If you want proper warmth on a short-haul flight from the UK in December or January, the Canary Islands are in a league of their own. Most of mainland Spain, Portugal, Malta and Cyprus are pleasant rather than hot at this time of year: think T-shirt at lunchtime, jumper by sunset. Knowing which is which before you book is the difference between a week on a sun lounger and a week in a café wishing you had packed a coat.
The quick comparison
These are average daytime highs and daily sunshine hours from the climate averages published by weather2travel, with typical direct flight times from London Luton as listed by the airport. Flight times from other UK airports will be a little shorter or longer.
| Destination | December high | January high | Sunshine (Dec / Jan) | Flight from London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanzarote | 21°C | 20°C | 6 / 7 hours | about 4h 10m |
| Gran Canaria | 21°C | 20°C | 6 / 7 hours | about 4h 25m |
| Fuerteventura | 20°C | 19°C | 6 / 7 hours | about 4h 20m |
| Tenerife | 19°C | 18°C | 6 / 6 hours | about 4h 30m |
| Cyprus | 18°C | 16°C | 6 / 6 hours | about 4h 35m (Paphos) |
| Malta | 17°C | 15°C | 5 / 5 hours | about 3h 20m |
| Algarve | 16°C | 16°C | 5 / 5 hours | about 2h 55m (Faro) |
| Seville | 16°C | 16°C | 5 / 5 hours | about 2h 40m |
| Costa Blanca | 16°C | 15°C | 5 / 6 hours | about 2h 35m (Alicante) |
Averages hide a lot, of course. A sunny afternoon in Seville can feel far warmer than 16°C in a sheltered square, while a breezy, cloudy day on the Canaries can feel cooler than the table suggests. Use the numbers to set expectations, not as a promise.
The Canary Islands: the only real beach weather
If lying by a pool is the whole point of the trip, choose the Canaries. Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura are a degree or two warmer and sunnier than Tenerife on average, while Tenerife has the most variety: Teide National Park, walking in the Anaga hills and plenty of towns that feel lived in rather than built for tourists.
Two things catch people out. First, the Atlantic is cool in winter, so a heated pool is worth checking for if you plan to swim every day. Second, the islands are windy and evenings drop off quickly once the sun goes down, so a light jacket earns its place in the case. The south coasts of Tenerife and Gran Canaria are usually sunnier than the north, which is greener for a reason.
The flip side of that reliable warmth is demand. Christmas, New Year and the February half-term are the busiest and priciest weeks, so if you can travel in the first half of December or in mid-January, compare those dates first.
Cyprus and Malta: mild, sunny and good for exploring
Cyprus and Malta suit people who want daylight and blue sky for sightseeing rather than sunbathing. At 15 to 18°C you can walk all day without overheating, and both islands are packed with history to fill those hours: the old streets of Valletta and Mdina, or the mosaics and harbour at Paphos.
Expect some quiet resorts and shorter opening hours outside the main towns, which is much the same trade-off I described in my piece on travelling outside the peak season. Base yourself in a town that people live in all year, such as Valletta, Sliema or Paphos, rather than a resort strip that empties out in winter.
Mainland Spain and Portugal: city breaks with sunshine
Seville, the Algarve and the Costa Blanca are the shortest flights on the list and often the cheapest, but they are city-break warm, not beach warm. Seville in winter is lovely for walking: the orange trees are in fruit, the Alcázar gardens are a pleasure to wander rather than an ordeal in the heat, and the evenings are cool enough to make a tapas bar feel cosy. Nights are cold, though, often in single figures, so pack a proper coat.
The Algarve has long, empty beaches for walking and very good golf, and the coastal paths are far more pleasant in the cool months than in August. Just do not expect to swim.
Winter sun on your own or as a couple
For solo travellers, the bigger towns are the better bet in winter. Places like Valletta, Seville and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have a year-round population, so cafés and bars stay busy and you will not end up the only guest at dinner. Walking tours and day trips are an easy way to meet people, and there are more ideas on my solo traveller holidays page.
Couples have a different advantage: winter is when smaller boutique hotels and rural guesthouses on the islands are at their quietest. A few nights inland on Gran Canaria or Tenerife, away from the resorts, can be very romantic, and you can always split the week with a few days by the coast.
Before you book: a short checklist
- Check your passport. For Spain, Portugal and Malta, your passport must meet the Schengen rules on issue date and validity, which are set out on GOV.UK's travel advice pages for each country. Cyprus has its own entry rules.
- Allow time at the border. The EU's Entry/Exit System records fingerprints and a photo for UK passport holders at Schengen borders, so queues can be longer on your first trip.
- Look at the weeks either side of the holidays. Prices around Christmas, New Year and half-term can be much higher than a week before or after.
- Ask about heating. Many homes and smaller hotels in southern Europe are built for summer. A room with proper heating makes a big difference on a cool evening.
- Pack for both ends of the day. Sun cream, sunglasses and a hat for midday, plus a warm layer and a light waterproof for evenings and the odd shower.
Quick answers
Where is warmest in Europe in December?
Of the places within a five-hour flight of the UK, the Canary Islands, with average highs of around 19 to 21°C.
Can you swim in the sea in winter?
In the Canaries and Cyprus some people do, but the water is cool. Elsewhere on the list, most people will stick to a heated pool.
Is it worth going for just a long weekend?
For Seville, Malta or the Algarve, yes, since the flights are under three and a half hours. For the Canaries or Cyprus, four nights or more makes the journey worthwhile.
If you are tempted, pick two or three destinations from the table and check flights for the first two weeks of December and the middle of January side by side. The cheapest of those dates usually tells you where to go.