What are the best places to travel in January?

Sapporo and Hokkaido: snow country in January

Sapporo is the pick for travellers who want deep winter. The WMO lists a January average high of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius and a low of minus 6.4, with 108.4 mm of precipitation over 18.3 days (1991 to 2020 normals). With the average high below freezing, much of that precipitation can be expected to fall as snow, though the station record does not split it out.

The Japan National Tourism Organization calls Niseko, on Hokkaido, a powder snow paradise and says Japanese ski resorts generally open in late October. The trade-off is cold and short days, and the need for proper boots. Browse Sapporo for city stays; a kitchen is useful when the weather keeps you in.

Reykjavik: aurora forecasts and a cold, damp city

Reykjavik in January is a bet on darkness and sky. The WMO lists an average high of 1.9 degrees Celsius and a low of minus 3.0, with 75.6 mm of precipitation over 13.3 days (1961 to 1990 normals). That is cold, with precipitation on more than every third day.

The Icelandic Met Office provides aurora and cloud-cover forecasts among its weather pages, which is the practical tool for planning an evening out. It is an official forecast service, not a promise of a sighting. Stays in Reykjavik suit shorter city breaks combined with day trips.

Queenstown: summer in the Southern Alps

January is the heart of the southern summer in New Zealand. At Queenstown, the WMO lists an average high of 21.7 degrees Celsius and a low of 9.7, with 63.9 mm of rain. The page lists rainfall for 1981 to 2010 but states no period for the temperatures and gives no rain-day count.

The gap between day and night is wide, so layers are useful even in midsummer. This is a pick for cool summer days rather than for hot-weather beaches. Browse Queenstown for stays.

Cape Town: dry, warm summer days

Cape Town's January is dry by the standards of the other southern picks. The WMO lists an average high of 26.1 degrees Celsius and a low of 15.7, with 15 mm of rain over 5.5 days (1961 to 1990 normals), which is less than a quarter of Queenstown's total.

Nights are cooler than the days, with a low near 16 degrees, and it is worth reading official travel advice for South Africa before you go. See Cape Town for stays.

Lima: summer on a rainless coast

Lima is a southern-hemisphere summer city with almost no rain. The WMO lists a January average high of 25.8 degrees Celsius and a low of 19.1, with just 0.9 mm of rain. The page does not give the period or the rain days.

A dry record does not mean clear skies, as the station figures say nothing about cloud or haze. Days are warm rather than extreme. See Lima for stays.

Buenos Aires: hot, humid summer

Buenos Aires in January is hot, and rain is part of that heat. The WMO lists an average high of 30.1 degrees Celsius and a low of 20.1, with 138.7 mm of rain over 9 days (1981 to 2010 normals).

Rain on 9 days of the month means planning around showers. It suits travellers who want a big city and warm evenings, and who can handle humidity. Browse Buenos Aires for stays.

Nairobi: a drier month than December

Nairobi sits at altitude, so its January is mild. The WMO lists an average high of 24.5 degrees Celsius and a low of 11.5, with 64.1 mm of rain over 4 days. That is clearly less than the 101 mm the same station records in December.

No period is stated for these figures, and one station cannot describe the whole of Kenya. Check official travel advice for Kenya and for any area you plan to visit. See Nairobi for stays.

Cairo: cool, dry sightseeing weather

Cairo in January is better described as cool than cold. The WMO lists an average high of 19.0 degrees Celsius and a low of 9.7, with 4.8 mm of rain over 3.7 days (1981 to 2010 normals). That is about one and a half degrees cooler than the December average high at the same station (20.4).

Cool air suits long days outdoors, with a low near 10 degrees at night. Check government travel advice for Egypt before you go. See Cairo for stays.

Bangkok: hot days with little rain

Bangkok in January is hot and almost dry. The WMO lists an average high of 32.0 degrees Celsius and a low of 21.0, with 9 mm of rain over 1 day (1961 to 1990 normals). The figures say nothing about air quality or cloud.

The heat is still strong in the afternoon, so plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings. For longer visits, a unit with a kitchen and laundry can make life easier; see Bangkok for stays.

January climate at a glance

The table gathers the January figures from the sections above. Station periods differ, and some pages do not state one.

How we chose, and the limits of this list

We picked places where January has a reason that can be checked against a weather service or an official tourism site, and we show the trade-off with it. We did not weigh price, crowds or availability, which change by year and are not covered by climate data. The list also leaves out many strong options, such as other ski regions and tropical islands.

The climate rows are averages from a past period, so a specific week can be much colder, hotter or wetter. Read official forecasts and travel advice close to your dates. For a month-long stay, our monthly serviced apartments guide covers the format, and when to book covers timing. The table of our own aparthotel figures covers the countries in this list.