These are the cheapest places to go for winter sun

If the clocks going back have already got you plotting your escape from the Great British winter, we have good news.

According to our research, your trip doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, you might be surprised at how cheaply you can find return flights to sun-drenched locations across Europe and further afield.

We’ve rounded up the top destinations to visit this winter, from the exact resorts to visit in the Canary Islands and Morocco for the cheapest flights and best weather, to good-value continental European suntraps.

Some popular long-haul destinations are even cheaper to visit this year than last — we’ve outlined those below, plus the best months to visit this winter to balance cost and climate.

Read on to find out more.

Short-haul winter trips

Canary Islands

If you’re struggling to pick between the Canaries, Fuerteventura offers relatively balmy temperatures (a daily maximum of 19-20°C) in December and January, sea warm enough to swim in, and only three days of rain each month. Crucially, it also offered some of the cheapest European flights in December and January. 

We spotted round trips in December for as little as £29 from London, £30 from Newcastle, and £34-38 for Birmingham, Manchester and Belfast. January flights were a little more expensive from UK hubs, but we saw flights departing from across the country from as little as £42-£54.

Tenerife was a close second, offering similar temperatures, plenty of sun and return trips for £29 from London, £31 from Liverpool, Bristol, Nottingham and Birmingham, and £34 from Manchester. 

Read our guide to the best and worst Canary Islands

Morocco

Hop on a 3-4 hour flight from the UK, and you’ll arrive at sunny souks and rooftop sunsets in Marrakech. Maximum daily temperatures are around 19-20°C in December and January, a far cry from the UK’s wintry bite. You’ll likely find it more enjoyable to wander the city now than during sweltering summer months. 

The prices are more comfortable too — we found return trips for as low as £32 from London and Edinburgh, £34 from Glasgow and Manchester, and plenty of other cheap fares for other airports across the UK. Prices were slightly more expensive in January, but there were still plenty of bargains to be had.

If a getaway near the sea is non-negotiable, you could try Agadir instead. It’s on the Atlantic coast, but still offers 20°C max daily temperatures and 18°C sea temperatures. In December, you could fly there and back from London for as low as £32, from Edinburgh for £35 and from Manchester for £40. The cheapest flights for those same cities rose by £16-18 in January.

According to Skyscanner, this winter is a good time to plan a trip to Tangier, if you’ve been meaning to visit. It told us the average price for economy flights from October to February was £105, which is a 13% drop in average price compared to the same time last year. It’s a little chillier at 17°C, so do pack a jacket.

More short-haul, top-value sun traps

Where: Rhodes, Greece 

Max daily temperature in December: 16°C

Hours of daylight: 10

Average price: £218 for a return trip in October to February 

How much cheaper is it than last year? 21% on average

Visit Rhodes in December, and you’ll have the beaches largely to yourself, with 19°C waters to paddle in – particularly refreshing after a hike through the island’s scenic hills and pine forests.

Although you might find the island’s beach resorts quieter, with some hotels and restaurants closed for the low season, Rhodes Town stays lively year-round, with plenty of places to eat and drink, and a medieval Old Town to explore in peace.

Where: Seville, Spain 

Max daily temperature December: 16°C

Hours of sunlight: 10

Average price: £151 for a return trip in October to February 

How much cheaper is it than last year? 12% on average

In summer, Seville’s temperatures can reach 35°C, making sightseeing sweaty work. December brings milder, more pleasant weather, perfect for long days exploring the Royal Alcázar palace, wandering the narrow streets of the Santa Cruz neighbourhood and climbing the Giralda bell tower for panoramic city views.

Where: Valletta, Malta

Max daily temperature in Jan and December: 17°C

Hours of daylight: 10

Average price: £165 for a return trip in October to February 

How much cheaper is it than last year? 11% on average

Valletta’s cruise arrivals calm down a little in December and January, meaning you’ll have the chance to appreciate the city in relative peace and quiet. You should get decent weather, but if you get chilly, there are ample museums — not to mention the famous St John's Co-Cathedra — to enjoy, usually without queues. Plus, there’s a glimmer of festive cheer with Christmas lights on Merchant Street and Republic Street.

For long-haul winter sun

Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

The humidity drops to zero in this resort city during December, which makes it a particularly pleasant time to visit. You’ll get 8 hours of sunshine, 22°C maximum daily highs, and the Red Sea is a relatively luxurious 23-25°C.  

We found plenty of cheap direct return flights, as low as £138 from London in December, and £142 in January. The lowest price we found was from Belfast in December for £107, Liverpool from £128 and Manchester from £138. 

Phuket, Thailand

December and January are among the best months to visit Phuket, with temperatures reaching 31°C and 32°C respectively. 

Humidity is lower than during the wetter months, and rainfall drops from an average of eight days in December to just five in January. That leaves plenty of opportunities to enjoy Thailand’s tropical beaches and warm seas. We found return flights from London for as little as £443 in December, or £473 in January.

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Fly out to Montego Bay between December and February, and you’ll skip the intense humidity that makes visiting in summer months trickier. Maximum daily temperatures drop to a comfier 29°C — and it’s outside of rainy season, too.

Skyscanner also told us November is the cheapest time to visit Montego Bay, with return flight prices from £433. But December isn’t far behind, with the cheapest fares as low as £433. By comparison, the cheapest fare you’d find to visit in August 2027 is £648.

Flying to the area is also cheaper than last year. Skyscanner told us that flights departing between October 2026 and October 2027 currently cost an average of £764 – 13% less than for the same period a year earlier.

Perth, Australia

Flights to Perth are also cheaper on average this winter (October 2026 -February 2027) compared to last winter, by 6% according to Skyscanner. 

The average price of a return economy flight between these months is £1,425 — but in the cheapest travel month, February, prices drop as low as £600 for a return departing from London, £709 from Manchester and £721 from Glasgow. Just be prepared for peak heat, averaging at 31°C.

December’s cheapest options were £675 departing from London, £716 from Manchester and £753 from Glasgow. But with 11 hours of sunshine and less intense maximum daily temperatures of 28°C, low humidity and sleeping temperatures dropping to 16°C, spending extra on your tickets may feel like a fair trade-off.  

By comparison, the cheapest August fares we found started at £912, making it the most expensive month to fly. 

Weather data: Weather2Travel

Pricing data: Skyscanner, a Which? Recommended Provider