Winter Sun 101: A Guide to Winter Sun in Europe (And Beyond)

The nights are drawing in already. Not looking forward to another long, grey, dreary winter? Me neither.

If you’re in need of some Vitamin D, then this post is for you – a comprehensive guide to the best winter sun destinations in Europe (plus a few that are technically outside Europe but still short-haul for European visitors).

To help you maximise your chances of warmth this winter, this guide will cover:

Understanding the Mediterranean climate in fall and winter
Winter sun destinations – weather summaries and average temperatures
Beach weather: where to go month-by-month
Sea temperatures
Sunshine hours
Highlights of the Mediterranean in winter
Best places for a warm city break in winter
Winter festival highlights

THE MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE IN WINTER

What do we mean by winter sun? Which months count as winter anyway?

March / April / May = spring
June / July / August = summer
September / October / November = autumn
December / January / February = winter

In general, the summer tourist season in Europe and the Mediterranean region stars after Easter (bear in mind that Catholic and Orthodox run on different calendars) and runs through to October, when thunderstorms usually herald the changing of the seasons. If you’re planning on visiting the Mediterranean in winter, bear in mind that this is the offseason and some tourist amenities and resorts will be closed – particularly those that rely on beach tourism.

The Mediterranean climate is typified by hot and dry summers. Winters are milder than Northern Europe (with the mountain ranges forming a cutoff point) – sometimes crisp and sunny but sometimes damp, windy and rainy.

The shoulder seasons of May and September – as well as the second half of April and the first half of October – are also usually fine and warm with some changeable days. Whilst the Mediterranean climate is still milder than Northern Europe, winter can still bring low temperatures and lashing of rain.

If you’re looking for a beach break, it’s best to look outside the Mediterranean in winter. As well as cold and damp weather, you’ll also find that many beach resorts close down completely during October and become ghost towns throughout the winter.

Generally speaking, the further south you go the more reliable the destination for warm weather and sunshine – the Atlantic islands such as the Canaries and Madeira have reliable climates year-round as they are closer to the equator. These are your best options if you want a warm sunny beach holiday in the winter months.

However, there are some places to visit in Europe in winter with lovely mild microclimates. Particularly in the eastern Mediterranean, where the summer season is longer and beach days are still possible well into November. It’s an ideal time for city breaks to sunnier climes. Holiday resorts in North Africa and the Near East are also an option over the winter months.

WHICH ARE THE WARMEST PLACES IN EUROPE IN WINTER?

So, which parts of Europe get the warmest winter sun? Let’s take a look.

	Av. Temps (C)	Av. Temps (F)	Summary
Lisbon	11-19	52-66	Mild and rainy but atmospheric
Marrakech	13-21	55-70	Clear days, chilly nights, brief downpours
Malaga	13-16	55-61	Warm winters, sometimes foggy
Seville	11-20	52-68	Mild and sunny with brief downpours
Madrid	6-15	33-59	Crisp with cold nights and some snow
Valencia	9-18	48-64	Dry and sunny though at times stormy and overcast
Barcelona	10-18	50-64	Mild temps but unpredictable weather
Mallorca	10-18	50-64	Warm and pleasant but sometimes wet
Nice	9-18	48-64	Chilly but clear with brief showers
Rome	8-18	46-64	High chance of rainy days and cold nights
Naples	9-18	48-64	Wet autumn with dry, but dark and cold, winter
Cagliari	10-19	50-66	Mild and clear
Palermo	13-21	55-70	Warm with big downpours
Malta	13-21	55-70	Mild and sunny with occasional storms
Tunis	13-21	55-70	Mild and sunny with occasional storms
Split	7-17	35-63	Cool and windy mixed with sunny days
Athens	10-20	50-68	Mild and dry with cool nights
Thessaloniki	6-16	43-61	Comparatively cold and damp
Heraklion	12-20	54-68	Mild with frequent showers
Rhodes	13-21	55-70	Mild with frequent showers
Antalya	10-20	50-68	Brief cool winter with lots of sunshine
Istanbul	6-16	34-61	Cold, damp and wet
Paphos	13-22	55-72	Sunny with intense downpours
Tel Aviv	13-23	55-73	Sunny with intense downpours
Alexandria	13-22	55-72	Warm sunny days with cold nights
Gran Canaria	18-23	64-73	Reliably warm and sunny with occasional cloud
Fuerteventura	18-23	64-73	Warm and sunny but windy
Funchal	16-21	61-70	Long mild days with brief showers
Algarve	12 - 19	54-66	Surprisingly mild but with downpours
Agadir	16-22	61-72	Warm, dry days and cool nights
Hurghada	16-25	61-77	Warm, dry and sunny

As you can see from the above figures, some southern cities are surprisingly cold – hello Istanbul and Madrid!

The Canaries and Madeira have a reliable spring climate year-round.

For warmer winter temperatures, the best options are drier zones with desert influences and winds from Asia and Africa. Unsurprisingly, destinations in the Near East and North Africa are hotter and drier.

But you can also find these conditions on the islands of Rhodes, Malta, Sicily and Cyprus – which all have the mildest winter climates of Mediterranean Europe.

Athens and the cities of Southern Spain make perfect city break destinations in the winter.

And the Algarve region of Portugal has a surprisingly mild climate throughout winter (just keep an eye on the forecast for downpours).

WHERE TO FIND BEACH WEATHER IN WINTER

It is possible to find a sunshine holiday in winter, but you might have to stretch the definitions of ‘short-haul’ and ‘beach break’. Unheated outdoor pools (as well sea temperatures) can be chilly in the offseason.

But are the destinations you should be looking at:

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER: most places in the Mediterranean are good in October though with increasing possibility of rain towards the end of the month, but summer hangs around longer Rhodes, Crete, Cyprus, Malta, Sicily
DECEMBER: beach days still possible in Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, or else head west to the Canaries for more reliable weather
JANUARY- MARCH: temperatures appealing and reliable in the Canaries, but also the resorts in North Africa
MARCH: perfect temperatures in Morocco and Tunisia (although the sea will still be cool), Canaries, and on the Red Sea
APRIL: stick to the Canaries to be safe, but the Mediterranean islands are starting to heat up and you can find some bargains

Many flights to popular beach resorts only run throughout the summer season – but the fares at the beginning and end of the season can be absolute bargains. I once flew London-Crete for £15 and there were only 7 of us on the plane! I recommend Skyscanner for finding these cheap fares.

WHAT ABOUT SWIMMING IN THE SEA?

Obviously, this depends on where you’re from and on your tolerance for cold water.

But as a rough guide:

May-August = increasing in warmth
August-October = nice and warm in most places
November-December = swimmable for the hardy
December-March = only food rush in

In the Atlantic, the Gulf Stream helps to keep the sea temperatures around the Canary Islands pleasant and less variable, but by the time those waters hit the Atlantic coasts of Europe and Africa they can be significantly colder with high winds and waves.

Egypt’s Red Sea is by far the best area to head if you’re after sea like bathwater. The Mediterranean is known for being comparatively cool and salty, though some parts are significantly warmer than others.

The warmest parts of the Mediterranean are east, along the southern coast of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and surrounding Cyprus, and also the seas north of Tunisia and Libya, stretching northwards to Malta. But probably still too cold for most people December-March.

The coldest parts of the Mediterranean are around the northern Croatian islands, the northern Aegean islands, and the Languedoc region of France.

To give you an indication of sea temperatures (given as range across October-April):

	°C	°F
Lisbon	15-20	59-68
Malaga	16-21	61-70
Mallorca	15-22	59-72
Nice	13-20	55-72
Sardinia	14-22	57-72
Malta	17-24	63-75
Split	14-20	57-68
Athens	15-22	59-72
Paphos	17-24	63-75
Tel Aviv	18-26	64-79
Gran Canaria	19-23	66-73
Algarve	14-19	57-66
Agadir	17-21	63-70
Hurghada	21-26	70-79

WHICH ARE THE SUNNIEST PLACES?

Warm doesn’t necessarily mean sunny, and vice versa.

Let’s have a look at the average number of bright sunshine hours (given as range across October-April):

Lisbon	4-8
Marrakech	7-8
Malaga	5-8
Seville	5-8
Madrid	4-6
Valencia	6-8
Barcelona	4-8
Mallorca	6-9
Nice	5-7
Rome	3-7
Naples	3-6
Cagliari	4-7
Palermo	4-7
Malta	5-8
Tunis	5-8
Split	5-8
Athens	3-6
Thessaloniki	4-8
Heraklion	4-8
Rhodes	4-9
Antalya	5-9
Istanbul	3-6
Paphos	5-9
Tel Aviv	7-11
Alexandria	6-10
Gran Canaria	6-8
Fuerteventura	6-8
Madeira	5-7
Algarve	5-9
Agadir	7-10
Hurghada	9-12

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN IN WINTER

If you’re not determined to hunt down beach weather, that frees up plenty of time to enjoy some of the best places in the Mediterranean in winter – minus the crowds and the sweat and the prices of peak summer.

The trick is sticking to the parts of Southern Europe that aren’t too damp and chilly in winter. Avoid taking ferries, green places with high rainfall, and summer resorts which will close down. Instead, make a beeline for larger cities with a year-round population.

Here are a few ideas:

Forget the Greek islands, you’ll have the ancient sites of the Greek mainland (Delphi, Olympia, Corinth, Epidaurus) all to yourself
In January the almond trees of Mallorca erupt into blossom
November/December is the perfect time to visit Andalucia, where the days are still crisp and sunny
Wine, olive, and citrus harvests occur in the autumn/winter months, often accompanied by festivities – who wouldn’t want to be in Italy for these?
Malta’s mild climate and baroque cities make it a popular escape in the winter – although there are chances of thunderstorms, most days are sunny with temperatures in the teens
Autumn and winter are cool but crisp in the French Riviera, with plenty of sunshine days
February brings Carnival and other pre-Lenten celebrations throughout Europe

WARM WINTER SUN CITY BREAKS

Autumn and winter can be the best time of year for a city break in Europe. There’s nothing like a quick blast of sunshine; flip flop weather when it’s raining cats and dogs back home.

One caveat, however, is to make sure that you’re booking accommodation that has heating suitable for the winter months. Whilst sunny days with temperatures in the late teens are common throughout winter, temperatures can plummet at night.

Spain is a classic destination for a sunny city break in winter – as flights to the mainland continue throughout the year, and there’s any number of beautiful historic cities to choose from. Rainfall on the north coast is high, but Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Alicante, Madrid, Valencia, Toledo, Seville, Granada, Cadiz, Cordoba, Jerez are all good options with airports nearby.

Granada is a great choice as crowds visiting the Alhambra (the most visited tourist attraction in Spain!) have dissipated and the temperature is much better for exploring the city.

Italian cities are best visited in fall before the rains start, you could hit up: Rome, Catania, Palermo, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Perugia, Naples, or Pisa.

If you want to embrace the cosy winter vibe then consider Ljubljana in Slovenia, northern Italian cities such as Milan, Turin, Bergamo and Trieste, or Croatia’s Zagreb. Venice can be incredibly cold and damp in winter – but with that comes brooding fog and empty streets.

In France, head south to Avignon, Nice, Marseilles, Menton and Cannes.

Athens is vibrant and cosy in winter, with crisp sunny days perfect for exploring ancient sites and enjoying the city’s cafe culture.

Lisbon and Porto are delightfully atmospheric in late autumn, despite drizzly days. There’s a better chance of sun in the Algarve cities of Faro and Lagos, which both have a ready supply of cheap flights throughout the winter.

If you’re happy to fly further afield, Tel Aviv makes a great winter city break. As do Marrakech, Fes, and Tunis. It can be a good time of year to explore Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan, just be sure to pack warm clothes for the cold nights.

10 Best Sunny Winter City Breaks in Europe

WINTER FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Dates may vary, this list is just mean to give you a sample of festivities to look out for:

OCTOBER – Notte Bianca (Malta), Alba Truffle Fair (Italy)
NOVEMBER – St Martin’s Day (Portugal)
DECEMBER – Christmas markets (Lille, Milan), Feast of St. Nicholas (Nancy, France), Festival of Lights (Lyon)
JANUARY – New Year, Epiphany
FEBRUARY – Carnival (Venice, Patras, Tenerife, Cadiz, Naples, Nice), Saint Agatha’s Day (Catania), Agrigento Almond Blossom Fair (Sicily), Battle of the Oranges (Ivrea, Italy), Menton Lemon Festival (France)
MARCH – Venice Marriage of the Adriatic, The Fallas (Valencia), Feast of the Annunciation
APRIL – Easter (Patmos, Corfu, Chios), Semana Santa (Seville), Holy Week (Malaga), San Marco (Venice), Feast of Agios Georgios (Skiathos, Skyros)