Best winter sun under 5 hours from the UK

The short answer

Winter sun within five hours of the UK is mild sun, not tropical heat. Even in the Canaries, January daytime highs sit around 20°C, and evenings need a jumper. What changes from place to place is how reliably the sun shows up, how warm the sea is, and what there is to do on a cloudy day.

For a beach holiday with the best odds of sunshine, pick the Canaries. For walking and scenery at a similar temperature, Madeira. For a short city break with sunny, dry days, Marrakech. For history, food and short days out in temperatures like a good British May, Malta or Cyprus.

It also helps to be honest about what a winter week can deliver. Every one of these places gets some rain between December and February, and a run of grey days is possible anywhere. If sunshine is the whole point of the trip, choose somewhere with plenty to do indoors or nearby for the day the weather turns, and avoid booking a short break around a single outdoor plan.

Side-by-side: January weather and flight times

The figures below are long-term January averages from the climate sources listed at the end of this page. December is usually a degree or so warmer and February similar to January. Different weather sites use different stations, so treat these as typical ranges rather than promises. Flight times are typical direct times from the UK airports shown and vary by route and wind.

Canary Islands: the most reliable warmth

Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are the furthest south of the five and the most dependable for sitting outside in December and January. On Tenerife's south coast, climate averages put January highs at about 18 to 22°C depending on the source, with around six hours of sunshine and only about five days with any rain. The sea is the warmest on this list, about 21°C in December, easing to around 19 to 20°C by February. That is cool but swimmable for most people.

The islands differ more than the brochures suggest. Gran Canaria's south is similar to Tenerife's, with highs usually around 20 to 23°C. Lanzarote is a touch cooler and often breezy, at about 20°C in January, but gets around seven hours of sunshine a day. On Tenerife, remember that Mount Teide is a different climate altogether: it can be below freezing at the top, with snow possible in winter, even when the coast is warm. Days are also shorter than in summer, at about 11 hours of daylight in January, so the warmth fades quickly after sunset.

The south of each island is drier and sunnier than the north, which is greener and cloudier. Flights are the longest here, typically about 4 to 4 hours 40 minutes from London, and there is a wide choice of airlines from most UK airports. Prices climb at Christmas, New Year and February half-term.

Best for: families, beach and pool holidays, and anyone who mainly wants to be warm. Less good for: travellers who want a sense of place beyond resort areas, unless you hire a car or choose your base carefully.

Madeira: mild, green and good for walking

Funchal, on Madeira's sheltered south coast, has January highs of around 19°C and lows of about 13 to 14°C, with roughly five hours of sunshine a day. The catch is rain: January is one of the wetter months, usually as short, heavy showers that clear quickly, and climate data shows about 11 to 12 days a month with some rain. The sea stays around 18 to 20°C.

Madeira suits people who want to walk the levada trails, see gardens and enjoy Funchal's Christmas lights and New Year fireworks, rather than lie on a beach. The north and the mountains are cooler and cloudier, so pack a warm, waterproof layer. The airport is known for strong crosswinds, and winter diversions, though uncommon, do happen.

Best for: walkers, couples and anyone who prefers scenery to sunbeds. Less good for: a guaranteed beach week.

Malta and Cyprus: mild sightseeing breaks

Malta in January averages about 15°C by day and 9°C at night, with around five hours of sunshine and roughly 13 days with some rain. The sea is about 16°C, which is too cold for most swimmers. That makes Malta a winter city and culture trip rather than a beach holiday: Valletta, Mdina, the Three Cities and coastal walks on Gozo are all more comfortable without summer heat. Flights are among the shortest on this list.

Malta is also one of the easiest places on this list for British visitors: English is an official language, cars drive on the left and plugs are the UK three-pin type. If you can travel in early February, Malta's Carnival runs in the days before Ash Wednesday, with parades in Valletta and a separate carnival on Gozo. Check the exact dates nearer the time.

Cyprus is a little warmer. Paphos averages about 16 to 17°C by day in January and around 8°C at night, with five to six hours of sunshine. December to February is the wettest part of the year, with roughly 12 to 14 days of some rain a month. The sea is about 19°C in December and falls to around 16°C by February. It is also the longest flight here, at about 4 hours 35 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes direct, and winter schedules from regional airports can be limited to a few flights a week.

In Cyprus, winter suits the Paphos mosaics and Tombs of the Kings, coastal walks and days out to Limassol or the Troodos Mountains, which can get snow in mid-winter. Like Malta, the Republic of Cyprus drives on the left and uses UK-style plugs.

Best for: history, food and walking in comfortable temperatures. Less good for: swimming in the sea or reliable sunbathing weather.

Marrakech: sunny days, cold nights

Marrakech has the sunniest winter of the five, with around seven hours of sunshine a day and January highs of about 19 to 21°C. It is inland, though, and nights are cold: average January lows are around 6 to 7°C, and on clear nights it can drop to about 2°C. Many traditional riads are chilly inside, so take warm layers for the evenings.

Direct flights take about 3 hours 35 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes from London, so a long weekend is realistic. There is no beach, so this is a city break: souks, gardens, palaces and day trips to the Atlas Mountains, where it is colder still.

Fares are often lowest in January and highest at Christmas and half-term. One thing to plan around in 2027: Ramadan is expected to start around early February, when some cafés and restaurants keep shorter hours. Check the latest FCDO travel advice for Morocco before you book.

Best for: a short, sunny city break. Less good for: beach time or anyone who dislikes cold evenings.

How to choose, and when to book

Whichever you choose, pack for spring rather than summer: a light jacket for evenings, a waterproof for showers, and sun cream, because winter sun at these latitudes still burns.

• Want to swim in the sea: the Canaries, with Madeira a cooler second.
• Want the most sunshine hours: Marrakech by day, the Canaries overall.
• Want the shortest flight: Malta or Marrakech, at roughly three and a half hours.
• Want walking and scenery: Madeira, then Cyprus.
• Travelling with children: the Canaries, for the pools, beaches and warmest evenings.
• On a budget: look at January after New Year, when demand drops; avoid Christmas, New Year and February half-term, when fares on every route rise.

Frequently asked questions

Route guides for this trip