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Where to go in January?

The 94 destinations where January is one of the best times to travel, according to real weather records.

PierrickOur take on January

January splits the world in two: winter in the north, high summer in the south. It is the best month for South-East Asia in its dry season, for the mild Canaries and for Latin America in summer. Snow lovers have the Alps and Lapland, with the northern lights as a bonus. The Indian Ocean, on the other hand, is in the middle of cyclone season.

Sun and sea in January

🇿🇦 South AfricaAugust to March🇰🇪 KenyaJuly to October and January to February🇹🇿 TanzaniaJune to October and January to February🇸🇳 SenegalNovember to May🇹🇭 ThailandNovember to March🇰🇭 CambodiaNovember to February

With children in January

🇪🇬 EgyptOctober to March🇿🇦 South AfricaAugust to March🇰🇪 KenyaJuly to October and January to February🇹🇿 TanzaniaJune to October and January to February🇸🇳 SenegalNovember to May🇹🇭 ThailandNovember to March

Nature and adventure in January

🇪🇬 EgyptOctober to March🇿🇦 South AfricaAugust to March🇰🇪 KenyaJuly to October and January to February🇹🇿 TanzaniaJune to October and January to February🇸🇳 SenegalNovember to May🇹🇭 ThailandNovember to March

Best avoided in January

Nothing is ever off limits, but the season does not favour these destinations in January. If your dates are flexible, keep them for their best time:

🇫🇷 Francebetter: May to September🇪🇸 Spainbetter: April to June and September to October🇮🇹 Italybetter: April to June and September to October🇵🇹 Portugalbetter: April to June and September to October🇬🇷 Greecebetter: May to June and September to October🇭🇷 Croatiabetter: May to June and September to October🇬🇧 United Kingdombetter: May to September🇮🇪 Irelandbetter: May to September

All 94 destinations at their best in January, continent by continent

Europe

🇫🇷 The French AlpsJune to September (hiking) and January to March (skiing)🇪🇸 The Canary IslandsAll year round (ideal in winter)🇦🇹 Innsbruck and the TyrolSkiing (January to March) and hiking (June to September)🇫🇮 FinlandJune to August (summer) and December to March (northern lights)🇸🇪 SwedenJune to August (summer) and December to March (far north)🇫🇮 Finnish LaplandDecember to March (snow, northern lights) and August to September (ruska autumn colours)🇫🇮 RovaniemiDecember to March (snow, northern lights) and July to August (midnight sun)🇳🇴 TromsøSeptember to March (northern lights) and June to July (midnight sun)🇨🇭 ZermattJuly to September, and skiing from December to April🇫🇷 The VosgesJune to July, September to October and January to February (snow)🇫🇷 Savoie and Mont BlancJune to September and December to March🇫🇷 The VercorsJune to September and January to February (cross-country skiing)🇫🇷 Les Deux AlpesJanuary to March and July to August🇫🇷 The Écrins (Vallouise)January to February and June to September🇫🇷 Serre-Ponçon and Les OrresJanuary to February and June to September

Africa

🇪🇬 EgyptOctober to March🇪🇬 CairoOctober to March🇪🇬 Luxor and the Nile ValleyOctober to March🇿🇦 South AfricaAugust to March🇿🇦 Cape TownNovember to March🇰🇪 KenyaJuly to October and January to February🇹🇿 TanzaniaJune to October and January to February🇸🇳 SenegalNovember to May🇸🇳 DakarNovember to April🇹🇿 KilimanjaroJanuary to February and June to October (dry seasons)🇹🇿 The SerengetiJanuary to February (calving) and June to October (river crossings)🇰🇪 Masai MaraJuly to October (migration) and January to February🇰🇪 MombasaDecember to March and July to September🇸🇳 SalyNovember to April

Asia

🇦🇪 DubaiNovember to March🇹🇭 ThailandNovember to March🇹🇭 BangkokNovember to February🇹🇭 Phuket and the southern islandsNovember to April🇹🇭 Chiang MaiNovember to February🇻🇳 VietnamDecember to April🇰🇭 CambodiaNovember to February🇰🇭 Angkor and Siem ReapNovember to February🇮🇳 IndiaOctober to March🇱🇰 Sri LankaDecember to March (east coast: May to September)🇲🇻 The MaldivesJanuary to April🇵🇭 The PhilippinesDecember to May🇮🇳 KeralaNovember to March🇮🇳 Tamil NaduNovember to February🇮🇳 Karnataka (Mysore and Hampi)October to February🇮🇳 Fort KochiNovember to March🇮🇳 KeralaOctober to March🇦🇪 Dubai and Abu DhabiNovember to March🇱🇦 LaosNovember to March🇴🇲 OmanOctober to April🇹🇼 TaiwanOctober to April🇮🇳 GoaNovember to March🇹🇭 Koh SamuiJanuary to April and July to August🇵🇭 PalawanDecember to April🇮🇳 RajasthanOctober to March🇵🇭 CebuJanuary to May (dry season)🇵🇭 El NidoNovember to April (dry season)🇱🇰 EllaJanuary to March and July to September🇱🇰 GalleDecember to April🇱🇰 KandyDecember to April and July to August (Perahera)🇲🇾 LangkawiDecember to March🇱🇦 Luang PrabangNovember to February🇲🇾 PenangDecember to March

Americas

🇨🇦 CanadaJune to October and December to March (winter)🇲🇽 MexicoNovember to April🇲🇽 The YucatánNovember to April🇧🇷 Salvador da BahiaSeptember to March🇨🇦 The Laurentians and Mont-TremblantSkiing (January to March) and nature (June to October)🇺🇾 UruguayNovember to March (southern summer)🇦🇷 El Calafate and the Perito Moreno GlacierNovember to March (southern summer)🇦🇷 UshuaiaNovember to March🇩🇴 The Dominican RepublicDecember to April (dry season)🇨🇷 Costa RicaDecember to April (dry season)🇨🇴 ColombiaDecember to March🇨🇱 ChileOctober to March (southern summer)🇬🇹 GuatemalaNovember to April🇨🇱 ChiloéDecember to March (southern summer)🇬🇹 Lake AtitlánNovember to March🇬🇹 Semuc ChampeyJanuary to April🇨🇴 CartagenaJanuary to March and July🇲🇽 Baja CaliforniaNovember to April🇲🇽 ChiapasNovember to April🇪🇨 The Galápagos IslandsJanuary to March and June to August🇲🇽 Mexico CityNovember to April🇦🇷 PatagoniaNovember to March🇲🇽 TulumNovember to April🇨🇷 Arenal VolcanoDecember to April (dry season)🇨🇷 MonteverdeDecember to April (dry season)🇺🇾 MontevideoNovember to March (southern summer)🇫🇷 GuadeloupeDecember to April (dry season, known locally as carême)🇫🇷 MartiniqueDecember to April (dry season, known locally as carême)

Oceania

🇳🇿 New ZealandNovember to March (southern summer)🇦🇺 TasmaniaDecember to April🇳🇿 AucklandNovember to March (southern summer)🇳🇿 QueenstownDecember to March (summer) and July to August (skiing)

Frequently asked questions about travelling in January

Where to go for sun in January?

South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal and Thailand are among the best sun destinations in January: according to our climate calendar it is one of their best times, with weather suited to the beach and the outdoors.

Where to go with children in January?

Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Senegal work well for a family trip in January: a good season, varied activities and facilities suited to children.

Which destinations are best avoided in January?

France, Spain, Italy and Portugal are not at their best in January: the season is not the most favourable. Nothing is impossible, but if your dates are flexible, aim for their best time or pick a destination at its best this month.

Another month

Flexible dates? Look at where to go in December and where to go in February: a few weeks can change a destination completely.

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