European Winter Sun – The Algarve Portugal

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year and 87 Blue Flag beaches, the Algarve has become an increasingly popular winter-sun destination.

The season is when waterfalls roar back to life in the eucalyptus-filled Monchique Mountains, and migrating birds flock to Ria Formosa Natural Park.

Even popular Quinta do Lago Beach is blissfully quiet this time of year. If you can handle sea temperatures of a chilly 57°F (14°C), this is also the season for surfing.

Work up an appetite before finding dinner in the whitewashed towns of Faro, Lagos or Tavira.

Rainy-day rescue: The interior of São Lourenço church near Loulé is an azulejo-lover’s dream.

The ornate blue tiles here cover almost every inch, floor to ceiling.

Malta

Malta can be scorching in the summer. So the cooler days of winter, when temperatures rarely dip below 50°F (10°C), are ideal for exploring the great outdoors on this Mediterranean island nation.

Rock climbing and hiking are particularly pleasant in the off season, as the rural landscape is at its greenest.

Culture and history buffs should catch a winter-solstice sunrise on December 22 at Mnajdra Temple, where the sun lights up the precise edges of an ancient megalith.

Come February, the Maltese Carnival brings parades and late-night parties galore.

Rainy-day rescue: If you need to seek shelter from a shower, the gilded baroque interior of St John’s Co-Cathedral in UNESCO-listed Valletta always shines.

European Winter Sun – Sicily Italy

Magical Sicily is full of color in winter.

Citrus trees are heavy with ripening oranges, lemons and limes.

Food-market stalls in Catania and Palermo creak under the weight of fresh vegetables, fish and seasonal walnuts.

And all over the island, locals are preparing for Carnevale (the most famous celebration, Carnevale Acireale, takes place in 2025 from February 16 to March 4).

While the weather can change at the drop of a blood orange, 8 hours of sunshine a day and average highs reaching double those in London make it worth taking your chances.

Rainy-day rescue: Villa Romana del Casale is home to the most significant collection of Roman floor mosaics in the world – and a wooden roof protects them (and you) from the elements.

Cyprus

With more than 340 days of sunshine a year, Cyprus is your best bet for warmth winter in Europe (albeit at the continent’s southeastern edge, in the Mediterranean).

While snow glitters on the peaks of the Troödos Mountains, coastal areas, particularly in the east, stay warmer and drier.

Stay in Larnaka to spot flamingos dancing around their winter home on the nearby salt lake before heading west to explore historic treasures such as the 3rd-century-BCE Tombs of the Kings and Ancient Kourion.

Rainy-day rescue: Spend a wet afternoon among the ancient artifacts of the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia, or find a cozy taverna for a leisurely Cypriot-style lunch.

European Winter Sun – Seville Spain

If you fancy a fair-weather winter city break, look no further than Seville.

Temperatures can rise to 63°F (17°C), with at least 6 hours of sunshine a day (though packing an umbrella is always wise).

Top sights like the Plaza de Espana and the Real Alcázar feature indoor areas and outdoor delights, allowing you to bask in the sunshine and hide from a passing shower.

Finish a day of sunny sightseeing with a sunset stroll through the modern Metropol Parasol, known locally as Las Setas (“the Mushrooms”).

Rainy-day rescue: Take a tour of Seville’s stunning Cathedral, or stamp, tap and shimmy through the Flamenco Dance Museum, where you can also arrange a lesson or watch pros perform.

Canary Islands Spain

Want sand dunes and hidden coves?

Volcanic national parks and forested mountains?

How about colorful villages, tempting restaurants and water sports galore?

Tenerife and Gran Canaria are generally the warmest of the Canary Islands in winter, with highs around 71°F (22°C).

Lanzarote and Fuerteventura can be a little windy – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re heading there to surf or take part in the latter’s annual kite festival.

Lesser-known La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro will feel even more off-the-radar than usual in winter, though they will have (you guessed it) plenty of sun.

Rainy-day rescue: Let the weather slow you down: book an appointment at one of the islands’ many spas for a massage, followed by a trip to a local vineyard or bar to taste local wines.

European Winter Sun – Balearic Islands Spain

Adored by summer vacationers, these Spanish islands are just as lovable come winter. Ibiza’s pumping beats and party crowds will have left – but the epic sunsets and beaches remain.

Culture-packed Mallorca, meanwhile, is quieter and cheaper.

Lesser-visited Menorca lures nature fans with decent walking weather for tackling the Camí de Cavalls coastal path, while tiny Formentera beckons to those who want total seclusion.

Rainy-day rescue: If you’re going to get wet, you may as well go diving.

Relatively mild sea temperatures allow for diving around the Balearics’ caverns and shipwrecks year-round.

Crete Greece

In the winter low season, you can only reach Crete via Athens – and although most resort towns will be all but deserted, basing yourself in the cities of Heraklion or Hania will give you a sense of low-season life.

Numerous restaurants and bars remain open in both, and they’re equally good spots for snagging a low-priced car rental to explore the island.

On sunny days, you might find you have the pink-tinged sands of Elafonisi or the Palace of Knossos all to yourself. Temperatures can reach highs of 61°F (16°C) in January, but the nights are much colder, so pack layers.

Rainy-day rescue: Uncover five millennia of history at Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of the best museums in all of Greece.