Where to go on holiday in January
292 of our destinations have good weather in January, and 177 of them are at their very best. For sun without a long flight, Agadir in Morocco is about 20°C, around 4 hours from London. On a budget? Vang Vieng costs about £35 a day.
Top picks for January
- Best month
Bangkok
Thailand
A vibrant capital with street food, temples, markets, and buzzing nightlife.
- ☀️ January: about 33°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Angkor Wat temples and Cambodian culture.
- ☀️ January: about 33°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Malé
Maldives
Tropical paradise with crystal-clear waters.
- ☀️ January: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £305 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Luxury shopping, skyscrapers, beaches, and desert.
- ⛅ January: about 23°C, dry
- 💷 About £185 a day
- ✈️ About 7h from London
- Best month
Cairo
Egypt
Pyramids, museums, and bustling city life.
- ⛅ January: about 18°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 5h from London
- Best month
Cape Town
South Africa
Mountains, beaches, wine, and warm weather.
- ☀️ January: about 24°C, dry
- 💷 About £100 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Cancún
Mexico
Resorts, nightlife, and turquoise waters.
- ☀️ January: about 27°C, some rain
- 💷 About £80 a day
- ✈️ About 10h from London
- Best month
Punta Cana
Dominican Republic
White-sand beaches and all-inclusive resorts.
- ☀️ January: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £105 a day
- ✈️ About 9h from London
- Best month
Tulum
Mexico
Beaches, ruins, and boutique hotels.
- ☀️ January: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £80 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Phuket
Thailand
Thailand’s largest island with beaches, nightlife, and tropical scenery.
- 🌦️ January: about 28°C, rainy
- 💷 About £55 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Maafushi
Maldives
Affordable Maldives island with beaches and snorkeling.
- ☀️ January: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £280 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Sydney
Australia
Harbour city with beaches, nightlife, and iconic landmarks.
- 🌦️ January: about 29°C, rainy
- 💷 About £165 a day
- ✈️ About 22h from London
✈️ Short-haul: under 5 hours from the UK
- Best month
Cairo
Egypt
Pyramids, museums, and bustling city life.
- ⛅ January: about 18°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 5h from London
- Best month
Chamonix
France
Alpine resort town with skiing, hiking, and dramatic Mont Blanc views.
- ❄️ January: about -3°C, rainy
- 💷 About £165 a day
- ✈️ About 2h from London
- Best month
Innsbruck
Austria
Alpine city with ski slopes and hiking minutes from the centre.
- ❄️ January: about 0°C, rainy
- 💷 About £125 a day
- ✈️ About 2h from London
- Best month
Zermatt
Switzerland
Car-free alpine village in the shadow of the Matterhorn.
- ❄️ January: about -6°C, some rain
- 💷 About £235 a day
- ✈️ About 2h from London
- Best month
Dolomites
Italy
Jagged pink-tinged peaks for skiing, hiking and via ferratas.
- ❄️ January: about -2°C, some rain
- 💷 About £155 a day
- ✈️ About 2h from London
- Best month
Tromsø
Norway
Arctic city for Northern Lights, husky sledding and whale safaris.
- ❄️ January: about -5°C, rainy
- 💷 About £195 a day
- ✈️ About 3h from London
- Best month
Rovaniemi
Finland
Official home of Santa Claus, reindeer and the Northern Lights.
- ❄️ January: about -10°C, some rain
- 💷 About £160 a day
- ✈️ About 3h from London
- Best month
Las Palmas
Spain
Warm weather year‑round and volcanic beaches.
- ⛅ January: about 19°C, dry
- 💷 About £105 a day
- ✈️ About 4h from London
🏖️ Beach holidays in January
- Best month
Malé
Maldives
Tropical paradise with crystal-clear waters.
- ☀️ January: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £305 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Cancún
Mexico
Resorts, nightlife, and turquoise waters.
- ☀️ January: about 27°C, some rain
- 💷 About £80 a day
- ✈️ About 10h from London
- Best month
Punta Cana
Dominican Republic
White-sand beaches and all-inclusive resorts.
- ☀️ January: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £105 a day
- ✈️ About 9h from London
- Best month
Tulum
Mexico
Beaches, ruins, and boutique hotels.
- ☀️ January: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £80 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Phuket
Thailand
Thailand’s largest island with beaches, nightlife, and tropical scenery.
- 🌦️ January: about 28°C, rainy
- 💷 About £55 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Maafushi
Maldives
Affordable Maldives island with beaches and snorkeling.
- ☀️ January: about 28°C, some rain
- 💷 About £280 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Pattaya
Thailand
Beach city with entertainment and nightlife.
- ☀️ January: about 31°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Cartagena
Colombia
Caribbean beaches and colorful colonial old town.
- ☀️ January: about 32°C, dry
- 💷 About £55 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
🏙️ City breaks in January
- Best month
Bangkok
Thailand
A vibrant capital with street food, temples, markets, and buzzing nightlife.
- ☀️ January: about 33°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Luxury shopping, skyscrapers, beaches, and desert.
- ⛅ January: about 23°C, dry
- 💷 About £185 a day
- ✈️ About 7h from London
- Best month
Sydney
Australia
Harbour city with beaches, nightlife, and iconic landmarks.
- 🌦️ January: about 29°C, rainy
- 💷 About £165 a day
- ✈️ About 22h from London
- Best month
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
Markets, food, and fast-paced city life.
- ☀️ January: about 32°C, dry
- 💷 About £40 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Historic temples and riverside views.
- ☀️ January: about 34°C, dry
- 💷 About £45 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Colombo
Sri Lanka
Coastal capital with markets and colonial architecture.
- 🌦️ January: about 27°C, rainy
- 💷 About £60 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Modern architecture, beaches, and cultural landmarks.
- ⛅ January: about 23°C, dry
- 💷 About £180 a day
- ✈️ About 7h from London
- Best month
Doha
Qatar
Modern skyline, museums, and desert culture.
- ⛅ January: about 22°C, dry
- 💷 About £160 a day
- ✈️ About 7h from London
🏛️ Culture and history in January
- Best month
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Angkor Wat temples and Cambodian culture.
- ☀️ January: about 33°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Cairo
Egypt
Pyramids, museums, and bustling city life.
- ⛅ January: about 18°C, dry
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 5h from London
- Best month
Penang
Malaysia
Street food paradise with colonial charm.
- 🌦️ January: about 29°C, rainy
- 💷 About £50 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Luang Prabang
Laos
UNESCO town with waterfalls and temples.
- ☀️ January: about 26°C, dry
- 💷 About £40 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Kandy
Sri Lanka
Hill country temples, lakes, and cooler weather.
- 🌦️ January: about 27°C, rainy
- 💷 About £55 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
- Best month
Muscat
Oman
Mountains, beaches, and traditional Arabian culture.
- ☀️ January: about 24°C, dry
- 💷 About £110 a day
- ✈️ About 8h from London
- Best month
Galle
Sri Lanka
Historic fort and coastal scenery.
- 🌦️ January: about 27°C, rainy
- 💷 About £55 a day
- ✈️ About 12h from London
- Best month
Salvador
Brazil
Afro-Brazilian culture, colonial architecture, and beaches.
- 🌦️ January: about 31°C, rainy
- 💷 About £55 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
🏔️ Mountains and nature in January
- Best month
Cape Town
South Africa
Mountains, beaches, wine, and warm weather.
- ☀️ January: about 24°C, dry
- 💷 About £100 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Hobart
Australia
Mountains, food culture, and Tasmanian wilderness.
- ⛅ January: about 21°C, some rain
- 💷 About £130 a day
- ✈️ About 22h from London
- Best month
Queenstown
New Zealand
Adventure capital with lakes and mountains.
- 🌦️ January: about 16°C, rainy
- 💷 About £165 a day
- ✈️ About 24h from London
- Best month
Bariloche
Argentina
Lakes, mountains, and chocolate shops.
- ⛅ January: about 20°C, some rain
- 💷 About £65 a day
- ✈️ About 16h from London
- Best month
Galápagos Islands
Ecuador
Unique wildlife, volcanic landscapes, and world-class snorkeling.
- ☀️ January: about 26°C, some rain
- 💷 About £70 a day
- ✈️ About 13h from London
- Best month
Castries
Saint Lucia
Rainforest, beaches, and volcanic peaks.
- ☀️ January: about 27°C, some rain
- 💷 About £185 a day
- ✈️ About 9h from London
- Best month
Soufrière
Saint Lucia
Pitons mountains, hot springs, and luxury resorts.
- ☀️ January: about 27°C, some rain
- 💷 About £205 a day
- ✈️ About 9h from London
- Best month
La Fortuna
Costa Rica
Arenal volcano, hot springs, and rainforest adventures.
- ☀️ January: about 26°C, some rain
- 💷 About £110 a day
- ✈️ About 11h from London
How we choose
"Best month" places are at their best in January. The others have pleasant weather then: typically 17–32°C by day and not too wet, based on long-term NASA climate averages. Costs are a typical mid-range day per person, and flight times are from London. Always check the latest travel advice before you book.