In this article, I will talk to you about places to go in January to find sunshine in a warm country. 10 warm destinations and other cold countries
📋 The essentials to remember: In January, flee rainy Europe and head to South-East Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines) during the dry season, or the Caribbean (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico). For Africa: Senegal, Cape Verde, Morocco on the Atlantic side. Expect 25-35°C during the day, almost no rain, and still reasonable prices if you avoid French school holidays (mid-February).
10 Warm Countries to Go to in January for Sunshine
Most of these places have temperatures above 25°C during the day in January.
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Mexico for Beaches and Food
In the Yucatan region near Playa del Carmen, there are many historical sites and blue beaches with white sand.
For a quiet stay, I suggest spending a day in Tulum, visiting the various cenotes or the different amusement and theme parks such as Xcaret.
You can also go to Akumal to see the turtles.
If you want to go further, you can visit one of the 7 wonders of the world, Chichen Itza.
🌍 Did you know?
January is statistically the driest month in Thailand and Southern Vietnam (average 0 to 30 mm of rain for the whole month). Conversely, it is the rainy season in tropical Australia (Cairns, Darwin) and Brazil. The general rule: follow the hemisphere opposite to your cold season.
If you have some time, go see the 7-colored lagoon in Bacalar.
There are many budget accommodations or all-inclusive lodgings for those who like comfort in this region.
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Thailand, the destination to go to in January for sunshine, price, and islands
For me, Thailand is the best cheap place to go in January for sunshine and islands.
Thailand has various islands with superb beaches.
The Phuket region is visited for its beautiful beaches and partying.
Koh Tao island is the island for diving.
Koh Phi Phi island is the island from the movie The Beach and is very touristy with a nice viewpoint,
| Destination | Day Temp. | Round Trip Flight Paris | Budget /day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand (Bangkok, southern islands) | 30-32°C | 500-800 € | 40-60 € |
| Southern Vietnam (Saigon) | 30-33°C | 550-850 € | 35-55 € |
| Mexico (Yucatan) | 27-29°C | 500-800 € | 60-90 € |
| Cuba | 26-28°C | 500-750 € | 50-80 € |
| Morocco (Marrakech) | 18-22°C | 100-250 € | 40-70 € |
| Cape Verde | 24-26°C | 250-450 € | 50-80 € |
| Maldives | 27-30°C | 700-1200 € | 150-400 € |
Koh Phangan island is the full moon party island for young people.
Samui island has better accommodations for families and is accessible by plane.
Thailand has bungalows in front of the beach for less than 20 euros or food for less than 2 euros per meal.
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South Africa for nature and animals
Cape Town is the best cheap nature spot in Africa in January with sunshine.
If you have time, you can go on a safari in Kruger Park.
Most people arrive from Cape Town and spend one or two weeks then go to Johannesburg to return to France.
In the meantime, they go on a several-day safari.
There are many events in January in the Cape Town region such as canoeing, mountain visits, botanical gardens, vineyards, swimming with sharks or penguins.
Learn surfing, cycling, go to the Cape of Good Hope.
See my review on South Africa.
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Brazil is the country to go to in January for sunshine for landscapes and culture
Southern Brazil is the best place to go in January for sunshine for landscapes and to experience the culture of the country.
Celebrate New Year in Rio de Janeiro on Copacabana beach.
You can easily stay a week in Brazil, visit the favelas, see the Christ the Redeemer statue, climb to the Sugarloaf viewpoint, visit the different cultural neighborhoods.
Go watch a football match at Maracanã stadium or join a Samba street party.
Enjoy the beach or do some hikes around Rio de Janeiro city.
Go to the islands either Isla Grande or Paraty or if you have more time, visit Florianopolis. It is the safest place in Brazil.
It is the best time of year to see the Iguazu Falls.
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India for festivals
India is the best cultural place to go in January with sun and warmth.
There are many festivals during this time of year in northern India.
There is the kite festival in Jaipur, the harvest, wind, or spring festivals.
You can also go to the beach in Goa if you really want to sunbathe.
If you are looking for something more spiritual, go to Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River.
What you must not miss is also the Indian food and the curry that I love.
Just like Australia, January 26 is Republic Day, it is India’s July 14th.
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Australia for the vibe
Australia is for me the best place to go in January for warmth for several reasons:
Celebrate New Year in Sydney from the botanical garden.
The national holiday “Australia Day” is January 26, there is a crazy atmosphere and everyone has Australian flags.
The Tennis tournament “Australian Open” starts at the end of January.
You can visit the mountains near Sydney, pretty cities such as Sydney or Cairns or go to the islands in Tasmania or see famous beaches such as Bondi or Manly beach.
The only downside of this destination is that it is very expensive and very far away.
I spent 15 months in Australia and toured it. You can see all the advice for this country here.
🗣️ My experience: My best January remains a 10 days in Thailand with Bangkok, Chiang Mai and 4 days in Koh Lanta. Round trip flight at €580, comfortable 3*+ hotels under €50/night. On my return, I swore I would no longer endure a Parisian January without escaping at least a week to the sun. It has become an annual ritual.
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New Zealand for hiking
The South Island in New Zealand is the best place to go for sun and a good hike in January to see stunning landscapes.
If you have been to Iceland or Tasmania, you will probably like New Zealand’s South Island, you won’t need to travel many kilometers to see beautiful scenery.
I really like the Queenstown and Wanaka area which are small towns with mountains and a viewpoint over the town with a lake surrounding it.
New Zealand has many hikes such as the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the north of the North Island, Abel Tasman Coast, a coastal hike on the South Island or the Kepler Track.
If you have time, you can also watch a rugby match or enjoy a good beer during a cricket game.
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Argentina for landscapes
Southern Argentina is also the best cheap place to go in January for hiking and nature.
Distances are much greater than in New Zealand to get from one place to another.
You have to go to Patagonia to see the best landscapes in South America.
You can see glacier landscapes and lagoons at the Cerro Torre lagoon.
You will also have the chance to admire glaciers, notably the magnificent Perito Moreno glacier.
If you have a bit more time, you can also go to Ushuaia, which is located at the very south of South America.
The advantage currently is to benefit from a good exchange rate with a currency exchange service to have better purchasing power.
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Panama for beaches and islands
Panama is much less popular than Mexico but since there are far fewer European tourists, it is therefore the best beach destination to get away in January with few tourists.
You can take advantage of this to go to the Boca del Toro islands and visit beaches with few people.
🍀 Traveling in January
- Ideal weather in SE Asia (dry season)
- Escape the French winter blues
- Reasonable prices outside school holidays
- Beautiful light for photos
🔻 Limitations
- Crowds in high tourist season
- Flights to Asia expensive (€500-800)
- Tropical Australia = cyclone season
- Thermal shock on return (sometimes -25°C)
It is a popular place to learn to surf, party, and enjoy a beautiful beach with few tourists.
The only drawback is that prices are in dollars and are more expensive than other Central American destinations.
You can also visit the Panama Canal; it is quite impressive to see a ship pass through.
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Dubai is the city to go to in January for sunshine in the Middle East to feel pampered
If you want to spend a few days or even a week outside Europe, Dubai is the best destination for you.
It is the best time to go to Dubai to avoid the intense heat and the many tourists.
If you want to see snow, you can even go skiing, but the activity I recommend is going into the desert.
On other days, you can visit the various shopping centers and stroll near the marina and the Burj Khalifa tower or even go to the beach.
Where to travel in January, other alternatives, cold countries in winter
Of course, there are many other interesting places you can go such as
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Iceland for the winter atmosphere
⚠️ Classic trap
Confusing tropical with warm everywhere. In January, Australia is in cyclone season in the north (Cairns, Darwin), Northern India is cold (Delhi can drop to 5°C at night), and Brazil is going through its Amazon rainy season. Always check the precise weather map of the country, not just the hemisphere.
If you have 3-4 days and want to travel in Europe and see amazing landscapes, Iceland is one of the best places in Europe to go in January!
Iceland is a concentration of nature and change of scenery; you can observe the northern lights, go to the Blue Lagoon, take a tour of the Golden Circle to see waterfalls, geysers, beaches with icebergs.
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Lapland in the Nordic countries
The North of Sweden or the North of Finland are places to go in January if you want to see the northern lights and go dog sledding.
It is still a relatively uncommon destination with fewer tourists.
The only downside is that there is very little sun during this period, which can be disconcerting if you are not used to it.
- France for skiing
The Alps and the Pyrenees are the best places to go in January in France if you want to ski, eat a good fondue, not move too much, and enjoy the snow.
List of warm countries in January
Here are the ones I recommend:
In Asia, you should go in January to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka.
In America: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay.
In Africa: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia.
In Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, New Caledonia.
If you are looking for other tropical options, my selection of exotic countries compiles my exotic favorites across several continents. To compare with another period, where to go in September for sunshine covers the end of summer. And for a pure beach break, my favorite paradisiacal islands offers some ideas of islands far from mass tourism.
FAQ / Other questions about where to go in January for sunshine in winter or cold?
- A place to recommend in Europe with sunshine, the warmest place in January?
The Canary Islands in Spain or southern Italy.
- The best places in January with a small backpacker budget:
Thailand, South Africa, Mexico, and India.
- Where to go in January to see paradisiacal islands and blue beach holiday vibes,
Mexico in the Yucatan region, Panama in the Boca del Toro region, Thailand in the Phuket region, Brazil in the Florianopolis region.
- Are there other destinations you recommend?
Of course, you can check out this article.
And you? Where would you like to go in January?
