Where's Hot in January? Best Winter Sun Destinations for UK Travellers
January is one of the best times of year to escape the UK’s cold, grey weather in search of winter sunshine. While much of Europe is cool, destinations such as Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Egypt continue to enjoy warm temperatures, making them ideal for a beach holiday.
If you’re looking for the best all round winter sun destination, Tenerife is the standout choice thanks to its reliable weather, varied resorts and relatively short flight time. If your priority is hotter temperatures, Egypt offers even warmer weather, while Dubai combines guaranteed sunshine with luxury hotels and world class attractions.
Whether you’re planning a relaxing beach break or an all inclusive holiday, there are plenty of excellent options within a few hours of the UK.
We compared destinations using average daytime temperatures, sunshine hours, average rain days, sea temperatures, flight times from the UK and how suitable each destination is for a January holiday.
In this guide, you’ll find the best places to visit in January based on weather, value for money and the type of holiday each destination offers.
If you’re still deciding when to travel rather than just where, see our Where’s Hot by Month guide to compare temperatures and the best destinations throughout the year.
Quick Answer: Where's Hot in January?
If you’re looking for the best winter sun in January, Tenerife is the standout choice for most UK travellers. It combines reliable sunshine, temperatures of around 22°C, a flight time of under five hours and an excellent choice of beaches and resorts.
Other excellent January destinations include Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, while Egypt offers even hotter weather for travellers wanting guaranteed sunshine. Dubai is another superb option if you’re happy with a slightly longer flight and a larger budget.
January Weather Comparison
| Destination | Avg Temp | Sunshine (hrs/day) | Avg. Rain Days | Sea Temp | Flight Time | Beach Weather? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife | 22°C | 6 | 3 | 20°C | 4h 30m | ✓ |
| Lanzarote | 22°C | 7 | 2 | 19°C | 4h 30m | ✓ |
| Gran Canaria | 22°C | 6 | 3 | 20°C | 4h 30m | ✓ |
| Fuerteventura | 21°C | 7 | 2 | 19°C | 4h 15m | ✓ |
| Egypt | 24°C | 8 | 1 | 22°C | 5h | ✓ |
| Dubai | 24°C | 8 | 2 | 25°C | 7h | ✓ |
| Madeira | 20°C | 5 | 8 | 19°C | 4h | Limited |
| Morocco (Agadir) | 21°C | 7 | 4 | 18°C | 4h | Limited |
| Cyprus | 17°C | 5 | 9 | 18°C | 4h 30m | No |
| Algarve | 16°C | 5 | 9 | 16°C | 3h | No |
| Costa del Sol | 16°C | 5 | 7 | 16°C | 3h | No |
As a general guide:
- 22–24°C offers reliable winter sun and comfortable beach weather.
- 19–21°C is ideal for sightseeing, walking and relaxing outdoors.
- Below 18°C is generally better suited to exploring than swimming.
- Destinations with fewer average rain days, such as Egypt and the Canary Islands, usually offer the most dependable sunshine during January.
Best Places That Are Hot in January
Tenerife – Best Overall
For most UK travellers, Tenerife is the best all round January destination.
Average daytime temperatures reach around 22°C, with six to seven hours of sunshine each day. Southern resorts such as Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas enjoy particularly reliable weather throughout winter.
Tenerife offers far more than beaches. Visitors can explore Mount Teide National Park, take whale and dolphin watching trips or enjoy lively waterfront restaurants and shopping.
Compared with Madeira, the Costa del Sol and Cyprus, Tenerife is noticeably warmer and offers much more reliable beach weather throughout January.
Best for: First time winter sun holidays, couples, families and year round beach breaks.
Lanzarote – Best for Relaxing Winter Sunshine
Lanzarote has similar temperatures to Tenerife but feels noticeably quieter in January, making it ideal if you want a more laid back winter escape.
Resorts such as Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca offer good beaches, promenades and strong value package holidays, while the volcanic scenery gives the island a more distinctive feel than most Canary Islands.
Best for: Couples, relaxed beach holidays and value focused winter sun breaks.
Gran Canaria – Best All Round Resort Choice
Gran Canaria delivers the same reliable 22°C winter temperatures as Tenerife and Lanzarote, but stands out for its greater variety of resorts and experiences.
From the dunes of Maspalomas to the family friendly beaches of Meloneras and the livelier atmosphere of Playa del Inglés, it offers more diversity than any other Canary Island.
Best for: Families, mixed age groups and travellers wanting variety in one destination.
Fuerteventura – Best Beaches
If your priority is long sandy beaches, Fuerteventura is difficult to beat.
The island enjoys temperatures of around 21°C during January and is famous for its white sand beaches and turquoise water.
Popular resorts include Corralejo, Costa Calma and Jandia.
While Fuerteventura can be windier than Tenerife or Gran Canaria, it generally enjoys equally impressive sunshine and often feels quieter, making it a favourite with beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts.
Best for: Beach lovers, walkers and water sports.
Egypt – Best for Guaranteed Winter Heat
If your priority is the hottest weather possible without flying long haul, Egypt is one of the best options available.
Red Sea resorts including Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh regularly reach 24°C or more during January, while sea temperatures remain comfortable for swimming.
Compared with Tenerife, Egypt is typically 2–4°C warmer, receives more daily sunshine, has fewer rainy days and enjoys warmer sea temperatures, making it the stronger choice if your main goal is guaranteed beach weather.
Egypt also offers excellent value all inclusive holidays throughout the winter season.
Best for: Guaranteed sunshine, snorkelling, diving and all inclusive holidays.
Dubai – Best for Luxury Winter Sun
Dubai combines warm temperatures with luxury hotels, world class shopping and immaculate beaches.
January is one of the most comfortable months to visit, with daytime temperatures around 24°C, low humidity and very little rainfall.
Although the flight is longer than the Canary Islands or Egypt, Dubai offers some of the most reliable sunshine available during January and is an excellent choice if you want to combine beach time with city attractions.
Best for: Luxury holidays, couples and city and beach breaks.
Warm European Destinations in January
Madeira
Madeira averages around 20°C, making it ideal for walking holidays, scenic drives and outdoor dining.
Although Madeira is pleasantly warm, Tenerife is usually the better choice if your priority is beach weather and swimming.
Morocco (Agadir)
Agadir enjoys temperatures of around 21°C, plenty of sunshine and relatively little rainfall.
While the Atlantic Ocean is generally too cool for comfortable swimming, Morocco is an excellent destination for golf, coastal walks and relaxing in the winter sunshine.
Cyprus
Cyprus is one of the warmest Mediterranean islands during winter, although average temperatures of around 17°C make it better suited to sightseeing than beach holidays.
Compared with Egypt or Tenerife, Cyprus feels noticeably cooler during January.
Costa del Sol
Marbella, Benalmadena and Torremolinos remain much milder than the UK throughout January.
Sunny afternoons in the Costa del Sol are perfect for golf, outdoor lunches and coastal walks, even if swimming is unlikely.
Algarve
Portugal’s Algarve enjoys similar conditions to southern Spain and is another excellent destination for winter golf breaks and relaxed coastal holidays.
Both the Algarve and the Costa del Sol offer enjoyable winter sunshine, but neither is as consistently warm as Tenerife, Lanzarote or Gran Canaria.
Is January a Good Time to Travel?
For many people, January is one of the best months of the year to take a holiday.
After the busy Christmas period, resorts are generally quieter, prices often drop and escaping the UK’s cold weather becomes especially appealing.
Reasons to travel in January
- Escape cold, grey UK weather
- Reliable sunshine in Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Egypt and Dubai
- Excellent value package holidays after the New Year
- Fewer crowds than during summer
- Comfortable temperatures for sightseeing and outdoor activities
Things to consider
- Most Mediterranean beach destinations are still too cool for swimming
- Popular winter sun destinations can sell out quickly, especially during school holidays
- Booking early usually secures the best prices and availability
Our Top January Picks
If you’re still deciding where to go, here are the best January destinations depending on what you want from your holiday.
| Holiday Type | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Best overall | Tenerife |
| Best value | Lanzarote |
| Best beaches | Fuerteventura |
| Hottest destination | Egypt |
| Best luxury holiday | Dubai |
| Best family destination | Gran Canaria |
| Best mild winter escape | Madeira |
For most UK travellers, Tenerife remains the strongest all round choice thanks to its reliable weather, short flight time and wide range of resorts.
If your priority is hotter temperatures, Egypt delivers significantly warmer conditions than the Canary Islands, while Dubai is ideal for luxury sunshine and guaranteed warmth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
January is one of the best months of the year to escape the UK winter, with several reliable destinations offering genuine sunshine within a short flight time.
For most UK travellers, the Canary Islands are the clear all round winner. They combine consistent 21–22°C temperatures, short flight times and the widest choice of resorts, making them the most reliable winter sun option.
If your priority is pure heat, Egypt is significantly warmer than the Canary Islands and delivers better sea temperatures for swimming. For travellers wanting guaranteed sunshine with a luxury feel, Dubai stands out as the strongest premium winter sun destination.
In simple terms:
- Choose the Canary Islands for the best balance of weather, price and flight time
- Choose Egypt if maximum heat is your priority
- Choose Dubai if you want winter sun with a luxury upgrade
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