Where to Travel in January

Start the year right by treating yourself to some well-deserved travel. January is perfect for a winter-sun break, with many locations enjoying blue skies and perfect temperatures. Alternatively opt for somewhere like Norway, where you can really embrace the atmospheric wintery weather. Whether you choose the South African Cape, live it up in Dubai or have some downhill fun in Switzerland and Sweden, January is a great time to travel.

Explore the South African Cape

A section of the Garden Route, South African Cape

South Africa is a vast country with varying climates, and while the west of the country experiences very high temperatures and bouts of tropical rain at this time of year, the Cape stays warm and dry. This makes January the perfect time to visit the South African Cape. A great option is to head east towards the verdant 124-mile long Garden Route, stopping to admire lagoons, mountain ranges and dramatic coastal views. Expect temperatures ranging from 23–29 °C – perfect for hitting the beaches too.

Hit the slopes in Switzerland

January is prime winter sports season in Europe and there’s nowhere that offers quite as many snowy slope adventures as Switzerland. With temperatures of around -2°C, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find snow across the Alps. Some of the best ski resorts in Switzerland include Zermatt, Verbier and Saint Moritz.

Spend your days having fun-filled adventures skiing and snowboarding on the slopes and, by night, enjoying Swiss cuisine such as cheese fondues and creamy hot chocolates in cosy wood cabins.

Combine skiing with UNESCO World Heritage sites in Granada

Granada

Southern Spain’s Granada makes a wonderful winter break. Surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the city lies just an hour and a half from one of the country’s best ski resorts. It’s also home to the amazing Alhambra Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and plenty of traditional Moroccan tea rooms where you can keep warm. You can even stay in your own palace in the city by booking a room at the Hotel Palacio de Santa Paula, Autograph Collection.

For Spanish children, the most exciting day of the Christmas season is actually in early January. Make sure to time your visit with the night of January 5th, when the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos) arrive as part of a huge procession to bring gifts for all the children.

Escape the European winter in Dubai

If you’re looking for a destination that offers you a wide range of amazing experiences in the sun, then glitzy Dubai is the place to be. Daytime temperatures hover around 24°C, but it can get up to 28°C, meaning that lazing by the pool and the beach are totally possible.

January is one of the most comfortable times of the year in Dubai without the high humidity levels and scorching temperatures of the summer months. Spend the first month of the year enjoying this city of superlatives – browsing the world’s largest shopping centre (Dubai Mall), scuba diving in the world’s deepest pool (Deep Dive Dubai), or admiring the views from the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa).

Seek out the Northern Lights in Bergen, Norway

Bergen

The Christmas season may be over, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be the end of the magical colourful lights. If you’re missing the festive glow, then a trip to the Norwegian town of Bergen to see the Northern Lights – top of everyone’s bucket lists – could be just what you need. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to spot them from your room at the waterside Moxy Bergen hotel.

Bergen is located in western Norway on the edge of the spectacular fjord lands and is surrounded by mountainous peaks and woodland. January is one of the best times to see the Northern Lights as the sun sets around 3.30pm, meaning plenty of cold dark nights.

Discover the sights and flavours of Ethiopia

Split by the Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia’s diverse landscape both surprises and delights travellers. Offering more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other African country, from the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela to the ancient monoliths at Tiya, Ethiopia makes for a fascinating visit.

January is dry season in Ethiopia, but the land is still lush and verdant from the autumn rains, while temperatures are warm and comfortable. January also coincides with one of the country’s most fascinating celebrations - the Timkat festival of the Ethiopian Orthodox church.

Go on a safari in Tanzania

Elephants in Tanzania

Go on a January safari in Tanzania and you’ll find, with the dry season over, that the land is green once again and the waterholes are full, attracting more wildlife. Add to this the fact that you’ll be visiting in calving and foaling season for the wildebeest and zebra, and migratory birds are returning from colder climates, and you’ll see that a January safari in Tanzania definitely won’t disappoint.

Combine your safari with a slice of winter sun in Zanzibar, which enjoys temperatures around 29°C and excellent snorkelling conditions at this time of year.

Have some winter fun in Sweden

Stockholm

Sweden knows how to do winter well and January is the ideal time to experience it. Combine a city break to Stockholm with a trip north of the Swedish capital to discover a wilder side of the country. First spend some time in the city, exploring the cobbled streets of the Gamla Stan old town, visiting the famous Vasa Ship Museum, and relaxing in the lakeside sauna of Hellasgården before heading up north.

Plan your trip to coincide with the Kiruna Snow Festival, located 140 kilometres above the Arctic Circle, where you can take part in some fantastic winter activities from ice skating and dog sledding to ice sculpting and snowshoeing.

Published: July 26, 2022

Last Updated: January 10, 2023

Article Tags:  Bergen , Dubai , Norway , South Africa , Sweden , Switzerland , Tanzania