The short answer: head south, or head for the dry season
You will find roughly 25°C / 77°F in the middle of winter in two ways: by flying south of the equator into summer, or by picking a dry-season destination in the northern tropics and subtropics. Cape Town and Sydney do the first. Maui, Tulum, Dubai, Egypt and Rajasthan do the second.
A caveat on the number. Our data files hold peak and shoulder-season highs, not monthly ones, so the temperatures below are rounded general January averages, not figures from our data. Treat them as a starting point, and check the live temperature on each destination page, which pulls from Open-Meteo. Daily costs are our own mid-range estimates per person, flights excluded, as of October 2026.
Our month bars mark every place on this list as either a sweet spot or peak season in December to February. Peak means busiest and dearest, so book early.
Why 25°C / 77°F? Because at that temperature you can swim, walk for three hours and still sit outside in the evening, which at 35°C / 95°F you will not do by choice. That is the case for the middle of the range over the Maldives or the Gulf coast in August, and it is why this list leans on dry-season cities and southern summers rather than beach resorts alone.
Southern summer: Cape Town and Sydney
Cape Town is warm in the mid-20s from December to March, dry and windy, at about $110 (≈ €100 / £85) a day mid-range. Our bar marks January and February as sweet spots. Take the cable car or hike Platteklip Gorge on a clear morning, and keep a day for the Cape Peninsula drive and the Winelands. The catch is twofold: wind closes the cable car and spoils beach days, and crime needs real daily vigilance, especially after dark. It scores 3 out of 5 for safety on our scale.
Sydney is warm to hot in December to February, with humid days and the beaches at their busiest. Our bar marks January and February as sweet spots and December as peak, with a price spike at New Year. At about $230 (≈ €210 / £180) a day it is among the dearest places here. Walk the 6 km / 3.7 mi Bondi to Coogee coast path early on a weekday, and wear sunscreen: UV is strong. The catch is cost, plus the long flight from most places.
Northern dry seasons: Maui, Tulum and Dubai
Maui is dry and sunny almost all year on the west and south coasts, with humpback whales visiting in winter. It is peak season from December to February on our bar, and at about $300 (≈ €270 / £240) a day it is the most expensive pick here. The east coast around Hana is wetter and greener, with rain at any time. The catch is price: you are paying for a short season and a long flight.
Tulum has its dry season from December to April: warm and sunny, and the busiest and most expensive time, at about $170 (≈ €150 / £135) a day. Hurricane season from June to November is the thing you are avoiding. It scores 3 for safety on our scale, so read the destination page and the advisories first.
Dubai is the other end of the thermometer: November to March is warm and dry, while July and August can pass 40°C / 104°F with high humidity. At about $230 (≈ €210 / £180) a day, with strict local laws on dress and behaviour, it is a good winter city break and a poor summer one. Our bar marks it as peak from November to February.
Cooler-night classics: Egypt and Rajasthan
Egypt is at its best from October to April: warm days, cool nights, and a manageable Luxor, where summer often passes 40°C / 104°F. At about $100 (≈ €90 / £80) a day mid-range, it is the cheapest sun on this list apart from Rajasthan. Go to Giza at opening, give Luxor two days for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, and take a Nile cruise to Aswan for Edfu and Kom Ombo. The catch is persistent touts and haggling, and you should check government advice for regions before you go. It scores 3 for safety on our scale.
Rajasthan has its winter season from October to March, with warm days and cool nights, and it is the busy season, at about $90 (≈ €80 / £70) a day. Reach Amer Fort at opening, and choose a small camp near Jaisalmer rather than a large one. The catch is touts, long drives and the stomach upsets that our page lists as common.
| Place | Mid-range per day | Crowds (1 to 5) | Safety (1 to 5) | Dec / Jan / Feb on our bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | $110 (≈ €100 / £85) | 3 | 3 | Sweet / Sweet / Sweet |
| Sydney | $230 (≈ €210 / £180) | 4 | 5 | Peak / Peak / Sweet |
| Maui | $300 (≈ €270 / £240) | 4 | 4 | Peak / Peak / Peak |
| Tulum | $170 (≈ €150 / £135) | 4 | 3 | Sweet / Sweet / Sweet |
| Dubai | $230 (≈ €210 / £180) | 4 | 4 | Peak / Peak / Peak |
| Egypt | $100 (≈ €90 / £80) | 4 | 3 | Sweet / Sweet / Sweet |
| Rajasthan | $90 (≈ €80 / £70) | 3 | 3 | Sweet / Sweet / Sweet |
How to choose, and what winter sun really costs
If you want warmth and a bargain, choose Egypt or Rajasthan, and accept that these are active, hassle-prone trips rather than beach holidays. If you want a beach and can pay, choose Maui or Sydney. If you want a city break with guaranteed sun, choose Dubai. If you want a mix of mountain, wine and coast, choose Cape Town and keep your valuables out of sight.
The flight is the hidden cost. Everything above excludes it, and winter-sun flights price at a premium around Christmas and New Year. Book 4 to 6 months ahead for peak months.
Winter sun is also a hype word. 25°C / 77°F is warm for a Northern European January, but it is not the 30°C / 86°F-plus of the Maldives, and many of these places have an afternoon wind or a morning chill. If your list also includes snow, our winter guide covers the other side of the season, and where to go in December covers the holiday weeks. To compare any two, try Dubai against the Maldives.
Logistics differ more than the weather does. Dubai is the easiest to run, with a metro, taxis and ride-hailing and an airport close to town. Cape Town's distances call for a car or ride-hailing. Egypt and Rajasthan reward a driver or a guide for the long days between sights. Sydney is a walking and ferry city. Match the place to the amount of effort you want to put into it.
Winter sun: frequently asked questions
Where can I find 25°C / 77°F in winter?
Cape Town and Sydney in southern-hemisphere summer, and dry-season destinations such as Maui, Tulum, Dubai, Egypt and Rajasthan. Temperatures here are rounded general January averages, so check the live reading on each destination page.
What is the cheapest winter sun destination?
On our estimates Rajasthan, at about $90 (≈ €80 / £70) a day mid-range per person, then Egypt at about $100 (≈ €90 / £80) and Cape Town at about $110 (≈ €100 / £85), excluding flights, as of October 2026.
Is winter sun busy at Christmas?
Yes. Several of these places are peak season from December, and prices rise around Christmas and New Year. Our guidance is to book flights and stays 4 to 6 months ahead for peak months.
Is it safe to travel to these places in winter?
Safety varies. Sydney scores 5 on our scale, Maui and Dubai 4, and Cape Town, Egypt, Rajasthan and Tulum 3. Check the UK FCDO, US State Department and Smartraveller pages for current advice before booking.