Here comes the sun: warm destinations for every month of 2025
Looking to plot out a year filled with vitamin D at every opportunity? Let this destination guide, offering a different sun-drenched spot for each month of the year, help you plan what your 2025 might look like
01/01/2025
Floating market in Bangkok
JANUARY
Bangkok, Thailand
Average high temperature: 32°C
Leave the grey skies behind and start the year with a full dose of sunshine in Southeast Asia’s perennially popular city. Balmy temperatures and blue skies bathe this region at this time of year and the bright lights, big flavours and bustling scenes of the Thai capital make it an excellent choice. Expect temperatures in the late 20s (reaching highs of around 32°C) with little rainfall – the perfect environment for escapades amid a whirl of markets and culinary options. Looking for an adventure beyond the bustle? Let the city act as a launchpad to the jungles and national parks to the north and the paradisaical islands to the south.
Chamarel Waterfall in Mauritius
FEBRUARY
MAURITIUS
Average high temperature: 30°C
The average high temperature in Mauritius in February is a delectable 30°C. As the northern hemisphere hunkers down for a short but cold month, escape to the Indian Ocean island nation, where a slice of paradise is served up with a good dose of adventure. The photogenic, crystalline blue waters and golden sands are as impressive as they look in the travel brochures, but it’s in the forested, rugged interior of the island where the real action happens. Whether you’re venturing high into the forested mountain ranges or hanging out on the picturesque beaches, Mauritius knows how to distract from the winter months. Pair that with a spice-fuelled, fresh cuisine and birdwatching opportunities at every turn, and there’s something to appeal to everyone here.
An island resort in the Maldives (also opening image)
MARCH
THE MALDIVES
Average high temperature: 32°C
As the year picks up pace, slow things down with an escape to the magic of the Maldives. This archipelago is where you’ll find a world away from your everyday routines. Whether that’s cycling along boardwalks, learning about turtle conservation from local rangers or lazing on a sun-lounger outside your overwater bungalow, this is the place to switch up the tempo and get a healthy dose of unfiltered vitamin D. Temperatures waver around the 30°C mark (with highs of 32°C), meaning balmy temperatures for lazing and lounging. Here, barefoot luxury comes in all shades of bliss, but you’re probably best off doing very little and indulging in the sheer gorgeousness of it all.
National Museum of Qatar in Doha
APRIL
DOHA, QATAR
Average high temperature: 32°C
If you’re after a sunny city break with a difference, consider Doha. This emerging hub destination has carved out a strong reputation in recent years with the opening of a swathe of luxury hotels and the cultivation of a strong culinary and art scene. The Middle Eastern city certainly knows how to impress with this new collection of cultural heavyweights. At the Museum of Islamic Art, an architectural masterpiece jutting out into the Persian Gulf overlooking the glass-skyscraper-filled skyline beyond, you’ll get an overview of the diversity of Islamic heritage while the National Museum of Qatar and the Arab Museum of Modern Art are equally as impressive. Elsewhere, the Souq Waqif is an evocative, historic marketplace and the Qanat Quartier is a Venetian-inspired neighbourhood of canals and candy-coloured buildings.
Fireworks at the Magic Kingdom park, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando
MAY
ORLANDO, USA
Average high temperature: 31°C
As summer in the West begins, it’s time for the season of fun and frivolity. The American good-time mecca for families and friends has to be Orlando. The city is bursting with theme parks from the big hitters such as Walt Disney World Resort to the new-for-2025 Universal Epic Universe, where five worlds of wonder offer guaranteed thrills. And if that’s not your thing, then worry not as Orlando has resorts to relax in, a diverse dining scene to explore and plenty of nature-filled excursions to lure you out of the city, too. All this, while being cloaked in the warm sunshine and enjoying fewer crowds – the month of May is the time to enjoy a quieter pace after the Spring Break crowds have eased and before the summer rush arrives.
The pretty port city of Salerno on the Amalfi Coast
JUNE
SALERNO, ITALY
Average high temperature: 26°C
Salerno may sit close to world-famous spots such as the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and the city of Naples, but it’s a quietly confident destination in its own right. Direct flights whisk you to this port city in the Campania region, where you’ll find an historic centre with a showstopping Duomo, considered by some to be most impressive mediaeval church in the country. Weave through sun-drenched streets and out on to the seafront promenade that hugs the bay under the shadow of the peaks that frame the city. It’s a picturesque spot to soak up the start of the summer sun with the locals.
Cobbled streets in Pano Lefkara, a traditional village in Larnaca
JULY
LARNACA, CYPRUS
Average high temperature: 33°C
In the summer months, there’s no need to fly far for your hit of vitamin D. And the vibrant destination of Larnaca on the island of Cyprus offers average highs of 33°C to fuel your summer adventure. The beautiful spot has long been a favourite with British travellers – and for good reason. It’s a classic Mediterranean destination, oozing the atmosphere of a laidback, coastal city and doused in summer sun. The city is fringed with the popular, palm-lined Finikoudes Beach and nightlife here is as vibrant as the food is impressive. If you’re looking to see more of the island, the nearby salt lakes are speckled with flamingos and protected bird species while, off the coast, evocative shipwrecks provide thrilling diving opportunities.
The Petronas Towers, the world's tallest twin skyscrapers, in Kuala Lumpur
AUGUST
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
Average high temperature: 32°C
Strike out from the usual summer suspects and head further afield to the temperate tropics of the Malaysian capital. August is a fine month to visit as it’s the dry season and also the month of the country’s national day (31 August) meaning the city erupts with parades, parties and celebratory events. The glorious sunshine is best enjoyed at a hotel with a pool for leisurely dips or days off from touring. Mornings and late afternoons are perfect for sightseeing, when temperatures in the late 20s make it a comfortable environment to explore this diverse metropolis, from the futuristic districts to the quaint Malay village-style neighbourhoods. Head to the markets to sample the kaleidoscopic range of cuisines and local crafts. The city also functions as an incredible launchpad for intrepid adventures nearby – think trekking and tea in the Cameroon Highlands or culinary explorations on the foodie haven of Penang Island.
Venice Beach skatepark, LA
SEPTEMBER
LOS ANGELES, USA
Average high temperature: 28°C
Soak up the end-of-the-summer sunshine in this West Coast wonder. Los Angeles needs no introduction – its cinematic prowess, world-class attractions, rugged nature and unstoppable dining scene make it a hit every time. September is a wonderful month to visit as the temperatures waver around a comfortable 28°C and the city remains bathed in sunshine with hardly a drop of rain. Beyond the urban hub, the national parks long to be explored and the Californian coast entertains its guests with sea-life-spotting spectacles as humpback whales, blue whales and pods of orcas searching for sea lions.
The Agadir Medina, Morocco
OCTOBER
AGADIR, MOROCCO
Average high temperature: 28°C
Nature often teaches us wise lessons, one of which is that migrating birds head south at this time of year. As autumn falls, it might be smart to follow their lead. The Moroccan city of Agadir on the southern Atlantic coast is the capital of the fertile Souss-Massa region, proudly offering more than 300 days of sunshine a year. It’s a smart choice for sun seekers this season, whether you’re hitting the souks, braving the surf or simply stretching out on the beaches. The city’s warming blend of former fishing port city and more modern additions make it a picture of modern Morocco. Spend the day on the beach before hitting the Souk El Had (one of the country’s largest) and heading up to the Kasbah for sunset to appreciate the blended city below from this romantic viewpoint.
The futuristic skyline of Dubai, UAE
NOVEMBER
DUBAI, UAE
Average high temperature: 31°C
Dubai has perfected its offering to those wanting a sunshine-filled break. Warm temperatures (but mild compared to the scorching summer months) and minimal rainfall join the bright skies in the month of November in the Emirati hotspot. This is a place of superlatives and shape-shifting geography that never stands still, whether that’s reaching new heights with skyscrapers or lurching into the ocean with futuristic new developments. This means there’s an ever-expanding portfolio of things to experience, from desert excursions to world-class dining. It’s a city state with an endless appeal for those looking for a dose of bright sunshine as winter sets in back at home.
Soufriere town with views of the Pitons, St Lucia (Corinne Kutz)
DECEMBER
ST LUCIA, THE CARIBBEAN
Average high temperature: 31°C
Guaranteed sunshine and good times await in the Caribbean. It’s time to round off your 2025 with an island escape in this rightly adored archipelago region. St Lucia is a verdant, sun-drenched destination to escape to, a place where you can reconnect with nature at its most vibrant at a time when the colours at home might look a little more, well, dull. Here, you’ll find thick, luscious rainforests and emerald peaks, with criss-crossing hiking trails and viewpoints that give out on to the cobalt seas beyond. Let the year come to a close with an awe-inspiring backdrop to invigorate the senses.
