Best Winter Sun Holidays for Christmas and New Year
Christmas by the sea or New Year under fireworks? Discover warmer escapes with real festive atmosphere, delicious traditions and plenty of surprises.
A winter sun holiday for Christmas and New Year offers a rather wonderful dilemma. Do you want Christmas dinner beside the sea, a candlelit town dressed for the festivities, or a spectacular New Year's Eve celebration that doesn't involve standing in a freezing British square? The right answer depends on which part of the festive season you care about most.
Quick answer: Choose Madeira for remarkable New Year fireworks and a genuine Christmas programme; Tenerife or Gran Canaria for an easy-going sunshine-and-resort holiday; Dubai for warm beach days, ambitious celebrations and big-city experiences; Malta for heritage and festive city atmosphere; or Jerez in southern Spain for a brilliantly different musical Christmas. Cape Verde suits travellers who put warmer beach weather before traditional European festivities. None guarantees sunshine or a particular event: check the actual schedule for your dates.
There are three different holidays hiding behind this one search: Christmas away, New Year's Eve abroad, and an escape that covers both. We'll help you choose one, explain the traditions worth travelling for and identify what can quietly make the festive season more expensive or less relaxing than expected.
Christmas or New Year: which holiday are you actually planning?
- Christmas itself: Prioritise Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals, hotel activities, children's entertainment, places of worship if relevant and a pleasant place to spend a day when local businesses may close.
- New Year's Eve: Prioritise the celebration location, late-night return transport, dinner reservations and the view you want at midnight. A rooftop party and a quiet seaside meal are both excellent, but they are not interchangeable.
- Both Christmas and New Year: Decide whether you want one comfortable base or a more ambitious trip. Changing hotels and airports during the busiest travel period can be a heroic way of turning relaxation into admin.
- A festive break without the peak: Travelling before Christmas or after New Year's Day can offer a different atmosphere and sometimes a better choice of packages, but compare actual departures rather than assuming it is cheaper.
For winter weather rather than festive celebrations, our December winter sun guide answers the broader month-long question. Here we focus on what makes Christmas and New Year special, because a beach hotel with no festive meal can be very different from the holiday you pictured.
See where your festive dates could take you
These are four varied upcoming package-holiday examples, usually ordered by departure date. They are not specifically filtered to Christmas, New Year, winter sun or the destinations in this guide. Always check the exact departure, trip length, board basis and operator details before booking.
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MAN • 2 nights
HB · First Choice
LGW • 7 nightsAI · easyJet holidays
MAN • 7 nightsHB · Neilson
GLA • 7 nightsHB · SkilineBest Christmas and New Year winter sun holidays — what makes each special?
1. Madeira: Christmas lights, market nights and unforgettable New Year's fireworks
Best for: couples wanting atmosphere, families who enjoy festive events, and friends planning a New Year's Eve to remember. Stay: in or near Funchal if access to the main celebrations matters; a remote mountainside villa may be gorgeous, but transport after midnight changes the equation.
Madeira is the destination that most convincingly answers both halves of this article. Funchal has illuminated streets, seasonal stalls, music and a famous fireworks display above the bay. The official Madeira Christmas and New Year programme also describes a much less obvious experience: Market Night around the Farmers' Market on 23 December, when local celebration feels as important as tourism.
For an even more local experience, look for the early-morning Missas do Parto traditions and community food afterwards, including pork marinated in wine and garlic. Try bolo de mel, the island's rich sugarcane-honey cake, and explore Funchal's streets before the big night. Its climate is generally mild, but this is not a guaranteed hot-beach holiday; bring layers if you want to explore the mountains.
Insider move: book a Funchal hotel with a sensible route back from the fireworks rather than trusting a late-night taxi miracle. If your hotel sells a gala dinner, check whether the terrace, viewing position or drinks are actually part of that booking. Our Madeira winter guide has further walking, food and sightseeing ideas.
2. Tenerife: a Christmas with beach walks, mountain scenery and Spanish traditions
Best for: families, mixed-age groups and travellers who want straightforward resorts and plentiful restaurants. Choose Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos or another sunny southern base if relaxing near the beach is the priority; stay near a town centre if local celebrations matter more.
The most enjoyable Tenerife Christmas may be remarkably uncomplicated: a beachside breakfast, an afternoon swim in a confirmed heated hotel pool, fresh fish for dinner and a stroll past festive decorations. You can also head inland to explore La Laguna's historic streets or see Teide's volcanic landscapes, possibly with snow at altitude while the coast remains mild.
For New Year's Eve, investigate the actual town-square celebrations or your hotel's plans; no single event should be assumed to happen identically every year. Spain's custom of eating twelve lucky grapes at midnight is an entertaining addition to a group celebration. The official Spain tourism explanation gives the tradition, which is more challenging than it sounds if you're laughing at the same time.
Our Tenerife guide helps you pick the right part of the island; the choice matters more than a single island-wide weather headline.
3. Gran Canaria: flexible family resorts or a proper city celebration
Best for: families after a beach-focused festive week, groups mixing different ages and travellers who want a resort holiday with a city option. Stay: Maspalomas or Meloneras for polished resort time, Puerto Rico and Amadores for sheltered southern-bay choices, or Las Palmas for an urban Christmas.
A very good festive holiday here combines easy southern beach days with a different outing: Maspalomas dunes, a seafood lunch in Puerto de Mogán or an afternoon discovering Vegueta's historic lanes in Las Palmas. There is no rule that Christmas Day must involve a hotel buffet and nothing else, although booking ahead avoids discovering your favourite restaurant is closed.
Useful distinction: southern resorts are often sunnier and drier than the island's north, especially in winter. If children are expecting water slides, check whether that specific facility operates in late December. See our Gran Canaria winter guide for base-by-base recommendations.
4. Dubai: warm days, bold celebrations and a lot more than shopping malls
Best for: friends who enjoy a big night out, families looking for a busy activity schedule and couples after beach days followed by memorable dinners. Stay around JBR or the Marina for walkable restaurants and beaches; Downtown suits landmark-focused visitors, while Old Dubai offers heritage and food.
Dubai's December appeal is its generally comfortable outdoor weather: a morning on the beach, a sunset in the desert, a rooftop dinner and a skyline that does not exactly believe in understated lighting. High-profile New Year's events can be spectacular, but their access rules, reservations, viewing areas and transport plans change. Use Visit Dubai's official listings to confirm current programmes rather than assume you can stroll into a sold-out venue.
There is a more interesting alternative to simply chasing fireworks: traditional Emirati food in Al Fahidi, an abra across Dubai Creek, coffee scented with cardamom, or an art outing to Alserkal Avenue. Christmas is widely catered for in hotels and commercial venues, but local culture and customs are different from the UK. Read our Dubai winter holiday guide and check current UK travel advice before departure.
5. Malta: festive old streets rather than hot-beach promises
Best for: couples, history fans, friends and families with older children who enjoy cultural exploring. Stay in Valletta or Sliema for access to restaurants, harbours and transport; choose Mellieħa if you want a quieter resort-style base and are willing to travel more for sightseeing.
Malta gives Christmas a theatrical backdrop: golden-stone streets, church façades, narrow lanes, nativity traditions and atmospheric evenings in Valletta or Mdina. Explore the Three Cities by day, enjoy a harbour view at dusk, and seek out pastizzi or a local ftira for something more memorable than a generic hotel sandwich.
But be clear on the weather: this is mainly a mild winter city-and-coast escape, not a dependable sunbathing or swimming break. Check church services, ferry schedules and museum closures over the public holidays. For realistic touring ideas, see our Malta guide.
6. Cape Verde: New Year with music, beach days and a warmer feel
Best for: travellers who put sunny beach relaxation first, couples choosing a resort week and friends who would happily exchange winter coats for sandals. Sal and Boa Vista are the easiest islands to investigate for a straightforward UK package holiday; São Vicente's musical culture gives a very different trip.
On Sal, consider Santa Maria's restaurants and waterfront as well as your hotel; on Boa Vista, the enormous beaches and dunes offer a quieter backdrop. Cape Verdean music, seafood and cachupa stew add local character. Local New Year's celebrations and beach events depend on venue and island, so verify them before committing to an expensive festive stay.
Important: the trade winds and strong Atlantic currents mean warm air does not automatically equal safe swimming. Ask your hotel about sheltered beaches and follow local flags. Our Cape Verde guide explains the different islands and why an ambitious island-hopping itinerary is not automatically better.
The less obvious Christmas escapes worth travelling for
Jerez, Spain: Christmas with flamenco in the streets
One of the most distinctive festive experiences in southern Spain is a zambomba: a traditional Jerez Christmas gathering built around flamenco-influenced carols, local food and sherry. It feels much more like joining a celebration than watching a staged tourist performance. The Jerez city council explains the cultural history, and the official tourism programme is worth checking for public events.
Pair it with an atmospheric tabanco sherry tavern or a bodega visit. This is an excellent idea for couples and adult groups looking for a memorable Christmas with mild sightseeing conditions, not beach heat. Public gatherings don't run every day, and timings vary: choose your flight dates around the performances, not the other way round.
Cyprus: Christmas villages with handmade traditions
If a traditional festive atmosphere matters more than swimming, look inland to Cyprus's decorated villages, including Lefkara, Kalopanagiotis and Kakopetria when participating in the seasonal programme. Think locally made lace, pastries, workshops, mountain lanes and cosy tavernas rather than beach clubs. The Cyprus tourism Christmas villages guide lists participating settlements and event details.
Combine a village day with a mild coastal base around Paphos or Limassol, but bring a jacket: mountain temperatures can be much lower than by the sea. Snow is possible at higher elevations. See our Cyprus winter guide for the broader sightseeing picture.
Spain's twelve grapes: a tiny festive adventure with big comic potential
You do not need an expensive private party to join a memorable New Year's tradition. In Spain, twelve grapes are eaten with the twelve midnight chimes. Find a public celebration if one is officially announced, or enjoy the tradition over dinner with friends. Before you start, know that the clock may sound warning chimes before the twelve actual strikes; timing is the whole game. For younger children or anyone at risk of choking, adapt or skip the grape challenge rather than make a dangerous race of it.
In the Canary Islands, Spanish traditions can come with milder weather and beach walks; on the mainland, cities such as Málaga and Alicante provide atmospheric plazas and abundant food but cooler winter conditions.
What to eat at Christmas and New Year abroad
Trying the local festive food is one of the easiest ways to make a holiday feel different, even if you spend most of the week by the pool.
- Madeira: bolo de mel, seasonal market food and the traditional carne de vinha d'alhos associated with Christmas celebrations.
- Jerez and Andalucía: almond sweets, pestiños, sherry traditions and hearty tapas between celebrations.
- Canary Islands: local fish, papas arrugadas with mojo sauces and a glass of volcanic-island wine where appropriate.
- Malta: pastizzi, ftira and warming traditional dishes in historic towns. Ask restaurants about dedicated festive menus.
- Cyprus: meze, grilled halloumi, traditional village baking and regional sweets; a mountain taverna can be the highlight of a winter day.
- Cape Verde: cachupa, freshly grilled seafood and locally rooted music-and-food evenings, checking whether a venue is actually operating over the holiday.
There is a useful money-saving distinction here: a hotel advertising all-inclusive may still charge for Christmas gala meals, premium dining or New Year's Eve events. Ask before you book, ideally in writing. Our all-inclusive winter sun guide explains what to check in the small print.
The festive booking traps nobody wants as a souvenir
- Mandatory gala dinners: Ask whether Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year's Eve meals are included, optional or compulsory extras. Check children's charges too.
- Fireworks without a view: A 'city-view room' does not mean a fireworks view. Confirm the location and any ticketed access before paying extra.
- The closed restaurant problem: Book at least your essential Christmas meal ahead and plan a practical alternative if your first choice closes.
- Transport at midnight: Road closures, crowds and changed bus or taxi availability can make a spectacular celebration awkward to leave. Walkable accommodation often wins.
- Unheated swimming pools: Sunshine on a brochure is not proof of warm water. Check whether the pool is heated and operating on your dates.
- Kids' clubs and entertainment: Confirm whether activities actually operate over the festive week and fit your children's ages.
- Flights and baggage: Compare the total package cost, flight times, transfer distance, rooms, baggage and board basis. A cheap departure can become expensive when the useful days disappear.
- Events that change: Public celebrations, fireworks locations and festive opening hours can vary. Confirm against the destination's own current programme before making non-refundable plans.
Family-specific tip: If your holiday covers Christmas Day, think through presents, luggage space and whether your children want the familiar Christmas morning ritual. A tiny wrapped gift and a pre-booked family meal may create happier memories than three extra excursions.
Couples' tip: Decide whether the perfect midnight is a crowded waterfront celebration or a quiet dinner with a sea view. Book for the experience you actually want, not the most dramatic promotional image.
Friends' tip: Agree a group budget for gala dinners, nightlife and taxis before anyone pays a deposit. The hotel can arrange the fireworks; it cannot arrange universal agreement about spending.
A festive escape starts with your dates
Browse upcoming package holidays by departure date on TripsByDate. Compare where your Christmas or New Year holiday could take you, then check the festive programme and what's included.
Find holidays by dateWhich festive winter sun break should you choose?
- Best for extraordinary New Year fireworks: Madeira, particularly a well-located Funchal base.
- Best for familiar family resorts: Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with confirmed festive meals and winter pool facilities.
- Best for luxurious city-and-beach energy: Dubai, if you plan celebrations and transport carefully.
- Best for historic festive streets: Malta, with modest expectations of winter swimming.
- Best for authentic musical Christmas traditions: Jerez and its zambombas.
- Best for crafts and countryside Christmas atmosphere: Cyprus's seasonal mountain villages.
- Best for a warmer beach-first New Year: Sal or Boa Vista in Cape Verde, with sensible swimming precautions.
- Best for a quieter break: a less central hotel or a smaller town, provided you are comfortable with reduced festive opening hours and have transport organised.
If warm-water swimming matters more than the celebration itself, our winter swimming guide is a better place to compare the sea. If you want a few days rather than a full week, see winter sun long weekends and city breaks.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas and New Year winter sun
Where is best for winter sun at Christmas from the UK?
Tenerife and Gran Canaria are strong choices for convenient family resorts and mild-to-warm winter days. Cape Verde or Dubai may better suit people who want a warmer beach-holiday feel. Madeira and Malta offer more emphasis on Christmas atmosphere, lights and sightseeing than hot swimming weather.
Where is best to celebrate New Year's Eve somewhere warmer?
Madeira is particularly well known for its Funchal Bay fireworks. Dubai has major celebrations, and Spanish destinations offer the traditional midnight grapes and town-square festivities. Check the current official programme and your actual route home after midnight.
Are Christmas and New Year package holidays all-inclusive?
Some are, but even all-inclusive rates may exclude gala dinners, special venues, premium drinks or ticketed events. Verify the final package and hotel's festive supplements before paying.
Can I swim in the sea at Christmas in the Canary Islands?
Some people do, but sea temperatures are cooler than in summer and comfort varies by person, beach and weather. A confirmed heated hotel pool is often more reassuring for families than assuming an Atlantic swim will be comfortable.
Is Christmas Day abroad a quiet day?
It depends on the country, resort and hotel. Some destinations offer busy festive programmes while independent shops, restaurants and attractions may close or limit hours. Book key meals and verify openings.
When should I book a Christmas or New Year winter sun holiday?
Once your preferred dates, flight routes and hotel requirements are clear, compare options early, especially for popular family rooms and celebrated New Year's locations. There is no universal cheapest booking date: compare the complete price and what the package includes.
What's the best festive winter sun holiday for children?
A convenient southern Canary Islands resort with a heated pool, age-appropriate activities and a suitable room layout is a sensible place to start. Check the specific hotel's festive programme, transfer and Christmas meal rather than relying on destination reputation. Our family winter sun guide explains the important checks.
Start a new year with a different story
Imagine exchanging the usual festive routine for Madeira's sparkling bay, a flamenco Christmas in Jerez, a gentle beach morning in Gran Canaria or a warm evening beside Dubai Creek. The joy isn't simply escaping the cold. It's discovering how wonderfully differently people celebrate.
Explore the winter sun holiday guides for more destination ideas, then visit TripsByDate to browse package holidays by the departure dates that work for you. Instead of wrestling with endless destination forms, scroll through possibilities, spot something unexpected and check the details. Less searching. More choosing.
Make this Christmas a story worth telling
Start with the dates you have free. Browse holiday possibilities on TripsByDate, compare the practical details and choose the festive getaway you'll genuinely enjoy.
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