Mark your calendars! Here are some examples of various exciting events happening around the world this month. You can use the Ferryscanner website to book ferry tickets to every place on this list.
Lux Helsinki
January 4 – 8 | Helsinki, Finland
Head to the capital of Finland this month to experience the Lux Helsinki light festival. Every year there is a diverse range of light art that illuminates the well-known buildings and landmarks of Helsinki as well as some of the lesser-known courtyards and facades.
Epiphany Day
January 6 | All of Greece
In Greece on the sixth of January, the Christmas holidays officially come to an end, in an occasion called Ephiphany. This feast day is an important one for the Greek Orthodox Church and is marked as a national holiday that the entire country participates in. One ritual that always happens is the ‘great blessing of the waters’ performed by a priest. Typically a special cross is thrown into the sea and many dive in to be the first ones to retrieve it.
Valletta Baroque Festival
January 11 – 29 | Valletta, Malta
Since 2013 the capital of Malta has put on the Valletta Baroque Festival which features some of the best soloists and ensembles in the baroque music scene. The festival takes place in various venues around the city such as Saint John’s Co-Cathedral, The Verdala Palace, Palazzo Parisio, and more. These gorgeous spaces are the perfect backdrop for this lively annual event.
Spyros Alamanos Collage Exhibition
Until January 13 | Corfu, Greece
From the end of November until January 13, the Corfu Art Gallery will present a periodic collage exhibition in honor of the late artist Spyros Alamanos called ‘Landscapes of My Heart’. Typically the collages created by Spyros Alamanos are all based on forms of Renaissance painting and archetypal symbols. He would meticulously choose every element of the work to make his vision come to life. Visit the incredible Ionian island of Corfu and see his creations for yourself up close!
All Ears Festival
January 13 – 15 | Oslo, Norway
The All Ears Festival will take place at the Munch Museum in Oslo from January 13 – 15. There will be groundbreaking performers from Norway and from abroad that will be playing improvised music. Doors will open an hour before the event starts and you can purchase your tickets here.
Umberto Giordano’s Opera Fedora
January 14 | Rovinj, Croatia
For all opera lovers spending time in Croatia this month, there’s a special show in Rovinj that you should see! Umberto Giordano’s realist opera Fedor is a fascinating story based on a play by Victorien Sardou. This performance will be directed by David McVicar and conducted by Marco Armiliato and will be shown at the Antonio Gandusio Theater.
4th Paper Airplane Flight Tournament
January 15 | Palermo, Italy
While in Italy this month, visit the Cathedral Square of Palermo to witness a very unique event – the 4th annual Paper Plane Flight Tournament. Children and adults are all welcome to participate. Each competitor will have two throws available for the preliminary qualifying tournament for the category final. The three categories are children up to 11 years, those between 12 – 17 years old, and then all adults that are over 17.
Danish Dance Theatre’s Roaring Twenties
January 18 – 28 | Copenhagen, Denmark
This month in Copenhagen there will be a double-billed event called ‘Roaring Twenties’ put on by the Danish Dance Theatre which is a mix of original jazz tones and club beats by a Danish electronic duo. The concept is created in reference to the iconic 1920s and this new historical chapter of the 2020s that the world is currently in. There are specific existential questions that are asked and answered at this event and the talented choreographers go above and beyond to make it memorable.
Amsterdam Light Festival
Until January 22 | Amsterdam, Netherlands
This year will mark the 11th edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival, which runs from December 1st until January 22nd. The theme this time is ‘Imagine Beyond’ and the lights will be on for everyone to enjoy from 17:00 until 23:00. Stroll across the many bridges that Amsterdam has to offer or take a boat out to view the buildings all lit up from the water.
TradFest 2023
January 25 – 29 | Dublin, Ireland
TradFest is a live music event that takes place every January in Dublin at Temple Bar. This is always a joyful celebration of Irish music and culture that appeals to locals as well as an international audience.
After browsing this list and deciding which events to visit during January 2023, check out the in-depth destination pages on the Ferryscanner website for more information about these places. Once you’ve narrowed down your top choices, find and book your ferry tickets and start packing your bags!