Winter sun from the UK: where to go for warm weather from November to March

The short answer

If you want warmth for a week in winter, pick by how long you’re willing to fly. Four hours or so gets you the Canary Islands. Six to eight hours opens up Egypt, Morocco and the Gulf. Ten hours or more takes you to Thailand, Bali or the Caribbean, where the weather in December to February is usually at its most settled.

No winter destination is warm everywhere in every week, so treat these as general patterns, not guarantees. We haven’t put temperatures in this guide because they vary a lot between a coast and an inland city and from year to year. Check a forecast a week before you fly.

Short-haul: the Canary Islands and Morocco

The Canary Islands are Spanish, so British and American visitors follow Schengen rules: up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa. Because they lie far south of mainland Europe, the islands are the usual answer to winter sun from the UK, and there are flights from most UK airports. The south coasts of the larger islands tend to be sunnier than the north. Our EES and ETIAS guide covers the new border checks.

Marrakech in Morocco is a short flight from London and a good winter choice for walking the medina and visiting the Atlas foothills. GOV.UK says British citizens can visit Morocco for tourism without a visa for up to 90 days. Days can be pleasant while nights are cold, so pack layers.

Medium-haul: Egypt and the Gulf

Cairo and the Red Sea resorts are warm in winter and make a good mix of history and beach. GOV.UK says British visitors normally need a visa for Egypt: you can apply for an e-visa online or buy a visa on arrival at approved airports, and the rules differ for the Sinai resorts. GOV.UK also advises against travel to North Sinai and some parts of South Sinai, so check its Egypt page before you book.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are in their best season from late autumn to early spring. British citizens get a free visit visa on arrival, but the UAE has strict rules on alcohol, medicines and conduct. Read our Dubai travel rules guide before you go.

Long-haul: Thailand, Bali and Singapore

The Thai government defines winter, the cool season, as mid-October to mid-February, when the northeast monsoon brings drier air. That makes December to February the classic time for Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the Andaman coast. The exact start of the cool season changes each year.

Bali is the other way round: it lies south of the equator and its wet season runs roughly from November to March, so winter is not its best time. Singapore is warm all year but has a rainy northeast monsoon from about December to early March. For more on both, see our guide to the best time to visit Southeast Asia.

GOV.UK says that from 15 September 2026 visa-exempt entry to Thailand allows stays of up to 30 days for tourism, and every visitor must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before arriving.

The Caribbean and Mexico

NOAA says the Atlantic hurricane season, which includes the Caribbean Sea, runs from 1 June to 30 November, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. That makes December to April the usual winter-sun window, and November a trade-off between lower prices and some risk. Cancún is a popular choice from the UK and the US.

GOV.UK says tourists don’t need a visa for Mexico and are stamped with the number of days they may stay. Flights from the UK are long: see our London to Cancún page, and from the US New York to Cancún.

Getting the best fare for winter sun

Winter sun is peak season for these places, so fares and hotels cost more over Christmas, New Year and the February half-term. Our guide to half-term flights shows how to plan around the school weeks, and when to book international flights explains how far ahead to look.

A few ideas that usually help: travel in the first half of November or mid-January to early February, compare Manchester, Birmingham and the London airports, and add bag costs before you compare fares. Our hand luggage guide shows what each airline includes. Route pages with flight times include London to Dubai, Manchester to Dubai, London to Bangkok and London to Cairo.

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