✈️ January 2026: where to fly for warmth and where for snow

In January, Europe splits into two camps. Some are looking for a warm sea, others are waiting for snow on the slopes. The difference in cost and logistics is significant, so the decision needs to be made before buying tickets (as of 09/2026, ADAC data on winter destinations).

We've put together six destinations for January 2026: four warm regions and two ski destinations. For each one, you'll find travel time, temperatures, and the honest catch that brochures don't mention.

Start with the climate table. It shows where you can swim in January and where you can't do without a down jacket.

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Where to go in January: where it's warm and where there's snow

💡 In short:

In January, reliable seaside warmth comes from the Dominican Republic, Cape Verde, and Lanzarote, while New Zealand is in summer.
For snow, head to the Bavarian Forest or Colorado: the season is at its peak there.
Climate, water temperatures, and flight times: 09/2026, verified against the ADAC summary.

Average daily highs and water temperatures are based on multi-year observations (as of 09/2026, ADAC month-by-month overview).

Country	Resort	Daytime	Rainy days	Water
Egypt	Hurghada	24 °C	1	22 °C
Portugal	Madeira	19 °C	6	18 °C
UAE	Dubai	23 °C	1	22 °C
Spain	Lanzarote	20 °C	4	19 °C
Thailand	Phuket	33 °C	4	27 °C
South Africa	Cape Town	29 °C	3	18 °C
Dominican Republic	Santo Domingo	28 °C	7	27 °C
Cape Verde	Praia	23 °C	1	23 °C
Sri Lanka	Colombo	30 °C	5	27 °C
New Zealand	North Island	21 °C	7	17 °C

Climate data: ADAC temperature archive, 09/2026.

Nearby destinations win on travel time. You can reach Cyprus, Egypt, the Canaries, and Madeira in 4-6 hours, Morocco and Cape Verde in 5-8 hours (as of 09/2026, ADAC winter calendar). In the Mediterranean in January it's around 16 °C, in the Canaries around 20 °C.

You can swim in January in the Caribbean basin, off the coast of South Africa, in the Maldives, and in Egypt. The warmest water in the table is at Phuket, Santo Domingo, and Colombo, around 27 °C.

1. Dominican Republic: beaches and inland areas

White sand, turquoise sea, and palm trees in the wind are just the country's storefront. Inland, you'll find jungles, waterfalls, mountains, fruit plantations, and coffee and tobacco fields.

Las Terrenas beach with palm trees and a bay

The trip usually starts in Santo Domingo. The colonial architecture, Gothic cathedral, and port fortress take up a full day. After that, get a car. The road along the eastern coast of the Baoruco Peninsula offers views of the bays, and the Cordillera Central is good for mountain biking, canyoning, and hiking.

Trips from Santiago de los Caballeros lead to tobacco, coffee, and cocoa plantations. The Samaná Peninsula holds paradise beaches and rocky shores. From January to March, humpback whales pass through Samaná Bay.

How to get there: about a 10-hour flight from Germany, average daytime temperature 28 °C (as of 09/2026, ADAC climate summary)
Who it's for: suits those who want a classic beach plus trips to plantations and waterfalls.
Not for: you want a short flight and a quiet, cool vacation.
The catch: ten hours on a plane each way.

Available rooms for January get booked early: hotels in the Dominican Republic on Trip.com.

2. Lanzarote: volcanoes instead of winter

A T-shirt is appropriate here in January: around 20 °C during the day. Rain does happen, but it's usually brief (as of 09/2026, ADAC overview for January). After the New Year holidays, the island quiets down again.

Volcanic landscape of Timanfaya on Lanzarote

The island tells the story of the earth's birth. Around a hundred volcanic cones, solidified lava flows, and bizarre rock formations explain why the landscapes here are unlike the rest of the Canaries.

Artist and architect César Manrique (1919-1992) wove nature into his projects. Check out Jameos del Agua and Mirador del Río: a ticket to the center is valid for three months from the date of purchase, so you don't need a rigid schedule (as of 09/2026, CACT Lanzarote tickets). For a walk by the water, the sandy beaches of Costa del Papagayo and Puerto del Carmen work well. Playa de las Cucharas is a favorite with windsurfers.

How to get there: about a 4.5-hour flight from Germany, average daytime temperature 20 °C (as of 09/2026, ADAC temperature table)
Who it's for: suits those who want a short flight and volcanic scenery.
Not for: you're after a warm sea. The water around Lanzarote in January is about 19 °C.
The catch: wind and brief rain showers.

Where to stay on the island: hotels in Lanzarote on Trip.com.

3. Cape Verde: nature and ocean

A vacation like the Caribbean, only noticeably closer. The archipelago of several inhabited islands lies off the coast of West Africa: long sandy beaches, extinct volcanoes, and green mountain ranges.

The climate is mild year-round. Dry air comes in with the northeast trade wind from the Sahara. Daytime temperatures are 19-23 °C, the water stays at 20 °C or above, and rain in January is unlikely (as of 09/2026, ADAC travel review data).

Surfers keep Sal on their list: the trade wind blows from November through July. The beaches are white, the water is turquoise. The second stop on this island is the Pedra de Lume salt flats. They were dug into the crater of an extinct volcano, part of the lake is open for swimming, and the salt concentration is noticeably higher than in the sea. You float on the water with almost no effort.

Santiago, the largest island in the archipelago, gives you a different picture. Here sandy bays sit next to rocky shores, Mount Pico da Antónia rises to 1,392 m, and bananas and coconuts grow in the valleys (as of 09/2026, ADAC island guide).

How to get there: about a 6.5-hour flight from Germany, average daytime temperature 21 °C (as of 09/2026, ADAC on January weather)
Who it's for: a good fit if you want a beach, wind for surfing, and a lower price than the Caribbean.
Not for: you want dense tropical jungle and lots of architecture.
The catch: you need to fly or take a ferry between islands.

Islands and dates: hotels in Cape Verde on Trip.com.

4. New Zealand: summer in the middle of winter

While Europe is below freezing, New Zealand is in the middle of summer. January is the best month here for a campervan route. Plan at least three weeks for the whole country.

The capital, Wellington, lies in the south of the North Island. At the national museum Te Papa Tongarewa you can get a handle on Māori culture, the country's history, and its geology in half a day.

Mount Taranaki is circled via the Around the Mountain Circuit. Tongariro National Park is home to three active volcanoes. Around them lie black lava flows, the Emerald Lakes, Blue Lake, South Crater, and Red Crater. Geothermal geysers and hot springs await you in Rotorua. Auckland adds an urban contrast with the Sky Tower observation deck.

Of the 14 national parks, ten are on the South Island. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park holds the country's highest mountain, 3,724 m. According to New Zealand's Department of Conservation, there are 19 peaks above 3,000 m here (as of 09/2026).

In Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound and a 90-minute boat cruise await (as of 09/2026, ADAC on New Zealand). Then come the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, the Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park, and the golden beaches of Abel Tasman. The Coast Track takes three to five days.

How to get there: a 22-23 hour flight from Germany, average daytime temperature 21 °C (as of 09/2026, flight data from ADAC)
Who it's for: a good fit if you have three weeks and want to drive across the country.
Not for: you're looking for a beach vacation in warm water: the ocean here is around 17 °C.
The catch: almost a full day of travel.

It's easier to put the route together in advance: car rental in New Zealand on DiscoverCars.

5. Germany: cross-country trails in the Bavarian Forest and Black Forest

Cross-country skiing doesn't require mountains or expensive lifts. In Germany, the low mountain ranges get enough snow for it, and trails run across plateaus, valleys, and spruce forests.

Snow-covered Black Forest hills with a ski trail near Schönwald

More than 2,000 km of groomed trails stretch across the Black Forest. The Bavarian Forest offers just as many (as of 09/2026, ADAC on winter trails).

The region's best-known route is the Bayerwaldloipe, 150 km from Lohberg to Neureichenau. Plan nine day stages for it. The trail is marked in one direction, from northwest to southeast (as of 09/2026, Bavarian Forest portal).

In the Ammergau Alps, 180 km of trails lead to Ettal Abbey and Linderhof Palace. Reit im Winkl in Chiemgau, the district's highest village, offers more than 200 km of loops with mountain views (as of 09/2026, ADAC on ski regions).

A separate destination is the Ore Mountains and Vogtland: up to 1,300 km of marked trails. Around Oberwiesenthal they are of moderate difficulty and almost always have snow (as of 09/2026, ADAC on the Ore Mountains).

How to get there: you can reach the Bavarian Forest and Chiemgau by train in one day.
Who it's for: suits those who want an active day without lift lines.
Not for: you need guaranteed trails: snow in the low mountain ranges doesn't fall every January.
The catch: check the Loipenbericht before heading out, trail conditions can change within a day (as of 09/2026, Bavarian Forest trail report).

6. Colorado: Aspen and Vail

Aspen, Colorado has long been considered a celebrity ski resort. The first Alpine World Ski Championships outside Europe were held here in 1950 (as of 09/2026, ADAC on Colorado resorts). Since then, Hollywood faces can be spotted on the slopes of its four resorts.

Snow-covered mountains and coniferous forest

All four resorts are connected by free shuttles and lifts. From Denver, you can fly to Aspen in 45 minutes (as of 09/2026, ADAC on Colorado logistics). The town center is built of brick buildings, with boutiques and fine-dining restaurants lined up one after another.

Aspen Snowmass offers more than 230 km of trails and a summit at 3,813 m. Aspen Mountain has about 100 km of runs, from steep walls to gentle sections. Buttermilk, with wide, gentle slopes (about 35 km), suits families (as of 09/2026, official Aspen Snowmass website). Experienced skiers choose Aspen Highlands: it has 135 km of steep and challenging descents.

Vail opened in 1962 and, together with Vail Mountain, is considered the largest ski region in North America. Across 2,150 hectares there are 195 runs and 31 lifts, with 53% of them rated for experts (as of 09/2026, official Vail website).

The dry air and altitude keep the snow light and dry, which is why the local off-piste skiing is called Champagne Powder. Vail Village is car-free, and its architecture resembles Tyrolean towns.

How to get there: flight from Germany takes about 10.5 hours, average daytime temperature 5 °C (as of 09/2026, ADAC data on Colorado)
Who it's for: suits those who want world-championship-level snow.
Not for: you want a budget ski weekend: January is high season here.
The catch: it's cheaper to buy your ski pass in advance on the official website (as of 09/2026, Aspen Snowmass prices).

Accommodation for your ski dates: hotels in Aspen on Trip.com.

What else is warm in January

Southern Europe covers the need for sun without a long flight. The Algarve and Costa del Sol stay mild (as of 09/2026, ADAC on southern Europe).

For swimming, choose the Caribbean, South Africa, or the Maldives. The closest option is Egypt. With a layover, the journey gets several hours longer.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Where is it warm in January and can you swim?

For swimming, go for the Dominican Republic or Cape Verde: water there is around 22-27 °C (as of 09/2026, climate data from ADAC). Lanzarote is warmer in the air than in the water: around 20 °C during the day, ocean around 19 °C. Rain in January is short, so a light jacket for the evening and a swimsuit for the day will be enough.

Is a week enough for New Zealand?

A week is not enough. The country is split into two large islands, and the South Island route alone takes at least ten days. The flight from Germany takes 22-23 hours (as of 09/2026, flight time according to ADAC), so even two weeks turn into a tight schedule with no room for error. Plan at least three weeks or pick one island.

What to see on Lanzarote in one day?

The classic loop: Jameos del Agua and Mirador del Río, created by César Manrique, then the beaches of Costa del Papagayo or the windy Playa de las Cucharas. The center ticket is valid for three months from the date of purchase (as of 09/2026, official CACT tickets), so you're not tied to a specific day. By car, you can fit in two centers and one beach.

Where can you go cross-country skiing in Germany?

Check the Loipenbericht: the Bavarian Forest portal shows which trails are open and when they were last groomed (as of 09/2026, trail report). The snowiest areas are around Oberwiesenthal in the Ore Mountains and Reit im Winkl in Chiemgau. The Black Forest maintains more than 2,000 km of trails, but during a thaw conditions can change within a day (as of 09/2026, ADAC on the Bavarian Forest).

How much does a trip to Colorado cost in January?

Plan for high season: January in Colorado means holidays and the best snow, so hotels in Aspen and Vail are more expensive on those dates. Buy your day ski pass in advance: the official website price is lower than at the ticket window (as of 09/2026, Aspen Snowmass rates). The flight from Germany takes about 10.5 hours, so you lose a day of travel in each direction.

In short: what's worth booking

If you have a week and want sun: go to Lanzarote, and for warm water head to Cape Verde or the Dominican Republic.

If you have three weeks and love road trips: plan New Zealand, January is its best month.

If you want snow: choose the Bavarian Forest for cross-country skiing and Colorado for downhill.

Available rooms for January get booked up early: find a hotel on Trip.com for your dates.

Where to go in January 2026: six destinations from the Caribbean to Colorado