Winter holidays do not necessarily mean that you face snow and grey skies. Actually, there are many sunny and warm places you can visit in winter. Whether you are more of an active person that likes to be outdoors and move a lot or whether you prefer a more relaxed vacation, there is definitely something for any traveler seeking an enjoyable winter holiday. We’ll show you the best winter destinations for your next trip!
1. Le Réunion, France
While the close island of Mauritius is a real tourist hub, only a few holidaymakers visit the island of La Réunion that belongs to France. In the cold months of Europe, this could be an ideal long-distance trip that perfectly combines sunny palm beaches with many sightseeing opportunities. The local jungle and volcano give you a very exotic feeling that totally makes you forget about the negative temperatures at home and we find that La Réunion is one of the best winter destinations you could imagine!
2. Boracay, Philippines
With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines offer you a lot of potential travel destinations and especially during the winter time the country is a great place to be and enjoy some tropical feeling. Boracay is among the most tourist-friendly places where the locals prepare everything for you to have an enjoyable stay. Some of the highlights are the natural forests and of course the seaside where you can dive with large whale sharks in some places.
3. Barcelona, Spain
Even though Barcelona is on the European continent, the winters are relatively mild with up to 14 degrees in winter – and definitely better than most other places during that time. A perfect place for a city trip, Barcelona attracts with its Gaudi architectures, the Sagrada Familia or Park Güell, just to name a few. Besides, there are many shopping opportunities and ways to enjoy the nightlife in the Catalonian capital!
4. Sydney, Australia
Many travelers who go to Australia start their trip from the dreamlike city of Sydney on the east coast. From there you can easily do an amazing roadtrip along the coast to the north. The best time for a road trip along the east coast of Australia is between October and November or after February, which perfectly falls into the cold seasons for a lot of people.
5. Phuket, Thailand
Thailand becomes more and more popular among travelers due to the low cost for good food and accommodation as well as the extremely friendly locals. Especially the coastal regions and islands are interesting during the months between October and February, where you typically have lots of sun and high temperatures, hosting some of the best winter destinations. While the island of Phuket is rather pricey compared to other Thai locations, you can directly experience paradise there and have a relaxing time on the beach.
6. Barbados
Barbados is a Caribbean island with water temperatures of more than 25 degrees. Divers can enjoy the colorful coral reefs with their fish stocks around the island. Here you will have an experience that is kind of the opposite of any typical winter you have had in the past and if you can afford to go there for a few weeks, you should definitely consider this as a great getaway!
7. Maldives
Have you ever dreamt of a vacation on the Maldives with endless sandy beaches, luxury resorts and crystal blue waters? Winter is the perfect time to travel there, with temperatures around 30°C and enough sunshine to charge you for your home country. If you can, take your partner with you as many resorts have special services for couples.
8. Moscow, Russia
Even though the thermometer is often in the negative range in this city, Moscow is worth a winter trip. During the winter months Gorki Park turns into a huge ice rink where you can skate and the winter festival running from December to January exhibits breathtaking ice sculptures that are really one of their kind.
9. South East Asia
Countries like Thailand, Malaysia or Vietnam are perfect to escape from the cold temperatures. The rainy seasons there have just passed in November, which makes nature even more green – perfect for a winter vacation! Unfortunately, there are also a lot of tourists during these months, so the trips could be slightly more expensive.
10. Cuba
Cuba has Caribbean temperatures with an interesting history and Latin American flair in the streets. Especially in December, tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy a different life for some time. Visit the old town of Havana, explore the surrounding islands and just relax your mind for some time while exposing yourself to one of the best winter destinations!
