11 amazing ice rinks around the world

So you’ve finally come around and decided to embrace winter? What better way to do it than take a cool skate with an enchanting backdrop. Here, in no particular order, are some of the world’s most amazing ice rinks, so beautiful and unexpected that you just might want winter to last a little longer so that you can glide gracefully (or not so gracefully) across them all.

Beijing, China

1) BEST ICE SKATING RINK FOR ICE BIKING
SHICHAHAI LAKES, BEIJING, CHINA
Shichahai Lakes (a trio of three lakes) is a popular recreational area home to Taoist and Buddhist temples in Beijing, and when the earth freezes over, the ice chairs and ice bikes come out for rent. With Beijing and Zhangjiakou battling to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, locals are even more amped for winter adventures.

Lake Louise in Banff | Credit: Paul Zizka

2) BEST ICE SKATING RINK ON GLACIER WATER
BANFF LAKE LOUISE, OTTAWA, CANADA
Skate on frozen glacier-fed water and retreat to nearby crackling fires and heated shelters in this snowy-mountain postcard setting in the Banff National Park.

Rideau Canal, Ottawa | Credit: Ottawa Insider

Rideau Canal, Ottawa | Credit: Ottawa Tourism

3) BEST ICE SKATING RINK TO GET TO WORK
RIDEAU CANAL SKATEWAY, OTTAWA, CANADA
This 4.8 mile historic thoroughfare in Ottawa freezes over in the winter months (roughly late January to late February) and is frequented not only by skate enthusiasts, but daily commuters — perhaps heading to one of Canada’s parliament buildings that dot the way, along with change huts and snack stations. Much like a traffic report, the website updates commuters with ice conditions daily.

The Ice Rink at the Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas

4) BEST ICE SKATING RINK AT A DESERT HOTEL
THE COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL, BOULEVARD POOL, LAS VEGAS
Overlooking the heart of the Strip in Vegas, party goers swap flip-flops for blades at this popular summer pool, frozen over for the holiday season. You’ll find the desert skate action at the Cosmopolitan, complete with “snow showers” Wednesday to Sunday.

Quebec, Canada | Credit: Courtesy of Domaine de la Foret Perdue

5) BEST ICE SKATING RINK TO GET AWAY FROM THE CROWDS
THE LABYRINTH DU DOMAINE ENCHANTEUR, QUEBEC, CANADA
Pretend you’re Little Riding Riding Hood traveling through the woods — on skates—at this Quebec hidden gem. You might meet some charming ice sledders to antlered friends along the way.

City Hall, Vienna, Austria | Credit: © stadt wien marketing

6) BEST ICE SKATING RINK FOR A ROMANTIC DATE
VIENNA ICE WORLD, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
This rink has you skating in front of Vienna‘s fairytale-esque City Hall, illuminated with the colors of the rainbows — in your pre-heated rental skates. Be sure to take a break to sip warm organic punch from one of the nearby vendors.

Eiffel Tower ice rink, Paris, France

7) BEST ICE SKATING RINK BENEATH 7,300 TONS OF STEEL
THE EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS, FRANCE
The COP21 (2015 Paris Climate Conference) had some effect on the ice-skating rink at the base of Paris‘ Eiffel Tower: The rink’s decorative bar and miniature Eiffel Tower are made from recycled material, and if you hop on one of the three wooden bikes nearby, you can pedal to power more lights.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center, New York

8) BEST ICE SKATING RINK TO RUN INTO SOMEONE FAMOUS
ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NEW YORK, NEW YORK
This attraction in the heart of New York City has been home to movie sets, including Elf and Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. And of course the nearby 30 Rockefeller Plaza building is home to Saturday Night Live, and formerly 30 Rock. If you fall on your behind, go ahead and just laugh.

Skating Rink at Red Square, Moscow, Russia

9) BEST ICE SKATING RINK WITH A CATHEDRAL VIEW
RED SQUARE RINK, MOSCOW, RUSSIA
In Moscow, you can enjoy a red and white Christmas ice-skating in the Red Square. As you zip across the ice, take in the holiday lights and the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the State Historical Museum.

Ice skating at Somerset House, London

10) BEST ICE SKATING RINK TO GO CLUBBING
SKATE AT SOMERSET HOUSE, LONDON
After dark, internationally-renown DJs spin while you glide at this rink. From reggae to disco, go ahead and skate until it’s late at these London Club Nights. Your backdrop: A neoclassical beauty on the Strand overlooking the Thames.

Ice Rink at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia | Credit: Bondi Winter Magic

11) BEST ICE SKATING RINK ON THE BEACH
BONDI WINTER FESTIVAL ICE RINK, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
The land that never sees snow gets an ice-skating rink at Bondi Beach in Sydney from June 20th to July 12th (that’s winter in the southern hemisphere). If you’re lucky, you might catch one of the occasional ice shows from Stars On Ice.