Winter Sun: 10 Destinations Where It’s Warm in Winter

When the days grow short and the sky stays grey, many of us start craving light and warmth. The good news: winter sun doesn’t have to mean flying halfway around the world. Depending on how warm you want it and how much time you have, there are great options in Europe, around the Red Sea and in the southern hemisphere.

Based on our research, we’ve picked ten destinations where it’s warm in winter, ordered by distance from central Europe. For each one you’ll find the best months to go, typical daytime temperatures and the time zone – so you can tell at a glance whether it suits your trip, wherever you’re travelling from.

Good to know: temperatures are typical January daytime highs from long-term climate data. Sources differ by a degree or two, and individual days can be much cooler or warmer.

Winter sun in Europe: mild rather than hot

1. Canary Islands

Off the coast of north-west Africa, the Canaries are Europe’s warmest region in winter. In Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, January days hover around 21°C. On both Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the south tends to be sunnier and the north greener. Las Palmas is ideal if you want beaches and city life in one place.

• Best time: November to March
• January daytime temperature: about 20–22°C
• Time zone: UTC+0

2. Madeira

This Portuguese island in the Atlantic is more for hikers and food lovers than for pure beach days. Paths follow the levadas, old irrigation channels, through laurel forest and along dramatic cliffs. Funchal, with its gardens and markets, is pleasantly mild in winter, and its New Year’s Eve fireworks over the bay are famous.

• Best time: year-round, mild in winter
• January daytime temperature: about 16–19°C
• Time zone: UTC+0

3. Andalusia

Málaga and Seville make perfect winter-sun city breaks. Instead of lounging by the pool, you’ll lunch outdoors on a terrace, visit museums or stroll down streets lined with orange trees. The Mediterranean is too cool for swimming now, but sights like the Alhambra in Granada are far less crowded than in summer.

• Best time: November to March
• January daytime temperature: about 16–18°C
• Time zone: UTC+1

Medium haul: reliably warm

4. Cape Verde

This Atlantic archipelago west of Senegal is dry, sunny and warm in winter. Sal and Boa Vista are known for long sandy beaches and water sports, kitesurfing above all. If you’re after nature, islands such as Santo Antão have hiking trails through green valleys.

• Best time: November to June
• January daytime temperature: about 24–25°C
• Time zone: UTC−1

5. Egypt: the Red Sea and the Nile Valley

On the Red Sea, in Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh, winter is warm enough for beach days and snorkelling, with reefs among the world’s best-known dive sites. Winter is also the most comfortable season for Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, which get extremely hot in summer.

• Best time: October to April
• January daytime temperature: about 21–24°C on the Red Sea
• Time zone: UTC+2 in winter

6. Dubai

From November to March, Dubai is warm without being oppressively hot. Beyond beaches and hotel pools there’s the old town along Dubai Creek with its souks, the desert on the city’s doorstep and a huge restaurant scene. On the man-made Palm Jumeirah, Atlantis The Palm with its own water park is a family classic.

Atlantis The Palm: Book now*

• Best time: November to March
• January daytime temperature: about 23–25°C
• Time zone: UTC+4

7. Oman

If you want warmth with fewer skyscrapers, Oman is a calmer alternative. The capital, Muscat, sits between mountains and sea; inland you’ll find wadis, forts, oasis towns such as Nizwa and the dunes of the Wahiba Sands. October to March is pleasantly warm, while summer is very hot.

• Best time: October to March
• January daytime temperature: about 24–25°C in Muscat
• Time zone: UTC+4

Long haul: summer in winter

8. Riviera Maya, Mexico

On the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, between Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, winter is the dry season. Turquoise water, cenotes to swim in and Maya sites such as Tulum and Cobá make the region wonderfully varied. The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to the end of November, so winter falls outside it. We’ve already filmed hotels in Playa del Carmen and Tulum for our hotel tours.

• Best time: December to April
• January daytime temperature: about 26–28°C
• Time zone: UTC−5

9. Cape Town, South Africa

When it’s winter in the north, it’s summer in South Africa. Cape Town combines Table Mountain, beaches such as Camps Bay, the winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and a lively art and food scene. The Christmas period is peak season, so book early. We’ve shown a hotel at the V&A Waterfront with a rooftop pool and views of Table Mountain in one of our in-depth hotel tours:

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• Best time: November to March
• January daytime temperature: about 26–27°C
• Time zone: UTC+2

10. Maldives

For many, the very definition of winter sun: these Indian Ocean atolls have their driest season from around December to April, with calm seas and great visibility for snorkelling. Most resorts occupy their own islands, often with overwater villas. Prices peak around Christmas and New Year.

• Best time: December to April
• January daytime temperature: about 29–30°C
• Time zone: UTC+5

How to choose your winter-sun destination

• How warm do you want it? For walks and city sightseeing, Andalusia or Madeira are enough. For beach holidays, the Canaries, Cape Verde or the long-haul options are a better bet.
• How much time do you have? For a long weekend, pick somewhere with little time difference. For long-haul trips, plan at least a week.
• Travelling with children? A short journey and a small time difference usually make things easier.
• Check entry requirements: visas and entry rules depend on your nationality, so check official government sources in good time.
• Book early: the Christmas and New Year holidays are the most expensive time everywhere. January and February are often cheaper.

Conclusion: winter sun for every budget and schedule

Mild in Europe, reliably warm around the Red Sea and the Gulf, or full summer in the southern hemisphere: there’s no shortage of places where it’s warm in winter. What matters most is the temperature you’re after, the journey and how many days you have.

To make sure the hotel lives up to your expectations, read our guide on how to find the perfect hotel. Know a hotel in the sun we should visit? Recommend it to us.

Sources

• Holiday Weather: Las Palmas – January climate
• Rough Guides: Madeira in January and Oman in January
• weather2travel: Cape Verde in January
• timeanddate: Egypt clock changes 2026
• NOAA National Hurricane Center: Atlantic hurricane season