Beach vacation in winter: 6 places in Europe where it is still nice and warm even in the cold season

Beach vacation in winter: It works in these places in Europe even in December!
Everyone dreams of, but you just want to be warm? You don't feel like it, tobogganing and ice skating, but just want to feel sand under your feet and sun on your bare skin? Maybe go surfing, drink an ice-cold beer at a beach bar and watch the sunset in the evening with the sound of the waves? We completely understand, especially since the winter is still long enough and there is still time for it in January and Februaryremains. Where should you go if you don't want to sit on a plane all day? Here are six ideas for- in winter.

Cyprus

Cyprus is one of them, and that means: A beach holiday in winter is actually possible here. The little oneis divided into two parts: the Turkish north and the Greek south. Overall, the north is a little cheaper, but the selection of hotels in the south is larger. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island is the fine sandy Nissi Beach near Agia Napa. But the extensive Golden Beach in the north-east of Cyprus and the beautiful, secluded beaches in the Akamas National Park, for example the Blue Lagoon, are also a dream.

Cape Greco National Park on the southeast coast is wonderful. Here you always have a fantastic view of the turquoise sea from several viewing platforms. If you feel like going out, you should explore Cyprus' nightlife in Limassol. This is where locals meet on weekends in the bars and restaurants around Saripolou Square to feast on Cypriot dishes with friendsto initiate. The island's capital Nicosia with its many historical buildings is also worth a visit. You can also do some great shopping here.

Arrival:
Due to its location in the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus is easiest to reach from Germany, Austria and Switzerland by plane in around 3.5 hours. Larnaca Airport is served by many German cities such as Berlin, Dortmund, Dresden and Düsseldorf, but you can also reach Ercan Airport from Germany.

Lanzarote

Off the northwest coast, in the middle of the Atlantic, lies one of the most diverse archipelagos in Europe:. If you want to surf, fly to Fuerteventura,If you want to swim in the 20 degree warm sea, you go to Tenerife or La Gomera, to Lanzarote. At no other time of year is the island, with its rugged landscapes, black beaches and volcanoes, bathed in such a gentle light as in winter. Simply impressive!

Just like many of the island's attractions. For example, the lighthouse “Faro de Pechiguera”, from the base of which you can see all the way to Fuerteventura. Or the “Charo de San Ginés” lagoon in the heart of Lanzarote’s capital Arrecife, surrounded by beautiful white fishermen’s houses. The rocky coast of “Los Hervideros” is the perfect place to watch the sunset.

And of course Lanzarote also has beautiful beaches to offer, such as the paradisiacal “Papagayo Beach” in the southwest of the island, the remote “Playa Chica” near Puerto del Carmen or the pitch-black beaches on the coast of “El Golfo”. With a bit of luck, you can also experience the “Quemao Class” during your stay on the island, where the best surfers in the world compete against each other. The competition takes place between November and March, when exactly the sea decides.

Arrival:
The Canary Island of Lanzarote is served by many airports in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The flight time is approximately 4.5 hours. From the mainland, from Cádiz or Huelva, there is also a weekly ferry to Arrecife, which takes around 27 to 28 hours for the crossing.

Gibraltar

Gibraltar was a point of contention in history for centuries, under the rule of the Moors, Spanish and British. Each of these groups has left its mark, so that the isthmus, which is now part of British territory, now has a unique, exciting mix of cultures. As soon as you arrive, you notice the red telephone boxes, which are otherwise only found in Great Britain - but traffic is on the right. And the restaurants serve fish and chips and Spanish wine. So the best of both worlds, we love it!

At a pleasant 17 degrees in December, the weather is perfect for a quick swim in the sea - ideally after one. Tip: First climb the peninsula's landmark, the Rock of Gibraltar. The 426 meter high limestone monolith not only offers fantastic views of the sea and the surrounding area, but is also home to the Barbary macaques that live there. According to legend, the monkeys escaped from Africa during an animal transport and have lived on the rock ever since. Attention: Feeding the animals is strictly prohibited!

After cooling off, you should definitely take a detour to “St. “Michael’s Cave” with its impressive stalagmites and stalactites inside the rock. If you still have some time and are traveling with a rental car, we recommend checking out the beautiful bays “Sandy Bay” and “Catalan Bay” in the east of the peninsula.

Arrival:
Gibraltar Airport is now only served by British Airways and Easyjet from England. If you want to fly directly from Germany, the nearest airport is in Málaga, approx. 128 km away. From there we continue with the rental car.

Azores

Meter-high waterfalls, steaming hot springs, dense forests, flooded volcanic craters and fine white sandy beaches: The Azores in the middle of the Atlantic are a true natural paradise. And best of all: thanks to the Gulf Stream, mild temperatures of around 18 degrees prevail here all year round, even in December. Here are our must-sees and must-dos for this beautiful archipelago.

For swimming, we recommend Praia Formosa, one of the few sandy beaches in the Azores, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. You can find them in the southern part of Santa Maria Island. You shouldn't miss the huge crater landscape of Caldeira das Sete Cidades with the two lakes Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul on the island of São Miguel. When the sun is right, one lake shimmers green and the other blue.

in the mood for? Then off to Montanha do Pico, the highest mountain at around 2351 meters. If you set off after dark, you can experience the sunrise at the summit. An absolute highlight! A must also visit the Gruta das Torres, a five kilometer long lava cave, which is also located on the island of Pico. Last but not least, we recommend Terra Nostra Park, a beautiful botanical garden on São Miguel. The best thing about it: the park has its own warm thermal pool. Perfect for cooler days! You can find even more tips for island hopping in the Azores.

Arrival:
The larger islands of Sao Miguel, Pico, Terceira and Faial, for example, are served daily by the Portuguese airline TAP. As a rule, you have to change at least once in Lisbon or Porto. The smaller islands are served by small aircraft operated by SATA.

Be careful with carry-on travelers: TAP has dimensions for carry-on suitcases that differ significantly from other members of the Star Alliance group (and are meticulously checked). Carry-ons that are too large then cost 80 euros per flight. Also important: plan enough transfer time, especially with the TAP.

Türkiye

Turkey is located in the eastern Mediterranean and is one of the Germans' favorite holiday destinations. In the popular seaside resort of Antalya, the thermometer rarely drops below a pleasant 19 degrees and the sea temperature also settles at around 18 degrees. Antalya is the capital of the Turkish Riviera and lives up to this title: in addition to taking a break by the sea, visitors can also visit the lively city center. Even on rainy days there is always plenty to do and see!

The hospitality of the people in Antalya is legendary: especially in the off-season, which (still) includes the winter months, visitors can look forward to an extra dose of warmth, as the city lives mainly from tourism - and ideally not just in the summer holidays.

If you want to immerse yourself in ancient culture, you shouldn't miss the ruins and excavations of the old town of Antalya and the surrounding towns. Tip: A trip to the town of Olympos, 72 kilometers away. In addition to a beautiful city center, you can also see the “eternal flames of the fire-breathing Chimaira” nearby: this is a natural phenomenon in which flames erupt from the ground. The reason for the fire fields is escaping gases, the scenario is spectacular.

If you want to do some sport in addition to beach and sightseeing trips, you can go to Beldibi, which is a good 35 kilometers from Antalya and there you can start the Lycian Way, a long and popular long-distance hiking trail in Turkey. This part of the trail features shady forests and a path along a scenic river. If you want and dare, you can jump into the cool water here too!

Arrival:
There are direct flights to Antalya from many German airports, for example with Condor from Munich or Hamburg. The flight time is approximately three hours.

Madeira

Madeira is located west of Morocco in the Atlantic, but is part ofand is also called the island of eternal spring. With temperatures rarely falling below 20 degrees, it blooms here all year round. The island offers unique nature, a hilly volcanic landscape, many beautiful tropical gardens and parks, wonderful coastal roads and picturesque villages. It is a paradise for nature lovers and hikers.

Good to know: It tends to be a little warmer in the south of the island, while it rains more in the north. But it's always worth driving a few kilometers further with your rental car if there's a cloud hanging over you. The island is known for its microclimate. The sun always shines somewhere!

Madeira has so many great spots to offer that it's hard to name just a few. For example, there are the lava basins near Porto Moniz in the northwest of the island. These natural volcanic rock pools are lapped by the Atlantic Ocean and are perfect for a quick dip.

A little further on the north coast you will find another highlight. At an altitude of 300 meters lies the village of Santana with its thatched farmhouses - an ideal starting point for mountain tours. The “Cristo Rei” statue between Caniço and Funchal is also worth seeing. From the plateau “Ponta do Garajau” a path leads up to the top of the rock over many small steps. A magnificent viewpoint overlooking part of Funchal Bay. If you want, you can then take the cable car down to the pebble beach “Praia do Garajau”, which has excellent water quality.

In Funchal you can also see the bronze statue of Maderia's most famous personality: Cristiano Ronaldo at Praça do Mar.

Arrival:
There are direct flights to Madeira from many German airports, for example with Condor from Hamburg or with Eurowings and TUIfly from Düsseldorf. The flight time is approximately four hours.