The UK in winter is a bit grim, isn’t it? Dark by half-past four, drizzle for days, and a coat that never quite dries out.
So why not head somewhere sunny? There are plenty of warm places to visit in Europe during the UK winter, and most are a short hop from home. I’m talking T-shirt weather, empty beaches and dinner outdoors in January. Below are 10 places:
- The Canary Islands are the warmest, regularly hitting 21–24°C.
- Madeira sits at a lovely 20°C and barely changes all year.
- Malta and Cyprus both rack up 300+ sunny days a year.
- Off-season means cheaper hotels and blissfully thin crowds.
- Pretty much all of them are a direct flight away.
1. Canary Islands, Spain
Canary Islands are an eight-island archipelago sits off northwest Africa (geographically in Africa, politically part of Spain/Europe), so winter barely registers. Timeout reckons it’s Europe’s winter-sun champion, with December and January temps around 18–20°C — and you might even spot a migrating humpback or fin whale.
Tenerife’s the warmest and busiest. Lanzarote’s all volcanic black sand with a 20°C sea. La Palma’s the laid-back one; Fuerteventura’s for water sports. It even has a Christmas market in Teguise.
2. Madeira, Portugal, Europe
Floating out in the Atlantic, closer to Africa than mainland Portugal, this is the “island of eternal spring” — about 20°C year-round, with no real winter to speak of. Walk the levada trails, explore the markets in Funchal, and ride the cable car up for pastel rooftops and proper views.
Neighbouring Porto Santo has a vast golden beach too. Dan Flying Solo loved it so much he cried when he left, and honestly, who wouldn’t? The New Year fireworks are rated among Europe’s best, so stick around.
3. Seville, Spain, Europe
Andalusia’s fiery, castanet-clapping capital has the warmest year-round average of any Spanish city — February highs nudge 18°C. In summer it’s unbearable, which is exactly why winter’s the best time to go.
Watch a flamenco show, climb the Giralda tower, gawp at the tilework in Plaza de España, then demolish tapas until silly o’clock. The student crowd keeps the nights long.
ALSO READ: Life in the Dark: What It’s Like Living Where the Sun Never Rises
4. Malta, Europe
Highs of 14–17°C and a barely believable 300 sunny days a year. Base yourself in Valletta, a UNESCO-listed stunner from 1566, and don’t skip St John’s Cathedral. Older still is fortified Mdina, all of golden stone.
History nut? Ghar Dalam goes back thousands of years BCE. The famous Blue Lagoon’s far calmer in December, and Gozo’s got that unique red sand at Ramla Bay.
5. Cyprus
Cyprus (politically a part of Europe) can have up to 340 sunny days a year — yes, really. Highs sit around 19°C, so you can sightsee without melting. Hike Avakas Gorge, see the Tombs of the Kings, and have the golden beaches more or less to yourself.
Britons should head to Paphos for culture or Ayia Napa for a night out. Best bit for us lot, then? They drive on the same side as the UK, and the roads are dead quiet.
6. Algarve, Portugal, Europe
Portugal’s sun-trap south gets roughly 300 days of sunshine, with December highs near 18°C. It’s off-season, so prices tumble, and the showstopper beaches – Praia do Camilo and the Benagil Caves – are gloriously empty.
Lagos is the lively base; Tavira in the east is the cobbled, underrated gem. Timeout even named Praia da Falésia the best beach in all of Europe. If you’re planning more European city breaks, London remains one of the continent’s most rewarding destinations year-round.
7. Sicily, Italy, Europe
The Med’s biggest island peaks at around 14–16°C in February. Yes, you might catch the odd shower – but there is still loads to fill a wet day. Boisterous Palermo alone has eight UNESCO sights and 200-odd churches.
Brave the Valley of the Temples, ogle those near-perfect Roman mosaics, and don’t leave without cannoli and arancini. Cefalù, an hour out, is even prettier with its 12th-century fortress looming overhead. Mediterranean cuisine is one of the biggest reasons people keep returning to southern Europe.
8. Costa Del Sol, Spain, Europe
Spain’s “sunshine coast” earns the name. The Little Wander Blog rates Marbella’s special microclimate as the warmest spot going, with December highs of 22°C — short sleeves and beachfront restaurants are glorious.
Malaga, the regional capital, hits 21°C; wander the 11th-century Alcazaba and catch the festive lights on Calle Larios. For something different, try the gorge-top village of Ronda or the low-key Estepona and Torremolinos.
ALSO READ: Benidorm Levante Beach: An Insider’s Guide To The Golden Mile
9. Mallorca, Balearics, Europe
Not just a summer thing, this one. December highs around 17°C mean you can sit in a sunny square with a glass of wine in naught but a shirt.
Palma’s lovely – especially the Jewish Quarter – and the mountain roads lead to dreamy villages like Valldemossa, Alcúdia Old Town and Santanyí, all wonderfully sleepy in winter.
10. The Azores, Portugal, Europe
Portugal’s wild mid-Atlantic islands hover around 18–19°C and are perfect for the outdoorsy. Chase waterfalls, climb volcanic peaks, or just park yourself somewhere scenic with a local wine.
Handy tip: you can easily pair the Azores with Madeira for one cracking two-island trip.
A Few More Worth A Look In The UK Winter
If those don’t tempt you, there’s plenty more. Cádiz, one of Europe’s oldest cities, sits at 13–16°C and is a quick train from Seville. Dubrovnik (around 13°C) is magic in winter — no cruise ships, so you can walk the city walls in peace.
Rhodes stays mild at 15°C, the Albanian Riviera is quiet and cheap, and Lampedusa down near Africa has lovely empty beaches. Pack a brolly for any of them, mind — sunshine’s likely, not promised.
Fancy Snow Instead?
Not everyone wants a tan in January, fair enough. If you’d rather have crisp powder and Christmas markets, Find Us Lost reckons Lapland, Lech in the Austrian Alps and Transylvania are proper winter wonderlands. For travellers embracing the coolcation trend, Arctic destinations are becoming increasingly popular.
But if it’s warmth you’re after, any of the spots above will see you right—and have you home before the big coat’s even dry.
Sources & References
- Timeout. (2026). Europe winter sun destinations: Praia da Falésia named best beach.
- Find Us Lost. (2026). 6 dreamy winter destinations in Europe: Lapland, Lech, Transylvania.
- Little Wander Blog. (2026). Warm places in December in Europe: Marbella’s microclimate.
- Dan Flying Solo. (2026). Best places to visit in Europe in winter: Madeira, Portugal.
Disclaimer: This article is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. It does not constitute travel advice, endorsements, recommendations, or promotion of any destination, business, product, or service. Readers should independently verify all travel-related information, including availability, pricing, weather conditions, and local regulations, before making any travel decisions.
