For Christmas sun from the UK, flight time decides almost everything. About four hours away, the Canary Islands average 22°C by day in December. For 24°C and up you need 5 to 7 hours in the air: Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea, Cape Verde, The Gambia or Dubai. Days of 28°C or more with a sea to match mean the Caribbean or Goa, at 8 to 9½ hours.
This guide covers Christmas week only, the school holidays from about 18 December to 4 January, and sun only: 15 places, what Christmas Day is like at each, and when to fly. For every destination ranked by heat, see where is hot in December or the warmest places in Europe in December.
Christmas Sun at a Glance: Measured December Weather
These are averages for every December day from 2016 to 2025, from the ERA5 reanalysis in the Open-Meteo historical weather archive. Sea temperatures cover 2023 to 2025. "(wet)" would mark a rainy-season month with 150 mm of rain or more. Flight times are distance-based estimates for a direct flight from London; real timetables run a little longer and are quoted under each place.
| Place | Flight from London | Day high | Night low | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5½ hours | |||||
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 5h | 24°C | 15°C | 25°C | 2 mm |
| Gran Canaria | 4h | 22°C | 16°C | 22°C | 16 mm |
| Tenerife | 4h | 22°C | 17°C | 22°C | 16 mm |
| Agadir | 3½h | 22°C | 12°C | 18°C | 30 mm |
| Lanzarote | 3½h | 22°C | 16°C | just under 21°C | 9 mm |
| Madeira | 3½h | 20°C | 15°C | 21°C | 91 mm |
| 5½ to 8 hours | |||||
| The Gambia | 6h | 31°C | 22°C | 25°C | 1 mm |
| Antigua | 8h | 28°C | 25°C | 28°C | 48 mm |
| Dubai | 7h | 26°C | 17°C | 24°C | 9 mm |
| Cape Verde (Sal) | 5½h | 26°C | 22°C | 25°C | 4 mm |
| Muscat | 7½h | 26°C | 19°C | 26°C | 14 mm |
| Long haul | |||||
| Goa | 9½h | 32°C | 22°C | 28°C | 13 mm |
| Phuket | 12h | 29°C | 24°C | 29°C | 139 mm |
| Barbados | 8½h | 29°C | 24°C | 28°C | 54 mm |
| Sydney | 20½h | 26°C | 18°C | 21°C | 65 mm |
Save this Christmas sun shortlist to a map in Dream Trip and share it with whoever you are going with, so everyone is choosing from the same list.
Short-Haul Christmas Sun (Under 5½ Hours)
These six keep the travel day short and the time difference at two hours or less. The trade-off is the evenings: December nights here run from 12 to 17°C, so pack a jumper for dinner. For the islands side by side, see Canary Islands weather in December.
1. Tenerife, Canary Islands
December averages: 22°C days, 17°C nights, sea 22°C, 16 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 4h 35m to 4h 40m from Gatwick (easyJet, winter 2026)
Tenerife is the default answer for Christmas sun, and the airlines know it. When easyJet flew 542 flights across Europe on Christmas Day 2023, it named Tenerife its most popular destination for Christmas in the sun. The sea, at 22°C, is fine for swimming without a wetsuit, which is rare this close to home in December.
The big night is Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, a late family supper that in the Canaries usually ends with truchas, small pastries filled with sweet potato, pumpkin or almond (Hello Canary Islands). The season runs on to the Three Kings: the Cabalgata de Reyes in Santa Cruz de Tenerife set off at 19:00 on 5 January in 2025 and 2026 (the 2027 time is usually announced in late December), and children open their presents on the 6th.
Best for: families who want the lowest-risk short flight, and groups who want hotel pools plus a day up Mount Teide.
The catch: it is the first choice for a lot of families, so the obvious flights and hotels go first. See Tenerife weather in December.
2. Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
December averages: 22°C days, 16°C nights, sea 22°C, 16 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 4h 35m from Gatwick (easyJet, winter 2026)
Gran Canaria matches Tenerife on the numbers and gives you two holidays in one: resort beaches in the south and a real city, Las Palmas, in the north-east. International artists sculpt a sand nativity scene more than five metres high on Las Canteras beach, many locals see out the old year on that beach, and plenty of Las Palmas residents start the new one with a swim in the sea (Hello Canary Islands).
Best for: mixed groups, where some want a sunbed and some want a city to wander.
The catch: Las Palmas and the southern resorts are different trips, so decide which base matters more before you book. See Gran Canaria weather in December.
3. Lanzarote, Canary Islands
December averages: 22°C days, 16°C nights, sea just under 21°C, 9 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 4h 15m to 4h 20m from Gatwick (easyJet, winter 2026)
Lanzarote is the calm, design-led Canary Island, and the driest of the three on this list. Its Christmas is quieter and older: groups such as the Rancho de Pascua de Teguise still sing at Christmas Masses and village concerts to tambourines and castanets, a tradition the tourism board dates back about four centuries (Hello Canary Islands).
Best for: couples and slow weeks of long lunches, volcanic scenery and beach walks.
The catch: the sea, at just under 21°C, is bracing: fine for a quick dip, chilly for a long swim. See Lanzarote weather in December.
4. Madeira, Portugal
December averages: 20°C days, 15°C nights, sea 21°C, 91 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 3h 55m from Gatwick (easyJet, winter 2026)
Madeira is the honest pick for Christmas atmosphere rather than beach heat. Funchal's lights are switched on at nightfall on 1 December, and Visit Madeira lists the festive season this year as running from 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. From 15 December, churches hold the Missas do Parto, early-morning Christmas Masses, and on the evening of 23 December the farmers' market in Funchal fills with last-minute Christmas shoppers (Visit Madeira).
Best for: couples, walkers and anyone who wants Christmas to feel like Christmas, only warmer.
The catch: it is the rainiest place in this short-haul group, so treat sunbathing as a bonus and plan levada walks around the forecast. See Madeira weather in December.
5. Agadir, Morocco
December averages: 22°C days, 12°C nights, sea 18°C, 30 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 3h 55m from Gatwick (easyJet, winter 2026)
Agadir has the warmth of the Canaries by day and the shortest scheduled flight here, tied with Madeira. Christmas Day is not a public holiday in Morocco (list of public holidays), so Christmas happens inside the hotels. Morocco is one hour ahead of the UK in December.
Best for: a short, sunny break of beach walks and a souk day, at a lower-key pace than Marrakech, where December nights average 7°C.
The catch: the coldest nights of all 15 places, at 12°C, and a sea that is chilly: most people manage a few minutes before retreating to a heated pool. See Agadir weather in December.
6. Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
December averages: 24°C days, 15°C nights, sea 25°C, 2 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 5h 20m from Gatwick (easyJet, winter 2026)
Sharm el-Sheikh is the warmest place within 5½ hours, and the Red Sea, at 25°C, is warm enough for long swims. That makes it the short-haul answer for children who want to snorkel on Christmas Eve. Egypt's official Christmas holiday is 7 January, the Coptic date (Africanews), so 25 December is not a holiday; in 2026 it falls on a Friday, Egypt's weekly day off, so expect an ordinary Friday outside the resorts. Egypt is two hours ahead of the UK.
Best for: families and divers who want real warmth without a long-haul flight.
The catch: desert nights drop to 15°C. Read the FCDO travel advice for Egypt before you book: it carries area warnings, mainly for the borders and parts of Sinai, so check where your hotel and any excursions sit. See Sharm el-Sheikh weather in December.
Christmas Sun in 5½ to 8 Hours
The sweet spot for proper heat without a long-haul day, and none of these five is more than four hours from UK time.
7. Cape Verde (Sal)
December averages: 26°C days, 22°C nights, sea 25°C, 4 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 6h 00m to 6h 05m from Gatwick (easyJet, winter 2026), so read the table's 5½ hours as closer to 6
Sal is the simple beach week: long sand, resort hotels around Santa Maria and nights of 22°C, warm enough to eat outside on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day, Natal, is a public holiday (list of public holidays). Cape Verde is one hour behind the UK.
Best for: fly-and-flop families and couples who care more about warmth than sightseeing.
The catch: Sal is flat and dry, so there is little to do beyond the beach. The FCDO notes that the UK Global Health Insurance Card is not accepted in Cape Verde, so travel insurance matters (FCDO travel advice for Cape Verde). See Cape Verde weather in December.
8. The Gambia
December averages: 31°C days, 22°C nights, sea 25°C, 1 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 6h 20m from Gatwick (TUI's timetable last winter)
The Gambia has the hottest days in this group, with no time difference at all. December sits in the dry season, which runs roughly from November to May, and birdwatchers favour November to March (World Travel Guide). Christmas Day and Boxing Day are both public holidays (list of public holidays).
Best for: guaranteed heat, birdwatching and anyone who refuses to adjust a watch over Christmas.
The catch: there are far fewer flights than to the Canaries, so book early. Read the FCDO travel advice for The Gambia before booking. See The Gambia weather in December.
9. Dubai, UAE
December averages: 26°C days, 17°C nights, sea 24°C, 9 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 6h 55m from Heathrow (British Airways, winter 2026)
Dubai is the most polished way to spend Christmas in the sun. Christmas Day is not on the UAE's official public holiday list, so the city works as normal, but the hotels go all out: Visit Dubai publishes a whole guide to Christmas brunches. Dubai is four hours ahead of the UK.
Best for: families who want easy logistics, and couples who want a big hotel Christmas.
The catch: evenings cool to 17°C, and the FCDO's July 2026 update warns that the regional situation remains unpredictable, with possible flight cancellations and airspace closures. Read the FCDO travel advice for the UAE and check your insurance. See Dubai weather in December.
10. Muscat, Oman
December averages: 26°C days, 19°C nights, sea 26°C, 14 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 7h 10m non-stop from Heathrow (Oman Air, winter 2026)
Muscat is the calmer Gulf alternative, with mountains behind the city and a warmer sea than Dubai's, at 26°C. As in Dubai, 25 December is not a public holiday (list of public holidays); in 2026 it is a Friday, part of Oman's weekend, and Christmas is a hotel affair. Oman is four hours ahead.
Best for: couples who want warmth, swimming and some culture without Dubai's scale.
The catch: the FCDO travel advice for Oman, last updated in July 2026, reports strikes in a number of locations across the region since 8 July, including in Oman, and warns of possible flight cancellations. See Muscat weather in December.
11. Antigua
December averages: 28°C days, 25°C nights, sea 28°C, 48 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 8h 55m from Gatwick (British Airways, winter 2026)
Antigua is the closest of the Caribbean picks, and by Christmas the hurricane season is over: NOAA's National Hurricane Center dates the Atlantic season from 1 June to 30 November. Nights of 25°C and a sea of 28°C make this the first place on the list that feels properly tropical. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays (Office Holidays). Antigua is four hours behind the UK, so Christmas morning comes easily.
Best for: couples, sailors and families happy to pay for the Caribbean in peak week.
The catch: Christmas week is high season, so availability narrows early. See Antigua weather in December.
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Long-Haul Christmas Sun (Worth the Flight)
Long haul buys the most heat, but jet lag lands on Christmas Day. Flying west to Barbados is the easy direction: you wake early and fade early. Flying east to Goa, Phuket or Sydney is harder, so land at least two days before the 25th or you will spend Christmas lunch fighting to stay awake.
12. Barbados
December averages: 29°C days, 24°C nights, sea 28°C, 54 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 9h 00m from Gatwick (TUI's timetable last winter)
Barbados is the classic British Christmas in the sun, with long sandy beaches and a strong food culture. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays (Barbados Labour Department). Like Antigua, it is four hours behind the UK.
Best for: families and couples who want guaranteed warmth and a gentle time difference.
The catch: the longer flight of the Caribbean pair, and peak-week demand. See Barbados weather in December.
13. Goa, India
December averages: 32°C days, 22°C nights, sea 28°C, 13 mm of rain
Flights: TUI ran winter charters from Gatwick and Manchester to Goa's Mopa airport in the 2025/26 season (The Goan); check whether they run this winter, or expect one stop
Goa is the hottest place on this list and the most Christmassy of the long-haul picks. Midnight Mass is the heart of it: in 2024, thousands of Goans attended midnight services, most of them held outdoors, with the cardinal presiding outside the Basilica in Old Goa (The Goan). Christmas Day is a public holiday in India (2026 central government holiday list). Goa is 5½ hours ahead.
Best for: couples and groups who want heat, beaches and a real Christmas atmosphere.
The catch: the flight is long and may involve a connection. Check entry requirements on the FCDO travel advice for India early. See Goa weather in December.
14. Phuket, Thailand
December averages: 29°C days, 24°C nights, sea 29°C, 139 mm of rain
Scheduled flight: about 12h 10m non-stop from Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic's new seasonal service, which runs three times a week from 18 October 2026 (Virgin Atlantic)
Phuket has hot days, warm nights and a sea of 29°C. December is the turn of the season on this coast: the data shows 139 mm of rain in December against 78 mm in January, so expect some showers. Thailand is seven hours ahead of the UK.
Best for: couples and families who want island hopping as well as a beach.
The catch: it is the wettest place on this list in December, and the time difference makes Christmas Day jet lag real. See Phuket weather in December.
15. Sydney, Australia
December averages: 26°C days, 18°C nights, sea 21°C, 65 mm of rain
Flights: no non-stop; Qantas QF2 via Singapore is timetabled at about 23h 25m this winter
Sydney is the summer Christmas: beaches and long light evenings. It is 11 hours ahead of the UK in December, so at noon on Christmas Day at home, it is 11pm in Sydney.
Best for: a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas, ideally for three weeks rather than one.
The catch: the journey and the jet lag. The FCDO travel advice for Australia also notes a higher risk of bushfires from October to February. See Sydney weather in December.
When to Fly: School Holidays, Peak Days and Booking
England. Dates vary by council, and academies can set their own, so check your school's calendar. In Surrey and North Tyneside, the autumn term ends on Friday 18 December 2026 and pupils return on Monday 4 January 2027. Wokingham also ends term on 18 December and lists the holiday as Monday 21 December to Friday 1 January.
Scotland. In the City of Edinburgh, term ends on Friday 18 December, the holiday runs from Monday 21 December to Tuesday 5 January, and pupils return on Wednesday 6 January.
Bank holidays. Christmas Day is Friday 25 December, Boxing Day is moved to Monday 28 December, and New Year's Day is Friday 1 January. Scotland also gets Monday 4 January, in place of 2 January (GOV.UK).
The busiest days. With many English schools breaking up on Friday 18 December, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December are the obvious family departure dates, and the weekend of 2 and 3 January is the obvious way home. Those go first, so book flights as soon as your dates are fixed, then the hotel.
Flying on Christmas Day. It is possible: easyJet ran 542 flights across Europe on Christmas Day 2023. Plan the airport run carefully, though: National Rail says there will be no National Rail services on Christmas Day 2026 and only a very limited service from a few operators on Saturday 26 December, so you will need a car, a taxi or a lift.
Christmas Day Abroad: What to Expect
- Not a holiday: in Egypt (Christmas is marked on 7 January), the UAE, Oman and Morocco, 25 December is not a public holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Friday, the weekly day off in Egypt and Oman, and Christmas happens inside the hotels.
- A public holiday: in The Gambia, Cape Verde, Barbados, Antigua and India, 25 December is a public holiday, so expect banks and some shops to close. Boxing Day is a holiday too in The Gambia, Barbados and Antigua.
- Hotel dinners and brunches: at resort hotels, the Christmas Eve or Christmas Day gala dinner can be a paid supplement, even on all-inclusive. Ask before you book, and book restaurant tables outside the hotel early.
- The Canaries' calendar: the big meal is on the 24th, Nochebuena, and the season ends with Three Kings parades on 5 January, when children wait for presents on the 6th.
- Goa: midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, often held outdoors, is the moment to be there.
- Madeira: the week before Christmas, with the Missas do Parto and Market Night, is the most atmospheric.
Christmas Into New Year in the Sun
If you can stretch the trip to 1 January, three places on this list put on world-class New Year's Eves.
Madeira. Funchal's fireworks over the bay last about eight minutes (Times of Madeira), and Guinness World Records recognised the display in 2006 as the largest fireworks display in the world (Visit Madeira). Book a sea-view room early.
Sydney. The official Sydney New Year's Eve site lists fireworks over the harbour at 9pm and midnight; the 9pm show is the one for children.
Dubai. The Burj Khalifa fireworks are the headline; Visit Dubai's New Year's Eve guide covers viewing spots and road closures.
For more ideas, see our guide to New Year's Eve destinations.
How to Choose: Families, Couples and Short Breaks
Start with four filters: flight time, time zone, evening temperatures and what the children need.
- A short break of four or five nights: stay under five hours of flying with little or no time change: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Madeira or Agadir.
- Young children: the Canaries keep UK time, and Sharm el-Sheikh adds snorkelling for two hours of time change. Avoid long haul with toddlers unless you have at least ten days.
- Warm evenings: nights stay at 20°C or more in Cape Verde (Sal), The Gambia, Antigua, Barbados, Goa and Phuket. Everywhere else, pack layers for dinner.
- The most Christmas atmosphere: Madeira, Goa and the Canaries' Three Kings parades.
- Guaranteed heat: The Gambia or Goa, the two hottest dry places on this list in December.
If December is your month but Christmas week is not, our guide to December holidays from the UK covers the whole month, including festive city breaks. For November to March, see winter sun holidays from the UK. And if you would rather have frost and mulled wine than sun, try the Christmas markets in Europe.
Plan It Together in Dream Trip
A Christmas trip is a group decision, and it usually happens across three chats, a dozen TikToks and someone's half-finished spreadsheet. Dream Trip puts it on one map.
- Save what you find: send the hotels, beach clubs and Christmas Day restaurants you see on TikTok, Instagram and Google Maps to one map.
- Compare honestly: see the Canaries next to Cape Verde on the same map, with your saved places on each.
- Decide together: share the trip with whoever you are travelling with, so the family chooses from one shortlist instead of five.
- Plan the days: once you have picked, let Dream Trip's AI draft a day-by-day plan on a live map.
Dream Trip is an iPhone app. Dream Trip is free to download, and using it requires a Dream Trip Pro subscription after you sign in. Pro is billed weekly or yearly through the App Store: the yearly plan includes a free trial for eligible new subscribers, and the weekly plan has no trial. Current prices and trial terms are shown in the app and on the App Store before you buy, and can vary by country.
Start your Christmas sun shortlist in Dream Trip.
FAQ
Where is hot at Christmas?
Going by December averages, the hottest of these 15 places are Goa (32°C), The Gambia (31°C), Phuket (29°C) and Barbados (29°C). Closer to home, Sharm el-Sheikh is the warmest within 5½ hours, at 24°C by day with the sea at 25°C. For every destination ranked by heat, see where is hot in December.
Where can I get Christmas sun within 4 hours of the UK?
Agadir and Madeira, both timetabled at about 3h 55m from Gatwick. Agadir averages 22°C by day; Madeira is milder at 20°C. The Canaries are just over four hours: Lanzarote at about 4h 15m to 4h 20m, and Gran Canaria and Tenerife at about 4h 35m to 4h 40m, all around 22°C.
Is Tenerife warm enough to swim at Christmas?
Yes, for most people. The sea averages 22°C in December, above the 21°C we use as the line for comfortable swimming without a wetsuit, and it cools a little into January, to 21°C. See Tenerife weather in December.
What is the weather like in Cape Verde at Christmas?
Warm and dry. On Sal, December averages 26°C by day and 22°C at night, with a sea of 25°C and only 4 mm of rain in the month. See Cape Verde weather in December.
What is the temperature in Egypt on Christmas Day?
These are December averages, not a forecast: Sharm el-Sheikh averages 24°C by day and 15°C at night, with the sea at 25°C, and Hurghada 23°C by day with the sea at 24°C. See Egypt weather in December.
