When winter sets in and the sun essentially clocks out for three months, the urge to go somewhere warm becomes less of a luxury and more of a survival instinct. The good news is that the world has no shortage of places where December through February looks nothing like January in Chicago.
Here is a list of the best winter sun destinations, spanning every budget and every kind of traveler.
The Canary Islands, Spain
The Canary Islands sit off the coast of West Africa, which means they enjoy year-round temperatures in the high 60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit even in January—warm enough to swim, sunbathe, and eat outdoors every day. Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote are the most popular, each with distinct landscapes ranging from lunar volcanic terrain to sand dunes to ancient laurel forests.
They’re easily accessible from most of Europe and affordable by Spanish standards.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali’s dry season runs roughly from April to October, but even the wet season—November through March—offers warm temperatures and plenty of sunny days between the afternoon showers. Northern Bali and the Bukit Peninsula tend to stay drier than Ubud in the highlands.
The combination of warm weather, cheap accommodation, incredible food, and genuine cultural depth makes Bali a default winter escape for good reason.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar’s January and February are some of its finest months—hot, dry, and ideal for lounging on beaches that look like they were designed by committee to be as perfect as possible. The island’s spice trade history gives it cultural texture beyond the beach scene, and the old Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth exploring.
It pairs naturally with a safari on the mainland.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s west and south coasts are at their best from November to April, which aligns perfectly with northern hemisphere winter. The beaches around Mirissa, Galle, and Arugam Bay are stunning, and the island’s interior—temples, tea plantations, elephants, ancient cities—makes it one of the most rewarding warm-weather destinations in Asia.
It’s also significantly cheaper than many comparable destinations.
Mexico’s Pacific Coast
The Oaxacan coast—particularly Huatulco and Puerto Escondido—offers warm, dry weather from November through March which the Pacific coast of southern Mexico does particularly well. Puerto Escondido attracts surfers; Huatulco draws those who want calmer bays and a more resort-focused experience.
Oaxaca City is three hours inland and combines beautifully with a beach stay, adding world-class food and mezcal to the itinerary.
The Azores, Portugal
The Azores are often overlooked as a winter destination because they’re associated with dramatic weather—but the islands, particularly Terceira and Faial, remain mild through winter compared to mainland Europe, hovering in the 60s. They’re moody rather than blazingly sunny, but for travelers who want something wilder and more atmospheric than a standard beach holiday, the volcanic landscapes and thermal springs make for a genuinely interesting winter escape.
Barbados
Barbados sits in the southern Caribbean, below most hurricane tracks, and enjoys reliably dry, sunny weather from December through June. It’s one of the most culturally developed islands in the Caribbean—the food scene is genuinely excellent, cricket is a national obsession, and the rum culture runs deep.
It’s pricier than some Caribbean destinations, but it tends to deliver consistently.
Vietnam
Vietnam’s geography means winter sun is always available somewhere in the country. While the north around Hanoi gets cool and misty in winter, central and southern Vietnam—Hội An, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City—enjoy warm, dry conditions from December through April.
The beaches of Phú Quốc island, in the Gulf of Thailand, are reliably beautiful in the dry season, and Vietnam’s food alone justifies the flight.
The Algarve, Portugal
The Algarve’s reputation as a summer destination undersells its winter appeal. Temperatures stay in the low to mid-60s from December through February, the famous limestone beaches and sea caves are crowd-free, and accommodation prices drop significantly.
Golfers, hikers, and anyone who prefers warm sun without the August madness find the Algarve in winter almost more appealing than in summer.
Florida Keys, USA
For North Americans who’d rather not cross an ocean, the Florida Keys offer winter sun that actually delivers. Key West in January averages around 75°F, the water is warm enough to snorkel, and the island’s distinctly eccentric character—part Caribbean, part Southern, entirely its own thing—makes it a genuinely entertaining place to spend a week.
It’s accessible from most of the eastern US in a few hours.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde is an archipelago off West Africa that manages to feel like a secret despite being only four hours from London and six from New York. The islands—particularly Sal and Boa Vista—offer desert landscapes, turquoise water, and reliable sunshine year-round.
It’s less developed than the Canaries, which is either a feature or a bug depending on what you’re after, but for uncrowded beaches and warm winter sun, it’s hard to beat.
The Seychelles
The Seychelles are genuinely spectacular and genuinely expensive, but for a special winter getaway, the granite islands of Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue deliver some of the world’s most extraordinary beach scenery. The giant granite boulders, palm-fringed coves, and extraordinary wildlife—the Seychelles giant tortoise, the coco de mer palm—make it unlike anywhere else.
December to April is the northwest monsoon season, but the southern islands remain calm.
Colombia’s Caribbean Coast
Cartagena de Indias is having an extended moment in travel circles, and deservedly so. Colombia’s Caribbean coast is warm and dry from December through March, and Cartagena itself—a walled colonial city of pastel-colored houses and bougainvillea—is deeply photogenic.
The nearby Rosario Islands and Tayrona National Park extend the appeal considerably.
Oman
Oman in winter is one of travel’s better-kept secrets. From October through March, temperatures are ideal—warm rather than scorching—and the country’s extraordinary landscape of deserts, wadis, fjords, and fortified cities becomes fully accessible. Muscat is an elegant, welcoming capital, and the Wahiba Sands desert offers some of the most dramatic dune scenery in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Maldives
The Maldives is one of those rare destinations that actually looks like the pictures, which is both amazing and a little disconcerting when you get there. The dry season is from November to April, when the waters are calm, the visibility is great for diving, and the overwater bungalow experience is so clichéd until you find yourself lounging above the Indian Ocean while watching the sunset.
It’s pricey, but for a special treat, nowhere comes close.
Sun finds those who go looking
Winter escapes are never more than a plane ride away—it’s simply a question of how far you’re willing to travel and what kind of warmth you’re looking for. Whether it’s a cheapo in the Canaries or a treat in the Maldives, the sunny side of the world is always open for business.
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