27 of the best winter sun destinations (2024)

As winter tightens its grip on the northern hemisphere, there’s no need to shiver through the season — travellers can get a dose of vitamin D in a diverse range of exciting destinations. Fancy long haul? Head for Miami to cruise past alligators in the Everglades; visit the likes of Mexico, Zanzibar or Antigua for diving, touring and boat trips; see southern Sri Lanka and take in tea-tasting and temple-touring. Want some heat closer to home? Madeira and the Canary Islands will supply rays on sunny days while the rest of Europe pulls on five layers of clothing; or try the excellent resorts and reserves of the Gambia. And there’s much more — here’s our pick of the best winter sun destinations.

Main photo: long-tail boats on Tup Island in Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand (Alamy)

1. Cape Town, South Africa

Average winter temperature 22C
As South Africa’s beautiful cultural metropolis is just two hours ahead, jet lag is unlikely. That’s ideal, as there’s much for visitors to do in Cape Town: be it climbing or riding the cable car up Table Mountain, spotting penguins at Boulders Beach, exploring Nelson Mandela’s cell on Robben Island or touring the V&A Waterfront’s museums and restaurants. Vintners litter the nearby Cape Winelands, while many holidays are extended to encompass a world-class safari and the glorious Garden Route. For cool and a convenient location, try the leafy, arty Dorp on Signal Hill.

• Best things to do in Cape Town

2. Fuerteventura

Average winter temperature 18C
Much nearer Africa than Europe, the Spanish-overseen Canary Islands make for a reliable winter sun holiday. While the better known Lanzarote and Tenerife remain busy, Fuerteventura offers a nice balance; it’s certainly not deathly quiet or shut up, but nor will you encounter those other isles’ heaving crowds. That’s true of the sandy, surfy shores peppering its south (and sunniest) coast, and of its wild, desert-style interior. As laid-back as its name suggests, Costa Calma specialises in terrific sunsets; you can view them from the landscaped gardens and designer sunbeds of Hotel Cooee Taimar.

• Best villas in the Canary Islands
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3. The Maldives

Average winter temperature 27C
With plenty of sunshine constantly on offer, practically any time of year is good for a tan-topping Maldives break. The European winter is an especially savvy time to head to this immaculate Indian Ocean archipelago of white-sand islands and palm-lined atolls, though. That’s because it’s unlikely to be at all wet — and therefore ideal for snorkelling, one of the great pursuits here. The others — such as yoga, scuba diving and canoeing — are all available too. The relatively affordable Bandos island resort is ringed by a house reef, enabling snorkelling straight from shore.

• Best overwater villas in the Maldives

4. Funchal, Madeira

Average winter temperature 16C
Tellingly nicknamed the “island of eternal spring”, tiny Madeira sits close to the Canaries and can be sun-drenched when much of mainland Europe shivers. As well as the subtropical weather, go for the thrilling volcanic geography and lush hiking, the stellar seafood, the dolphin-watching and the black-sand beaches. Most novel is the chance to attend a Christmas market — one is held in Funchal, the likeable capital — wearing shorts. Just outside Funchal, the glamorous Reid’s Palace once welcomed Sir Winston Churchill.

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• Best things to do in Madeira

5. Miami, US

Average winter temperature 20C
Though Florida enjoys continental America’s mildest winters — this is the Sunshine State, after all — Miami always remains ice-cool. From South Beach’s bronzed bodies and art deco hotels to world-famous nightclubs and charismatic Latin culture, pizzazz proliferates. So does great sailing in the vicinity, while anyone cruising past alligators in the Everglades at this time of year will find bugs at their least bothersome. Should you fancy a beachy road trip, the Florida Keys’ sandbar isles stand ready. The Moxy South Beach is playful, unpretentious and joyfully open-air when possible.

• Best things to do in Miami
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6. Zanzibar, Tanzania

Average winter temperature 27C
Normally appended to the end of a trip featuring national parks — Lake Manyara, Tarangire or the famous Serengeti — Zanzibar’s tropical climate includes a short dry season in January and February. While leaving time to explore the Moorish architecture and spice-scented alleys of atmospheric capital Stone Town, you’ll mainly want to spend sunny days blissing out on the island’s bone-white beaches, enjoying water sports or boarding white-sailed dhows for romantic, castaway-style picnics. All plunge pools and overwater cabanas, the beachside Melia Zanzibar pairs seclusion with proximity to Stone Town.

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7. Canggu, Bali, Indonesia

Average winter temperature 28C
Canggu is a relaxed, more authentic world away from Bali’s glitzy, nightlife-happy Seminyak and Kuta — despite being only a few miles up the coast. Head inland from the black-sand, surfer-lined shore and you’ll find boho beach clubs such as the Lawn, then yoga dens, hip galleries and health food cafés, all interspersed with a beguiling mix of mopeds and murals. It’s not far inland, past rainforest and waterfalls, to wellness hub Ubud or to Tanah Lot’s island temple. Like your hotels to blend clean white linens and sleek dark woods? Then you’ll love opulent Como Uma Canggu.

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8. Soufrière, St Lucia

Average winter temperature 26C
St Lucia’s northwest has the sunning Rodney Bay beach, but it’s still not as spellbinding as this Caribbean island’s quieter southwest. Down there, above the enchanting old colonial-style town of Soufrière, loom the pointy Pitons: two rainforest-covered volcanic cones that hikers can conquer. Also in the vicinity are easy waterfall walks, hot springs, a protected marine reserve and some especially romantic coves. January and drier February’s refreshing trade winds make them the perfect times to explore. Facing the Pitons from its jungle-like estate, above a beach and that marine reserve, Anse Chastanet delivers a spa and impressive cuisine.

• Best things to do in St Lucia
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9. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Average winter temperature 19C
With the mercury likely to exceed 40C in summer, winter is decidedly the best time to visit the Middle East’s most glamorous city. Trips to Dubai might include abra boat rides along the Dubai Creek, photo-snapping from the record-breaking Burj Khalifa’s 125th floor or thrills inside IMG Worlds of Adventure. Don’t miss the shopping malls — raised to an art form here, they feature aquariums and entire VR parks — and sandy beaches along the three artificial Palm islands. Tennis courts, kids’ clubs and flexible restaurants help family-friendly Le Royal Meridien stand out from the beachside hotel crowd.

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10. Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Average winter temperature 27C
Tangalle is the optimal spot for exploring southern Sri Lanka in the winter months. From this low-key beach town and its fudge-coloured shores, you can head westwards to Mirissa, for whale-watching excursions, or to Galle and its old Portuguese fort. To the east are leopard-spotting safaris in Yala National Park, while hillside tea plantations, giant Buddhas and rock-cut temples beckon inland. A two-centre trip incorporating the north will let you tick off Sigiriya’s lion fortress and Minneriya National Park’s elephant gathering too. On Tangalle’s quiet Mawella Beach, the six-room Taru Villas serves terrific Sri Lankan food.

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11. Isla Holbox, Mexico

Average winter temperature 23C
From pyramid-like Mayan temples to cave pools in whose green water one can bathe, there’s much to love about southeastern Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Hotel-wise, however, it is startlingly over-saturated. So drive to Chiquila — stowing your vehicle there ready for outings — and catch a 15-minute ferry to car-free Isla Holbox. Twenty-six miles long by just one wide, it’s an ultra-laid-back idyll with a hippy vibe: think multicoloured houses, flip-flops, studios, shack bars serving tacos or co*cktails, and successive sandy beaches. Daybeds and a yoga studio characterise gorgeous Casa Las Tortugas.

12. Barbados

Average winter temperature 26C
“Beach, eat, drink, dance, repeat.” That’s how Rihanna — an official tourism ambassador, no less — describes her ideal day on Barbados. But though pristine beaches, punchy Bajan cuisine and lively rum bars on the glam west coast amply enable all of that, Barbados brings so much more. The wilder, quieter east is made for surfers, while divers can paddle alongside turtles. Inland are sugar-plantation tours and gorgeous gardens. Winter is the dry season, with sunshine and warm seas practically guaranteed. In a lovely west-coast fishing village, the Aussie-owned Little Good Harbour hotel pairs coral stone cottages with a terrific seafood and pasta restaurant.

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13. Lanzarote

Average winter temperature 17C
As safe a bet as any Canary Island for winter rays, Lanzarote is elevated further by its scenery. It’s of the volcanic variety in Timanfaya National Park, where bluffs in shades of red and amber riddle the scorched land. Off the coast you’ll find Museo Atlantico, an underwater museum meets sculpture park, and all around appear funky creations by esteemed local architect César Manrique: an amphitheatre-shaped cactus garden here, lava bubble homes there. The southeast coast is a little gaudy, but rarely expensive; further north and inland, things get more boutiquey. Bordering one of Lanzarote’s prettily whitewashed villages, Casa de Hilario has ten stylish suites and rooms accompanied by a small pool.

• Best things to do in Lanzarote
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14. San Blas Islands, Panama

Average winter temperature 26C
Six miles off the Central American country’s northeastern coast, this Caribbean archipelago enjoys protected status by decree of its indigenous, autonomous Guna people. As well as limiting numbers, this precludes mammoth hotels or glitzy restaurants. Instead, huts and hammocks are part of the simple vibe across sugar-coloured shores whose baby-blue waters are ripe for diving or snorkelling. Private or chartered sailboats are a popular way to get around, with an estimated 365 isles — yes, one for every day of the year — to investigate. Typifying the basic accommodation on offer, Cabañas Dubazenika has 13 thatched beachfront huts beside a restaurant and can arrange boat trips.

• Best things to do in Panama

15. Sal, Cape Verde

Average winter temperature 23C
Just a six-hour flight from the UK — and little difference in terms of time zone — Cape Verde’s accessibility is matched by its affordability. Lying about 350 miles west of Senegal, the archipelago’s most popular islands are Sal and Boa Vista thanks to their bounty of fly-and-flop resorts along fudge-coloured seasides. Sal is also wrapped in vast stretches of red, lunar-like desertscapes, salt pans and the Buracona Lagoon, where the water turns a curious neon blue each morning. Surfing and whale-watching (from February) are popular pursuits while a Saharan breeze keeps everyone cool. The five-star Hilton Cabo Verde Sal is a large beachfront resort within strolling distance of main resort Santa Maria’s pastel buildings and alfresco restaurants.

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16. Krabi, Thailand

Average winter temperature 27C
A lesser-visited province in Thailand, Krabi has several distinctive draws. Just out into the Andaman Sea are more than 150 islands, most notably the idyllic Phi Phi archipelago, where ivory beaches, transparent blue seas and glorious snorkelling hold sway. Inland are vine-swathed lagoons and ancient, elaborate cave temples patrolled by monkeys. To visit both, stay on the coast. The craggy limestone cliffs here are a mecca for rock-climbers: Railay Bay is the headline spot with winter’s pleasant, dry days offering optimum conditions. Rayavadee’s 100 pavilions are just off three white-sand strands and guests will also enjoy four restaurants and landscaped tropical gardens.

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17. Mauritius

Average winter temperature 26C
Yes, Mauritius has the wondrous white-sand beaches to match its Indian Ocean rival, the Maldives. But this large island is also far easier to visit independently — and it offers a far more diverse tourist menu. In addition to sunbathing and snorkelling, you might hike rainforested gorges looking for monkeys or pink pigeons; you might paraglide off volcanic peaks; you might swim with dolphins; you might investigate a multi-influenced cuisine; or you might tour Indian temples and botanical gardens. Winter is largely sun-soaked, if sporadically rainy. Mauritius also excels at budget-friendly beachside stays, such as the all-inclusive Pereybere Hotel & Spa.

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18. The Whitsundays, Australia

Average winter temperature 27C
Our winter is Australia’s summer, meaning scorching heat. Yet the Whitsunday Islands’ breezes, ready access to pools, and cobalt seas mitigate that. Everything will be green and plentiful at this time of year, while the adjacent Great Barrier Reef eternally abounds with fish, turtles, rays and countless corals. If you don’t fancy diving or snorkelling, sun yourself on bone-white sandbars, hire a jet ski or island-hop. Close to Australia’s eastern mainland, most of the 74 Whitsundays are uninhabited. Making the most of its own reef and an underwater observatory, Daydream Island Resort has plentiful free activities, plus restaurants and a spa. There’s even a wedding chapel.

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19. Marrakesh, Morocco

Average winter temperature 13C
Though Marrakesh is unlikely to be drenched in sun come deepest January, it’ll be far warmer than Britain. And far more exotic: on the focal Djemaa el-Fna square each night you’ll encounter belly dancers, snake charmers, jugglers and tempting wafts from tagine stalls, all below the stately Koutoubia mosque. Close by begin the shopping souks, with haggle-happy stallholders hawking everything from carpets to cloves. Further out sprawl glorious tropical gardens, including the blue-hued Jardin Majorelle, and Islamic palaces. Five-suite Riad Cinnamon occupies a traditional Marrakesh house and its lounge, dipping pool and roof terrace offer vital respite.

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20. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Average winter temperature 30C
Travel halfway around the world and you’ll find French Polynesia: 100-plus specks in the South Pacific straight out of your castaway dreams. In distinct turquoise lagoons, most are reef-ringed and white-sand-fringed with thick jungle inland, yet none rivals Bora Bora for pure, luxurious perfection. That’s partly because of its array of islet-set resorts: elite retreats whose restaurants, spas and villas are all A-grade. Below a dormant volcano, hiking and paddleboarding rival snorkelling and swimming as the most popular activities. One of the more affordable stays is the Royal Bora Bora, on the lagoon’s main isle and host to a restaurant, outdoor pool and Polynesian music, plus 80 air-conditioned rooms.

21. The Seychelles

Average winter temperature 27C
A thousand miles east of mainland Africa, the Seychelles is most famous for plush private-island resorts: such as Frégate, Zil Pasyon and North Island, where the current Prince and Princess of Wales honeymooned. Each delivers a reliable dose of humongous villas on blissful barefoot beaches, next to which are crystal-clear seas and coral reefs, and then a bird-rich rainforest interior behind. Yet boutique hotels elsewhere, including Praslin and main island, Mahé, offer similar perks alongside a dose of Seychellois culture and typical Creole food. Go in February to dodge the monsoon season. Praslin’s 40-room Coco de Mer serves creole food and has a pool and nature trail to complement its local beach.

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22. Palawan, Philippines

Average winter temperature 26C
Choosing between 7,000-odd Philippine islands isn’t easy, but this large example offers unusual versatility. Because while Palawan has those powder-soft white beaches and aquarium-like reefs for which the Philippines is best known — in particular, visit its El Nido archipelago for a series of sand-flecked islets — you’ll also find secret lagoons, street parades (in El Nido town in mid-March) and scenic rice terraces, not to mention wreck dives and subterranean rivers. Winter is drier and cooler than oppressive summer — perfect for exploring. Out in that archipelago, El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island’s thatched cottages sit on stilts above a small, green-watered cove ringed by jungle-topped cliffside.

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23. Singapore

Average winter temperature 30C
A regular stop on the transit route, Singapore makes a sizzling winter sun destination in its own right. Temperatures are consistently high year-round, but avoid December and January when there’s the heaviest rainfall. The city state is compact — most of the attractions are within walking distance or reachable by taxi in under 20 minutes. Essential stops include a Singapore Sling at Raffles, the futuristic canopies of Gardens by the Bay, and of course Marina Bay Sands for the infinity pool shot over the city. But you’ll have barely scratched the surface if you don’t take a stroll through Little India, or go on a food tour of the Arab quarter, Kampong Glam. And for longer stays, there’s Sentosa Island, the beach resort and theme park paradise where Singaporeans go on staycations. Mercure Singapore Bugis is centrally located and just steps from the nearest hawker market, Albert Centre.

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24. Cayo, Belize

Average winter temperature 26C
While most first-time visitors to Belize head to Ambergris Caye and the snorkelling sites around Hol Chan Marine Reserve, those in the know will also tag on a visit to the Cayo district. Colourful San Ignacio is the main town, with a lively food market at its centre and a clutch of homely restaurants, while abundant cultural riches are found in the rainforests surrounding it. The best known is perhaps Xunantunich, a Mayan ruin with a direct line of sight into Guatemala. Further south in San Antonio, a women’s co-operative has created a cultural centre to empower the women in the area and keep Mayan traditions alive. Book a visit here to learn how to make tortillas the traditional way. Surrounded by rainforest, the Lodge at Chaa Creek is ideal for spotting birds including toucan, hummingbirds and parrots.

• Best hotels in Belize

25. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Average winter temperature 23C
Let’s be real: Argentina’s capital swelters in winter (its summer), with humidity adding to the mix, and can sometimes be stickily uncomfortable. But rays really do abound, along with some wonderful warm-weather rituals: rooftop asados (barbecues) are one and pool parties another. As many porteños (the word for Buenos Aires locals) have Italian ancestors, an abundance of high-quality ice-cream parlours is also ready to please. January tends to be the hottest month of all, though there’s little in it, and the one with the clearest skies. Recently refurbished, the affordable, cool Vain Boutique Hotel puts you plum in the trendy Palermo barrio.

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26. Antigua

Average winter temperature 26C
Renowned for its (suspiciously convenient) marketing dream of 365 beaches — one for every day of the year, if you hadn’t heard — Antigua also throws in sugar mills, diving delights and some notable historical sights led by Nelson’s Dockyard, a Unesco-listed marina where the Admiral lived for three years. Stellar sunsets and lively, rum-sponsored parties are additional specialties, as is goat curry. This sense of variety repeats itself in the Caribbean island’s accommodation scene; there are big resorts, of course, but a lot of soulful, boutiquey, authentically local stays in addition. COCOS is a couples-only, southwest-coast resort with vernacular, brightly painted wooden cottages featuring four-poster beds and hammocks.

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27. The Gambia

Average winter temperature 25C
There’s lots to like about the “smiling coast”. It’s one of Africa’s safest countries and the national language is English. Prices are amazingly affordable and the GMT timezone precludes jet lag after an eight-hour direct flight. Despite a coastline that’s only 50 miles long, there are an array of beaches. Kotu and Kololi are classic, restaurant-lined tropical resorts, while Batokunku, Sanyang and Jinack Island have a more back-of-beyond vibe. Inland, along the Gambia River, are parks and reserves where tours will show you crocodiles, hippos and monkeys.Idyllic Jinack Lodge runs dolphin-spotting trips, mangrove boat tours and drumming workshops.

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Additional reporting by Qin Xie

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