The best winter sun destinations 2026/27

The largest of the Canary Islands, with busy resorts such as Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas in the sunnier south and greener, cooler landscapes in the north. It suits families and couples looking for reliable winter warmth, as well as walkers heading for the volcanic interior.

• Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site around Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak
• The sheer Los Gigantes cliffs on the west coast
• San Cristobal de La Laguna, a UNESCO-listed historic town in the north

A volcanic island of black lava fields, white villages and sandy beaches, with the main resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca. It suits couples and families after a quieter beach break with striking scenery.

• Timanfaya National Park and its volcanic landscapes
• Works by artist Cesar Manrique, including Jameos del Agua
• The sheltered Papagayo beaches near Playa Blanca

A varied island with the large resort area of Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles in the south, a mountainous interior and the city of Las Palmas in the north. It suits families and couples wanting a beach break, plus anyone keen to mix in hiking or a city visit.

• The Maspalomas Dunes, a protected nature reserve beside the beach
• Vegueta, the historic old quarter of Las Palmas
• Roque Nublo, a volcanic rock landmark in the island's mountainous centre

The Canary Island closest to Africa, known for long sandy beaches, dunes and a relaxed pace. Corralejo in the north and Jandia in the south are the main resort areas, and it suits families, beach lovers and windsurfers and kitesurfers.

• Corralejo Natural Park and its sand dunes
• The long beaches of the Jandia peninsula
• Isla de Lobos, a small protected island reached by boat from Corralejo

A mountainous Atlantic island with a mild climate, dramatic cliffs and lush gardens rather than big sandy beaches. Funchal, the capital, is the main base, and the island suits walkers, nature lovers and couples.

• Walking along the levadas, Madeira's historic irrigation channels
• The Laurisilva laurel forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Funchal's old town and Mercado dos Lavradores market

A Red Sea resort at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula, known for its coral reefs, clear water and large beach hotels. It suits divers and snorkellers, couples and families looking for reliable winter sunshine within a fairly short flight.

• Ras Mohammed National Park, a protected area of coral reefs at the tip of Sinai
• Snorkelling and diving straight from the shore on many reef-fronted beaches
• Day trips into the Sinai mountains, including St Catherine's Monastery

A long strip of resorts on Egypt's mainland Red Sea coast, with reef snorkelling, boat trips to offshore islands and many all-inclusive hotels. It suits families and couples wanting dependable winter sun, and is a base for excursions to Luxor.

• Boat trips to the Giftun Islands for snorkelling and beaches
• Red Sea diving and snorkelling on nearby coral reefs
• Long-distance day trips by road to the temples of Luxor

A modern Gulf city with long sandy beaches, skyscrapers, big shopping malls and desert on its doorstep. It suits couples, families and city-break travellers who want guaranteed warmth combined with sightseeing.

• The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, with observation decks
• The souks and traditional abra boats on Dubai Creek
• Desert excursions into the dunes outside the city

An inland city at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, famous for its medina, souks, palaces and riads. It is a city and culture break rather than a beach destination, and suits couples and anyone wanting a short trip with plenty to see.

• Jemaa el-Fnaa, the busy main square of the medina
• The medina of Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• The Koutoubia Mosque minaret and nearby gardens

A modern Atlantic resort city with a long sandy beach and seafront promenade, largely rebuilt after an earthquake in 1960. It suits families and couples looking for a relaxed beach holiday with winter sun.

• The long, sweeping town beach and seafront promenade
• The hilltop ruins of the Agadir Oufella kasbah, with views over the bay
• Souk El Had, the city's large market

Sal and Boa Vista are flat, sandy islands off West Africa with long white beaches and many all-inclusive resorts. They suit families and couples after warm, dry winter weather with almost no time difference, and the steady winds attract kitesurfers and windsurfers.

• Long sandy beaches around Santa Maria on Sal and on Boa Vista
• Floating in the salt lake inside a crater at Pedra de Lume on Sal
• Kitesurfing and windsurfing in the consistent trade winds

A harbour town on the south-west coast of Cyprus with major Roman and ancient sites alongside resort hotels and a seafront promenade. Winter is more about sightseeing and walking than sunbathing, and it suits couples, culture lovers and families.

• Paphos Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Roman mosaics
• The Tombs of the Kings necropolis
• Petra tou Romiou, the rock linked to the legend of Aphrodite's birth

A small Mediterranean island nation packed with history, from prehistoric temples to the fortified capital Valletta. In winter it is better for sightseeing than beach days, and it suits couples, culture lovers and divers.

• Valletta, the fortified capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• The Megalithic Temples of Malta, also UNESCO-listed
• The Blue Lagoon on the island of Comino

Oman's low-rise capital sits between rugged mountains and the Gulf of Oman, with a seafront corniche, souks, forts and beaches. It suits couples and travellers interested in culture, nature and outdoor trips, at a quieter pace than Dubai.

• The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
• Mutrah Souq and the seafront corniche
• Boat trips to the Daymaniyat Islands for snorkelling, and nearby wadis and mountains

Africa's smallest mainland country has a short Atlantic coastline of palm-lined beaches around Kololi, Kotu and Cape Point, close to the capital Banjul. It suits travellers wanting hot, dry winter weather on UK time, especially birdwatchers and those interested in nature and local culture.

• Palm-fringed beaches such as Kotu and Kololi
• Birdwatching, including at Abuko Nature Reserve and along the coast
• Boat trips on the River Gambia and its mangrove creeks

Barbados is a coral island with calm, sandy beaches on its sheltered west and south coasts and wilder Atlantic surf on the east coast. It suits couples and families looking for a relaxed beach holiday with some history and culture, and it is one of the most familiar Caribbean islands for UK visitors.

• Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Harrison's Cave, a limestone cave system in the centre of the island
• Bathsheba's dramatic rock formations on the Atlantic east coast

Antigua is a low-lying island known for its many white-sand beaches and sheltered bays, with a strong sailing heritage centred on English Harbour. It suits couples and beach lovers, and many visitors stay in all-inclusive resorts.

• Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Panoramic views over English and Falmouth harbours from Shirley Heights
• Day trips to sister island Barbuda, known for its long pink-tinged sand beaches

St Lucia is a mountainous, rainforest-covered island famous for the twin volcanic peaks of the Pitons. It suits couples and honeymooners, walkers and nature lovers more than those who just want long stretches of beach.

• The Pitons, two volcanic spires within a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Soufrière
• Sulphur Springs, a geothermal area with mud baths near Soufrière
• Pigeon Island National Landmark, with fort ruins and walking trails near Rodney Bay

Montego Bay on Jamaica's north coast is the island's main tourist gateway, with beaches, resorts and a lively town centre along the 'Hip Strip'. It suits couples and families wanting beach time with easy access to waterfalls, rafting and Jamaican food and music.

• Doctor's Cave Beach, part of the protected Montego Bay Marine Park
• Rose Hall Great House, a restored 18th-century plantation house
• Bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae River near Falmouth

Punta Cana, on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, is lined with long palm-fringed beaches such as Bávaro and is dominated by large all-inclusive resorts. It suits families and couples looking for a simple, good-value-feeling beach break with plenty of water sports and excursions.

• Bávaro Beach, a long stretch of white sand facing the Atlantic
• Boat trips to Saona Island in the Cotubanamá National Park
• Santo Domingo's Colonial City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a long day trip

Cancún on Mexico's Caribbean coast is a purpose-built resort with a long Hotel Zone strip between the sea and a lagoon, and is the gateway to the Riviera Maya. It suits beach lovers and families, as well as those who want to combine the beach with Mayan ruins, cenotes and snorkelling.

• Day trips to Chichén Itzá, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• MUSA, an underwater sculpture museum in the waters off Cancún and Isla Mujeres
• Ferries across to Isla Mujeres for a quieter island day out

Florida combines Miami's beaches, Art Deco architecture and city life with Orlando's theme parks a few hours' drive inland. It is a classic choice for families, and also suits couples and city-break fans who want winter warmth rather than tropical heat.

• Orlando's theme parks, including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando
• Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District along Ocean Drive
• Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, within easy reach of Miami

Thailand's largest island has a string of west-coast beaches, lively resort towns and easy access to the islands of Phang Nga Bay. It suits couples, families and divers wanting hot tropical weather, with plenty of nightlife and food as well as quieter beaches.

• West-coast beaches such as Patong, Karon and Kata
• Boat trips among the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay
• The Sino-Portuguese shophouses of Phuket Old Town

A stretch of palm-lined beaches from Bentota down to Galle and Mirissa, with surf, turtle-nesting beaches and the old fortified city of Galle. It suits couples and families looking to combine beach time with culture, wildlife and food.

• Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Beach resorts such as Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Mirissa
• Whale-watching trips from Mirissa in the winter season

Hundreds of low coral islands spread across atolls, many of them home to a single resort, with white sand beaches and lagoons. It suits couples and divers and snorkellers seeking a remote, relaxing tropical break.

• Snorkelling and diving on coral reefs and in island lagoons
• Resort islands with beaches and lagoons, and guesthouses on local islands
• Chances to see manta rays, reef sharks and turtles

India's smallest state has a long coastline of sandy beaches, from busy resorts in the north to quieter coves in the south, plus a strong Portuguese colonial heritage. It suits couples and families who want beaches as well as food, markets and culture.

• Beaches from Calangute and Baga in the north to Palolem in the south
• The churches and convents of Old Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Portuguese-era architecture in the Latin Quarter of Panaji