Phuket is the warmest winter sun destination on our list, with an average January high of 32.4°C from the WMO World Weather Information Service. Zanzibar is #2 at 32.1°C and Goa is #3 at 31.6°C, with 0.0 rainy days in an average January.
Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe warmest January high of the ten, with Phang Nga Bay’s limestone islets on the doorstep.
January high: 32.4°CDecember and February highs: 31.5°C and 33.3°CRainy days in January: 4.2 days at PhuketSetting: Ko Ta Pu, a 20-metre islet in Phang Nga Bay northeast of Phuket, lies about 40 metres off Khao Phing Kan, known in English as James Bond Island
Phuket’s average January high is 32.4°C, with 31.5°C in December and 33.3°C in February, according to Thai Meteorological Department data in the WMO World Weather Information Service. January averages 4.2 rainy days. Ko Ta Pu, a 20-metre islet in Phang Nga Bay northeast of Phuket, lies about 40 metres off Khao Phing Kan, known as James Bond Island.
Go ifTravelers who want the hottest January on this list and island hopping by boat
Skip ifYou want the driest January, as Goa has none of the rainy days Phuket has
Why #1 over #2: Its 32.4°C January high is the warmest of the ten, ahead of Zanzibar at 32.1°C.
2
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Photo: Yoni Lerner from Tel Aviv, Israel / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictJanuary highs just behind Phuket’s, on a white-sand island off East Africa.
January high: 32.1°CDecember and February highs: 31.4°C and 32.8°CRainy days in January: 7.0 days at ZanzibarAverages cover: 1971 to 2000 (Zanzibar station)Setting: Kendwa is a village in the far north of Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar, on the west coast facing Daloni and Tumbatu islands
Zanzibar averages 32.1°C for a January high, 31.4°C in December and 32.8°C in February, per Tanzania Meteorological Agency data (1971 to 2000). January has 7.0 rainy days. Kendwa, in the far north of Unguja, the main island, faces Daloni and Tumbatu islands.
Go ifBeach travelers who want heat close to Phuket’s in January
Skip ifYou want few rainy days, as Zanzibar has more than Goa, Dubai or Phuket
Why #2 over #3: Its 32.1°C January high beats Goa’s 31.6°C.
3
Goa, India
Photo: Nikhilb239 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe driest January of the ten, with a 31.6°C high and no rainy days on average.
January high: 31.6°CDecember and February highs: 32.4°C and 31.5°CRainy days in January: 0.0 days at GoaBeach: Vagator Beach is in Bardez Taluka in the state of Goa, across the Chapora River from the town of Morjim
Goa averages 31.6°C for a January high, 32.4°C in December and 31.5°C in February, per India Meteorological Department data, with 0.0 rainy days in January. Vagator Beach is in Bardez Taluka, across the Chapora River from Morjim.
Go ifSun seekers who want a dry January with highs above 31°C
Skip ifYou want the warmest nights on this list
Why #3 over #4: Its 31.6°C January high is above the Maldives’ 30.3°C, with fewer rainy days.
4
Maldives
Photo: Martin Falbisoner / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe warmest January lows on the list and a 30.3°C January high.
January high: 30.3°CDecember and February highs: 30.1°C and 30.7°CRainy days in January: 6.0 days at MaléAverages cover: 1981 to 2000 (Malé station)Geography: The Maldives are 26 atolls stretching across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south
The Maldives average a 30.3°C January high at Malé (30.1°C in December, 30.7°C in February), per the Maldives Meteorological Service (1981 to 2000), with 6.0 rainy days in January. The country is 26 atolls stretching across the equator.
Go ifOverwater-villa and lagoon trips with the warmest January nights
Skip ifYou want a dry January, as the Maldives log more rainy days than Goa, Dubai or Phuket
Why #4 over #5: Its 30.3°C January high is above Cancún’s 27.9°C.
5
Cancún, Mexico
Photo: Keith Pomakis / CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA Caribbean beach resort city with a 27.9°C January high.
January high: 27.9°CDecember and February highs: 28.2°C and 28.7°CRainy days in January: 10.5 days at CancúnAverages cover: 1971 to 2000 (Cancún station)Setting: Cancún is on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, with its Hotel Zone as the main tourist area, just north of the Riviera Maya
Cancún averages a 27.9°C January high, 28.2°C in December and 28.7°C in February, per Mexico’s Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (1971 to 2000), with 10.5 rainy days in January. The Hotel Zone is the main tourist area, just north of the Riviera Maya.
Go ifCaribbean beach trips with a January high near 28°C
Skip ifYou want a dry January: Cancún has the most rainy days of the ten
Why #5 over #6: Its 27.9°C January high is above Honolulu’s 26.7°C.
6
Oahu, Hawaii
Photo: Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictWaikīkī and Diamond Head, a U.S. beach with a 26.7°C January high.
January high: 26.7°CDecember and February highs: 27.3°C and 26.8°CRainy days in January: 8.5 days at HonoluluAverages cover: 1981 to 2010 (Honolulu station)Beach: Waikīkī is a Honolulu neighborhood and beach on the south shore of Oʻahu in the US state of Hawaii
Honolulu averages a 26.7°C January high, 27.3°C in December and 26.8°C in February, per the US National Weather Service (1981 to 2010), with 8.5 rainy days in January. Waikīkī is the beach neighborhood on the south shore of Oʻahu.
Go ifTravelers who want a U.S. beach winter with a January high near 27°C
Skip ifYou want a dry January, as Honolulu has more rainy days than most picks here
Why #6 over #7: Its 26.7°C January high is above Cape Town’s 26.1°C.
7
Cape Town, South Africa
Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA 26.1°C January high in the Southern Hemisphere summer.
January high: 26.1°CDecember and February highs: 24.9°C and 26.5°CRainy days in January: 5.5 days at Cape TownAverages cover: 1961 to 1990 (Cape Town station)Bay: Camps Bay is a small bay on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula and an affluent suburb of Cape Town
Cape Town averages a 26.1°C January high, 24.9°C in December and 26.5°C in February, per the South African Weather Service (1961 to 1990), with 5.5 rainy days in January. Camps Bay is a small bay on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula.
Go ifTravelers who want a mid-summer Southern Hemisphere January
Skip ifYou want warm nights, as Cape Town’s January low is cooler than most picks
Why #7 over #8: Its 26.1°C January high is above Dubai’s 24.0°C.
8
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA 24.0°C January high and one of the driest Januaries on the list.
January high: 24.0°CDecember and February highs: 26.2°C and 24.6°CRainy days in January: 1.8 days at DubaiAverages cover: 1974 to 1991 (Dubai station)Landmark: The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m from Jumeirah Beach and is shaped like the sail of a dhow
Dubai averages a 24.0°C January high, 26.2°C in December and 24.6°C in February, per the UAE National Center of Meteorology (1974 to 1991), with just 1.8 rainy days in January. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m from Jumeirah Beach.
Go ifCity-and-beach trips that need very few rainy days
Skip ifYou want hot nights, as Dubai’s January low is cooler than most picks
Why #8 over #9: Its 24.0°C January high is above Key West’s 23.5°C.
9
Florida Keys, USA
Photo: United States Department of Transportation / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA drive-to U.S. island chain with a 23.5°C January high.
January high: 23.5°CDecember and February highs: 24.4°C and 24.4°CRainy days in January: 6.2 days at Key WestAverages cover: 1981 to 2010 (Key West station)Landmark: The Seven Mile Bridge connects Knight’s Key in the Middle Keys to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys and carries the Overseas Highway, part of U.S. Route 1
Key West averages a 23.5°C January high, 24.4°C in December and 24.4°C in February, per the US National Weather Service (1981 to 2010), with 6.2 rainy days in January. The Seven Mile Bridge links Knight’s Key to Little Duck Key on the Overseas Highway.
Go ifRoad-trip beach winters in the United States
Skip ifYou want 30°C heat, as Key West’s January high is lower
Why #9 over #10: Its 23.5°C January high is above Las Palmas’s 20.8°C.
10
Canary Islands, Spain
Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe coolest January high here, but still a comfortable 20.8°C.
January high: 20.8°CDecember and February highs: 22.2°C and 21.2°CRainy days in January: 5.6 days at Las Palmas de Gran CanariaAverages cover: 1981 to 2010 (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria station)Setting: The Maspalomas Dunes on the south coast of Gran Canaria cover 404 hectares and have been a protected nature reserve since 1987
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria averages a 20.8°C January high, 22.2°C in December and 21.2°C in February, per Spain’s Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (1981 to 2010), with 5.6 rainy days in January. The Maspalomas Dunes on Gran Canaria’s south coast are a 404-hectare protected reserve.
Go ifMild, comfortable winter sun without extreme heat
Skip ifYou want swimming-hot weather, as Las Palmas has the coolest January high of the ten
How we ranked these
We ranked the ten places on average January daily high temperature, using climate averages from the WMO World Weather Information Service (worldweather.wmo.int), which republishes each country’s national weather service data: Thai Meteorological Department, Tanzania Meteorological Agency, India Meteorological Department, Maldives Meteorological Service, Mexico’s Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, US National Weather Service, South African Weather Service, UAE National Center of Meteorology and Spain’s Agencia Estatal de Meteorología. Averaging periods differ by station, so we list them where WMO gives them. Rainy-day counts are shown but not ranked on, because each service counts a rainy day differently, and the WMO data has no sunshine hours, so we state none. Each place uses one station: Phuket, Zanzibar, Goa, Malé, Cancún, Honolulu, Cape Town, Dubai, Key West and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. We list no prices or flight times. From the old list we replaced Marrakech and Agadir and Madeira with the Maldives and Oahu, and narrowed Phuket and Krabi to Phuket and Phang Nga Bay and Cancún and the Riviera Maya to Cancún, so every pick matches one weather station. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
Which winter sun destination is warmest in January?
Phuket, with an average January high of 32.4°C (Thai Meteorological Department data via the WMO). Zanzibar is next at 32.1°C and Goa third at 31.6°C.
Which of these has the driest January?
Goa. The India Meteorological Department data shows 0.0 rainy days in January on average. Dubai averages 1.8 rainy days.
Which winter sun destination is the coolest in January?
The Canary Islands. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria averages a 20.8°C January high, from Spain’s Agencia Estatal de Meteorología.
How warm is Dubai in winter?
Dubai averages 26.2°C in December, 24.0°C in January and 24.6°C in February for daily highs, per the UAE National Center of Meteorology.
Average January high at a glance
Canary Islands, Spain20.8 °C
Florida Keys, USA23.5 °C
Dubai, United Arab Emirates24 °C
Cape Town, South Africa26.1 °C
Oahu, Hawaii26.7 °C
Cancún, Mexico27.9 °C
Maldives30.3 °C
Goa, India31.6 °C
Zanzibar, Tanzania32.1 °C
Phuket and Phang Nga Bay, Thailand32.4 °C
Average January high, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
