The best places to visit in January 2025

Average Jan temp: 23C/73F

Known locally as the ‘lagoon of seven colours’ (the varying depth of the water is what produces such a luxurious spectrum of seven shades of turquoise), this destination is a popular holiday go-to for Mexican people, but remains largely undiscovered by international tourists. You only need a couple of days here – it would make an excellent addition to a longer trip of Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula – but the lagoon is vast and there is a tonne to explore. We hired bikes from the aptly named Rental Bikes and cycled all the way along to Cenote Azul (a dazzling beautiful freshwater sink hole) before returning to Bacalar for some food at Mr Taco, but I’d also recommend hopping on a yacht tour of the lagoon (which is not as crazy expensive as it sounds) – you’ll get to hang out with some locals and gorge on delicious tropical fruit in the sun. 

Why go now? Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) is celebrated across Mexico on January 6 – it’s likely there’ll be a celebration in Bacalar’s central Zócalo for this. 

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Average Jan temp: 21C/70F

Live in the Northern Hemisphere? Cancel winter’s contract and go south to Melbourne, Australia, where it’s summer. Some people say Melbourne is Australia’s coolest city—and those people are entirely correct (soz, Sydney: take solace with that massive bridge and those lovely beaches). In a more literal sense, the Victorian capital is also warm, especially in January. Expect t-shirt weather, and don’t miss the Big Three: coffee, street art and St Kilda.

Why go now? The ultimate summer sport? That’s up for debate, but for any tennis heads out there, January is a cracker of a month to head to Melbourne, as you can catch every round of the Australian Open for free on this screen in Fed Square.

🌅Discover the best things to do in Melbourne

Average Jan temp: 5C/41F

Paris is pretty magnificent throughout the year, but I’m making the case for paying the French capital a visit after the chaotic buzz of the festive period and before the blossom blooms. Why? Because when the rest of Europe is gloomily trudging through the dark evenings and the post-Christmas slump in energy, the City of Lights glows. Anyway, once you’ve done the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Champs-Elysées, Paris is really about wandering, eating and drinking as much as you can. Don some layers and have a mooch around Montmartre, before cosying in at Bar À Bulles for a drink and then heading to Boullion Chartier for some lip-smacking dinner. 

Why go now? Every year, Paris’s stunning Saint-Germain-des-Pres Church hosts classical music concerts throughout the winter, the last of which is on January 4. Head down and indulge in the serenade. 

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Average Jan temp: 0C/32F

Another one where blue skies aren’t exactly guaranteed—though if you’re lucky, they might turn green once night falls. We are, of course, talking about the ethereal Northern Lights, which flood Iceland’s skies with their bewitching colours in January (and the rest of winter). Even if the clouds prove stubborn, there’s more than enough on the ground to keep you busy: majestic waterfalls, exploding geysers, pristine glaciers, and scenery that looks like a sci-fi movie set.

Why go now? The Dark Days Music Festival is taking place in the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik from January 24-26, showcasing stunning new work by Icelandic composers.

🌌Discover the best things to do in Iceland

Average Jan temp: 22C/72F

Basking in the shadow of Table Mountain and perched overlooking the gorgeous Atlantic coast, South Africa’s ‘Mother City’ is a cracking place to kick the seasonal blues. From lazily perusing the boho-chic Kalk Bay area or filling your boots at the new Time Out Market to braving the dazzling heights of the ‘Boomslang’ at Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, this jewel of a city will have an enticing activity to keep you entertained in January. 

Why go now? The penguins, guys, that’s why. Head to Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town to watch the little dudes scurry around – all proceeds go towards their conservation.

🌤️Discover the best things to do in Cape Town

Average Jan temp: 6C/43F

You know at the top how we said something about blue skies? Yeah, well, that doesn’t apply here (your extremities might go blue, though!). If a holiday on a remote, rocky, rain-lashed island 200km north of northern Scotland in the North Sea sounds like your idea of something that would go quickly south, hear us out. There is a Viking Festival in January. A. Viking. Festival. It’s called Up Helly Aa, and while we’re slightly crushed we can’t yet speak from firsthand experience, it looks absolutely incredible.

Why go now? Taking place annually on the last Tuesday in January, Up Helly Aa Fire Festival sees residents come together, dress up, burn torches and boogie to traditional music, all inspired by the island’s viking past.

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Average Jan temp: 26C/79F

If you’ve ever glanced at a map of the world, you may have noticed Brazil is rather on the large side, meaning the kinds of temperatures you experience will depend on which part you visit. January is generally a safe bet, with an average mercury reading of 27C/78F. Start in absurdly scenic Rio, draped around a mountainous natural harbour and sporting some of the world’s best beaches, before heading inland to the Amazon. Pack bug spray.

Why go now? Lavagem do Bonfirm (which translates to the Feast of Bonfirm) is an inter-religious celebration in Salvador which takes places on the (take note) on the Thursday before the second Sunday after Three Kings Day, which is always January 6. There’s more info about it here. 

🌺Discover the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro

Average Jan temp: 23C/73F

South East Asia’s answer to Venice, this vast, emerald patchwork of paddies is known as the rice bowl of Vietnam. The region acts as a kind of colander for the Mekong River as it drains into the South China Sea and is webbed with a dense, tropical maze of chocolate-brown waterways, teeming with villages, pagodas and floating markets. January is one of the best times to visit — warm, dry and sunny. You can hop on a 2–3 day tour starting from Ho Chi Minh City, which lies just to the north (if you book in-country, it’ll cost about the same as a 30-minute gondola ride in Venice).

Why go now? Vietnamese New Year – known locally as Tết – takes place in January every year, and this year it falls on 29. Expect streets to be alive with colourful decorations, glorious parades and, of course, plenty of food (but much less chaotic than celebrating in Hanoi).

🐠Discover the best things to do in Vietnam

Average Jan temp: -12C/10F

This world-famous Wyoming national park is always spectacular. It is mainly visited in warmer months, but if you can get there in January, you’ll be in for a real treat, with the whole place transformed into an other-worldly wintery wilderness. Animals are much easier to spot in the snow, with the most notable example being bison, complete with their shaggy winter coats, and the steam from the geysers is far more pronounced.

Why go now? You’ll experience a proper, bitingly cold but gorgeous winter here. Fancy exploring by snow mobile? Have a look at these guided tours.

🏩 Check out the best places to stay in Yellowstone

Average Jan temp: 27C/82F

With its colonial-era, mural-adorned capital city and plenty of white sand beaches to plonk yourself down on, you could do much worse than starting off the year on Malaysia’s Penang Island. Not to mention, January’s the perfect time to visit, as George Town becomes even more colourful than usual as Lunar New Year celebrations take over the streets. Wander around the city after dark to see its buildings lit up in a spectacular display, with Kek Lok Si Temple not to be missed. 

Why go now? Thaipusam Festival is a Hindu event that tends to fall in January (sometimes February, depending on the full moon in the tamil month of Thai), and will see locals dressed in yellow and orange, as well as music and processions.  

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Average Jan temp: 21C/70F

Basking in the heart of the Caribbean, Cuba makes for an excellent excursion from January’s wintery depths. The whole place feels like it was made for Instagram: the coasts are fringed with talc-like beaches and turquoise waters, while inland mountains lurch up from verdant plains. And then there’s the capital, Havana, with its retro cars (thanks, communism!) and salsa clubs. Your friends at home will hate you. Temperatures are supremely agreeable this time of year, hovering around the 21C/70F mark.

Why go now: Havana Jazz Festival will be on from Jan 27 to Feb 3, 2025, which is the place to be for a flavour of Cuban culture. 

🌊Discover the best things to do in Cuba

Average Jan temp: 27C/81F

Most people who hear of this place in that Tenacious D song think it sounds vaguely exotic (and probably fictional) and then forget about it. But not you. We want Zanzibar to be planted in your mind like one of the giant palm trees that line its white shores. Here’s what you need to know. It IS exotic AND real. It’s an archipelago. It’s in Africa. It’s tropical. It’s stupendously beautiful. It’s affordable. And January is the best month to visit.

Why go now? Head to Kendwa Rocks in Zanzibar on January 14 for a full moon party and BBQ buffet dinner.

Average Jan temp: 25C/77F

Big, bold, brash and mind-bogglingly vertiginous, this glittering forest of skyscrapers sprouting incongruously from the Arabian Desert demands your attention. Get your bearings from the world’s tallest building, browse the souk in the Old Town by Dubai Creek, and do some dune bashing on a desert safari. Dubai’s got about as much time for winter as it does for low-key construction projects, with January temperatures idling around the mid twenties — so you might want to factor in some beach time, too.

Why go now? Whether you’re a fan of discovering new DJs or public art installations, shopping at pop-ups or sampling local food, head to Quoz Arts Festival on January 25 and 26.

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