The Canary Islands, Morocco, Egypt, and Cyprus deliver the most reliable winter sun within short-haul reach: Tenerife and Gran Canaria hold 20-22°C (68-72°F) from December to February, while Hurghada and Marrakech stay sunny when most of Europe sits under cloud.
| Destination | Country | Sunny days/yr | Winter / summer | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife | Spain | 320+ | 21°C / 28°C | January, February, November |
| Gran Canaria | Spain | 320+ | 21°C / 27°C | January, February, November |
| Lanzarote | Spain | 320+ | 21°C / 28°C | January, February, November |
| Fuerteventura | Spain | 320+ | 21°C / 27°C | January, February, November |
| Marrakech | Morocco | 290+ | 18°C / 37°C | January, February, March |
| Agadir | Morocco | 300+ | 21°C / 27°C | January, February, November |
| Hurghada | Egypt | 350+ | 22°C / 34°C | January, February, March |
| Larnaca (Cyprus) | Cyprus | 320+ | 17°C / 33°C | March, April, May |
Pick by flight time and warmth. The Canaries are the sweet spot for a 4-4.5 hour flight from northern Europe: stable subtropical highs around 21°C (70°F), swimmable 19°C (66°F) sea, and almost no rain on the southern coasts. Marrakech and Agadir add souks and surf at similar warmth, while Hurghada pushes past 23°C (73°F) with near-guaranteed clear skies.
Timing beats guesswork. SunnyFlight runs a weekly scan that pairs weekend fares with 7-day weather forecasts, so you get an email only when a cheap Friday-to-Sunday flight lines up with a sunny forecast. January and early February are the value window: fares drop after the holidays while Canary and Red Sea sunshine stays constant.
Tell us your home airport and budget — we’ll email you when a cheap weekend flight to one of these lines up with a sunny forecast.
Get free weekly alerts →Only the Canary Islands reliably allow ocean swimming in January, with sea temperatures around 19°C (66°F) off Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura. For warmer water on a short-haul flight, Hurghada on the Red Sea holds about 22°C (72°F) in midwinter.
Yes, if you fly Friday evening and return Sunday night. The Canaries are 4-4.5 hours from most of northern Europe with no jet lag, since they sit in the same or an adjacent time zone, giving you two full beach days.
Mid-January through early February is the cheapest window. Demand collapses after the Christmas and New Year peak, yet Canary Islands weather is unchanged, with daytime highs near 21°C (70°F). Avoid half-term school holiday weeks in February, when fares roughly double.