For guaranteed sun between November and March, three families of islands: the Canaries and Cape Verde, under six hours away with little or no time difference; the Caribbean — Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominican Republic, Cuba, St Martin, Bahamas — in the middle of its dry season; and Asia and the Indian Ocean — Maldives, Zanzibar, Koh Lanta, Phu Quoc — for the warmest sea. Avoid in deep winter: Bali, Tahiti and, from January to March, Mauritius and Réunion, in rainy or cyclone season.
By The Dem-Tukki editorial team·Published ·8 min read- ✈️ Under six hours, with little or no time difference
- 🌴 The Caribbean: dry season from December to April
- 🌏 Indian Ocean and Asia: the warmest sea
- 🌦️ Three winter destinations "with caveats"
- ⛔ The islands to avoid in deep winter
- 🧭 How to choose among these twelve?
- 📊 The twelve islands in one table
- ❓ Frequently asked questions
As the days shorten, the same question comes back every year: where can you find an island in the sun without getting the season wrong? Because the northern winter is also Bali's monsoon, the Indian Ocean's cyclone summer and Tahiti's wet season. Here are twelve islands where the weather is reliably good from November to March, sorted by flight time from London, with air and sea temperature, time difference and the best month for each — followed by the equally useful list of those better kept for another season.
✈️ Under six hours, with little or no time difference
Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura (Canary Islands) — about 4 hours' flight, 20 to 22°C in the afternoon, sea at 19–20°C. This is the closest winter sun to Europe, provided you choose the south of the islands: Maspalomas, Costa Adeje, the Jandía peninsula. The sea is cool but swimmable, the days bright, the prices reasonable outside the holidays. February's carnival and half-term push fares up; January and March are the best months. Our guide to the best time to visit the Canary Islands details each island.
Cape Verde — 6 hours' flight, 24 to 26°C, sea at 23°C. Sal and Boa Vista are the driest and sunniest islands in this selection at that distance: almost no rain from November to March, a steady wind that cools the air and delights kitesurfers, and enormous beaches. Just one hour behind the UK. It is the closest "proper beach" option in the middle of winter.
Madeira — 4 hours' flight, 18 to 20°C, sea at 18°C. Not a swimming destination in winter, but an island where you walk, eat well and enjoy mild weather while it freezes at home. The levadas can be walked all year; the north and the heights get rain, Funchal and the south coast stay bright. The New Year fireworks, among the largest in the world, are booked months ahead.
🌴 The Caribbean: dry season from December to April
The Antilles live the opposite way round to Europe: their fine season — the dry, breezy "carême" — runs from December to April, and their rainy and hurricane season from June to November. The European winter is therefore the best time of year to go, with 28 to 30°C by day, 22°C at night, a sea at 27°C and four to five hours' time difference from the UK. Allow 8 to 10 hours' flying.
Martinique and Guadeloupe — French islands, euro currency, EU rules: UK visitors need a passport, EU citizens an ID card. February–March is the heart of the dry season; December stays a little wetter. The beaches of southern Martinique (Sainte-Anne, Les Salines) and of Grande-Terre in Guadeloupe are the most sheltered. Our comparison Martinique or Guadeloupe helps you decide.
Dominican Republic — Punta Cana and Bayahibe in dry season, 29°C, sea at 27°C, plenty of direct flights and all-inclusive packages that make it one of the cheapest winter sun destinations in the Caribbean. December to March is the ideal window; the north coast (Puerto Plata) is wetter.
Cuba — December to March, 27°C, sea at 25–26°C, with a few passing "cold fronts" that cool Varadero for two or three days. This is high season: book accommodation early. Cuba is also the cultural destination on this list — Havana, Trinidad, Viñales — as much as a beach one.
St Martin and St Barts — 28°C, sea at 27°C, constant trade winds, almost no rain from January to April. St Martin plays the beaches-and-restaurants card across two nations; St Barts that of discreet luxury, with prices to match, especially between Christmas and New Year.
Bahamas — a notch further north, so a little cooler: 24 to 26°C, sea at 24°C, and some windy spells in January. The ideal compromise for those who find the Antilles too hot, with exceptionally clear water in the Exumas. Reached via Miami or Nassau; see also our Cayman Islands and Jamaica pages, on the same dry season.
🌏 Indian Ocean and Asia: the warmest sea
Maldives — 10 to 11 hours' flight, 30°C, sea at 28–29°C, dry season from November to April. This is, without question, the best "lagoon" destination of the winter: exceptional visibility for diving, a flat sea, daily sunshine. Five hours ahead of the UK. Resort prices peak between Christmas and mid-January; February–March offer the same weather for less, and the inhabited islands (guesthouses) cut the bill by two thirds.
Zanzibar — 10 to 12 hours with a stop, 30 to 32°C, sea at 28°C. December to February is the short dry season, hot and bright; March–April bring the long rains, to be avoided. The east coast beaches (Paje, Jambiani) are tidal, those in the north (Nungwi, Kendwa) can be swum at any hour. Our guide Zanzibar: when to go details the calendar.
Koh Lanta (Thailand) — 12 to 14 hours with a stop, 31°C, sea at 28°C. On the Andaman coast, November–March is the dry season, with a glassy sea and clear skies; it is the moment for the Andaman islands generally (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lipe). Seven hours ahead. Beware: Koh Samui, in the Gulf, runs on a reversed season — rain in November–December, fine weather from January.
Phu Quoc (Vietnam) — 13 to 14 hours with a stop, 30°C, sea at 28°C, dry season from November to April. Less known than its Thai neighbours, the island offers fine-sand beaches in the south-west, visa-free entry for short stays for many European nationalities (check yours) and gentle prices. December to February are the most pleasant months.
🌦️ Three winter destinations "with caveats"
Seychelles — it is hot all year (28–30°C, sea at 28°C), but December–January coincide with the north-west monsoon: short, heavy showers, sometimes overcast skies, a less clear sea. February–March are markedly better. You can go in winter without fear, accepting a few tropical downpours.
Mauritius and Réunion — it is the southern summer: hot (30°C), humid, and the cyclone season runs from January to March. November and December are excellent; from January to March you go with your eyes open, with insurance that covers cancellations. The west coast of Mauritius (Flic-en-Flac, Le Morne) is the driest. See also Mayotte, same calendar.
Djerba — 3 to 4 hours' flight, Tunisia offers a mild (17–19°C) and sunny winter, but no swimming. A low-cost "light and mildness" option, like Madeira, rather than a beach destination.
⛔ The islands to avoid in deep winter
They are often the most dreamed-of, and that is precisely the problem. Bali is in full monsoon from December to February: daily rain, a rough sea, beaches strewn with debris — our guide Bali: the best time to go explains why you should aim for May–September. Tahiti and French Polynesia have their wet season from November to April, with heavy heat and frequent rain. New Caledonia is in cyclone season from January to March. And in the Mediterranean — Balearics, Cyclades, Crete, Malta — winter is mild but cool (13 to 16°C), windy and often wet: wonderful for off-season walking, beside the point for the beach.
🧭 How to choose among these twelve?
You have a week and a tight budget: Canaries or Cape Verde, no jet lag, no fatigue, direct flights. You have ten days and want a warm sea: the Antilles or the Dominican Republic, guaranteed dry season, bearable time difference. You have two weeks and want the perfect lagoon: Maldives, Koh Lanta or Phu Quoc, accepting twelve hours' flying and five to seven hours' time difference. You travel with young children: favour short flights and no jet lag — Canaries first, then the Antilles. You want to avoid the Christmas crowds: go in the second half of January or in March, anywhere on this list.
In every case, check three things before booking: the island's exact season (not just the region's), the paperwork for your nationality — passport, electronic travel authorisation, visa — and whether your insurance covers cyclones or cancelled flights. The official tourist offices are the best source for the first two.
📊 The twelve islands in one table
| Island | Air / sea | Flight from London | Time difference | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canaries (south) | 21°C / 19°C | 4 h direct | 0 h | January, March |
| Cape Verde (Sal, Boa Vista) | 25°C / 23°C | 6 h direct | −1 h | November–March |
| Madeira | 19°C / 18°C | 4 h direct | 0 h | December–February (mildness) |
| Martinique, Guadeloupe | 29°C / 27°C | 9–10 h via Paris | −4 h | February–March |
| Dominican Republic | 29°C / 27°C | 9 h direct | −4 h | December–March |
| Cuba | 27°C / 26°C | 10 h direct | −5 h | December–March |
| St Martin, St Barts | 28°C / 27°C | 9–10 h with a stop | −4 h | January–April |
| Bahamas | 25°C / 24°C | 9 h 30 direct | −5 h | February–March |
| Maldives | 30°C / 28°C | 11 h direct | +5 h | February–March |
| Zanzibar | 31°C / 28°C | 11 h with a stop | +3 h | December–February |
| Koh Lanta | 31°C / 28°C | 13 h with a stop | +7 h | December–March |
| Phu Quoc | 30°C / 28°C | 14 h with a stop | +7 h | December–February |
🏆 Our verdict
The best sun-to-fatigue-to-price ratio of the winter: Cape Verde for the beach, the Canaries for everything else — no jet lag, direct flights.
For a truly warm sea without crossing the planet: Martinique, Guadeloupe or the Dominican Republic, in the middle of the dry season.
For the postcard lagoon, if twelve hours of flying do not put you off: the Maldives in February–March, when prices come down and the weather stays perfect.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Where can I find winter sun without jet lag?
The Canaries (same time as the UK) and Cape Verde (one hour behind) are the only islands under six hours' flight where it is above 20°C in January. Madeira and Djerba are mild but not warm enough for swimming.
Which island has the warmest sea in January?
The Maldives, Zanzibar, Koh Lanta and Phu Quoc, at 28 to 29°C. The Antilles follow at 27°C. In the Canaries the sea is 19–20°C: you swim, but you do not linger.
Can you go to Mauritius or Réunion in winter?
Yes, but it is their summer, hot and humid, with a cyclone season from January to March. November and December are very pleasant; from January to March, go with good insurance and favour the west coast of Mauritius.
Why is Bali not recommended in winter?
Because December to February coincide with the monsoon: daily rain, a rough sea, beaches dirtied by debris. The good season runs from May to September.
When should I book a winter sun holiday?
Three to six months ahead for the Christmas holidays, the Caribbean carnival and February half-term; January and March are easier to book and cheaper, with the same weather.
🔗 Read next
- Best time to visit the Canary IslandsWeather month by month and island by island
- Martinique or Guadeloupe?Beaches, culture, budget: our comparison
- MaldivesAtolls, resorts and local islands: the guide
- Cape VerdeSal, Boa Vista, Santo Antão: sun and trade winds
- Dominican RepublicPunta Cana, Bayahibe, Samaná: our page
- Zanzibar: when to go?Dry seasons and rains, ideal months
Still hesitating? Our destination pages detail every island: beaches, accommodation, flights, car hire.
All our destinations →
Dem-Tukki is an independent travel media devoted to islands: more than 70 destinations documented in five languages, practical pages that are regularly refreshed, and comparisons to help you choose the right island at the right time. Every guide is reviewed and dated; update dates are shown.
All our travel guides →Keywords : winter sunislands with good weather in winterwhere to go in JanuaryFebruary sun destinationsCaribbean in winterMaldives winterCanaries winter