January, at the world’s best hotels.

The January lull — fresh snow, short lift lines, between the holiday peaks.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

The palace without the crowds — winter light in the Hall of Mirrors.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

After Epiphany Florence has its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp clear days, the Uffizi and the Accademia without the lines, and the city's great hotels at their softest rates until Holy Week.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

Winter sun season proper: 18 degree afternoons, empty golf courses, heated pools and the Golden Mile's lowest room rates of the year.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

The post-festive lull is London's softest pricing of the year, and the city compensates with theatre, museums and restaurants all in full swing.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

The post-festive lull is London's softest pricing of the year, and the city compensates with theatre, museums and restaurants all in full swing.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

The post-festive lull is London's softest pricing of the year, and the city compensates with theatre, museums and restaurants all in full swing.

The post-festive lull is London's softest pricing of the year, and the city compensates with theatre, museums and restaurants all in full swing.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

After Epiphany Florence has its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp clear days, the Uffizi and the Accademia without the lines, and the city's great hotels at their softest rates until Holy Week.

The Alentejo's quiet half-year: olive harvest, starlit skies, fireplaces lit.

Deep-winter country house season: long walks, longer dinners, fires everywhere.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

The Alentejo's quiet half-year: olive harvest, starlit skies, fireplaces lit.

The post-festive lull is London's softest pricing of the year, and the city compensates with theatre, museums and restaurants all in full swing.

After Epiphany the city hits its quietest and cheapest stretch of the year, with crisp sunny days, empty museums and no real lines at the Vatican or Colosseum.

Deep-winter Paris: museums, brasseries, and the year's best hotel rates.

Deep-winter country house season: long walks, longer dinners, fires everywhere.

The post-festive lull is London's softest pricing of the year, and the city compensates with theatre, museums and restaurants all in full swing.

Deep-winter country house season: long walks, longer dinners, fires everywhere.

Fireside season — frost on the meadows, the village to yourself.

The rains bring the jungle alive and the valley falls quiet.

The rains bring the jungle alive and the valley falls quiet.

The rains bring the jungle alive and the valley falls quiet.

Winter kaiseki and hot springs with the temple town to yourself.

Snow-country bathing and crab season on the quiet Japan Sea coast.

Deep-winter onsen bathing after the New Year rush clears out.

Green season: newborn game, dramatic skies, and the bush at its lushest.

Kalahari summer: meerkat pups, desert blooms, and the reserve's quietest months.

Green season on the pans: zebra migration, desert flowers, dramatic storm light.

Winter light on the kasbahs, snow on the High Atlas behind them.

Crisp winter days in the medina after the holiday crowds leave.

Crisp winter days in the medina after the holiday crowds leave.

Crisp winter days in the medina after the holiday crowds leave.

Crisp winter days in the medina after the holiday crowds leave.

Crisp winter days in the medina after the holiday crowds leave.

Winter on the strait: gardens in bloom early, the city at its most local.

Crisp winter days in the medina after the holiday crowds leave.

The American Riviera's soft winter — green hills and empty beaches.

Storm-watching season — whales offshore, fires lit, the coast dramatic.

The American Riviera's soft winter — green hills and empty beaches.

Deep winter is the Adirondacks at their most atmospheric, with frozen-lake skating, snowshoeing and toboggan runs at a fraction of summer pricing.

Clear winter light, green hills, and the town back at work.

Storm-watching season — whales offshore, fires lit, the coast dramatic.

The deep-winter city — quiet streets, easy tables, best rates of the year.

Clear winter light, green hills, and the town back at work.

Clear winter light, green hills, and the town back at work.

Clear winter light, green hills, and the town back at work.

The deep-winter city — quiet streets, easy tables, best rates of the year.

The deep-winter city — quiet streets, easy tables, best rates of the year.

The American Riviera's soft winter — green hills and empty beaches.

Clear winter light, green hills, and the town back at work.

The deep-winter city — quiet streets, easy tables, best rates of the year.

Clear winter light, green hills, and the town back at work.

The quiet weeks after the festive exodus bring reliable snow, empty pistes and the winter season's softest rates before February half-term fills the village.