Where to find proper winter sun in 2026

It's the most asked question in our specialist inbox between October and January: "where can I get warm without flying 12 hours?" Here are our five favourites.

Tenerife (Canary Islands) — 4h South Tenerife averages 23°C in December and barely dips through February. Prices are at their lowest in early December and late January.

Cape Verde — 6h The Atlantic breeze keeps it pleasant rather than sweltering, with reliable 25°C days. Sal and Boa Vista are the resort-focused islands.

Dubai — 7h Cooler than peak summer but still 24–26°C through January. Worth it for short breaks of 4–5 nights when you want city + beach in one.

Hurghada (Egypt) — 5h30 Cheaper than the Canaries on equivalent all-inclusive — average daytime 23°C, sea around 22°C. Snorkelling on the house reefs is excellent.

Marrakech — 3h45 Daytime sun mid-20s, evenings cool. Best for couples wanting a city break with a riad pool to retreat to between souk wandering.

Pricing tip December half-term and the week between Christmas and New Year are the only properly expensive windows. The first three weeks of January are some of the cheapest weeks of the entire year — perfect for a longer escape.