When the UK turns grey, you don’t have to fly to the other side of the world for sunshine. The Canary Islands, Madeira, Cyprus, Malta and Marrakech all offer warm, bright winter days within five hours of home, and they have some superb luxury hotels.
Here are our best-rated winter-sun hotels, every one five-star and rated 4.7 or higher.
You’ll find on this page
- Quick verdicts and a comparison table of every hotel
- The best winter-sun hotels
- Winter weather and flight times compared
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Hideaway Corales Villas | Costa Adeje, Tenerife | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.9/5 | No |
| Royal Hideaway Corales Suites | Costa Adeje, Tenerife | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.9/5 | No |
| Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia | Maspalomas, Gran Canaria | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.9/5 | No |
| Hotel Fariones | Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.8/5 | No |
| Quinta Jardins Do Lago | Funchal, Madeira | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.9/5 | No |
| Les Suites at The Cliff Bay | Funchal, Madeira | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.9/5 | No |
| The Oberoi Marrakech | Marrakech | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Full Board, Half Board | 5/5 | No |
| Park Hyatt Marrakech | Marrakech | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort | Peyia, Paphos | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.9/5 | No |
| Amarande Hotel | Ayia Napa, Ayia Napa & Protaras | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast, Full Board, Half Board | 4.9/5 | No |
| Hyatt Centric Malta | St Julians, Malta and Gozo | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | 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
Our top picks
1. Royal Hideaway Corales Villas
- Costa Adeje, Tenerife
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Royal Hideaway Corales Villas in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, has rooms with private pools, the warmest winter weather on this list and a peaceful setting.
Best for: Guaranteed warmth
2. Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
- Costa Adeje, Tenerife
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites next door has an excellent children’s club and private-pool rooms, ideal for February half-term.
Best for: Winter family sun
3. Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia
- Maspalomas, Gran Canaria
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia in Gran Canaria is a colonial-style member of The Leading Hotels of the World near the Maspalomas dunes.
Best for: Elegant winter escapes
4. Hotel Fariones
- Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Hotel Fariones in Lanzarote is seafront with direct beach access and an infinity pool.
Best for: Lanzarote style
5. Quinta Jardins Do Lago
- Funchal, Madeira
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Quinta Jardins do Lago in Funchal, Madeira, sits in beautiful botanical gardens with exceptional service.
Best for: Gardens and calm
6. Les Suites at The Cliff Bay
- Funchal, Madeira
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Les Suites at The Cliff Bay in Funchal has an infinity pool, magnificent sea views and outstanding dining.
Best for: Food and sea views
7. The Oberoi Marrakech
- Marrakech
- 5-star
- Full Board
- TripAdvisor 5/5
The Oberoi Marrakech has an orchard setting with Atlas Mountain views and rooms with private pools and gardens.
Best for: A luxury city escape
8. Park Hyatt Marrakech
- Marrakech
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Park Hyatt Marrakech is perfect for golf, with exquisite dining and tranquil gardens and spa.
Best for: Winter golf
9. Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort
- Peyia, Paphos
- 5-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Cap St Georges in Peyia, Cyprus, has panoramic views, excellent facilities and superb dining.
Best for: Cyprus in winter
10. Amarande Hotel
- Ayia Napa, Ayia Napa & Protaras
- 5-star
- Full Board
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
Amarande in Ayia Napa has indoor and outdoor pools and a sensational spa, perfect for a winter spa break.
Best for: A winter spa break
11. Hyatt Centric Malta
- St Julians, Malta and Gozo
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Hyatt Centric Malta in St Julian’s has a rooftop pool and bar and a boutique spa, perfect for a winter city-and-sea break.
Best for: Malta culture
Winter weather and flight times compared
Typical December to February daytime temperatures and flight times from the UK: Canary Islands about 20–24 °C, 4–4¼ hours · Madeira about 19–20 °C, 3¾ hours · Marrakech about 18–21 °C, 3¾ hours · Cyprus about 16–19 °C, 4½ hours · Malta about 15–17 °C, 3¼ hours. The Canaries are the warmest and best for beach days; Malta, Marrakech and Cyprus are better for sightseeing.
How we chose these hotels
We sell 2785 hotels across Europe and beyond. To build this list we started with the five-star hotels in destinations that are warm in winter, then read what our guests say: every hotel here scores highly on TripAdvisor. We picked no more than one or two per destination so you can compare places as well as hotels, and we only include hotels you can book with us today as an ATOL-protected package with flights and transfers. Prices change daily, so use the search box at the end of this page for live availability, or ask a Travel Designer for a tailored shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
Where is hottest in winter under five hours from the UK?
The Canary Islands, especially southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Is Cyprus warm in winter?
Mild rather than hot, typically mid to high teens, with lots of sunshine. Perfect for walking and sightseeing.
Is Marrakech good in winter?
Yes. Days are sunny and warm, though evenings can be cool.
Can I swim in the sea in winter?
In the Canary Islands, yes, with sea temperatures around 19 °C. Elsewhere, choose a hotel with a heated pool.
Find your winter sun
Search live prices with flights and transfers, all ATOL protected, or ask a Travel Designer which destination suits your dates.
Keep planning
- Canary Islands holidays
- Madeira holidays
- Marrakech holidays
- Cyprus holidays
- Malta holidays
- Which Canary Island is best?
- Malta vs Cyprus for winter sun
- Best golf resorts
- Best hotels in Madeira
- Best hotels on the Costa Blanca
- Best luxury hotels in Marrakech
- Where’s hot for October half-term?
- Best hotels in Agadir and Taghazout
- Where’s hot at Easter?
- Best Maldives resorts
- Christmas and New Year in the sun
- Where’s hot in November?
Updated October 2026. Hotels can be booked as ATOL-protected packages with flights and transfers through Travelisto.
