January is the coldest month of the UK calendar. It is also one of the better times to find value in long-haul destinations that are at their best right now, not in three months. Prices settle after Christmas, seats open up, and several destinations are at their peak.
These four deliver warmth, value and reliability for UK travellers in January. See our full month-by-month guide for other times of year.
| Destination | Jan Temp | Flights from UK | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife | 20°Cdaytime | ~4hmost airports | Beaches, walking, families |
| Cape Verde | 26°Cdaytime | ~5.5hLGW, MAN | Beach, water sports, reliable sun |
| Marrakech | 18°Cdaytime | ~3hmost airports | Culture, short breaks, budget |
| Dubai | 24°Cdaytime | ~7hmost airports | City break, beach, sightseeing |
Tenerife
The most popular January destination for UK travellers, and the easiest to justify on paper. The south of the island (Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje) averages 20°C during the day in January, with low humidity and very little rain. The north is cooler and can cloud over.
January is peak season in Tenerife. Hotel prices reflect this, particularly over the Christmas and New Year fortnight. Outside those peaks, January is actually better value than summer, when UK families push prices up across all the southern resorts.
Direct flights operate from Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and most other major UK airports. Flight time is around four hours. Book the southern resorts rather than Santa Cruz or Puerto de la Cruz if beach weather is the priority.
See our Tenerife budget holiday guide for current prices and booking tips.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde in January offers the highest temperatures on this list. Sal and Boa Vista, the two main beach islands, both average 25-26°C with barely any rainfall. The sea temperature sits around 22°C, which makes it swimmable without a wetsuit.
The catch: Cape Verde is windy. The harmattan, a dry easterly wind from the Sahara, blows strongest between December and March. This makes it a favourite for kitesurfers and windsurfers, but choppy for casual snorkellers. Sheltered bays exist on both islands if the sea matters to you.
Flights are typically 5.5 hours from London Gatwick or Manchester. All-inclusive packages are common and often represent better value than booking separately. See our Cape Verde budget guide for costs in detail.
Marrakech
Marrakech is not a beach destination. Average January temperatures are 18°C in the day, dropping to 6-8°C at night. Pack a warm layer for evenings in the medina. That said, it is one of the best short-break options for January: affordable, a three-hour flight away, and consistently engaging.
The city is quieter in January than in spring or autumn. Less pressure at the Djemaa el-Fna square, shorter queues at the Bahia Palace, and riad prices that dip noticeably. Flights from most UK airports run from around £60-80 return, making Marrakech significantly cheaper than a Canary Islands trip for two people.
A long weekend, Thursday to Sunday, works well. Four days is enough to cover the souk, the main palaces and the Yves Saint Laurent museum without rushing. See our Morocco budget guide for what to expect on costs.
Dubai
January is one of the most comfortable months to visit Dubai. Average daytime temperatures sit at 24°C, evenings cool to 14-16°C. The brutal summer heat (40°C and above) is six months away. School holidays in January are limited to the first week, so prices stabilise quickly after that.
Dubai offers a combination that few January destinations match: a proper beach (Jumeirah Beach, JBR), a genuine city-break element (the Dubai Museum, the spice souk, the Burj Khalifa) and world-class infrastructure. It is not cheap, but flights-plus-hotel packages from the UK start from around £600 per person for a week.
Flight time is seven hours from London. Most major carriers operate direct routes. Book at least three months ahead for the best January fares. See our best time to visit Dubai guide for month-by-month detail.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best January holiday for families from the UK?
Tenerife is the most practical choice. Direct flights from multiple airports, 20°C average temperatures, and a strong family hotel infrastructure in the southern resorts. It is also the shortest flight on this list. Cape Verde is warmer but involves a longer journey and is more dependent on all-inclusive packages.
How warm is Tenerife in January?
The south of Tenerife (Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje) averages around 20°C during the day in January, dropping to 14-16°C at night. Rainfall is very low. The north of the island is typically 2-3°C cooler and can cloud over, particularly around Puerto de la Cruz.
Is January a good time to visit Marrakech?
Yes, for a short break. Daytime temperatures average 17-18°C, which is comfortable for walking and exploring. Evenings are cold at 6-8°C, so pack warm layers. The city is quieter and cheaper than peak spring or autumn. Flights from UK airports are among the cheapest available for a warm destination in January.
What is the cheapest warm January destination from the UK?
Marrakech. Return flights from around £60-80 and accommodation available at every budget level. For beach holidays, the Canary Islands are cheaper than Cape Verde or Dubai. Tenerife in January outside the Christmas and New Year peak is typically the best value beach destination on the list.
Is Cape Verde good in January?
Excellent for beach weather, with Sal and Boa Vista both averaging 25-26°C. The main factor to account for is wind: the harmattan blows reliably in winter, which affects sea conditions for snorkelling but suits water sports. Expect sunny days and warm temperatures throughout the month.
