Swapping a grey British December for sunshine is one of the best presents you can give yourself. Whether you want a festive gala dinner by the pool, New Year’s fireworks over the sea, or simply warm days and blue skies, there are wonderful options within a few hours of home, and further afield too.
Here are our favourite places for Christmas and New Year sun, each with one of our best-rated hotels.
You’ll find on this page
- Quick verdicts and a comparison table of every hotel
- The Canary Islands, Madeira, Morocco, Cyprus and the Maldives
- December temperatures at a glance
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- Live prices with flights and transfers in the search box at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the hotels
| Hotel | Where | Stars | Board | TripAdvisor | Adults only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOIA El Mirador by Iberostar | Costa Adeje, Tenerife | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.8/5 | No |
| Lopesan Villa Del Conde Resort & Thalasso | Meloneras, Gran Canaria | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board, Half Board Plus | 4.4/5 | No |
| Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park | Playa Blanca, Lanzarote | 5★ | All Inclusive, Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.5/5 | No |
| The Cliff Bay Hotel | Funchal, Madeira | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Full Board, Half Board | 4.8/5 | No |
| Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech | Marrakech | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.7/5 | No |
| The View Agadir | Agadir | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.3/5 | No |
| Amara | Limassol (Paphos Airport), Paphos | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.7/5 | No |
| Malahini Kuda Bandos Resort, lagoon island escape | Bandos Island, North Male Atoll | 5★ | All Inclusive, All Inclusive Plus, Full Board, Half Board | 5/5 | No |
Star ratings are official; TripAdvisor scores were correct when we last checked and can change. Board options vary by room and date.
Quick verdicts
The Canary Islands
The most reliable winter sun within easy reach, typically 21 to 22 °C by day.
JOIA El Mirador by Iberostar
- Costa Adeje, Tenerife
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Five-star JOIA El Mirador by Iberostar in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, has a stunning beachfront location in lush gardens and a rejuvenating spa, and it is perfect for adults.
Best for: A grown-up Christmas
Lopesan Villa Del Conde Resort & Thalasso
- Meloneras, Gran Canaria
- 5-star
- Half Board Plus
- TripAdvisor 4.4/5
Five-star Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort & Thalasso in Meloneras, Gran Canaria, has a village-style setting, a luxurious thalasso spa, an excellent selection of restaurants and bars and direct access to the promenade.
Best for: Festive atmosphere
Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park
- Playa Blanca, Lanzarote
- 5-star
- All Inclusive
- TripAdvisor 4.5/5
Five-star Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park in Playa Blanca has a beautiful seafront location, seven outdoor pools and excellent family-friendly facilities.
Best for: Families
Madeira
Famous for its spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks over Funchal bay, with days around 19 to 20 °C.
The Cliff Bay Hotel
- Funchal, Madeira
- 5-star
- Full Board
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Five-star The Cliff Bay in Funchal has a striking location, classic-style interiors and a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, with views across the bay where the fireworks light up the sky.
Best for: New Year’s Eve
Morocco
Sunny winter days around 18 to 21 °C, though nights are cool.
Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech
- Marrakech
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Five-star Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech has an elegant style, an 18-hole golf course and rooms with private plunge pools.
Best for: Marrakech
The View Agadir
- Agadir
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.3/5
Five-star The View Agadir is beachfront, with stylish, sophisticated décor, a relaxing spa with a traditional hammam and a choice of restaurants and bars.
Best for: Agadir beach
Cyprus
Mild and often sunny, around 18 to 19 °C, ideal for walking and sightseeing.
Amara
- Limassol (Paphos Airport), Paphos
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Five-star Amara in Limassol is beachfront, with a modern design, a relaxing atmosphere and superb dining.
Best for: Food and calm
The Maldives
For guaranteed heat, around 30 °C, and the start of the dry season.
Malahini Kuda Bandos Resort, lagoon island escape
- Bandos Island, North Male Atoll
- 5-star
- All Inclusive Plus
- TripAdvisor 5/5
Five-star Malahini Kuda Bandos is a lagoon-island escape just 10 to 15 minutes from Malé by speedboat, with sandy beaches, watersports and a spa.
Best for: Tropical heat
December temperatures at a glance
Typical daytime highs in late December: Canary Islands 21 to 22 °C, with the sea around 20 °C; Madeira 19 to 20 °C; Agadir around 20 to 21 °C; Marrakech around 18 to 19 °C, but close to freezing at night; Cyprus 18 to 19 °C; the Maldives around 30 °C. For beach weather, choose the Canaries or the Maldives; for sightseeing in the sun, Marrakech, Cyprus and Madeira are perfect.
Tips for booking Christmas and New Year
The festive period is one of the most popular times to travel, so book early, especially for school-holiday dates and New Year’s Eve in Madeira. Many hotels host a Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve gala dinner; check whether it is included in your board basis or charged as a supplement. A heated pool is a bonus in the Canaries, Madeira and Morocco in winter.
How we chose these hotels
For each destination that is reliably mild or warm in December, we chose a five-star hotel with a standout feature, such as a beachfront setting, a great spa or a view of the New Year fireworks. Every hotel can be booked with us as an ATOL-protected package with flights and transfers. Festive prices change quickly, so use the search box at the end of this page, or ask a Travel Designer for a shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
Where is hot at Christmas?
Within five hours, the Canary Islands are the warmest; for real heat, the Maldives.
Where is best for New Year’s Eve in the sun?
Madeira, whose New Year’s Eve fireworks over Funchal bay are famous.
Is Marrakech warm at Christmas?
Days are sunny and pleasant, around 18 to 19 °C, but nights are cold.
Do hotels include Christmas dinner?
Many host gala dinners. Check whether they are included in your board basis or charged separately.
Find your Christmas sun holiday
Search live prices with flights and transfers, all ATOL protected, or ask a Travel Designer to compare these hotels.
Keep planning
- Tenerife holidays
- Madeira holidays
- Maldives holidays
- Best winter-sun hotels under 5 hours
- Best hotels in Madeira
- Best Maldives resorts
- Where’s hot in November?
Updated October 2026. Hotels can be booked as ATOL-protected packages with flights and transfers through Travelisto.
