Where is warm in January from Ireland?
Once schools are back after Christmas, January has no school break at all, so it is the month for anyone not tied to the school calendar. Only the Canary Islands are warm enough for the beach. Madeira is a little cooler, and the Costa del Sol, the Algarve, Malta and Cyprus are mild and sunny: good for walking and eating outside, not for lying by the pool.
| Destination | Average high | Warm enough for the beach |
|---|---|---|
| Tenerife South TFS | 22°C | Beach weather |
| Lanzarote ACE | 21°C | Beach weather |
| Fuerteventura FUE | 21°C | Beach weather |
| Gran Canaria LPA | 21°C | Beach weather |
| Madeira FNC | 19°C | Mild, not beach |
| Malaga, Costa del Sol AGP | 17°C | Mild, not beach |
| Alicante, Costa Blanca ALC | 17°C | Mild, not beach |
| Paphos, Cyprus PFO | 17°C | Mild, not beach |
| Faro, Algarve FAO | 16°C | Mild, not beach |
| Malta MLA | 16°C | Mild, not beach |
Those are averages over many years, not a forecast. We call somewhere beach weather when it averages 21°C or more by day. Evenings are cooler everywhere, and the sea is colder than the air.
January 2027: dates to know
- New Year’s Day: Friday 1 January 2027, a public holiday.
- Christmas 2026: Schools close after Tue 22 Dec 2026 and reopen Wed 6 Jan 2027.
Booking a January sun holiday: what to check
- Each price is the cheapest return for one person that we found for that destination, on the dates shown on its card. Other dates cost the same or more.
- Set the number of adults and children above to see the total for everyone travelling.
- The cheapest Ryanair fare covers one small bag that fits under the seat. A 10kg cabin bag and checked bags cost extra with Ryanair.
- Some routes do not fly every day in winter, so check the days before you plan the trip around a date.
- Check whether the hotel heats its pool. Many do not in winter, even in the Canaries.