Winter is coming. These trips help you embrace it—or escape it.

Think “winter vacation,” and some travelers picture warm shorelines and sun-splashed ancient ruins. Others dream of slipping on snowshoes to explore a national park or bedding down in an ice hotel. Whatever your idea of a winter getaway, National Geographic’s new book 100 Cities, 5000 Ideas offers inspiration and tips, from museum- and beach-hopping in Los Angeles, California, to skiing down the slopes near Vienna, Austria.

Here are 10 urban destinations where you can either escape or embrace the season.

Cities that thrill to the chill

Oslo, Norway—Average January high: 32ºF

At the mouth of a gorgeous fjord, the Norwegian capital strikes a fascinating balance between centuries-old and contemporary, with dazzling modern architecture (a new museum dedicated to local artist Edvard Munch), Viking ships on display, and a buzzing performing arts scene.