Winter is coming in Europe and while the first snowfall brings you back wisps of child-like awe, that initial wonder is quickly lifted once the season’s slush and sub-zero temperatures set in. The burning question then is, how do you escape your winter woes?
easyJet brings you the only surefire solution to making the most of your winter holidays: travelling to the best winter sun destinations in Europe.
Spain continues to be the uncontested favourite for European winter sun locations in 2016. With a short-haul flight, holidaymakers can unwind, soak up the sun and explore the best European winter sun destinations of Tenerife, Malaga and Lanzarote sans the summer tourist madness – and with lower off-peak prices to boot.
So, slather on that sunscreen and get your swimsuit ready because here are three of Europe’s best destinations for winter sun in winter 2016.
Best European winter sun destinations: Tenerife
Luxurious Tenerife has long been one of the big-hitters for winter sun destinations in Europe and it continues to dominate this year’s list. The largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, Tenerife’s enviable location near the African coast brings year-round sunshine and daytime highs that average on 21C in winter. Hop on a cable car to the summit of Mt Teide, Spain’s highest peak, and let the island’s volcanic national park steal your breath. After glimpsing the landscape’s rugged flanks amidst long swaths of turquoise lagoons and alpine blooms, it becomes clear why Neil Armstrong once called the scenery “the closest thing to the lunar landscape” he has even seen.
The winter months are perfect for a stroll along the island’s craggy coastline in the north and a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage town of La Laguna where everywhere you turn, quirky architectural gems from Tenerife’s colonial past abound. Once Christmas Eve – or Noche Bueno – rolls in, join the fiesta in the top resorts and winter sun locations of Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos, Puerto de la Cruz and Puerto de Santiago. With a glass of quality Tenerife wine in hand, dance, sing, eat and banish all thoughts of a freezing winter from your mind.
Direct easyJet flights to Tenerife from Amsterdam start at EUR 64.49*
Best European winter sun destinations: Malaga
Every true sun worshipper knows that Malaga is one of the best destinations for winter sun in Europe. Buzzing with manic activity in the summer months, the hive that is Costa del Sol’s capital empties in winter to provide travellers a more authentic Malagueño experience. Gone are the beaches teeming with crowds, replaced by long uninterrupted hours of playing with sand between your toes under temperatures that rarely dip below 15C.
Lounge in one of Malaga’s beachfront restaurants or chiringuitos, devour a heartier selection of tapas and finally grasp what ‘siesta’ truly means. If you feel like you’re missing out on traditional winter celebrations – fret not. The coastal city stages elaborate holiday displays from Christmas markets, flamenco-fuelled New Year parties to the Spanish tradition of Reyes Magos where flashy floats snake through the city streets leaving sweets and little presents on their paths. To top it off, you can savour all of these without the torment of the blistering cold.
Direct easyJet flights to Malaga from Amsterdam start at EUR 37.49*
Best European winter sun destinations: Lanzarote
Lying closest to the coast of Africa out of all the Canaries’ islands, it’s no surprise that Lanzarote finds itself among the best destinations for winter sun in Europe. Sun-starved travellers can sigh in satisfaction knowing that the island deems 21C as the lowest for the season.
The ultimate escape for adventurers determined to beat the winter blues, Lanzarote is a playground of activity centred around its phenomenal 300 volcanic cones. The island’s inky lava fields juxtaposed with soft rolling hills, rocky coves and stretches of clear open water makes for otherworldly views but also unbeatable athletic pursuits like windsurfing, scuba diving, trekking, cycling and even parachuting. Make sure to save some energy for a mandatory hike – or camel ride – of Lanzarote’s Timafaya National Park, the hearth of the once-destructive Fire Mountains. With the swarm of activity, you will hardly have time to think about the icy winter back home.
Direct easyJet flights to Lanzarote from Amsterdam start at EUR 53.99*
*Prices shown above are per person and based on two people flying on the same booking. The prices are up-to-date as of 12 December 2016. Check easyJet’s website for more information about flights to the best destinations for winter sun in Europe.
easyJet/Expatica
Photo Credits: Nick Kenrick (Malaga), salomon10 (Lanzarote).
Originally published in Expatica for easyJet
