Grey skies, drizzle and dark afternoons by half past four? We hear you. The good news is that winter is secretly one of the best times of year to travel, and not just because you get to swap your umbrella for sunglasses.

Once the summer rush is over, flights and accommodation drop to some of their most affordable prices of the year. Hotels that are fully booked in August suddenly have space (and better rates), and budget airlines are keen to fill seats. Your money simply goes further.

Then there are the crowds, or rather, the lack of them. Winter is when the tour coaches thin out and the queues disappear. You can wander a market without being jostled, linger over lunch without being hurried along and actually chat to the people who live there. That’s when travel feels real: a more authentic, more relaxed experience of a place as it truly is, not as it performs for peak season.

So if you’re dreaming of warmer days, fewer people and something a little bit different, here are five of our favourite places to escape the winter.

1. Sicily: Late-Season Sunshine, Street Food and Mount Etna

Why visit Sicily in winter?

Sicily’s peak season is creeping further into autumn every year, so late autumn and early winter are the sweet spot. The beaches are quiet, the locals have their island back, and the food, which is already the star of the show, is arguably at its best with citrus, wild greens and new-season olive oil arriving.

What to see

Sicily packs extraordinary variety into one island. Palermo is loud, vibrant and home to some of Europe’s greatest street food, while baroque Catania sits in the shadow of Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano. Clifftop Taormina offers jaw-dropping coastal views, and Cefalù is a gorgeous seaside town with a Norman cathedral and an old town made for aimless strolling. Layer in Greek, Roman, Arab and Norman influences and you’ve got a place that feels endlessly rich.

Expected temperatures

In November, expect coastal highs of around 19–20°C, easing to about 15–17°C in December to February, with nights around 8–10°C. Inland and on Etna’s slopes it’s noticeably cooler, so pack a layer.

Our experience

Our Sicily Experience is a seven-night journey through culture, cuisine and coastline. Highlights include a Palermo street food walking tour, a ceramic painting class in hilltop Enna, a Mount Etna excursion with lunch and wine tasting in the vineyards, Catania’s fish market, time in Taormina and a farewell sunset barbecue in Cefalù. Departures run into late November and early December, perfect for a last hit of Mediterranean sun before Christmas.

Flights from London during the winter months from as little as £31 return.

2. Andalusia: Seville, Flamenco and the Elusive Iberian Lynx

Why visit Andalusia in winter?

Andalusia is one of Europe’s most reliable winter sun destinations, with around five to six hours of sunshine a day even in December and January. Seville in summer can be ferociously hot; in winter it’s simply lovely for exploring on foot. And for wildlife lovers, winter is the magic season: it’s Iberian lynx mating season, when this rare and normally elusive cat is at its most visible.

What to see

Seville is one of Spain’s most beautiful cities, with the Royal Alcázar, the vast cathedral and a thriving tapas scene. Córdoba’s Mezquita, a breathtaking mosque-cathedral, is unmissable. Then head into the wild Sierra de Andújar Natural Park, one of the last strongholds of the Iberian lynx, and also home to Spanish imperial eagles, black vultures, deer and ibex. Round it all off with an intimate flamenco show; it’ll give you goosebumps.

Expected temperatures

Average temperatures sit around 11–12°C from December to February, with daytime highs reaching 15–17°C. Mornings in the mountains can be chilly, so wrap up warm for lynx spotting.

Our experience

Our Iberian Lynx Experience is the perfect long-weekend winter escape: four nights combining Seville, two days tracking lynx with an expert wildlife guide in the Sierra de Andújar, and a visit to Córdoba and La Mezquita. Departures run every week through December and January.

Flights from London during the winter months from as little as £28 return.

3. Cappadocia: Hot Air Balloons Over a Snowy Fairytale Landscape

Why visit Cappadocia in winter?

Now, we’ll be honest: Cappadocia isn’t a winter sun destination, but it is one of the most magical winter escapes we know. When snow dusts the fairy chimneys and dozens of balloons rise into crisp, clear dawn skies, it’s a proper pinch-yourself moment. Winter brings fewer visitors, quieter valleys and often superb visibility for ballooning. Plus, there’s nothing cosier than coming back to your own cave hotel room.

What to see

Cappadocia’s otherworldly landscape was shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions and centuries of erosion into towering fairy chimneys and rolling valleys. Explore rock-cut churches around Göreme (there are at least 600 in the region), vast underground cities and sunset viewpoints. The trip starts in Istanbul, the city that straddles Europe and Asia, with the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar all waiting.

Expected temperatures

In Cappadocia, expect crisp winter days of around 3–7°C, with nights dropping below freezing, and snow is common. Istanbul is milder, with highs of roughly 9–11°C. Pack warm layers for the pre-dawn balloon flight.

Our experience

Our Hot Air Ballooning Experience spends four nights between Istanbul and Cappadocia, including an Old Town walking tour, a sunset tour through the valleys, and a one-hour sunrise balloon flight with pre-dawn breakfast, a glass of bubbles on landing and a flight certificate. Departures run through November and December.

Flights from London during the winter months from as little as £68 return.

4. Morocco: Souks, Sahara Sunsets and Skiing in Africa

Why visit Morocco in winter?

Just a few hours’ flight from the UK, Morocco is one of the easiest winter sun escapes going. The scorching summer heat is long gone, making winter the ideal time to explore Marrakech’s souks, trek the High Atlas and head out into the Sahara. And here’s a fun one: from December to February you can ski in Africa, then be back sipping mint tea in Marrakech by evening.

What to see

Marrakech is a sensory whirlwind of souks, spice stalls and the buzzing Jemaa el-Fna square. Beyond the city, the High Atlas Mountains are dotted with Berber villages, winding passes and snow-capped peaks, including Toubkal, North Africa’s highest at 4,167 metres. Further on, the golden dunes of the Sahara offer camel rides, starry skies and some of the most memorable sunrises you’ll ever see. Fès, with its ancient medina, is a must on a longer trip.

Expected temperatures

Marrakech enjoys sunny winter days of around 18–20°C, dropping to about 5–7°C at night. In the Sahara, days are pleasantly warm at around 18–20°C, but desert nights can fall close to freezing, so bring a warm layer for the camp. The mountains are colder, with snow at altitude.

Our experiences

We’ve got a Moroccan adventure for every style and timeframe (see all Morocco trips):

• The Mini Sahara Experience – four nights from Marrakech through the High Atlas to the Sahara dunes.
• The Sahara Desert Experience – the full seven-night version with more time to soak it all up.
• The Morocco Experience – an epic 14-night journey from Marrakech to Fès, the Sahara and everything in between.
• The Toubkal Ascent Experience – four nights for adventurers ready to conquer North Africa’s highest peak.
• The Morocco Skiing Experience – three surreal nights combining Marrakech’s souks with Africa’s highest piste (December to February).

Flights from London during the winter months from as little as £29 return.

5. South Africa: Swap Winter for Summer

Why visit South Africa in winter?

Want to properly escape the winter? Then skip it altogether. When it’s cold and dark in the UK, it’s full-blown summer in South Africa: long sunny days, braais, beaches and vineyards at their most glorious. Better still, there’s barely any time difference with the UK, so no jet lag to spoil your first few days.

What to see

Cape Town is one of the world’s most spectacular cities, with Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula and Boulders Beach penguins right on its doorstep. The Winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are made for long lunches and tastings, while the Garden Route offers dramatic coastline, forests and lagoons. And of course, no trip is complete without a safari and the thrill of spotting Africa’s iconic wildlife.

Expected temperatures

Cape Town basks in average highs of around 26–28°C from December to February, with pleasant evenings around 16°C. Safari regions further north can reach 30°C and above.

Our experiences

Explore the “Rainbow Nation” with us (see all South Africa trips):

• The South Africa Experience – a 14-night adventure brimming with culture, scenery and activities, running from September to June.
• The Western Cape Safari Experience – nine nights of breathtaking scenery and culture, capped off with a magical safari, with departures through to December.

Flights from London during the winter months from as little as £474 return.

Ready to Escape the Winter?

Whether you fancy Sicilian street food, spotting a lynx in Andalusia, floating over Cappadocia at sunrise, sleeping under Saharan stars or swapping winter for summer in South Africa, there’s no need to sit out the cold months at home.

All our experiences are small-group trips of no more than eight people, led by local experts who know these places inside out, so you get the authentic, off-the-beaten-track experience without any of the hassle. Prefer to go it alone or tweak the dates? We offer full customisation on every trip.

Grab our Winter Offer: save 15% off standard prices and 10% off already-discounted dates on all departures from November 2026 to March 2027. Just quote WIN2627 when booking. Hurry, though, as the offer ends on 30 September 2026.

👉 Browse all our trips or get in touch to start planning your winter escape today.

Written by James Chisnall