11 Best Destinations for a 2025 Winter Sun Getaway

Winter is the most wonderful time of the year, until it’s not. If you’re tired of shoveling your driveway for the umpteenth time, feeling cooped up indoors, or craving the warmth on your face, a winter sun vacation can fix all that.

And here’s the good news: With new hotel openings, invigorating festivals, museum launches, and emerging flight routes, escaping the dregs of winter has never been easier. Here’s where to head for your 2025 winter escape for a little fun in the sun.

1. Tucson, Arizona

This sunny city is hitting a myriad of milestones in 2025. Tucson is celebrating its 250-year anniversary, 10 years of being a UNESCO World City of Gastronomy, and 100 years of the Tucson Rodeo Parade. Although technically Tucson‘s 250th “birthday” isn’t until August, it’s better to go when temps are sunny and mild: winter.

Feb. 20, 2025, is when you can catch the 100th annual Tucson Rodeo Parade (the Tucson Rodeo itself runs from February 15-23), and before that, the Tucson Gem Show (February 13-16).

When you’re not exploring the Sonoran Desert or basking in the city’s sunshine and 70 degree Fahrenheit temperatures, dive into all the Native American and Mexican food traditions, specialties, and cocktails the city has to offer, from fry bread to prickly pear margaritas to Sonoran hot dogs and more.

2. Cairo, Egypt

The country’s newest historical wonder, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), has made its soft opening after more than a decade of construction. The GEM is the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single ancient civilization: Egypt. It’s massive — about the size of Vatican City or about 50 soccer fields.

While it’s still not entirely finished (book online for a trial visit until it fully opens, estimated in late 2024 or early 2025), you can still explore the Grand Staircase and several of the galleries, including the children’s galleries and a panoramic viewpoint for the nearby Pyramids of Giza.

And Cairo, which boasts winter daytime highs nearing around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, has plenty to see beneath the sunshine, like the Pyramids, the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, and the Muhammad Ali Mosque, which rivals Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.

3. Los Cabos, Mexico

Los Cabos in winter is always a good idea idea — especially since it’s whale-watching season. Plus, this is when the region sees its driest, most pleasant weather conditions. But if you’re in the market for a luxury getaway, Los Cabos’ fancy hotel scene is where you can truly relax in opulence.

For example, the recently opened Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos at Cabo del Sol feels like you’re in a grand hacienda. Here, the small details make all the difference, like checking in while seated on a sofa instead of waiting in line or getting spa treatments at the Tierra Mar Spa, inspired by ancient healing methods of the indigenous Kumiai tribe.

The newly opened Grand Velas Boutique Hotel Los Cabos is an adults-only property with a private beach and an award-winning chef leading its Japanese fusion restaurant.

4. Sicily, Italy

Although Sicily may not be as warm and sunny as some of the other destinations on this list (and Delta’s new nonstop flight from New York (JFK) to Catania (CTA) doesn’t launch until May 2025), the island’s winter weather is still mild, especially along the coast. Still, it’s low season at this time of year, making stays more affordable.

You won’t see many tourists there in winter, either, as summer is when visitors tend to flock to the island, so you might be able to explore Italy’s 2025 Capital of Culture, Agrigento, beneath sunny skies without the crowds. Famous for its Greek, UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temple ruins, this is just one of many hilltop villages in Sicily worth discovering. Others are Ragusa, Erice, Modica, and Noto (you may recognize this town from “White Lotus”).

5. Colombia

Emirates’ renowned first-class experience is now available on its fifth-freedom flight from Miami (MIA) to Bogotá (BOG) offers a luxurious journey to Colombia — without requiring a stop in Dubai. Even better, Emirates’ newly refurbished 777 aircraft will begin serving this route 4x weekly starting in February 2025, with daily flights set to launch in March.

The new aircraft has a premium economy section as well as a new 1-2-1 business class seating layout. Bogotá has mild, not hot, winter temps, so once you’re there, head to warmer spots like Cartagena for a mix of history, culture, cuisine, and beachy sunshine.

6. Dominica

This under-the-radar Caribbean Island’s tourist industry has been growing by leaps and bounds, ready to welcome visitors in 2025 with a new cruise ship port and an enlarged runway that can accommodate bigger aircraft at its Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM). United Airlines will launch a new route to the Caribbean island from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on February 15, 2025, and operate once weekly on Saturdays.

Dominica is also working on a 50% increase in hotel rooms available in 2025, including new properties. Luckily, some of the new hotels should let you earn and redeem points — namely, the Anichi Resort & Spa, Marriott’s Autograph Collection and the Tranquility Beach Resort, part of the Hilton Curio Collection. For now, you can book the InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa with your stash of IHG One Rewards points.

7. Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi is the only major city in the world where you can spot animals like giraffes, zebras, elephants, and hippos in their natural habitat. Enter Nairobi National Park, which sits just 4 miles away from Nairobi’s city center.

Yes, you might also spot a skyscraper in the distance behind a black rhino. Still, it’s an experience unlike any other to see this type of wildlife just a short drive away from a bustling country’s capital.

January and February are part of the dry season, so winter is the perfect time for a safari, as it has pleasant weather and animals gather in search of water, making for better chances of wildlife sightings. Stay in the recently opened JW Marriott Nairobi, the tallest hotel in Kenya.

8. Palm Springs, California

Head to Palm Springs in February to celebrate Modernism Week, an annual celebration that hosts more than 350 events over 11 days, including bus tours, home tours, parties, and more. If you skip it, you can still take advantage of warm sunshine and mild heat — it’s enough to get a suntan, if not jump into the pool, most of the winter (do so at the new Thompson Palm Springs Hotel).

It’s easier than ever to get to Palm Springs thanks to Delta’s new winter seasonal service from New York (JFK) to Palm Springs (PSP) that runs through May 3, 2025, United’s flights from Washington-Dulles (IAD) through April 2025, and Frontier’s thrice-weekly flights to Denver (DEN) and San Francisco (SFO), among others.

9. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Winter (December to April) is the warm, dry season in Ho Chi Minh City, and 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Take a ride on the city’s first metro, set to open at the end of 2024, shop and eat at the city’s night and street markets, and check out the War Remnants Museum.

If you prefer to get out of the busy city to enjoy the nice weather, head a few hours south to Vung Tao Beach or take a Mekong Delta cruise to experience Vietnam’s landscape and culture.

10. Dubai, UAE

If you want to travel somewhere far-flung and sunny but safe, consider Dubai, which has ranked in the top 15 safest cities for the past 2 years in a row. The city is always at the forefront of what’s new and cool, like the impending air taxi service. This would allow you to fly, “Jetsons”-style, instead of driving to nearby destinations.

There’s also the new Real Madrid World, the world’s first theme park dedicated to soccer. And if you’re looking to stay at the newest, hottest hotels, Dubai always has a new opening. Some of the most recent additions are the Hilton Creek Hotel & Resort, the Delano Dubai, and the opulent Atlantis, The Royal, which sits next to the famed Atlantis, The Palm.

11. Brisbane, Australia

If you feel like really getting away from it all, hop on American Airlines’ newly launched longest flight. It’s from Dallas (DFW) to Brisbane (BNE), where January temps hover around 85 degrees Fahrenheit and hitting the beach (Streets Beach is within easy reach of the city center) on Christmas Day is practically a national pastime.

You can also head south to Australia’s Gold Coast or north to the Sunshine Coast to experience more of the country’s stunning coastline. Enjoy the sunshine by kayaking down the Brisbane River, climbing the Storey Bridge to see the city from up above, or strolling through the City Botanic Gardens.

Final Thoughts

Winter can be brutal, but travel means you can exchange the snow for sand and sun. With many exciting new airline routes, hotel and museum openings, festivals, and events, a getaway for winter 2025 is the perfect time to explore the world’s sunnier and warmer destinations — both close and far from home.