Druids and pagans were joined by a mass of revellers at the ancient monument, accompanied by a soundtrack of pounding drums, chanting and dancing.
Although Sunday was officially the shortest day, Monday's sunrise was the closest to the moment when the North Pole was tilted furthest from the sun.
However, a heavy blanket of grey cloud kept the sunrise from clear view.
Senior druid King Arthur Pendragon, said: "What we're really here for is to celebrate the fact that the cycle of the world turns, and from now on the days get longer and it's the return of the sun.
"It's a time of change and hope is renewed - the same message really from a pagan perspective as from a Christian perspective.
"That's what this season is all about - a message of hope."
Last week English Heritage - which manages the stones near Salisbury in Wiltshire - reported a record number of tourists in the past year.
I've just been passed by a giant lampshade playing the accordion and I think I've seen the widest selection of wellingtons ever known in one place on the earth.
It's the middle of Salisbury Plain, it's an ancient monument. We never [usually] get as close and everyone is here because they want to be here.
In front of me there are people from Korea and I can hear German accents behind me.
I have spoken to Canadians and all sorts of people - all here for one reason and that's because Wiltshire has one of the best ancient monuments in the world.
The body said 1.3 million people had visited the site since the opening of the Â£27m visitor centre in December last year - a 9% increase on the previous 12 months.
This means a continual reinforcement of the message that the stones need to be looked after and treated with respect, it added.
Heather Sebire, English Heritage's curator for Stonehenge, said: "People think that because it's stone it's virtually indestructible - but in fact the stones are quite fragile.
"We know through our research - we had a wonderful laser survey done - that many stones have carvings that you can't see with the naked eye.
"So they can be damaged and we do ask people to respect the stones while they're here."

Winch operator Paul Ormsby and winch man Ciarán Smith have been missing since Rescue 116 crashed off the County Mayo coast on 14 March.
The Irish Coast Guard said the search would now also cover coastline along Counties Donegal and Galway.
Four people were on board the helicopter when it came down.
Capt Dara Fitzpatrick died after she was rescued from the sea hours after the crash.
The body of her co-pilot, Capt Mark Duffy, was later recovered from the wreckage.
On Sunday, the wreckage of the helicopter was lifted from the Irish Sea but the two missing crew members were not found.
The Irish Coast Guard, writing on social media, said underwater searches would resume on Thursday, weather permitting.
The extension of the search comes after the sister of Ciarán Smith appealed for fishermen along the Irish coast to join the search.
Orla Smith said that local knowledge could be crucial in finding the two men.
An investigation into what happened to the helicopter is continuing.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit has said there was no indication of any mechanical problems in the seconds before the impact.
It is thought the inquiry into the cause of the crash on 14 March will now focus on operational issues.

Lily Catherine Butterfield-Godwin and Abbey Rogers, both 19 and from Lyndhurst, were passengers in the Mazda RX8 and died at the scene in Gosport Lane on 13 December.
A third passenger and the driver were also treated in hospital.
Police said the driver, 21, from the Southampton area, had not been arrested.
The winter solstice has been celebrated by about 1,500 revellers who gathered to watch the sunrise at Stonehenge.
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The search for two Irish Coast Guard crew members missing since a helicopter crash has been extended along the Irish coast.
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A driver has been interviewed under caution after two teenagers died when a car hit a wall in the New Forest.