You don’t need to endure months of gloom when reliable sun is literally a short flight away. Here’s where to find five warm destinations that are still just as good in the winter
Winter in the UK is miserable. Not just miserable, but a specific form of misery. A kind of misery that only 3:30pm sunsets, 18-hour nights and constant drizzle can provide. It’s no surprise that our mental health takes a nosedive when the winter months come around.
But it doesn’t need to be this way; you don’t need to endure months of gloom when reliable sun is literally a short flight away. Not enough people take advantage of the incredible holiday destinations on their figurative doorstep around Christmas – places that are perfect candidates for spontaneous last minute holidays when you simply need to get away from the cold and drear of Christmas, and recharge your vitamin D levels a little. But where exactly should you go?
Hiking The Volcanic Trails Of Tenerife
The Canary Islands are a quintessential sun-and-sea destination for summer getaways, but Tenerife – the largest of the islands – is just as good for winter holidaymaking. Indeed, winter could actually be the superior season for exploring Tenerife’s Teide National Park inland, as the summer heat often makes hiking more dangerous than sun-lounging. In the 20-degree weather of the winter, you can comfortably trek across some stunning lunar-adjacent volcanic landscapes without the risk of heatstroke.
Exploring The “Floating Garden” Of Madeira
Madeira is an extremely beautiful little slice of subtropical life with a unique microclimate that keeps it lush and blooming even in the depths of European January. Unlike arid destinations, this Portuguese island offers verdant levada walks and vibrant botanical gardens year-round – all there to be explored in a mild, spring-like climate ideal for a respite from the English cold.
Soaking Up Culture In Cyprus
If you’re after going a little farther afield, Cyprus is an excellent winter-escape destination – both for its climate and for its historical culture. In the summer, the archaeological sites of Paphos are often too scorching to enjoy properly. Visiting in winter allows you to wander through ancient Roman mosaics and tombs in comfortable t-shirt weather; when you tire, you’ll find a thriving ex-pat community ready to give you a taste of home too.
Finding Guaranteed Heat In Cape Verde
Cape Verde is an archipelagic island off the cost of Africa, and one of the most striking volcanic islands you will ever visit – which you must, one Christmas. Being located further south than the Canaries, Cape Verde enjoys much warmer weather even in the winter; if you’re one for a proper day of roasting on a beach somewhere, this is the short-haul winter destination of your dreams.
Cruising The Nile In Egypt
If money’s no object and you’ve a little more time on your hands, you might consider a no-holds-barred getaway as heavily-planned as a bucket-list summer holiday; you might consider Egypt. The summer months in Egypt are often unbearably hot in any case, making winter really the only viable time for you to visit the notoriously-arid Valley of the Kings, or the nearby Pyramids of Giza.
