Best Winter Sun Destinations from the UK
Six brilliant escapes, six very different winters: find out where to swim, wander, feast and finally remember what daylight looks like.
There comes a point in a British winter when the sun appears for eleven minutes and everyone treats it like a visiting celebrity. If your coat has become your entire personality, a winter sun holiday from the UK can be a particularly lovely reset. But where should you go? The answer is not simply wherever has the largest number next to a thermometer. A beach holiday, a food-and-culture escape and a week walking through volcanic mountains are three very different sorts of sunshine.
Quick answer: choose Tenerife for the easiest mix of resorts, beaches and variety; Madeira for astonishing scenery and walking; Agadir for Atlantic beaches with Moroccan culture nearby; Hurghada for sunnier Red Sea resort days and marine life; Cape Verde for warmer-feeling Atlantic island downtime; or Malta for historic streets, food and bright but cooler sightseeing weather. These are seasonal tendencies, not promises of sunshine on your exact dates.
The first infographic compares those six places; the second asks a better question: what do you actually want to do once you arrive? We go beyond both images here, with lava-pool detours, laurel forests, a remarkable bird reserve, volcanic salt pans, food worth crossing town for and the little winter booking traps that glossy beach photographs leave out.
Which winter sun destination actually suits you?
- For a flexible first winter escape: Tenerife, particularly its sunnier southern resort areas.
- For scenery, gardens and walkers: Madeira, with cooler mountains and beautifully green valleys.
- For surfing, markets and a change of culture: Agadir and the nearby Taghazout coastline.
- For reefs and resort relaxation: Hurghada, with a properly researched, responsible boat trip.
- For broad beaches and laid-back island life: Sal or Boa Vista in Cape Verde, factoring in wind and sea conditions.
- For a sunny-ish historical city break: Malta, where coats may still be useful after sunset.
A useful reality check: winter daytime highs commonly sit around the high teens or low twenties in Malta and Madeira, around the low twenties in the Canaries and Agadir, and often in the low-to-mid twenties for Hurghada or Cape Verde. Monthly averages hide cooler days, wind and rain. The easyJet winter-sun comparison provides a useful broad climate cross-check. Do not mistake a typical afternoon high for a guaranteed temperature, or air temperature for the temperature of the sea.
Discover your next escape by departure date
These are four changing examples from the wider TripsByDate package-holiday inventory, ordered by departure date. They are not filtered specifically to winter, warm weather or the six destinations in this guide. To find an escape that works for you, start with your UK departure airport and the dates you can travel, then check the actual destination, flights, hotel, prices and availability with the operator.
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SEN • 7 nightsAI · Hays Travel
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LTN • 7 nightsB&B · Hays Travel1. Tenerife: the dependable all-rounder with a secret green side
Best for: first-time winter sun seekers, couples who want options, families looking for resort facilities and anyone who cannot agree whether a holiday should involve a beach towel or hiking boots. Tenerife is a remarkably versatile choice. Its sunny southern resorts, such as Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, offer a very different winter experience from the greener, cooler north and the high volcanic landscapes around Mount Teide.
Don't book the island; book the right side of the island
Two hotels on Tenerife can have quite different weather and holiday moods. Choose a south-coast base if you mainly want outdoor pools, beach cafés and easier resort days. Choose Puerto de la Cruz or a more rural base if greenery, botanical gardens and local atmosphere matter more than lying in direct sunshine. And do not pack only shorts for a trip up Teide: altitude changes the weather dramatically, and icy conditions are possible up high.
Go beyond the sunlounger: Tenerife's Anaga Rural Park is a world away from the classic resort photograph. Its misty laurel woodland, dramatic ridges and small settlements are wonderful for discovering another side of the island. The official Tenerife tourism guide to Anaga describes viewpoints such as Cruz del Carmen and routes through the woodland. Check individual trail rules and the forecast; a forest walk in mist is atmospheric, but not the ideal place to improvise a hike in beach sandals.
Another lovely detour: Garachico on the north coast combines handsome historic streets with volcanic coastal scenery. Its natural swimming pools can look irresistible, but waves and closures determine whether swimming is possible. Sometimes the right winter activity is admiring the sea with a coffee, rather than volunteering to become a human washing machine.
Eat something local: look out for papas arrugadas, small salt-crusted potatoes served with mojo sauces, and a traditional guachinche food stop where appropriate. Do not assume every tourist restaurant labelled 'Canarian' offers the same experience. A relaxed lunch away from the main strip can be every bit as memorable as a famous viewpoint.
The winter catch: sunshine in the south does not mean a hot sea, and the north can be cloudier or wetter. Choose a heated pool if swimming matters, and investigate beach exposure before booking. For a deeper island comparison, see our guide to the best months for winter sun.
2. Madeira: where the scenery steals the holiday
Best for: nature-loving couples, keen walkers, photographers and travellers who prefer dramatic coastlines, good food and gardens to endless sandy beaches. Madeira is wonderful, but it deserves an honest introduction: it is not the obvious choice for someone dreaming of seven days on a wide golden beach. Its real party trick is fitting steep mountains, lush valleys, ocean views and a thriving capital into one island.
The island can change seasons between breakfast and lunch
Madeira's mountainous terrain creates striking microclimates. Funchal or the south coast may be pleasantly mild while a mountain viewpoint is cold, wet or hidden in cloud. The Madeira Tourism Board explains these winter microclimates and why conditions can differ so much between the south, the north and the high ground. That is a reason to plan flexibly, not to abandon a brilliant island.
Try a levada walk: Madeira's historic irrigation channels run alongside a network of scenic trails, from gentle routes to exposed paths with steep drops. Choose a route that matches your ability, and check official Madeira visitor information for trail status, booking or access rules before setting out. A short, safe walk can reveal landscapes that would otherwise require a dramatic drone shot. Never enter a closed trail just because somebody on social media did it yesterday.
The delicious discovery: order bolo do caco, a warm, traditionally stone-cooked bread made with sweet potato, often served with garlic butter. Madeira's tourism board explains the bread's fascinating origin. Pair it with espetada, grilled meat traditionally associated with bay-laurel skewers, or explore Funchal's Mercado dos Lavradores, where colourful produce and fish tell a story of the island's cooking. Compare prices before buying expensive fruit samples: holiday curiosity is good; souvenir-shop surprises less so.
For a less hurried day: linger in Funchal's old streets, visit a garden, enjoy the seafront and make lunch an event rather than an inconvenience between excursions. See Madeira's official traditional-food guide for dishes such as black scabbardfish, limpets and poncha.
The winter catch: rain, cloud, steep roads and mountain closures can reshape the itinerary. Pack layers and sensible walking shoes. If a daily beach swim is non-negotiable, Tenerife, Egypt or Cape Verde may be a better fit.
3. Agadir: Atlantic sunshine, an enormous souk and a wild coastline
Best for: couples wanting a different food culture, friends who fancy surfing or markets, and travellers looking for a coastal base with day-trip possibilities. Agadir offers a long Atlantic waterfront and a relaxed resort rhythm, while the nearby Taghazout area is especially associated with surfing. Morocco can feel refreshingly different from a European island break without demanding a very long journey.
A day that goes well beyond the hotel buffet
Start with the seafront, then explore Souk El Had, Agadir's enormous market, where browsing spices, clothing and local products can become a holiday experience in its own right. The Moroccan National Tourist Office's Agadir guide highlights both the beachfront and the souk. Go with time to browse, keep valuables secure and decide in advance whether you actually need a decorative lantern large enough to require its own plane seat.
For wildlife rather than shopping: nearby Souss-Massa National Park is associated with the rare northern bald ibis and a very different landscape from Agadir's resort front. Morocco's official nature guide explains the park's importance. Arrange a suitable guided visit, respect protected areas and never expect a rare bird to appear on command for your holiday photograph.
Try Moroccan flavours properly: seek out a well-made tagine, grilled seafood and amlou, a traditional spread made with almonds, honey and argan oil. If you visit an argan cooperative, learn how the oil is produced and check what you are buying rather than assuming every roadside bottle is a bargain. Taghazout is worth considering for a surf-oriented day, but check the skill level, current sea conditions and whether your chosen instructor is suitable for beginners.
The winter catch: Atlantic water can be chilly, nights can feel cool and a sunny afternoon is not the same as tropical weather. Agadir is a good candidate for a seaside walk and long lunch, less of a guarantee for hours in the sea. Consult UK government entry guidance for Morocco when you plan.
Our second image is a useful reminder that winter sun is not a single holiday style. A beach café, historic harbour, mountain trail and snorkelling boat are all lovely, but not always in the same place, and certainly not in the same weather. Pick the experience first, then choose the destination that does it well.
4. Hurghada: Red Sea colour and resort relaxation
Best for: travellers who want comparatively strong winter sunshine, couples happy with resort comforts, and families or friends interested in snorkelling. The Red Sea can be spectacular: clear water, intricate reef life and fish that appear to have been dressed for a carnival. Hurghada also offers hotel-based relaxation, marina outings and desert excursions, although conditions and tour quality vary.
Don't choose a hotel purely by its infinity-pool photograph
The hotel beach matters. Some properties have shallow lagoons; others use jetties to reach deeper water or have reefs that should never be walked on. Ask whether swimming access is easy, whether the pool you want is heated, and whether a sheltered place to sit is available on windy days. For younger children, a protected pool and genuinely usable shallow entry can matter more than an enormous aerial shot of a reef.
The memorable day out: investigate a reputable snorkelling excursion around suitable Red Sea sites, potentially including the Giftun Islands area. Choose operators who brief guests on safety, provide properly fitting equipment, avoid crowding wildlife and prohibit touching or standing on coral. Sea turtles and dolphins are wild animals, not part of a guaranteed entertainment package. Seeing them is a bonus, not a contractual promise.
Seek out a little local flavour: Egyptian dishes such as koshari, a comforting mixture of rice, pasta, lentils and spiced tomato sauce, or ful medames, seasoned beans often eaten at breakfast, make a rewarding change from a week of familiar buffet food. If you leave the resort, organise transport sensibly, respect local customs and choose excursions appropriate to current guidance.
The important practical difference: Hurghada is in mainland Egypt, and UK visitors normally need an Egyptian visa; do not mistakenly apply a limited Sinai resort exemption to Hurghada. Confirm the latest requirements in official UK travel advice, and review regional travel warnings before booking. Some parts of Egypt carry FCDO restrictions even though well-known Red Sea resort areas have a different risk assessment.
The winter catch: wind can make an otherwise pleasant daytime temperature feel cool once you're wet, and shorter daylight can affect boat plans. If your main goal is an easy week without much movement, get the hotel choice right first. If your goal is seeing Egypt's ancient monuments, do not assume they are a quick add-on from Hurghada.
5. Cape Verde: big beaches, musical evenings and the wind nobody mentions in postcards
Best for: travellers after warmer Atlantic island weather, wide sandy beaches, slow resort days and a little culture alongside the pool. Cape Verde is an archipelago, not one interchangeable beach. Sal and Boa Vista are prominent holiday-island choices, but each has its own feel. Sal's Santa Maria area offers cafés, beach life and trips across the island; Boa Vista is associated with especially broad sandy landscapes and a quieter atmosphere in many areas.
Sal has more than sand: try a crater full of salt
One unusual Sal outing is Pedra de Lume, where historic salt pans sit inside a volcanic crater. It is a striking piece of the island's history and geology, quite unlike the hotel pool. Ask locally about access, facilities and bathing arrangements rather than assuming every part of a former salt-working landscape is open to swimmers.
Make dinner local: look for cachupa, Cape Verde's slow-cooked dish built around maize, beans and other ingredients, with recipes varying by household and island. Listen out for the country's musical traditions as well, including morna. A holiday where the highlight becomes a relaxed local meal and an unexpected live performance has succeeded rather magnificently, even if you never used the hotel gym.
The beach reality: Cape Verde's winter warmth can be wonderful, but the trade winds are a defining feature of the season. That makes some locations appealing for water sports, while strong surf and currents can make sea swimming unsafe. Follow beach flags and local advice. 'Beautiful beach' and 'safe for toddlers to paddle' are not synonyms.
A UK booking detail worth checking: British visitors are subject to traveller pre-registration and airport security-fee arrangements, which may be handled by a tour operator or require action before travel. Check the latest official Cape Verde entry requirements; don't rely on an old forum discussion about whether the airport paperwork matters.
The winter catch: wind, rougher sea conditions and the character of individual resort beaches can shape your stay as much as the advertised temperature. Pick accommodation for the actual holiday you want: lively and walkable, or peaceful and self-contained.
Sunshine without choosing the destination first?
Start with your UK departure airport and the dates you can travel. Scroll through real holiday ideas across destinations, rather than repeating the same old search forms. Less searching. More choosing.
Find holidays by date6. Malta: winter sunshine for people who want to explore
Best for: history lovers, couples who enjoy a food-and-culture city break, groups who prefer exploring to sunbathing, and travellers who want shorter journeys around a compact country. Malta's appeal in winter is not guaranteed swimming weather. It is the pleasure of exploring stone-built cities, harbours and historic sites without planning the entire day around finding shade.
Take the harbour seriously: it's one of Malta's finest attractions
Valletta's grand streets and viewpoints are rightly famous, but make room for the Three Cities across the Grand Harbour: Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua. Their waterfronts, narrow streets and maritime history give a different perspective on the island. A harbour crossing, when services and weather allow, can be far more memorable than another taxi across town. Allow time to wander rather than trying to count historic buildings as though collecting supermarket points.
The quick food lesson: try pastizzi, flaky pastries commonly filled with ricotta or peas, and discover ftira, traditional Maltese bread often used for generously filled sandwiches. For an easy cultural day, combine one major historic sight, a harbour walk and a properly unhurried meal. Visit Malta's official tourism website is a useful starting point for heritage, food and excursions, including Gozo.
Think beyond the main island: Gozo can reward a day or longer with rural landscapes, small towns and a different pace. But a day trip is still a day trip: check ferry schedules and weather, then decide whether it is worth giving up a whole day of a short break. If you're based in Valletta for only two nights, a slower day in the Three Cities may be the smarter choice.
The winter catch: Malta can be breezy, rainy and decidedly jacket-friendly. It is excellent for wandering, less dependable for beach days. The dramatic sea is lovely to look at, but swimming conditions must be assessed separately. For more short-break inspiration, see our Malta short-break guide.
The smart winter sun choices people often overlook
A heated pool may be worth more than a hotter average temperature
A winter hotel can advertise a magnificent pool that is effectively decorative because the water is too cold for your family. Check whether the specific pool you will use is heated during your stay, whether heating is included, whether children's pools are covered and what the hotel means by 'heated'. It is not a universal guarantee of warm swimming water.
A south-facing beach is useful, but shelter matters even more
Look for resort bays protected from prevailing wind, sheltered terraces and hotel gardens where you can actually sit outdoors. On islands, one side of the coast may feel markedly different from another. Use recent location-specific forecasts rather than a single national weather symbol.
Choose between a winter beach holiday and a winter sunshine holiday
If you want to read a book beside a pool, fly somewhere with a strong history of warmer, drier conditions and select the right resort. If you want markets, historic streets, coastal walks and outdoor lunches, milder Malta or Madeira may give you a more satisfying holiday, even with a few clouds. A winter sun holiday does not need to impersonate August.
For short breaks, count door-to-door time
A flight of roughly four hours may be perfect for a full week but less appealing for two nights if the departure time, transfers and hotel check-in take up much of the first day. Our guide to choosing flight times helps you compare usable holiday hours. If you are flexible about the destination, European weekend-break ideas may suggest a simpler escape.
How to find better-value winter sun holidays from the UK
- Start with your actual dates. School holidays and popular festive departures can change availability and prices. Look across nearby departure days if your schedule allows.
- Compare UK departure airports realistically. A smaller fare is not a saving if reaching another airport requires an expensive train, parking or an overnight hotel. Our airport comparison guide covers the trade-offs.
- Compare the total holiday, not the headline price. Check baggage, meals, transfers, room type, local charges and any optional excursions. The cheapest-looking package is not always the best value.
- Choose the right board basis. All-inclusive can be convenient for a secluded resort in Egypt or Cape Verde. In a walkable place packed with appealing restaurants, paying for every meal in advance could mean missing the best of the local food.
- Watch the location. A destination labelled 'Tenerife' or 'Agadir' tells you surprisingly little about how far the hotel is from the beach, town, family activities or the attractions you want.
- Check documents and insurance before paying. Portugal, Spain and Malta follow different travel arrangements from Egypt, Morocco and Cape Verde. Never assume one passport or visa rule covers all six destinations. Start with the UK government's destination-specific travel advice.
TripsByDate approaches holiday discovery differently. Instead of choosing a country, completing a form, changing the country and completing another form, begin with your UK airport and the dates you have free. Then browse the available package holidays across destinations in a more natural, scroll-first way. It is closer to discovering ideas on social media than filling in endless traditional search forms. You might start out thinking 'Tenerife' and discover that a very different destination suits your dates better.
Frequently asked questions about winter sun from the UK
Where is warmest for winter sun without a very long flight?
Cape Verde and Egypt's Red Sea resorts are usually stronger contenders for winter daytime warmth than Malta or Madeira, with the Canary Islands offering a useful balance of flight time and climate. Weather varies by month and location, and 'warmest' does not automatically mean calmest, driest or best for swimming.
Are the Canary Islands warm enough for a beach holiday in winter?
Often, especially in sheltered southern resort areas on suitable days, but it is not guaranteed beach weather every day. Wind, cloud and cooler water can change the experience. A heated pool and a sheltered hotel position may matter more than another degree on the seasonal average.
Is Madeira or Malta better for winter sun?
Choose Madeira if your dream holiday involves dramatic views, subtropical greenery and walking. Choose Malta if you prefer historic cities, cafés, harbour trips and cultural sightseeing. Both are better described as mild-weather escapes than reliably hot winter beach destinations.
Where can you swim in the sea during winter?
Egypt's Red Sea and some Cape Verde locations may offer more appealing water temperatures than Malta or Madeira, but safe swimming always depends on beach conditions, wind, currents and your own comfort. In Cape Verde especially, never assume a beautiful surf beach is a safe swimming beach. See our year-round warmth guide for the bigger seasonal picture.
What is the cheapest winter sun destination from the UK?
There is no permanent cheapest destination. Fares and package prices depend on your UK airport, travel dates, duration, hotel, board basis and current availability. Agadir and the Canaries are worth comparing, but so are the total costs of Egypt or Cape Verde packages when meals and transfers are included. Use our month-by-month price comparison guide to compare like with like.
Can I book a winter sun holiday without choosing the destination first?
Yes. That's the idea behind TripsByDate: select your departure airport and available travel dates, then browse holiday listings across different destinations. Once you've spotted an appealing option, check current details and complete any booking with the travel operator.
So, where should you go?
Choose Tenerife when you want the least complicated all-rounder; Madeira when mountain views are your idea of a proper holiday; Agadir for Moroccan flavours and Atlantic variety; Hurghada for the Red Sea; Cape Verde for big beaches and warmer island days; or Malta when you would happily swap a sunbed for a beautiful old street and an excellent lunch.
Better still, let your dates open the possibilities. The best winter break might be somewhere you have never thought to search for. That's a far more exciting way to escape the grey than filling out the same holiday search form six times.
Your next bright escape starts with your dates
Choose your UK airport and travel dates, then scroll through holiday possibilities across destinations. Discover more with TripsByDate. Less searching. More choosing.
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