Best holiday destinations for winter sun in Spain

Swap grey skies for Spain’s sunniest winter spots, where bright days and mild weather never take a break.

Icod de los Vinos. Marc Ryckaert, CC BY 3.0 Creative commons

16 October 2025, 15:00

Spain does winter sun properly, making it a great holiday destination during the chillier months. The Canary Islands stay in T‑shirt weather thanks to their subtropical latitude, while the southern mainland brings bright, mild days and sheltered coves with plenty open year‑round. It means blue‑sky afternoons for beach walks and tapas on sun‑drenched terraces, while much of Europe sits under grey skies.

Warmest parts of Spain in winter: Canary Islands vs mainland
Top destinations in Spain for winter sun
Moving to a sunny part of Spain permanently

Warmest parts of Spain in winter: Canary Islands vs mainland

The Canary Islands are Spain’s safe bet for balmy winter sun, and a great getaway destination in January once the festive season is over. The southern coasts usually serve up the steadiest T‑shirt days. Expect bright afternoons, cooler evenings that call for a light layer, and microclimates that make a sheltered bay feel noticeably warmer than an exposed strand.

On the mainland, the sunshine belt stretches along the Mediterranean, so a holiday to Spain in February may well take you here. You’ll get plenty of blue-sky, mild days and wind‑sheltered coves, with sea temperatures cooler than the Canaries and crisp nights. Inland spots can feel toasty at lunchtime but drop after dark. It's no surprise that living in Southern Spain is a popular choice for foreigners from colder, greyer lands looking for a bit of sun.

Top destinations in Spain for winter sun

Tenerife – warmest place in Spain in winter

Costa Adeje Pixabay

Winter on Tenerife means balmy afternoons along the south-west coast, lazy pool days with Mount Teide on the horizon, and grilled fish lunches on sunlit terraces in Costa Adeje. The light is soft, the promenades are lively without the summer crush, and there’s always a sheltered bay when the breeze gets up.

If you want to avoid the resorts, head north for Tenerife's authentic alternatives. Pick a place with a heated pool and pack a jumper for sunset or a Teide day trip. For a proper local bite, hunt down a weekend guachinche in the north for ridiculously good-value plates.

Gran Canaria – reliable sunshine in the south

Down south, Maspalomas to Puerto de Mogán is a classic winter sunbelt. Up in Las Palmas, you get a city break with a golden beach at Las Canteras, plus cafés and galleries for when you fancy shade and a cortado.

Puerto de Mogán often has the island’s steadiest winter sun, and at Las Canteras, the reef creates calm, glassy shallows at low tide. Mornings are the calmest for beach time, with the trade winds more likely to pick up after lunch.

Lanzarote – volcanic landscapes with sheltered coves

Lanzarote in winter feels otherworldly: black lava fields, whitewashed villages, and sun-splashed afternoons in Playa Blanca or Puerto del Carmen. Walk coastal paths, book a Timanfaya National Park tour, then end the day with papas arrugadas and a glass of local malvasía.

The Papagayo coves are your go-to when the northeasterlies blow, as they’re tucked out of the wind. Car hire can spike around Christmas and New Year, so it pays to book early.

Fuerteventura – breezy but mild, beach and surf heaven

dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 Creative commons

Think huge, honey-coloured beaches and a salty, easy rhythm on Fuerteventura. Corralejo and the north are breezier with surf energy. Or, head south to Costa Calma and Jandía for long, sunbaked walks and warm sand between your toes.

A light windbreaker is worth its weight in gold, and windbreak cabanas on the beach make lazy sun sessions a doddle. For calmer seas, look for coves on the leeward side when the winds are up.

Málaga and the Costa del Sol – city culture plus mild beach days

Málaga gives you blue-sky mornings for museum hopping, café terraces, and checking out the city's best panoramic viewpoints. Plus, golden-hour means strolls along Pedregalejo or La Malagueta. Tapas bars hum year-round, and day trips along the coast are simple on the Cercanías or by car.

In December, the Calle Larios lights draw half of Andalusia, so go midweek and late evening for elbow room. Aim for a south-facing terrace for a surprisingly warm mid-afternoon lunch.

Nerja – sheltered coves on the eastern Costa del Sol

Nerja’s winter has a gentle, olde worlde feel. The Balcón de Europa for sunlit sea views, Burriana for a lazy beach day, and pretty Frigiliana up the hill for cobbled lanes and views to the coast. It’s slower, scenic and nicely walkable.

Calahonda and El Salón beaches sit in little folds beneath town and often dodge the wind. Buses from Málaga are frequent, so it’s an easy, car-free escape.

Marbella – sunny promenades and upscale resorts

Marbella Old Town Pixabay

Winter in Marbella is all about soft light on the Paseo Marítimo and enjoying long coffees and sea views while sitting at one of the city's top outdoor terraces. The old town’s white lanes are great for slow evening wanders, the Cost del Sol golf courses are busy in a good way, and the Sierra Blanca often keeps the wind at bay.

Afternoons can feel toasty thanks to the microclimate, but you’ll want a layer after sunset. Beach bars, or chiringuitos, switch to cosy winter menus. Look for charcoal-grilled sardines even in January.

Almería & Cabo de Gata – Spain’s driest corner

Expect bright, arid landscapes, sapphire coves and uncluttered trails around Almería. Base yourself in San José for easy dips at Genoveses or Mónsul on calmer days, and linger over seafood in sleepy harbours as the sun dips.

Services in Cabo de Gata National Park are pared back in winter, so bring water and snacks for beach days. A car opens up the best sheltered coves and lets you chase the sun around the headlands.

Alicante & the Costa Blanca – winter light and easy living

Alicante city hums through winter with beach walks, a lively tapas scene and the castle for sunset views. Elsewhere along the Costa Blanca, Benidorm serves up serious sunshine stats, while Altea and Jávea are gentler bases with coastal paths and cafés. It’s simple, sunny and well set for longer stays.

Poniente Beach in Benidorm is quieter than Levante and gets glorious afternoon sun. For warmer microclimates inland, look for south-facing valleys around La Nucía and Polop.

Seville – warm inland days, cool nights

Pixabay

Seville shines in winter with orange trees, courtyards warm at midday and empty-palace moments at the Alcázar. Tapas hopping in Triana, flamenco shows after dark and riverside strolls all feel unhurried under a soft blue sky.

Insider info: temperatures drop fast after sunset, so think scarf and coat for evenings. The Cabalgata de Reyes on 5 January is a wonderfully local spectacle if you’re around early in the year.

Moving to a sunny part of Spain permanently

If the winter trial has you hooked, give your favourite spot a longer test with a three-month let to see how it feels day to day. Balance climate with practicalities such as airport access, healthcare, schools if needed, and a social scene that doesn’t vanish in January.

Paperwork matters as much as palm trees: moving to Spain means picking the right visa route, budgeting for fees and timing appointments sensibly. For a base that still hums when it’s quiet, choosing where to live on the Spanish coast year‑round comes down to winter services, flat promenades, and a resident community that doesn’t vanish with the summer sun.

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