Where to go in January

In January, 31 of the 43 areas we cover score 75 or more for at least one holiday type.

Beach in January

For a beach holiday, Goa (north), India leads at 97/100, followed by Jamaica (Negril) on about 96 (an estimate) and Barbados (west coast) on about 93 (an estimate). In January, 14 of the 33 areas with a beach score reach 75 or more. Among the top 5 for beach, daytime highs run from 28°C to 34°C. Sea temperatures for the top 5 beach areas run from 27°C to 28°C; the coolest is Punta Cana at 27°C. In January, the beach list is ranked by the beach score, which is based on daytime high, rainy days, humidity (dew point), cloud and wind (tropical areas use daytime rain, total rain, humid heat and sunshine instead), and does not include sea temperature.

  1. 1
    Goa (north)India
    33°Cdaytime high
    0 mmrain a month
    28°Csea
    Medium confidence
    97/100Excellent
  2. 2
    Jamaica (Negril)
    30°Cdaytime high
    18 mmrain a month
    28°Csea
    Low confidence
    ~96estimateExcellent
  3. 3
    Barbados (west coast)
    29°Cdaytime high
    30 mmrain a month
    27°Csea
    Low confidence
    ~93estimateExcellent
  4. 4
    Costa Rica Pacific coast (Tamarindo)
    34°Cdaytime high
    0 mmrain a month
    28°Csea
    Medium confidence
    92/100Excellent
  5. 5
    Punta CanaDominican Republic
    28°Cdaytime high
    55 mmrain a month
    27°Csea
    Medium confidence
    90/100Excellent

All 33 areas for beach in January

City break in January

For a city break, Gran Canaria, Spain (Canary Islands) leads at 94/100, followed by Tenerife, Spain (Canary Islands) on 92; and Marrakech, Morocco on 92. In January, 18 of the 26 areas with a city break score reach 75 or more. Among the top 5 for city break, daytime highs run from 19°C to 33°C.

  1. 1
    Gran CanariaSpain (Canary Islands)
    22°Cdaytime high
    2rainy days
    8 hsunshine a day
    Medium confidence
    94/100Excellent
  2. 2
    TenerifeSpain (Canary Islands)
    22°Cdaytime high
    4rainy days
    8 hsunshine a day
    High confidence
    92/100Excellent
  3. 3
    MarrakechMorocco
    19°Cdaytime high
    3rainy days
    8 hsunshine a day
    High confidence
    92/100Excellent
  4. 4
    BangkokThailand
    33°Cdaytime high
    5 mmrain a month
    8 hsunshine a day
    Medium confidence
    92/100Excellent
  5. 5
    FuerteventuraSpain (Canary Islands)
    21°Cdaytime high
    1rainy day
    7 hsunshine a day
    Medium confidence
    92/100Excellent

Hiking in January

For hiking, Marrakech, Morocco leads at 93/100, followed by Algarve (Faro), Portugal on 92; and Málaga, Spain on 91. In January, 8 of the 16 areas with a hiking score reach 75 or more. Among the top 5 for hiking, daytime highs run from 16°C to 22°C and rainy days from 2 to 5.

  1. 1
    MarrakechMorocco
    19°Cdaytime high
    3rainy days
    8 hsunshine a day
    High confidence
    93/100Excellent
  2. 2
    Algarve (Faro)Portugal
    17°Cdaytime high
    5rainy days
    7 hsunshine a day
    High confidence
    92/100Excellent
  3. 3
    MálagaSpain
    17°Cdaytime high
    5rainy days
    7 hsunshine a day
    High confidence
    91/100Excellent
  4. 4
    MajorcaSpain (Balearic Islands)
    16°Cdaytime high
    5rainy days
    7 hsunshine a day
    High confidence
    90/100Excellent
  5. 5
    Gran CanariaSpain (Canary Islands)
    22°Cdaytime high
    2rainy days
    8 hsunshine a day
    Medium confidence
    89/100Good

All 16 areas for hiking in January

January at a glance

Of the areas in these lists, 2 have low confidence, so their scores are estimates: Jamaica (Negril) and Barbados (west coast). Scores are estimates from modelled climate averages (2004–2023), not forecasts. Daytime highs come from ERA5-Land, rainy days are estimated from ERA5-Land (a few areas use CHIRPS satellite rainfall), tropical areas show monthly rain in millimetres from CHIRPS, and sunshine and sea temperature come from ERA5. See How we score.