Best Winter Sun Destinations From the UK for Christmas 2026

Phuket is the warmest Christmas winter sun option from the UK, with December highs of around 31°C, but it is a long-haul trip. Tenerife is the easiest, at around four and a half hours direct. Dubai offers warm weather and direct flights from eight UK airports. Egypt's Red Sea resorts often offer strong all-inclusive value.

There is no single best Christmas sun destination. The right choice depends on how warm you want it, how far you are willing to fly and what your budget looks like over the festive period.

This guide compares all four, using December weather averages, current UK flight routes and practical Christmas booking advice.

If you want to save time, contact our team to guide you about the best destinations for Christmas for UK holidaymakers. 

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Which Winter Sun Destination Is Best for Christmas?

Each of the four destinations wins in a different way. Here is the short version.

• Warmest: Phuket, with tropical beach weather. The trade-off is a journey of around 12 hours direct, or longer with a stop.

• Easiest direct flight: Tenerife, with direct flights from most UK airports.

• Shortest travel time: Tenerife, at around four to four and a half hours.

• Families: Tenerife for the short flight. Egypt for resorts with plenty included.

• Beach weather: Phuket first, then the Red Sea and Dubai.

• Value: Egypt is often strong for all-inclusive, but Christmas prices vary everywhere.

• Luxury and city plus beach: Dubai.

• Long-haul escape: Phuket.

Christmas Winter Sun at a Glance

Figures are rounded historical averages. They vary between sources and years.

How to Compare Christmas Winter Sun Options

These are daytime highs, not all-day temperatures. Evenings are cooler everywhere except Phuket. In Tenerife, Dubai and Egypt, you will usually want a light layer after dark.

Even 22°C feels very different from a UK December. It is warm enough to sit outside, eat on a terrace and enjoy the pool on sunny days. Sunshine hours are averages, not promises. A cloudy day can happen anywhere.

The weather is only part of the decision. Flight times, baggage, hotel location and the total Christmas cost can change the picture.

You do not have to compare all of this yourself. Tell TravelApp your dates, nearest airport and budget, and the team can help you compare suitable flights, hotels and holiday packages for your trip.

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The Best Winter Sun Destinations for Christmas

Dubai

Dubai has warm, dry December days of around 25°C, with plenty of sunshine and very little rain. It is one of the easiest long-haul destinations to reach from the UK.

Flights: Emirates flies direct from eight UK airports: London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The flight takes around seven hours. British Airways plans to restart Heathrow flights on 3 November 2026.

Travellers in the North West can compare flights from Manchester to Dubai before deciding if a London departure is worth the extra journey.

What Christmas is like: Christmas is widely celebrated in Dubai's hotels and malls. Expect festive brunches, decorated hotel lobbies and big New Year's Eve fireworks at the Burj Khalifa. Visit Dubai lists festive events closer to the time.

Who it suits:

• couples and luxury travellers

• families who want a mix of beach, theme parks and city sights

• travellers who want a direct flight from a regional airport

Families who would rather keep meal costs predictable over Christmas can look at an all-inclusive Dubai holiday, where meals and selected drinks are covered at the resort.

Things to know: Sea temperatures are around 23°C to 24°C, which is comfortable but not tropical. Dubai is also one of the busiest destinations over Christmas and New Year, and hotel prices rise sharply.

The region saw flight disruption in 2026, and GOV.UK UAE travel advice still warns of possible short-notice changes. Flexible fares and good travel insurance make sense.

Flights and hotels both cost more at Christmas, so many travellers find a package easier to budget for. Comparing Dubai holiday packages from the UK shows what flights and a hotel cost together for your dates.

Tenerife and the Canary Islands

Tenerife is the easiest winter sun destination for Christmas, with direct flights from most UK airports in around four to four and a half hours. The south of the island averages highs of around 22°C in December.

Flights: Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and British Airways fly to Tenerife South from across the UK. Routes include London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Your nearest airport very likely has a direct flight.

Families in the Midlands can compare flights from Birmingham when a local departure is easier than heading south.

What the weather is like: Expect mild, sunny days and cooler evenings. The south and west coasts, around Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, are usually sunnier than the north. The sea is around 20°C, so heated pools are popular.

Who it suits:

• families who want a short flight

• couples looking for a relaxed break

• travellers who want all-inclusive or self-catering choice

• anyone who does not want to fly long-haul

Christmas feel: Tenerife celebrates a Spanish Christmas. Celebrations continue to Three Kings' Day on 6 January, with parades and festive events.

Tenerife or another Canary Island? Gran Canaria and Lanzarote have similar weather and many direct UK flights. Gran Canaria's south coast is often a touch warmer. Lanzarote is quieter and can feel windier. Tenerife has the widest choice of flights and resorts.

Spain is in the Schengen area, so check the Spain entry requirements on GOV.UK for passport rules before you travel.

Egypt's Red Sea Resorts

Egypt's Red Sea resorts have sunny December days of around 24°C to 25°C, with very little rain. They are known for all-inclusive resorts and some of the best snorkelling within five hours of the UK.

Hurghada

Hurghada has a long coastline of large resort hotels, many of them all-inclusive. It suits families and travellers who want a pool, beach and plenty included in the price.

Flights: Direct flights take around five to five and a half hours. TUI and easyJet fly to Hurghada from selected UK airports, including Manchester and Glasgow, with availability varying by date. Jet2 does not start Egypt flights until February 2027, so it is not an option this Christmas.

Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh sits at the southern tip of the Sinai and is famous for diving and snorkelling. Ras Mohammed National Park and the coral reefs are the main draws. Highs are often slightly warmer than Hurghada, at around 25°C.

Flights: Direct flights take around five and a half hours. easyJet and TUI fly to Sharm from Manchester and Newcastle. easyJet also flies from Glasgow, with Edinburgh flights starting in November 2026. TUI also flies from East Midlands.

Egypt at Christmas: What to Know

• Evenings can be cool, often around 14°C to 16°C. Pack a jumper.

• The sea is around 23°C to 24°C, which is warm enough for snorkelling with care.

• Many resorts put on Christmas Eve dinners and New Year parties.

• British visitors need a visa. Rules for Sharm El Sheikh can differ from the rest of Egypt.

Check the latest Egypt travel advice on GOV.UK before booking. FCDO advises against travel to some parts of Egypt, including North Sinai. Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are not in those areas, but the advice is worth reading in full.

Egypt holidays are often sold with flights, hotel and transfers included. Travellers who like having meals and drinks covered can also compare all-inclusive holidays for the festive period.

Phuket

Phuket is the warmest of the four, with December highs of around 31°C and warm evenings. December is in the dry season on Thailand's Andaman coast, so beach weather is usually good.

Flights: This Christmas, Phuket has more direct options from the UK than before.

• Virgin Atlantic flies direct from London Heathrow three times a week from 18 October 2026.

• TUI runs seasonal direct flights from London Gatwick, mainly sold with packages.

• From other UK airports, you will usually fly one-stop via Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi.

A direct flight takes around 12 hours. One-stop trips usually take 15 to 20 hours, including the connection.

What the weather is like: Hot, humid and mostly sunny. Early December can still bring a few showers. The sea is around 28°C, which is the warmest of the four.

Who it suits:

• couples and honeymooners

• families with older children who can handle a long flight

• travellers with at least 10 to 14 days to spare

• anyone combining beaches with Bangkok or island hopping

Christmas demand: Phuket is in peak season over Christmas and New Year. Direct flights have limited days and seats, so book early if your dates are fixed.

British passport holders can visit Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days. You must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before you arrive. Check the latest Thailand entry requirements on GOV.UK.

For a beach-focused Christmas, Thailand holiday packages from the UK can combine long-haul flights, hotels and transfers in one booking. If you would rather not think about meals once you arrive, an all-inclusive Thailand holiday in Phuket keeps most costs in one price.

Which Destination Should You Choose?

Choose Tenerife if you want winter sun without a long journey.

Choose Egypt if you want resort value, warm days and great snorkelling.

Choose Dubai if you want warm weather, a direct flight from a regional airport and a city plus beach trip.

Choose Phuket if you want proper tropical beach weather and are happy with a much longer journey.

Direct vs One-Stop Flights

Direct flights are usually the easier choice at Christmas, especially with children. One-stop flights can give more options when direct seats sell out.

Direct Flights

• shorter overall journey

• easier with children

• no change of plane

• no risk of a missed connection

One-Stop Flights

• more departure airports and times

• sometimes lower fares, but not always

• the only option for some long-haul routes

• more flexible schedules

Your departure airport makes a big difference here. Manchester has direct flights to Tenerife, Dubai and both Egypt resorts. Northern travellers can compare flights from Manchester before deciding whether a one-stop or a London departure is worth it.

A cheaper ticket is not always cheaper overall. Add baggage, seats, transfers and the extra time a connection takes before you decide.

How to Save on Christmas Travel

Christmas is one of the most expensive times of year to travel from the UK. Demand is concentrated into a few weeks, and most families can only travel during the school holidays.

Why Christmas Flights Cost More

• Prices usually climb from the start of the school holidays, around 19 to 20 December.

• The days just before Christmas are often among the busiest.

• Christmas Day itself can sometimes be quieter, as fewer people fly.

• Return flights around New Year and the first weekend of January are often expensive.

Ways to Keep Costs Down

• Be flexible on dates. Travelling before the biggest festive demand can sometimes cost less, but fares change every year.

• Check your return date. Coming back a few days after New Year can make a difference.

• Try midweek departures. They are sometimes cheaper than weekends.

• Compare regional airports. Your nearest airport may beat London once trains and parking are included.

• Compare with bags included. A low fare without luggage may not be the best value.

• Compare package and flight-only prices. Sometimes the package wins. Sometimes it does not.

When Should You Book?

There is no single best booking day. But Christmas is different from the rest of the year.

• Popular routes get more expensive as seats sell.

• Families with fixed school-holiday dates usually benefit from booking early.

• Flexible travellers can compare several departure and return dates.

• Last-minute deals are rarer over Christmas than at other times of year.

You can compare all of these options yourself, but you do not have to. Give TravelApp your dates, preferred airport and budget, and the team can help you compare suitable flights and holiday packages before you book.

Speak to the TravelApp Team

Package Holiday or Flight Only?

A package can make Christmas simpler, but it is not always cheaper. It depends on what you need.

Flight Only

Flight-only can work well for:

• travellers who already have accommodation

• flexible itineraries

• multi-stop trips

• visiting family

Package Holiday

A package can be useful when:

• you need both flights and a hotel

• you want one booking and one point of contact

• transfers are included

• the resort and hotel matter as much as the flight

• financial protection is important to you

ATOL protection applies to eligible flight-inclusive packages. If your booking is ATOL protected, you should receive an ATOL Certificate showing what is covered. The CAA's ATOL guidance explains how the scheme works.

Christmas travel can also be expensive to pay for in one go. Deposits and flexible payment options may be available on eligible bookings, subject to terms.

When flights and hotels both rise in price over the festive season, comparing holiday packages from the UK against booking each part separately is often worth the extra few minutes.

Family Winter Sun at Christmas

For families, the shortest comfortable journey often matters more than the warmest temperature.

• Flight length: Tenerife (around four hours) is much easier with small children than Phuket (12 hours or more).

• Direct flights: Avoid connections with young children where you can.

• Baggage: Christmas trips often need more luggage. Check your allowance before you book.

• Transfers: Airport transfers in Egypt and Dubai are short. Phuket transfers can take an hour or more.

• Resort facilities: Kids' clubs, heated pools and family rooms sell out early at Christmas.

• School holidays: Book early if your dates are fixed.

• Insurance: Arrange cover when you book, so illness or a cancelled flight before Christmas does not mean losing your money. The guide to travel insurance for UK travellers explains what to check.

Not every family wants all-inclusive. Self-catering apartments in Tenerife and city hotels in Dubai suit families who like to explore.

Ready for Some Christmas Sun?

The best Christmas sun destination is the one that fits your dates, budget and how far you want to fly. Travelling later in the season instead? Many of these destinations also work well for winter sun holidays from January to March, when prices are often lower than at Christmas.

In either case, you do not need to work out every flight, hotel and package combination yourself.

Tell TravelApp your nearest UK airport, travel dates, number of travellers and budget, and the team can help you compare suitable options for your trip.

TravelApp can help you compare:

• flights and departure airports

• hotels and holiday packages

• direct and one-stop options

• dates either side of Christmas

• payment options on eligible bookings

Once you have the options, you can choose the trip that works for you and move ahead with your booking.

Prefer to speak to someone? Call TravelApp on +44 20 3137 0990.

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