Where is hot in January on a short-haul flight?

January in brief (short-haul)

Gran Canaria leads the table with 20°C by day and 16°C at night, a 20°C sea and 3 rainy days (4 h 24 min from London). La Gomera leads with 20°C by day and 17°C at night, a 20°C sea and 3 rainy days (4 h 24 min from London). Agadir leads with 20°C by day and 10°C at night, a 17°C sea and 3 rainy days (3 h 48 min from London). Tenerife leads with 20°C by day and 15°C at night, a 20°C sea and 4 rainy days (4 h 24 min from London). Fuerteventura leads with 19°C by day and 16°C at night, a 19°C sea and 2 rainy days (4 h 12 min from London).

Warm rather than hot (20-25°C): Gran Canaria 20°C, La Gomera 20°C, Agadir 20°C. For scale, London averages 7°C in January.

By flight time from London

• Under 3 hours: Albufeira 16°C, Costa de la Luz 16°C, Seville 15°C, Algarve 15°C, Alicante 15°C, Benidorm 15°C, Malaga 15°C, Valencia 15°C
• 3 to 4.5 hours: Gran Canaria 20°C, La Gomera 20°C, Agadir 20°C, Tenerife 20°C, Fuerteventura 19°C, Lanzarote 18°C, Marrakech 18°C, La Palma 17°C

By region

• Europe: 74 destinations, warmest Gran Canaria (20°C)
• Africa: 4 destinations, warmest Agadir (20°C)

Choose the Canaries for warmth that lasts into the evening

Gran Canaria is the strongest all-round choice: daytime highs of 20°C, nights of 16°C and 2 rainy days make it a good fit if warmth and limited rain matter most. Tenerife matches its daytime and sea temperatures, but has 4 rainy days and slightly cooler nights. La Gomera suits travellers who value milder evenings, with nights of 17°C, though its 3 rainy days offer no dryness advantage over Gran Canaria. Fuerteventura trades a little warmth for a shorter flight, at 19°C by day and 4 h 12 min. Lanzarote is cooler again, while La Palma suits those content with 17°C days. Across these islands, pack an evening layer and treat the sea as refreshing rather than warm.

Choose Morocco for a shorter flight, not warmer nights

Agadir is the clearest alternative if you want the highest daytime temperature without spending as long in the air. Its 20°C high matches Gran Canaria, with a flight of 3 h 48 min and 3 rainy days. The catch comes after dark: nights fall to 10°C, so bring warmer clothing rather than relying on daytime outfits. Its 17°C sea also makes it less appealing for swimming than the warmer Canary Island options. Marrakech suits travellers who put daytime outings ahead of coastal weather. The flight is shorter at 3 h 36 min, but 18°C days give way to 3°C nights, and 5 rainy days make a waterproof useful.

Choose nearer coasts for less flying, with lower expectations of heat

Albufeira and Costa de la Luz suit travellers who want less time flying and are happy with mild days. Both have flights of 2 h 54 min, daytime highs of 16°C and nights of 8°C. Albufeira has a slight rain advantage, with 7 rainy days against 8, but neither is a strong choice for warmth-led beach plans. Sousse offers a modest temperature gain to 17°C for a flight of 3 h 6 min, with 5 rainy days; its 16°C sea still favours staying ashore unless you enjoy cold water. Madeira is better suited to those prioritising milder evenings: nights average 14°C, but 8 rainy days and a 3 h 48 min flight weaken its case for a dry, warm break.