Warm cities in winter: December–February

For anyone chasing the sun during the Northern Hemisphere winter, there are more options than you might think: coastal cities in the tropics, regions in their dry season and the Southern Hemisphere at the height of summer. This guide explains how to read average temperatures, how to avoid rainy-season and monsoon traps, and why sea temperature matters separately. At the bottom of the page you'll find a list of cities with a pleasant average high in December, January and February.

Last updated: November 2026

In brief

• The values in the table are estimated average temperatures at the warmest time of day, based on long-term averages; they are not the weather on any single day.
• Warm doesn't always mean nice weather: in the tropics, December–February is the dry season in some places and the rainy season in others.
• Humidity isn't in the table yet; the same temperature can feel comfortable in dry air and oppressive in humid air.
• In the Southern Hemisphere, these months are midsummer.

How to read the average high temperature

The average high is the average of each day's warmest reading over the month. The warmest time of day is usually the afternoon; mornings and nights can be noticeably cooler. In desert climates especially, the difference between day and night can exceed 27 °F.

An average hides the extremes. A month that averages 75 °F can include windy days of 64 °F as well as days above 86 °F. Consider packing layers.

Rainy season and monsoons

In the tropics, the seasons are defined by rainfall more than temperature. In mainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, southern Vietnam, Cambodia), for example, December–February is the dry season and the most popular time to travel. By contrast, Malaysia's east coast and central Vietnam can get heavy rain in these months under the influence of the northeast monsoon.

Most of Indonesia, northern Australia and tropical South America are in their rainy season at this time. Tropical rain usually comes in short, heavy showers, but in some places it can last for days and disrupt transport. In the Caribbean, December–February is the dry season and falls outside hurricane season.

Humidity and the feels-like temperature

For now, the table on this page shows only temperature; we plan to add humidity data in future updates. In a humid tropical city, 86 °F feels much hotter than 86 °F in a dry desert city. Because sweat doesn't evaporate easily, your body can't cool down.

In humid places, spending the hottest hours of the day in the shade or indoors, wearing light, light-coloured clothing and drinking plenty of water all make things easier.

Sea temperature is a separate matter

Even when the air is warm, the sea isn't always warm enough for swimming. In the Canary Islands, for example, winter days are mostly mild, but the water is around 64–68 °F, which many people find cool. The southern Mediterranean is also cold in winter.

Tropical seas, on the other hand, generally stay above 79 °F even in winter. If you're planning a beach holiday, check the sea temperature separately.

Options by region

• Southeast Asia — Cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap are in the middle of the dry season.
• Indian Ocean and South Asia — Goa, the west coast around Colombo and the Maldives are usually dry and sunny.
• Middle East and North Africa — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Luxor or Aswan in Egypt are extremely hot in summer but mild in winter; nights can be cool.
• Atlantic islands — The Canary Islands and Madeira are mild rather than hot; think spring weather.
• Caribbean and Central America — Dry season and outside hurricane season; Havana, Cancún and Panama are popular choices.
• Southern Hemisphere — It's summer in Sydney, Cape Town, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro; Rio and Buenos Aires can have humidity and heatwaves.

Practical tips

• These months are high season in many warm regions; accommodation fills up early around New Year and local holidays.
• The sun is very strong near the equator; protect yourself from it even on cool, cloudy days.
• It's summer holiday time in the Southern Hemisphere, so domestic tourism is busy too.
• Keep the early part of the day for outdoor activities so that short showers don't spoil your plans.

Warm cities from December to February

Average high temperature, °F