure skating (Julian Yee)!

These tales and more are immortalized in the PyeongChang Olympic Museum, which is located just east of the Olympic skiing venues at Alpensia ski resort and Yongpyong Resort.

And being situated deep in the heart of the rugged, mountainous Gangwon province, Pyeongchang has much to offer for the cultural and nature afficionado.

This is especially so in the Odaesan National Park area, a gorgeous mountain full of hiking trails that take you through river valleys, panoramic ridges and stunning peaks.

This peace and solitude was also why Buddhist temples such as Sangwonsa and Woljeongsa temples were built here. Sporting intricate woodwork and dizzyingly colourful eaves, these national treasures are worth a stop on any hike here.

You can also visit Gangneung too, one of the few coastal Winter Olympic host cities. Sports venues at the Olympic Park, the swathes of chill sands at Gyeongpo Beach and cultural hotspots like the Ojukheon Museum – the city has it all!

If you need you K-pop or shopping fix though, there’s no better place than the malls, markets and high streets of Seoul!

How to Get Here

KTX Trains (Gyeonggang Line) or coach buses can get you from Seoul to Pyeongchang without too much trouble.

Milan / Cortina (2026)

Nation: Italy

Countries Participating: TBA

Competitors: TBA

Most Gold Medals: TBA

Our last entry in this list of Winter Olympics cities is a bit unique in that it hasn’t happened yet!

Scheduled for 6 – 22 February 2026, the 25^thWinter Olympic Games will descend upon the northern mountains of northern Italy. In a first for the Winter Games, it will be hosted in two cities – the city of Milan and the alpine resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

In another first, women athletes will also see their numbers soar to an all-time high of 47% percent!

Meanwhile, up to 90% of the Games’ venues will be reused or built temporarily. In fact, the Athlete’s Village in Milan will be repurposed after the Games to address student housing shortages.

Still, if you had to pick a city for the Olympics, it’s hard to find one that’s more suitable than Milan. During the Renaissance, it an absolute juggernaut of commerce, fashion and politics.

Even today, it still wields exceptional cultural influence by hosting multiple fashion titans such as Dolce & Gabana or Versace, who all offer their luxury wares at jaw-droppingly gorgeous arcades like Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

Handsome Renaissance-era churches such as the Duomo di Milano, Santa Maria delle Grazie, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore also feature lofty interiors adorned with exquisite architecture that will have you craning your neck up for hours!

Of course, you can’t forget about Cortina!

Just like Patagonia, This resort town lies right at the heart of the jagged peaks and dramatic slopes of the Dolomite Mountains, allowing access to circuits like the Sellaronda or the famous slopes of Faloria- Cristallo.

One need only look at the lone monolith of Cinque Torri rising from a sea of snow to understand why they call Corina la Regina delle Dolomiti – “Queen of the Dolomites”.

How to Get Here

Flights to Milan Bergamo Airport or Milano Malpensa Airport depart daily from Kuala Lumpur, with most transiting by the UAE or Qatar.

Cortina is a bit trickier to get to, but flying into Venice (sadly an overtourism hotspot) then taking the Cortina Express is your best option. Driving from Austria or Venice is also another option.

For winter sports fanatics hungry for more, how about trying some of the world’s most extreme sports or even just chilling in some winter towns? We also have specific winter guides for places like Japan’s Mount Nokogiri and the Swiss city of Zurich.