Best time to visit
Where to Go in January
January is midsummer south of the equator and the dry season across much of mainland Southeast Asia, while most of Europe and North America sits in deep winter. Each city below lists January among the best months to visit in its Wanderlust guide, and they are ordered by our overall ranking.
#1Spain · EuropeTenerife, Spain
The Canary Islands' largest gem where volcanic majesty meets year-round spring with dramatic hikes and vibrant resorts
#2Thailand · AsiaKo Pha Ngan, Thailand
Thailand's legendary party island with a soul — pristine beaches, jungle waterfalls, and world-famous Full Moon Parties.
#3Thailand · AsiaKo Chang, Thailand
Thailand's jungle-clad Elephant Island: white-sand bays, coral reefs, and national park wilderness without the crowds.
#4Taiwan · AsiaTainan, Taiwan
Taiwan's soulful ancient capital — a living museum of temples, street food, and colonial history.
#5Thailand · AsiaKo Samui, Thailand
Thailand's Gulf island gem — white-sand beaches, jungle waterfalls, and luxury resorts all in one tropical paradise.
#6Japan · AsiaHokkaido, Japan
Japan's wild north — world-class powder snow, volcanic landscapes, and lavender fields with no rainy season.
#7Andorra · EuropeAndorra la Vella, Andorra
Europe's highest capital — a Pyrenean microstate where tax-free shopping, world-class skiing, and thermal spas share a stunning mountain valley.
#8Thailand · AsiaKo Phi Phi, Thailand
Thailand's most iconic island escape — dazzling limestone cliffs, Maya Bay, and legendary beach nightlife.
#9Thailand · AsiaKo Lipe, Thailand
Thailand's "Maldives of the South" — pristine reefs, car-free beaches, and killer island-hopping at the Malaysian border.
#10Thailand · AsiaHua Hin, Thailand
Thailand's royal beach retreat — laid-back Gulf coast living just 3 hours from Bangkok.
#11Thailand · AsiaAo Nang, Thailand
Krabi's limestone-fringed gateway to the Andaman — where dramatic karst cliffs meet powder-soft beaches and island-hopping paradise.
#12Thailand · AsiaBangkok, Thailand
Bangkok: where gilded temples, legendary street food, and pulsing nightlife collide in Southeast Asia's ultimate metropolis.
#13Bulgaria · EuropeBansko, Bulgaria
Bulgaria's dual-season mountain gem — world-class skiing in winter, epic Pirin hiking in summer, and Europe's buzziest digital nomad festival.
#14Japan · AsiaSapporo, Japan
Japan's northern gateway: vibrant culture, snow festivals, and natural beauty.
#15Taiwan · AsiaKaohsiung, Taiwan
Taiwan's sun-drenched harbor city — where street art, night markets, and a revitalized waterfront meet laid-back southern charm.
#16Thailand · AsiaPattaya, Thailand
Thailand's most-visited beach city — sun, nightlife, island escapes, and year-round energy on the Eastern Gulf coast.
#17Mexico · Latin AmericaSan Francisco, Mexico
San Pancho: Riviera Nayarit's bohemian surf village with world-class sunsets and a tight-knit eco-community.
#18Thailand · AsiaPai, Thailand
A misty mountain-valley town in northern Thailand where laid-back hippie charm meets stunning natural beauty.
#19Myanmar · AsiaYangon, Myanmar
Golden pagodas, vibrant street food, and colonial charm in Myanmar's bustling heart.
#20Thailand · AsiaKrabi, Thailand
Dramatic limestone karsts, crystal-clear Andaman waters, and world-class beaches — Krabi is southern Thailand at its most iconic.
#21Taiwan · AsiaTaichung, Taiwan
Taiwan's "middle city" — a laid-back arts capital with world-class food, mild weather, and easy access to stunning nature.
#22Thailand · AsiaChiang Mai, Thailand
Northern Thailand's cultural capital — ancient temples, misty mountains, and a world-class digital nomad scene.
#23Malaysia · AsiaPenang, Malaysia
Malaysia's "Pearl of the Orient" — a UNESCO heritage island where world-class street food meets colonial charm and tropical beaches.
#24Thailand · AsiaChiang Rai, Thailand
Northern Thailand's artistic soul — misty mountains, iconic temples, and an unhurried pace that Chiang Mai lost long ago.
#25Thailand · AsiaKo Lanta, Thailand
Ko Lanta: laid-back Andaman island where long beaches, jungle-clad hills, and a relaxed pace keep visitors longer than planned.
#26Philippines · AsiaPalawan, Philippines
Paradise island with pristine beaches, hidden lagoons, and world-class diving.
#27India · AsiaBengaluru, India
India's Silicon Valley: a buzzing tech metropolis wrapped in garden greenery, craft beer, and rich South Indian culture.
#28United States · North AmericaMiami, United States
The Magic City blends Latin energy, art deco glamour, and pristine beaches into America's tropical playground.
#29New Zealand · OceaniaChristchurch, New Zealand
New Zealand's reborn Garden City — where post-quake creativity, world-class nature, and Southern Hemisphere charm converge.
#30Thailand · AsiaNakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Korat: the unapologetically local gateway to Isaan and ancient Khmer heritage.
#31United States · North AmericaMission, United States
South Texas's "tourist mecca" — world-class birding, butterflies, and border culture on the Rio Grande.
#32Malaysia · AsiaMalacca, Malaysia
A UNESCO World Heritage gem where Portuguese, Dutch, and Peranakan cultures collide on every sun-drenched street.
#33United States · North AmericaBozeman, United States
Montana's ultimate base camp — world-class skiing, fly fishing, and Yellowstone on your doorstep.
#34India · AsiaVarkala, India
Kerala's clifftop gem where dramatic red-rock coastline meets yoga, Ayurveda, and barefoot beach culture.
#35Thailand · AsiaPhuket, Thailand
Thailand's legendary island paradise — where Andaman beaches, jungle temples, and vibrant nightlife collide.
#36Mexico · Latin AmericaPuerto Escondido, Mexico
Mexico's legendary surf town blends powerful waves with laid-back Oaxacan culture on the Pacific coast.
#37Canada · North AmericaWhistler, Canada
North America's #1-rated ski resort town — and a world-class summer adventure hub on BC's iconic Sea-to-Sky Highway.
#38Finland · EuropeOulu, Finland
Europe's 2026 Capital of Culture — a bike-friendly Arctic city where midnight sun, wild nature, and tech innovation converge.
#39Argentina · Latin AmericaUshuaia, Argentina
The world's southernmost city — a wild Patagonian outpost where the Andes meet the Beagle Channel.
#40Thailand · AsiaUdon Thani, Thailand
Isan's urban gateway: ancient archaeology, blazing street food, and one of Thailand's lowest price tags.
#41Austria · EuropeInnsbruck, Austria
Where Habsburg grandeur meets alpine adventure — Innsbruck is the Alps' most livable capital.
#42New Zealand · OceaniaDunedin, New Zealand
New Zealand's "Edinburgh of the South" — a wildlife-rich university city of Victorian grandeur and wild coastlines.
#43Norway · EuropeTromso, Norway
Norway's Arctic capital — chase the northern lights, midnight sun, and untamed fjord wilderness.
#44Sri Lanka · AsiaColombo, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's vibrant capital blending history, culture, and modernity
#45United States · North AmericaOgden, United States
Utah's adventure capital — world-class ski resorts, rugged trails, and a revitalized historic downtown, all at a fraction of the cost of bigger mountain towns.
#46France · EuropeChamonix, France
Europe's alpine capital — world-class skiing, soaring glaciers, and Mont Blanc at your doorstep.
#47Belize · Latin AmericaSan Ignacio, Belize
Rustic jungle adventure hub for budget-friendly tropical exploration
#48United States · North AmericaHarlingen, United States
Rio Grande Valley birding hub with year-round sunshine, golf, and Mexican border charm.
#49Vietnam · AsiaPhu Quoc, Vietnam
Vietnam's "Pearl Island" — turquoise Gulf waters, lush national park, and a visa-free gateway to Southeast Asia.
#50Sri Lanka · AsiaGalle, Sri Lanka
A UNESCO-listed colonial fort city where Dutch ramparts meet the Indian Ocean and café culture thrives.