There are cold destinations, and then there is Antarctica. The frozen continent is officially the coldest place on Earth, with temperatures that make even the chilliest corners of Siberia and northern Canada seem relatively balmy.
According to data gathered by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), NASA’s GISTEMP, Berkeley Earth, and NOAA’s Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN), Antarctica recorded an average temperature of -56.7°C in 2025, putting it comfortably ahead of the world’s coldest countries. But averages only tell part of the story. Antarctica also holds the record for the lowest temperature ever directly recorded on Earth – and, perhaps surprisingly, this frozen wilderness is somewhere travellers can actually visit.
Is Antarctica the coldest place on Earth?
The lowest temperature ever directly recorded on Earth was a staggering -89.2°C at Vostok Station, a Russian research station in Antarctica, on 21 July 1983 – a record recognised by the World Meteorological Organisation.
However, temperatures vary considerably across the vast continent. Antarctica’s coastal areas are much milder than its high interior plateau: according to the British Antarctic Survey, temperatures around the coast are generally close to freezing during the summer months of December to February, while winter monthly averages at coastal stations typically range between -10°C and -30°C. On the high interior plateau, meanwhile, winter monthly averages can fall below -60°C.
Is Antarctica colder than the Arctic?
Yes, and there are several reasons why. One of the most important is geography. The Arctic is predominantly an ocean covered by sea ice and surrounded by land, whereas Antarctica is a landmass covered by a vast ice sheet (known as the Antarctic Ice Sheet) and surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
Antarctica also has a much higher average elevation. As anyone who has headed up a mountain will know, temperatures generally decrease as altitude increases. NASA also points to the powerful winds that circulate around Antarctica, which help prevent warmer air from lower latitudes from mixing with the freezing polar air.
The result is that the South Pole is considerably colder than its northern counterpart.
Can you travel to Antarctica?
Despite its extreme conditions, Antarctica isn’t off-limits to travellers. In fact, Antarctic tourism has grown considerably since organised tourism to the continent began in the second half of the 20th century.
Most travellers visit during the Antarctic summer, typically between November and March, when temperatures are milder and there are long hours of daylight. Expedition cruises generally depart from southern South America, with Ushuaia in Argentina among the best-known gateways, before crossing the Drake Passage to reach the Antarctic Peninsula.