January Travel Destinations: Our Top Tips for a January Vacation

The Best January Travel Destinations at a Glance

Let’s start with an overview of the best January travel destinations. Here you’ll find our recommended trip length, flight duration, and price level for each destination:

January Destinations: City Trips in January

January is a perfect month for a city break. By then, many cities have been handed back to the locals and you can explore at your own pace. Prices are lower in winter too. These are our favorites:

Oslo & Lofoten

• Type of trip: City trip, adventure vacation, nature experience
• Also a great time to visit: May through September
• Climate: 23–36°F, 10–15 days of snow

If you want a combination of Nordic city culture and wintry nature in January, Oslo and the Lofoten Islands are a fantastic choice.

Norway’s capital charms with pretty streets, cozy cafés, and interesting museums — all wrapped in a relaxed winter atmosphere.

And when you feel like heading out into nature, the Lofoten Islands are waiting with snow-covered mountains, fjord-lined coastlines, and — if you’re lucky — stunning northern lights dancing across the sky.

It’s a January destination that perfectly combines city culture, nature, and Nordic coziness.

Our hotel pick: Thon Hotel Cecil – a centrally located hotel with large, comfortable rooms

Our best tips for Oslo:

Edinburgh

• Type of trip: City trip, cultural vacation, winter experience
• Also a great time to visit: May through October
• Climate: 32–41°F, 10–15 days of snow

Edinburgh usually gets attention as an autumn destination with its spooky atmosphere, or in December when the city glows with festive cheer. What many people don’t realize is that Edinburgh has plenty to offer in January too.

Wintry calm, icy streets, snow-covered Highlands.

You can stroll through historic alleyways, warm up in cozy cafés, hop between museums, and visit Edinburgh Castle.

For those who want to get out into nature, a day trip to the snow-covered Highlands is absolutely worth it. Particularly magical is a ride on the Hogwarts Express through the snowy Scottish countryside.

Our hotel pick: Motel One Edinburgh-Royal – a cozy hotel with an excellent price-to-value ratio
Our best tips for Edinburgh:

Andalusia

• Type of trip: City trip, cultural vacation, culinary trip
• Also a great time to visit: March through June
• Climate: 54–64°F, 4–6 days of rain

Andalusia in January means sunny days, mild temperatures, and cities full of history — all without the summer crowds.

Seville draws you in with its Moorish architecture, colorful alleyways, and cozy tapas bars. Málaga is one of our favorite cities in all of Spain — we especially recommend it as a city trip with kids. And in Granada, you can wander through the Alhambra, which looks even more impressive in the crisp winter air.

At outdoor cafés, you can warm up beautifully over a café con leche while the sun gently heats the plazas. It’s essentially a taste of spring arriving early.

Our hotel pick: Hotel Las Casas de la Judería – an exceptional hotel in Seville housed in a historic building
Our best tips for Andalusia:

January Destinations: Beach Vacation in January

Want to escape winter and spend a few days in the sun? Here are our top picks for your January vacation:

Lanzarote

• Type of trip: Beach vacation, nature and active vacation
• Also a great time to visit: May through August
• Climate: 63–72°F, 63–66°F water temperature, 3–5 days of rain

Lanzarote is a sunny refuge in January if you’re looking to escape the cold. On this Canary Island, you’ll find pleasant temperatures, beautiful beaches, and plenty of sunshine.

Whether you relax in sheltered coves or take the plunge into the ocean depends on how cold-hardy you are — but swimming is definitely possible.

For surfers, the Atlantic delivers perfect waves in winter. That’s why Lanzarote in January is also a hotspot for water sports enthusiasts.

Our hotel pick: MAGMA Rooms Playa Honda – a small boutique hotel in a perfect, peaceful location
Our best tips for Lanzarote:

Marrakech

• Type of trip: Cultural vacation, oriental flair, culinary trip
• Also a great time to visit: March through May
• Climate: 54–68°F, 61–68°F water temperature, 4–6 days of rain

While much of Europe is sunk in gray winter, Marrakech welcomes you in January with sunshine and mild weather.

In the souks, colorful stalls packed with spices, rugs, and lamps beckon, and on Djemaa el-Fna square, life pulses late into the night.

In between, you’ll find peace in the quiet courtyards of the riads or in lush gardens like the Jardin Majorelle.

And if you’re after a change of scenery, head to the Atlantic coast at Agadir or Essaouira and soak up sunny hours on the beach.

Our hotel pick: Monriad – a boho-style riad with a delicious breakfast
Our best tips for Marrakech:

Cyprus

• Type of trip: Relaxation vacation, beach vacation
• Also a great time to visit: April through June and September through November
• Climate: 59–68°F air temperature, 63–64°F water temperature, 5–7 days of rain

Cyprus in January is a paradise for anyone who just wants to kick back and soak up some sun.

While much of Europe is gripped by biting cold, here you can enjoy mild temperatures, quiet beaches, and relaxed days by the sea.

Many hotels offer especially affordable all-inclusive deals in January with plenty of space, since it’s much quieter during the off-season.

If you’re in the mood for sightseeing, you can visit ancient sites like the ruins of Kourion or wander through the historic center of Limassol before heading back to the pool or beach.

Our hotel pick: Atlantica Golden Beach Hotel – an all-inclusive hotel that leaves nothing to be desired
Our best tips for Cyprus:

Sri Lanka

• Type of trip: Beach vacation, relaxation vacation, cultural trip
• Also a great time to visit: May through September
• Climate: 81–88°F air temperature, 79–82°F water temperature, 3–5 days of rain

Sri Lanka is a seriously great pick if you’re already craving a real beach vacation in January.

The beaches along the south coast — near Mirissa or Unawatuna, for example — are perfect for lazy days in the sand, while the water is pleasantly warm for swimming, snorkeling, or surfing.

There are plenty of great all-inclusive hotels and cozy beach villas, ideal for recharging while winter rages back home.

And if you want some culture alongside the beach, you can visit historic temple complexes in Galle or explore the colonial old quarter.

Our hotel pick: Kiss Blossom – a small, modern hotel set on a lake
Our best tips for Sri Lanka:

January Destinations: Winter Vacation in January

January often means rain and cold. If you want snow and sunshine instead, these are the best places to head:

Harz Mountains

• Type of trip: Winter vacation, nature and active vacation, relaxation vacation
• Also a great time to visit: July through October
• Climate: 28–39°F, 10–15 days of snow

The Harz Mountains in January are a true winter wonderland. The landscape is blanketed in snow, the forests are hushed, and the little half-timbered towns look like something out of a fairy tale.

You can ski, try out toboggan runs, and enjoy the crisp winter air on snowy hikes.

Those who prefer a slower pace can unwind at wellness hotels or cozy spas and properly recharge.

Our hotel pick: Naturresort & Spa Schindelbruch – a wellness resort in the southern Harz with a great feel-good factor
Our best tips for the Harz Mountains:

Bavarian Forest

• Type of trip: Winter vacation, nature and active vacation, relaxation vacation
• Also a great time to visit: December through March
• Climate: 27–37°F, 10–15 days of snow

In January, the Bavarian Forest, much like the Harz, puts on a dreamlike winter show: snow-covered forests, glittering slopes, and idyllic villages create a perfect setting for winter lovers.

You can ski, cross-country ski, or hike through the snow. And if you’re more of a laid-back type, you’ll love the peace and quiet at cozy, rustic hotels or a proper spa day.

Our hotel pick: Thula Wellnesshotel Bayerischer Wald – a cozy wellness hotel with stunning views
Our best tips for the Bavarian Forest:

Lapland

• Type of trip: Winter vacation, nature and active vacation, adventure vacation
• Also a great time to visit: December through March
• Climate: 5–23°F, 20–25 days of snow

Lapland in January is the ultimate winter paradise: endless snowy landscapes, glittering forests, and crisp, frosty air.

You can ski, go snowshoeing, and mush through the snowy wilderness on a dog sled.

If relaxation is what you’re after, get comfortable in a traditional cabin or a modern lodge with a sauna and spa, and soak in the tranquility of the far north.

The real showstopper, of course, is the northern lights — on clear nights they paint the sky above Lapland in spectacular colors.

Our hotel pick: Ski-Inn Kultakero – a modern, cozy mountain hotel with ski slopes and a sauna

January Destinations: Long-Haul Trips in January

Got plenty of time for your January trip? Then a long-haul destination might be just the thing. Here are our recommendations:

South Africa

• Type of trip: Long-haul trip, safari vacation, nature and active vacation
• Also a great time to visit: November and December
• Climate: 68–86°F, 6–8 days of rain

South Africa in January is a genuinely dream destination for long-haul travel. While Europe is in the grip of winter, you’ll enjoy full-on summer here.

The highlights include safaris in one of the national parks, where with a bit of luck you can have close-up encounters with the “Big Five” — elephant, lion, rhino, leopard, and buffalo.

Also well worth your time are trips along the famous Garden Route or a detour to Cape Town and Table Mountain.

Our hotel pick: Latitude Aparthotel – a Cape Town hotel with spacious rooms and a rooftop terrace right by the ocean
Our best tips for South Africa:

Mexico

• Type of trip: Long-haul trip, beach vacation, cultural trip
• Also a great time to visit: February through April
• Climate: 72–82°F, 2–4 days of rain

In Mexico, January brings sunny beaches, colorful cities, and impressive ruins. From the Maya sites at Tulum and Chichén Itzá to the lively streets of Mexico City, there’s a whole lot to discover.

Those who want to soak up some sun and sea in between will find perfect conditions for swimming, snorkeling, or simply relaxing on the beach along the Riviera Maya.

Mexico combines culture, adventure, and relaxation into a fantastic winter vacation full of variety.

Our hotel pick: Casa Tortugas Boutique Hotel – a stylish boutique hotel in Cancún
Our best tips for Mexico:

Argentina

• Type of trip: Long-haul trip, nature and active vacation, cultural trip
• Also a great time to visit: March through May
• Climate: 68–86°F, weather varies by region

Traveling to Argentina in January means experiencing a country of contrasts: modern metropolises, endless plains, and breathtaking mountain scenery.

In Buenos Aires you can wander through lively neighborhoods like San Telmo and sample culinary highlights. Nature lovers tend to head south, where Patagonia beckons with glaciers, mountains, and boundless open space.

The north has spectacular landscapes in store too — like the Quebrada de Humahuaca.

All in all, you get big city vibes, nature, and cultural adventures all in one trip.

Our hotel pick: Huinid Obelisco Hotel – a modern, centrally located hotel in Buenos Aires
Our best tips for Argentina:

Thailand

• Type of trip: Long-haul trip, beach vacation, cultural trip
• Also a great time to visit: February
• Climate: 77–90°F, 2–4 days of rain

Thailand is one of the best January travel destinations because the weather is simply perfect right now — dry, sunny, and warm.

Honestly, January and February are really the only months with truly ideal travel weather, before things get more humid from March onward and the rainy season kicks in over summer.

In January, you can spend relaxed days on beaches like those on Koh Samui or Phuket, discover colorful reefs while snorkeling, visit temple complexes, and explore cities like Bangkok.

Our hotel pick: King’s Garden Resort – a lovely hotel on Koh Samui right on the beach
Our best tips for Thailand:

Frequently Asked Questions About a January Vacation