Where to go in January

25 destinations with the right weather and season in January, with temperatures and what not to miss.

• 🌡️ 27°C

  Cape Town

  South Africa

  Sunny summer in the southern hemisphere, beaches and Table Mountain.

  Summer

  • Table Mountain
  • Cape of Good Hope
  • Winelands
  • Beaches

  South Africa guide →
• 🌡️ 25°C

  Luang Prabang

  Lao People's Democratic Republic

  UNESCO World Heritage town with temples, waterfalls and Buddhist culture.

  Dry season

  • Wat Xieng Thong
  • Kuang Si Falls
  • Night markets
  • Alms ceremony

  Lao People's Democratic Republic guide →
• 🌡️ -1°C

  Cortina d'Ampezzo

  Italy

  January brings reliable snow and blue skies to the Dolomites, with slopes quieter after the holidays.

  Ski season

  • Skiing the Dolomiti Superski
  • Cinque Torri
  • Corso Italia stroll
  • Sunset on the Tofane

  Italy guide →
• 🌡️ 13°C

  Novoli

  Italy

  On 16 January the Fòcara, a giant bonfire for Saint Anthony, lights up the night in this Salento town.

  Fòcara festival

  • Lighting of the Fòcara
  • Fireworks show
  • Salento wine tasting
  • Day trip to Lecce

  Italy guide →
• 🌡️ 6°C

  Turin

  Italy

  Low season in January means empty museums, cosy historic cafés and snowy Alps framing the city.

  Winter

  • Egyptian Museum
  • Bicerin at a café
  • Mole Antonelliana
  • Superga basilica

  Italy guide →
• 🌡️ 3°C

  Abruzzo National Park

  Italy

  Fresh snow makes January ideal for snowshoeing through beech forests and spotting chamois and wolf tracks.

  Snow

  • Snowshoe hikes
  • Pescasseroli village
  • Wildlife tracking
  • Lake Barrea

  Italy guide →
• 🌡️ 3°C

  Vienna

  Austria

  January is the heart of ball season, with hundreds of waltz nights in palaces and grand halls.

  Ball season

  • A Viennese ball
  • Schönbrunn Palace
  • Coffee and Sachertorte
  • State Opera

  Austria guide →
• 🌡️ 0°C

  Kitzbühel

  Austria

  In January the Hahnenkamm downhill races fill this Tyrolean town with fans and party atmosphere.

  Ski season

  • Hahnenkamm race
  • Streif slope
  • Medieval old town
  • Tyrolean après-ski

  Austria guide →
• 🌡️ -3°C

  St. Moritz

  Switzerland

  Late January brings the Snow Polo World Cup onto the frozen lake, under the dry Engadin sunshine.

  Winter sports

  • Snow polo on the lake
  • Bernina Express
  • Corviglia slopes
  • Engadin cross-country

  Switzerland guide →
• 🌡️ 13°C

  Granada

  Spain

  In January the snowy Sierra Nevada rises behind the Alhambra: ski in the morning, Moorish palaces by afternoon.

  Winter sun

  • Alhambra palaces
  • Albaicín viewpoints
  • Sierra Nevada skiing
  • Free tapas

  Spain guide →
• 🌡️ 1°C

  Prague

  Czechia

  After the holidays, January leaves Prague quiet and cheaper, with snow often dusting its rooftops.

  Winter

  • Charles Bridge at dawn
  • Prague Castle
  • Old Town Square
  • Czech beer halls

  Czechia guide →
• 🌡️ 23°C

  Jaipur

  India

  The Pink City with palaces, forts and pleasant winter weather.

  Winter

  • Hawa Mahal
  • City Palace
  • Amber Fort
  • Local markets

  India guide →
• 🌡️ 2°C

  Budapest

  Hungary

  Cold January air makes the steaming outdoor thermal pools of Budapest a pure winter pleasure.

  Thermal baths

  • Széchenyi Baths
  • Parliament by night
  • Fisherman's Bastion
  • Ruin bars

  Hungary guide →
• 🌡️ 2°C

  Lake Bled

  Slovenia

  In January the lake and its island church sit under snow, peaceful and far from the summer crowds.

  Winter

  • Bled Castle
  • Pletna boat to the island
  • Cream cake kremšnita
  • Vintgar area walks

  Slovenia guide →
• 🌡️ -3°C

  Tromsø

  Norway

  January's long nights and blue polar light give some of the best chances to see the northern lights.

  Northern lights

  • Aurora hunting
  • Husky sledding
  • Arctic Cathedral
  • Fjellheisen cable car

  Norway guide →
• 🌡️ 19°C

  Marrakech

  Morocco

  January means sunny, mild days in the medina and snow-capped Atlas peaks on the horizon.

  Winter sun

  • Jemaa el-Fna square
  • Majorelle Garden
  • Souks of the medina
  • Atlas day trip

  Morocco guide →
• 🌡️ 7°C

  Edinburgh

  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  On 25 January Burns Night fills pubs with poetry, haggis and whisky to honour Scotland's national poet.

  Burns Night

  • Burns Supper
  • Edinburgh Castle
  • Royal Mile
  • Arthur's Seat

  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland guide →
• 🌡️ 15°C

  Lisbon

  Portugal

  Mild January days and low-season prices make Lisbon's hills and viewpoints easy to enjoy without crowds.

  Mild winter

  • Tram 28
  • Alfama and fado
  • Belém pastries
  • Sintra day trip

  Portugal guide →
• 🌡️ 30°C

  Rio de Janeiro

  Brazil

  Summer vibes, beaches and iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.

  Summer

  • Copacabana
  • Ipanema
  • Sugarloaf Mountain
  • Christ the Redeemer

  Brazil guide →
• 🌡️ 24°C

  Dubai

  United Arab Emirates

  Modern skyscrapers, desert adventures and mild winter sun.

  Winter

  • Burj Khalifa
  • Palm Jumeirah
  • Desert safari
  • Shopping

  United Arab Emirates guide →
• 🌡️ -2°C

  Reykjavik

  Iceland

  Northern lights, hot springs and Icelandic winter landscapes.

  Winter

  • Northern Lights
  • Blue Lagoon
  • Golden Circle
  • Glaciers

  Iceland guide →
• 🌡️ 29°C

  Cartagena

  Colombia

  Caribbean city with colonial charm, beaches and vibrant nightlife.

  Dry season

  • Walled City
  • Beaches
  • Castillo San Felipe
  • Nightlife

  Colombia guide →
• 🌡️ -5°C

  Whistler

  Canada

  World-class ski resort with snowy landscapes and winter sports.

  Winter

  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Mountain views
  • Après-ski

  Canada guide →
• 🌡️ 23°C

  Auckland

  New Zealand

  Summer season, harbors, nature and Maori culture.

  Summer

  • Harbor
  • Volcanoes
  • Beaches
  • Maori culture

  New Zealand guide →
• 🌡️ 20°C

  Abu Simbel

  Egypt

  Mild desert climate, impressive ancient temples by Lake Nasser.

  Winter

  • Great Temple of Ramses II
  • Small Temple of Hathor
  • Lake Nasser
  • Desert views

  Egypt guide →