Every “best winter sun” destination list says the same thing: Tenerife, Dubai, the Maldives. They’re not wrong, those places are reliably warm, but the lists all read like a travel brochure, written by someone who hasn’t necessarily been. This one is different.
Every destination on our winter sun list is one we’ve travelled to, picked for winter warmth and a bit of character, with our experience of what the weather really feels like (because “winter sun” can mean anything from beach-hot to just pleasantly mild). We’re always desperate to escape the UK’s grey, rainy winters so have quite a lot of experience here.
We’ve split our winter sun destinations by flight time, since that’s usually what decides it, and we’ve been honest about which are proper hot-beach trips and which are mild, sunny, sightseeing-in-t-shirts kinds of escapes.
Winter Sun at a Glance
| Destination | Flight from UK (approx) | Typical winter temp | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | ~3 hrs | ~15-18°C | Mild & sunny, not beach-hot |
| The Algarve, Portugal | ~2.5-3 hrs | ~16-18°C | Mild & sunny, quiet |
| Taghazout, Morocco | ~3.5 hrs | ~20-22°C days | Warm days, cool eves, surf |
| Sri Lanka (south/west) | ~11 hrs | ~28-30°C | Hot & dry |
| Zanzibar, Tanzania | ~10-12 hrs | ~30°C | Hot & dry, beach |
| Kerala, India | ~10-11 hrs | ~30°C | Warm & dry, green |
| Thailand | ~11-12 hrs | ~30-33°C | Hot, peak season |
| Baja & Yucatán, Mexico | ~10-11 hrs | ~25-28°C | Warm & dry |
| Caribbean Colombia | ~10-11 hrs | ~30°C | Hot & humid |
| Galápagos & Ecuador | ~13 hrs | ~26-28°C | Warm, wildlife |
| Caye Caulker, Belize | ~11-13 hrs | ~27-28°C | Warm, laid-back |
Temperatures and flight times are approximate, make sure to check current conditions before you book as winter sun destinations can be variable.
Short-Haul Winter Sun (under ~4 hours)
These winter sun destinations are under 4 hours flight time from the UK, making them the perfect ‘quick’ and affordable getaways to catch some rays.
1. Malta
Malta is the winter-sun spot people forget, and we love it for a slower trip. Malta is mild-and-sunny, roughly 15-18°C, not lie-on-the-beach hot. What you get instead is Valletta’s honey-coloured streets and Gozo’s cliffs almost to yourself, at good low-season prices, on a short flight. It’s ideal if you want sunshine, sightseeing and good food rather than a tan. See what it costs and where to stay in our Malta Guide.
2. The Algarve, Portugal
For the easiest mild winter sun in Europe, the western Algarve is hard to beat. Around Carvoeiro and Burgau you get sunny days in the high teens, quiet cliff paths and restaurants that belong to the locals again once summer’s gone. Not beach weather and definitely too cold for swimming, but perfect for walking and slow mornings. Our go-to for a calm winter break without a long flight.
Carvoeiro is best for those who want more going on, plenty of restaurants and bars, and a bit of razzmatazz. Burgau is best for a quiet, beach village break with slow mornings and pastel de nata on the beach.
Casinha
A characterful little Portuguese cottage tucked into Burgau village — whitewashed walls, traditional touches and the beach just down the road.
Check ratesBurgau Charming House Loft
Light, modern loft in the heart of Burgau, a short stroll from the beach and the village’s family-run restaurants.
Check ratesBurgau Village and Sea
Bright apartment with views over the village rooftops and out to the Atlantic — great for slow mornings on the balcony.
Check rates3. Taghazout, Morocco
If you want more warmth and something to do, Taghazout is our pick. This laid-back surf village on Morocco’s Atlantic coast has its best season in winter: warm sunny days around 20-22°C, some of the year’s cleanest surf, and a fraction of the summer crowds (though Christmas and New Year are VERY busy). Evenings do get cool, so pack a jumper.
Taghazout is our top-pick as a January destination from the UK, and if you work remotely check out SunDesk, the coworking space. Read our full Taghazout guide. For the wider country, here’s our Morocco travel guide.
Garden Taghazout Bay
Modern beach resort on Taghazout Bay with a big pool and easy access to surf schools. The comfortable family/couple pick.
Check ratesDar Imim Surf House
Laid-back surf house steps from the break, with board storage, a sociable rooftop and easy access to lessons.
Check ratesMunga Guesthouse
Small, friendly guesthouse in the village with simple, comfortable rooms — the homely budget choice.
Check ratesOur Hot (or Cold) Take on the Canaries
Every winter-sun list starts with the Canary Islands, but here’s our honest experience: we went to Lanzarote one winter expecting hot beach days but it wasn’t warm. It was cool and blustery the whole time we were there, often below 15°C. It was jeans-and-a-warm-jumper weather rather than shorts and a beach towel.
Canary winters are usually milder than that and it varies year to year and island to island, so plenty of people do love them in winter. But it caught us out, and it’s why the picks in our guide are the ones we would recommend to a friend from our personal experience. We haven’t been to Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Fuerteventura yet. We intend to see for ourselves one day, so we won’t pretend to judge those first-hand.
Long-Haul Winter Sun (7+ hours)
For the real sun-seekers who want hot-hot weather, these destinations offer it but they do come with longer flight times and the need for a bigger winter sun break.
4. Sri Lanka
For proper heat on a long-haul budget, Sri Lanka is brilliant in our winter: December to March the south and west coasts are hot and dry, all palm-lined beaches and easy island life, and you can pair the coast with tea country and wildlife inland. Start with our Sri Lanka travel guide and check out our vegetarian food guide if you’re a foodie.
We stayed at Skinny Beach House, right on Dalawella Beach. It was paradise. Warm mornings eating pineapple and passionfruit, after swims in the sea, sea turtles coming right to the shore, and evenings falling asleep to the sound of the waves.
5. Zanzibar, Tanzania
For hot, dreamy beach days, Zanzibar delivers: December to February is warm and dry, with white sand and turquoise water on the east coast. The clever move is to pair it with a mainland safari, which is exactly what we did, see our week in Zanzibar, and what a Tanzania safari costs if the safari half tempts you. Zanzibar is the most tropical winter sun destination on our list.
Savera Beach Houses
Private beach houses right on the Jambiani sand, with room to spread out by the sea. The spacious pick.
Check ratesBelvedere Resort Zanzibar
Well-rated resort with tropical gardens, direct beach access and a pool. The comfortable resort pick.
Check ratesBoutique Hotel Matlai
Upmarket beachfront boutique hotel on quieter Pingwe, with a lovely beachside restaurant. The relaxed splurge pick.
Check ratesKudos Beach Apartments
Modern, minimalist apartments right on the sand. The stylish self-catering pick (no pool).
Check rates6. Kerala, India
Winter is the time to visit Kerala: its dry season runs October to March, when the backwaters are calm and the whole state is warm (around 30°C) and impossibly green. We spent two weeks in November backpacking between backwaters, tea hills and the coast. It’s one of the most relaxing warm-weather trips we’ve done. Our full Kerala guide has the itinerary, and we’ve been honest about whether to take a houseboat on the Kerala backwaters.
For a beach break, we loved staying at Utopia Varkala, near Varkala beach, with views over the rice paddies and just a 10-minute walk to one of the quieter beaches in the region.
Utopia Varkala — Where We Stayed
A laid-back stay in quiet Odayam overlooking green rice paddies, with rooftop yoga several times a week. We felt utterly serene after a week here.
Check ratesVilla Akasa
A serene five-room homestay in the greenery of the quiet South Cliff, minutes from a near-untouched beach, with garden breakfasts and free bikes.
Check ratesSoul & Surf Kerala
The South Cliff surf-and-yoga institution, with a lovely clifftop garden, daily lessons and evening yoga timed so you never miss the morning waves.
Check rates7. Thailand
Thailand’s best weather is our winter: November to February is peak season, hot and dry, especially the islands and the south. It’s warm, cheap once you’re there, and endlessly easy to travel. See what Thailand costs to plan the budget. If you’re looking for something different from a beach trip, we love and recommend Chiang Mai for the November through to February season (before burning season starts in March).
8. Baja & the Yucatán, Mexico
Mexico is a strong winter-sun call: the dry season lines up with our winter, and it’s warm rather than sweltering (mid-to-high 20s). We loved La Paz in Baja for its calm bays and beaches. Great if you want sun plus culture, food and wildlife rather than just a sun-lounger. We backpacked around the Yucatan, across Tulum, Merida, Isla Holbox and down to Belize. The Yucatan is perfect for beach time winter sun holidays.
9. The Caribbean Coast, Colombia
If you want heat with a bit of adventure, Colombia’s Caribbean coast is hot and lively through our winter. Cartagena is a beautiful Colonial port town on the Caribbean coast and Tayrona National Park pairs jungle with some of the prettiest beaches we’ve seen. Humid and hot, so more explore-then-swim than all-day-sunbathe.
10. The Galápagos & Ecuador
For a wildlife-first winter escape, the Galápagos are warm from December (the warmer, greener season), with calm seas and incredible animal encounters. It’s a splurge, but unforgettable, our Galápagos guide covers how to plan it.
11. Caye Caulker, Belize
For barefoot, no-cars, no-shoes winter sun, tiny Caye Caulker is our under-the-radar pick, warm Caribbean water and a “go slow” motto. Late winter (Feb onwards) is drier; December-January can see the odd shower, so we’d lean later in the season.
Where Should You Go for Winter Sun?
- Closest and easiest: Malta or the Algarve, short flights, mild and sunny.
- Warm, cheap, things to do: Taghazout.
- Proper beach heat: Sri Lanka, Zanzibar or Thailand.
- Sun plus adventure/wildlife: Mexico, Colombia or the Galápagos.
Winter sun doesn’t have to mean the same crowded resort as everyone else. These are the places we’d happily go back to in a heartbeat.
Winter Sun Destinations FAQs
The classics are the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria), Dubai and the Maldives, all reliably warm. We’d nudge you towards the less-obvious winter sun destinations we’ve been to like Malta and Taghazout, which are just as sunny and usually cheaper and quieter.
For value, Taghazout (Morocco), Sri Lanka and Thailand give you the most sun for your money once you’re there. In Europe, the Algarve and Malta are mild and cheap off-season, just not beach-hot.
December is prime for Sri Lanka, Thailand and Zanzibar (hot, dry, start of high season) and for Kerala. Closer to home, the Algarve and Malta are mild and quiet, and Taghazout is warm by day.
Of the places we’ve been, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar and Colombia’s Caribbean coast are the hottest in our winter (around 30°C+). Malta and the Algarve are the mildest.
Disclaimer: This guide contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only ever recommend places we have stayed or would happily book ourselves.