Best Warm Holiday Destinations from Europe: Where to Travel Each Month

Over the years, we’ve often searched for information about whether a particular month is suitable for visiting a specific destination. Friends and readers regularly ask us where it’s best to go for a beach holiday during a certain period and whether the water will be warm enough for swimming. The lack of comprehensive information on this topic motivated us to create this detailed guide.​

When writing this, we relied not only on our own experience but also on data from dozens of travel blogs and forums, as well as meteorological statistics. For convenience, we’ve grouped months with similar climate conditions – for example, January, February and March in one section, and June, July and August in another. For each period, we’ve described both short-haul (up to 7 hours flight) and long-haul destinations, while also noting budget considerations.​

Of course, there will always be exceptions – someone may have swum in the sea in Cyprus in March, another may have experienced a whole week of rain in Greece in August. However, our recommendations are based on a general consensus among hundreds of travellers and on objective data such as air and water temperature, precipitation and wind. We’ve tried to be as accurate as possible and give you a realistic idea of what to expect.​

We hope this guide helps you choose the perfect destination for every month of the year!

January, February, March – The Further, The Better

Short-Haul Destinations (up to 7h flight)

For those seeking warm weather and beach time, Egypt dominates this period as a relatively nearby and budget-friendly destination, though this is its coldest season. The Red Sea maintains a fairly consistent temperature year-round, with water around Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh at 22°C in early year – on the lower end but still suitable for swimming. Daytime air temperatures reach 21-26°C, creating perfect conditions for walks and sightseeing. Some consider this an excellent time to visit the Red Sea because there are fewer tourists than in spring and autumn, and it’s cheaper. Most tour operators offer packages from the second half of February. If travelling to Egypt during this period, we’d recommend Sharm el-Sheikh as it’s less windy than Hurghada. It’s a compromise option, but with a bit of luck, you might hit perfect beach conditions.​

If you’re not set on a beach holiday at all costs, the Canary Islands are also a good candidate for a winter break. Their advantage over Egypt is that they’re easier for self-organised travel – much more developed and safe. While air temperatures reach 20-24°C, water is around 19°C, which is too cold for swimming. The southern islands like Tenerife and Gran Canaria offer the most sunshine, though water remains cool. The weather feels like late spring in central Europe, making it ideal for exploring the incredible natural attractions the Canaries offer – from deserts and volcanoes to jungles.​

Besides the above destinations, this period – especially February and March – is suitable for visiting Dubai (when the weather is milder and beach-friendly), as well as Morocco and Jordan, which offer wonderful cultural and natural attractions. If you want a beach holiday somewhere more unusual, Oman is also an excellent candidate that’s been gaining popularity among tourists in recent years. The country is safe, has beautiful beaches with access to coral reefs, and fascinating exotic nature in its interior. Oman can be reached with connections via Istanbul, UAE or Qatar.​

Specifically for March, southern Europe becomes increasingly pleasant for city breaks – places like southern Spain and southern Italy can offer an escape from the cold, with temperatures up to 20 degrees.​

Long-Haul Destinations

This is the perfect period for a holiday in most popular tropical destinations such as the Maldives, Thailand, the Caribbean and more.

Asia:

One of the most popular destinations during this period is the Maldives – temperatures and climate conditions are perfect for a beach holiday. Most people travel there with tour operators.​

Our recommendation for a warm winter destination is Thailand – it’s the dry season there, with relatively little rainfall, almost constant sunshine and water temperatures around 30°C. Thailand is a relatively easy destination to travel because it offers a great combination of excellent tourist infrastructure and service, low prices and decent transport links. This period is also peak tourist season there, which affects prices, but they remain reasonable. Budget accommodation starts from around €25 per night, while mid-range hotels start from €60. We spent 2 weeks in Thailand, touring Phuket, Krabi and Bangkok, stayed at great places, didn’t skimp on food and drinks, and our trip cost around €4,000 total for two, including internal flights.​

Another recommendation is the Philippines – also exceptionally suitable for this period, especially around the islands of Palawan, Cebu and Boracay. We visited the Philippines during this exact time and the weather was impeccable and great for swimming. Because the Philippines is entirely an island nation, getting from point to point is a bit more difficult than in Thailand, but with good planning, you won’t have problems. Prices are slightly higher than Thailand, but the Philippines offers more places still untouched by mass tourism.​ Here you will find our travel guides for the magical islands of Bohol and Siquijor.

Vietnam has also been gaining popularity in recent years, offering a great balance of price and interesting experiences. Air temperatures average around 25°C, accommodation and food prices are very good, and the weather remains pleasant. Many consider February their favourite time to visit Vietnam. If you’re looking for a beach experience, head to Phu Quoc island or the Da Nang area. We’re quite particular about beautiful beaches and interesting swimming spots, and Vietnam didn’t seem particularly impressive in that regard, but the country offers unique natural, cultural and culinary experiences that we intend to take advantage of soon.​

Alternative budget destinations for this period include Goa, India and Sri Lanka, where the dry season prevails. Hotels and food are quite cheap (cheaper than Thailand). Water temperature reaches 26-27°C, providing comfortable swimming conditions.​

The Caribbean – Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic:

The Caribbean also offers perfect conditions for a beach holiday. The most popular destination in this region is Mexico, specifically the Yucatán Peninsula, with famous resorts like Cancún, Tulum and others. Unfortunately, in recent years Mexico has become quite expensive and we wouldn’t count it among budget options. Mexico’s advantage is that it’s easier for self-organised travel.​

The Dominican Republic and Cuba are also increasingly popular among European travellers. Both countries have amazing beaches and winter is an excellent time for a holiday there. Most people prefer to visit with tour operators, finding it a safer and easier option.​

Panama and Costa Rica also offer good beach conditions then, but we wouldn’t classify them as budget destinations. Plus, Panama is definitely not among the safest places.​

Africa and the Southern Indian Ocean:

If Asia and Central America aren’t for you, Africa also has something to offer in winter – Zanzibar is among our top recommendations. If you’re holidaying in Zanzibar, we recommend January and February, when there’s the best chance of sunny weather. Many people prefer to go there independently because good budget options are relatively easy to find.​

Another destination gaining popularity is Mauritius. Prices are moderate – not among the most budget-friendly destinations, but the island definitely has much to offer: incredible nature, mountains and exotic tropical beaches.​

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April and May – Perfect for City Breaks

Short-Haul Destinations

For a beach holiday, in April and May Egypt reaches optimal conditions – air temperature is 25-28°C, water 24-26°C, creating excellent beach conditions. This is also one of the peak seasons in Egypt, especially resorts like Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. Another candidate for a spring beach holiday is Tunisia, particularly Djerba island.​

In spring, the southern Mediterranean becomes increasingly attractive. Places like Cyprus, southern Greek islands like Crete and Rhodes, as well as Malta, Sicily, southern Spain (Andalusia), and the Balearic Islands (like Palma de Mallorca) start offering more warm sunny days with less wind. Especially in the second half of May, the beach is no longer a mirage – with water temperature reaching 21-22°C, not very warm but allowing braver souls to swim.​

April and May also allow visiting interesting places without the usual crowds and packed beaches. Another key advantage of this period is that flowers and trees bloom everywhere and all of Europe smells of spring.

If you’re fans of all-inclusive, Turkey offers quite good budget options in May, especially with early bookings.​

We mention the Canary Islands again – April and May are excellent for a visit. Temperatures then allow beach time while the unbearable summer heat hasn’t arrived yet. This is also peak season there, with the warmest weather on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Portuguese Madeira is also very suitable for a holiday, especially if you’re fans of trekking and beautiful mountain landscapes.​

Long-Haul Destinations (7h+ flight)

In spring, the transition to rainy season begins in many tropical destinations we recommended for winter holidays, so keep this in mind if you’re planning to book a trip to Thailand, Mexico and others. On the other hand, prices become more attractive then, so if you’re willing to risk it, there’s a chance you’ll get lucky with great weather, but generally the rain risk is higher.​

Spring is the ideal season for a holiday in the Seychelles, though it’s a relatively expensive destination. Mauritius also offers great holiday conditions.​

The Philippines continues to feature among places with warm and sunny weather, especially Palawan, Cebu and surrounding islands, as well as Boracay. The Philippines is a super combination of budget, good climate, great hospitality and interesting places, especially for underwater world enthusiasts.​

The eastern Caribbean also has suitable climate during this period – the Cayman Islands, Grenada, Antigua and others, but they’re more expensive.​

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June, July, August – Peak European Summer

Short-Haul Destinations

No surprises here – summer has arrived and we’re surrounded by incredible holiday spots – from sandy Mediterranean beaches, through Halkidiki and the Greek islands, to the Dalmatian coast in Croatia, the beautiful beaches of Sardinia and Sicily, to the surf-friendly shores of Portugal.​

Since the choice of nearby summer destinations is enormous, we’ll divide it into 3 parts, emphasising Greece as it’s one of the most accessible and interesting destinations for this period.​

Greece:

From our experience, the first half of June isn’t among the best periods for beach time in Northern Greece (including Corfu), because the weather is still changeable with occasional big storms and prolonged rainy spells. Of course, don’t take our advice as gospel – there’s a good chance you’ll hit great weather – but our experience suggests that late June and all of July offer the best conditions for northern Greece when weather is least variable.​

On the other hand, if you’re not fans of extreme heat and crowds, early June is very suitable for visiting popular places in southern Greece like Crete, Rhodes, Lefkada, Kefalonia, the Peloponnese and others.​

Croatia:

We won’t hide that Croatia is among our favourite summer destinations, especially the Dalmatia region. What we love about Croatia is the combination of incredible beaches and very interesting historic towns and villages. As a downside, prices are higher than neighbouring Greece, getting there can be more difficult due to traffic and border crossings, and beaches tend to be rockier. Of course, the latter is a matter of preference – we like rockier beaches. Besides Dalmatia, Croatia has wonderful islands like Brač, Hvar, Krk, as well as the western Istrian peninsula, which also offers many interesting attractions.​ Here you can find our guide to traveling in the Western Balkans – Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia

Spain and Italy:

Both countries offer fantastic beach destinations, especially island ones like Sardinia, Sicily, Palma de Mallorca, Menorca and others. However, many people underestimate how expensive and crowded these places become in summer. Also, especially in southern parts, the heat can become unbearable. If you want to visit these places, we’d recommend September and October when there are fewer tourists and weather is milder.​

Escaping the Heat:

If you want to cool down from the heat, peak summer is excellent for visiting the Alpine region – the Italian Dolomites, Swiss Alps and so on. Another option is Scandinavian countries like Norway and Iceland, where summer allows walks amid their unique nature.​

Long-Haul Destinations

Summer is the perfect season for visiting Bali, Indonesia – that’s when the dry season occurs with the least rainfall. Water reaches 28-30°C, making it comfortable for swimming without worries about monsoons and heavy rains. This also applies to other parts of Indonesia like neighbouring Lombok, the Gili Islands and others.​

Other suitable long-haul destinations for summer include Zanzibar, Mauritius, Seychelles, French Polynesia and Siargao island in the Philippines.​

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September: Perfect Time for Relaxed Late-Summer Holidays

Short-Haul Destinations

September is our favourite period for a Mediterranean holiday. Water stays at 24-25°C, but summer crowds have departed and prices drop significantly, especially in the second half of the month.​

Greece, especially the southern part, remains our absolute favourite for this period. Our experience shows that after the first week of September, weather in northern Greece becomes quite variable – we’ve even had cases of freezing on 10 September in Thassos, so keep this in mind.​

On the other hand, southern parts of Greece like the Peloponnese, Lefkada, Kefalonia, the Cyclades, Crete, and Rhodes offer suitable beach conditions throughout almost all of September. The same applies to Cyprus. Another good option is Turkey, especially if you’ve decided to combine beach with sightseeing, as the heat is no longer unbearable and prices are lower.​

Besides the above, September is great for visiting Egypt and Tunisia – two places that can be unbearably hot in peak summer.​

The Canary Islands are also very suitable for September and October – we’d say this is the optimal period for a holiday there because the sea is warm, temperatures are more bearable, and winds have subsided.​

If you’re not seeking beach time but a city break, we find September an excellent period for visiting Europe’s more popular tourist destinations that traditionally attract millions in peak summer but aren’t quite so overcrowded in September – Barcelona, Valencia, Tuscany, Andalusia, Puglia and others.​

Long-Haul Destinations

For September, options are similar to summer – Bali, Seychelles, Mauritius, Zanzibar, French Polynesia and others.​

If you want to tour South America, September offers perfect conditions for visiting some of the continent’s most interesting places – from Machu Picchu in Peru, through Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls in Brazil, to charming Buenos Aires in Argentina.​

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October: Extended Summer

Short-Haul Destinations

In October, the choice of beach destinations nearby significantly narrows. In the first half of the month, Cyprus and Crete remain our favourites, though evenings may feel cooler and rainfall probability increases.​

We consider this among the best months for an Egypt beach holiday – ideal conditions return after August’s extreme heat. The Red Sea stays warm for swimming at around 28°C. If you’re not set on beach but rather cultural tourism, October and November are top season for North Africa and the Middle East – Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Turkey and others.​

We believe October is the perfect time for the Canary Islands – Tenerife, especially its southern part, offers perfect beach conditions with beautiful sandy beaches. Gran Canaria is also superb, especially in the south. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote also offer great air and water temperatures plus constant sunshine, being drier and more desert-like with fewer winds during this period. Volcanic La Palma and green La Gomera also offer wonderful holiday conditions in October.​

Long-Haul Destinations

October offers great conditions in the Seychelles, Zanzibar and Mauritius. Additionally, the rainy season ends in the Maldives and the transition to dry season begins – you might find good deals during this period.​

Thailand also has something to offer in October, especially islands in the Gulf of Thailand – Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and others. Phuket and Krabi are still in rainy season.​

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November: Winter is (Almost) Here

Short-Haul Destinations

Among closer destinations, the choice for beach holidays in this period comes down to Egypt and the Canary Islands, mainly Gran Canaria and southern Tenerife.​

Dubai also offers good beach conditions, as does neighbouring Oman.​

Honestly, during this period we’re not particularly drawn to beach holidays but rather to visiting Christmas markets in Europe. It’s at the end of November that most Christmas markets open across Europe and the whole continent starts smelling of mulled wine, sausages and all kinds of pastries. Vienna is a nearby Christmas destination with markets in many places throughout the city. If you’re looking for a city break for a long weekend with a Christmas market, we’d recommend Wrocław – one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. If you have more time and are keen to visit multiple places, we’d recommend the Alsace region, home to some of the most beautiful towns and villages in all of Europe.​

Long-Haul Destinations

In November, the Maldives enter peak tourist season. The dry season in Thailand is also fully established and prices aren’t yet at their peak. Hurricane season ends in the Caribbean and prices aren’t yet so high, making November excellent if you’re planning to visit Mexico, the Dominican Republic and others.​

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December: Hot Holiday Season

Short-Haul Destinations

Just like January and February, there are almost no nearby destinations offering beach conditions. With luck, Egypt and Jordan can offer warm water and pleasant beach temperatures. If you want to bet on something safer, we’d rather recommend Dubai and Oman.​

Temperatures and winds make the Canary Islands unsuitable for beach time, but all conditions are in place to enjoy their incredible nature.​

Long-Haul Destinations

In December, most famous tropical destinations in Southeast Asia are already in active summer season – Thailand, Maldives, Philippines, Vietnam and so on.​

The same applies to the Caribbean, where December offers great temperatures and lovely weather.​

The most important thing to know about December travel is that this is one of the most expensive periods worldwide, especially at month’s end around Christmas and New Year holidays. If you want to visit a tropical country during our winter, our recommendation is rather January and February – when weather at home is most unwelcoming and for the best price, one can escape the freezing winter and settle under a palm tree in Southeast Asia or the Caribbean.

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