Skip to main content

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.

  1. Tenerife, Spain#1
    Spain · Europe

    Tenerife, Spain

    The Canary Islands' largest gem where volcanic majesty meets year-round spring with dramatic hikes and vibrant resorts

  2. Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand#2
    Thailand · Asia

    Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand

    Thailand's legendary party island with a soul — pristine beaches, jungle waterfalls, and world-famous Full Moon Parties.

  3. Ko Chang, Thailand#3
    Thailand · Asia

    Ko Chang, Thailand

    Thailand's jungle-clad Elephant Island: white-sand bays, coral reefs, and national park wilderness without the crowds.

  4. Tainan, Taiwan#4
    Taiwan · Asia

    Tainan, Taiwan

    Taiwan's soulful ancient capital — a living museum of temples, street food, and colonial history.

  5. Ko Samui, Thailand#5
    Thailand · Asia

    Ko Samui, Thailand

    Thailand's Gulf island gem — white-sand beaches, jungle waterfalls, and luxury resorts all in one tropical paradise.

  6. Hokkaido, Japan#6
    Japan · Asia

    Hokkaido, Japan

    Japan's wild north — world-class powder snow, volcanic landscapes, and lavender fields with no rainy season.

  7. Andorra la Vella, Andorra#7
    Andorra · Europe

    Andorra 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.

  8. Ko Phi Phi, Thailand#8
    Thailand · Asia

    Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

    Thailand's most iconic island escape — dazzling limestone cliffs, Maya Bay, and legendary beach nightlife.

  9. Ko Lipe, Thailand#9
    Thailand · Asia

    Ko Lipe, Thailand

    Thailand's "Maldives of the South" — pristine reefs, car-free beaches, and killer island-hopping at the Malaysian border.

  10. Hua Hin, Thailand#10
    Thailand · Asia

    Hua Hin, Thailand

    Thailand's royal beach retreat — laid-back Gulf coast living just 3 hours from Bangkok.

  11. Ao Nang, Thailand#11
    Thailand · Asia

    Ao Nang, Thailand

    Krabi's limestone-fringed gateway to the Andaman — where dramatic karst cliffs meet powder-soft beaches and island-hopping paradise.

  12. Bangkok, Thailand#12
    Thailand · Asia

    Bangkok, Thailand

    Bangkok: where gilded temples, legendary street food, and pulsing nightlife collide in Southeast Asia's ultimate metropolis.

  13. Bansko, Bulgaria#13
    Bulgaria · Europe

    Bansko, Bulgaria

    Bulgaria's dual-season mountain gem — world-class skiing in winter, epic Pirin hiking in summer, and Europe's buzziest digital nomad festival.

  14. Sapporo, Japan#14
    Japan · Asia

    Sapporo, Japan

    Japan's northern gateway: vibrant culture, snow festivals, and natural beauty.

  15. Kaohsiung, Taiwan#15
    Taiwan · Asia

    Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Taiwan's sun-drenched harbor city — where street art, night markets, and a revitalized waterfront meet laid-back southern charm.

  16. Pattaya, Thailand#16
    Thailand · Asia

    Pattaya, Thailand

    Thailand's most-visited beach city — sun, nightlife, island escapes, and year-round energy on the Eastern Gulf coast.

  17. San Francisco, Mexico#17
    Mexico · Latin America

    San Francisco, Mexico

    San Pancho: Riviera Nayarit's bohemian surf village with world-class sunsets and a tight-knit eco-community.

  18. Pai, Thailand#18
    Thailand · Asia

    Pai, Thailand

    A misty mountain-valley town in northern Thailand where laid-back hippie charm meets stunning natural beauty.

  19. Yangon, Myanmar#19
    Myanmar · Asia

    Yangon, Myanmar

    Golden pagodas, vibrant street food, and colonial charm in Myanmar's bustling heart.

  20. Krabi, Thailand#20
    Thailand · Asia

    Krabi, Thailand

    Dramatic limestone karsts, crystal-clear Andaman waters, and world-class beaches — Krabi is southern Thailand at its most iconic.

  21. Taichung, Taiwan#21
    Taiwan · Asia

    Taichung, Taiwan

    Taiwan's "middle city" — a laid-back arts capital with world-class food, mild weather, and easy access to stunning nature.

  22. Chiang Mai, Thailand#22
    Thailand · Asia

    Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Northern Thailand's cultural capital — ancient temples, misty mountains, and a world-class digital nomad scene.

  23. Penang, Malaysia#23
    Malaysia · Asia

    Penang, Malaysia

    Malaysia's "Pearl of the Orient" — a UNESCO heritage island where world-class street food meets colonial charm and tropical beaches.

  24. Chiang Rai, Thailand#24
    Thailand · Asia

    Chiang Rai, Thailand

    Northern Thailand's artistic soul — misty mountains, iconic temples, and an unhurried pace that Chiang Mai lost long ago.

  25. Ko Lanta, Thailand#25
    Thailand · Asia

    Ko Lanta, Thailand

    Ko Lanta: laid-back Andaman island where long beaches, jungle-clad hills, and a relaxed pace keep visitors longer than planned.

  26. Palawan, Philippines#26
    Philippines · Asia

    Palawan, Philippines

    Paradise island with pristine beaches, hidden lagoons, and world-class diving.

  27. Bengaluru, India#27
    India · Asia

    Bengaluru, India

    India's Silicon Valley: a buzzing tech metropolis wrapped in garden greenery, craft beer, and rich South Indian culture.

  28. Miami, United States#28
    United States · North America

    Miami, United States

    The Magic City blends Latin energy, art deco glamour, and pristine beaches into America's tropical playground.

  29. Christchurch, New Zealand#29
    New Zealand · Oceania

    Christchurch, New Zealand

    New Zealand's reborn Garden City — where post-quake creativity, world-class nature, and Southern Hemisphere charm converge.

  30. Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand#30
    Thailand · Asia

    Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

    Korat: the unapologetically local gateway to Isaan and ancient Khmer heritage.

  31. Mission, United States#31
    United States · North America

    Mission, United States

    South Texas's "tourist mecca" — world-class birding, butterflies, and border culture on the Rio Grande.

  32. Malacca, Malaysia#32
    Malaysia · Asia

    Malacca, Malaysia

    A UNESCO World Heritage gem where Portuguese, Dutch, and Peranakan cultures collide on every sun-drenched street.

  33. Bozeman, United States#33
    United States · North America

    Bozeman, United States

    Montana's ultimate base camp — world-class skiing, fly fishing, and Yellowstone on your doorstep.

  34. Varkala, India#34
    India · Asia

    Varkala, India

    Kerala's clifftop gem where dramatic red-rock coastline meets yoga, Ayurveda, and barefoot beach culture.

  35. Phuket, Thailand#35
    Thailand · Asia

    Phuket, Thailand

    Thailand's legendary island paradise — where Andaman beaches, jungle temples, and vibrant nightlife collide.

  36. Puerto Escondido, Mexico#36
    Mexico · Latin America

    Puerto Escondido, Mexico

    Mexico's legendary surf town blends powerful waves with laid-back Oaxacan culture on the Pacific coast.

  37. Whistler, Canada#37
    Canada · North America

    Whistler, Canada

    North America's #1-rated ski resort town — and a world-class summer adventure hub on BC's iconic Sea-to-Sky Highway.

  38. Oulu, Finland#38
    Finland · Europe

    Oulu, Finland

    Europe's 2026 Capital of Culture — a bike-friendly Arctic city where midnight sun, wild nature, and tech innovation converge.

  39. Ushuaia, Argentina#39
    Argentina · Latin America

    Ushuaia, Argentina

    The world's southernmost city — a wild Patagonian outpost where the Andes meet the Beagle Channel.

  40. Udon Thani, Thailand#40
    Thailand · Asia

    Udon Thani, Thailand

    Isan's urban gateway: ancient archaeology, blazing street food, and one of Thailand's lowest price tags.

  41. Innsbruck, Austria#41
    Austria · Europe

    Innsbruck, Austria

    Where Habsburg grandeur meets alpine adventure — Innsbruck is the Alps' most livable capital.

  42. Dunedin, New Zealand#42
    New Zealand · Oceania

    Dunedin, New Zealand

    New Zealand's "Edinburgh of the South" — a wildlife-rich university city of Victorian grandeur and wild coastlines.

  43. Tromso, Norway#43
    Norway · Europe

    Tromso, Norway

    Norway's Arctic capital — chase the northern lights, midnight sun, and untamed fjord wilderness.

  44. Colombo, Sri Lanka#44
    Sri Lanka · Asia

    Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka's vibrant capital blending history, culture, and modernity

  45. Ogden, United States#45
    United States · North America

    Ogden, 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.

  46. Chamonix, France#46
    France · Europe

    Chamonix, France

    Europe's alpine capital — world-class skiing, soaring glaciers, and Mont Blanc at your doorstep.

  47. San Ignacio, Belize#47
    Belize · Latin America

    San Ignacio, Belize

    Rustic jungle adventure hub for budget-friendly tropical exploration

  48. Harlingen, United States#48
    United States · North America

    Harlingen, United States

    Rio Grande Valley birding hub with year-round sunshine, golf, and Mexican border charm.

  49. Phu Quoc, Vietnam#49
    Vietnam · Asia

    Phu Quoc, Vietnam

    Vietnam's "Pearl Island" — turquoise Gulf waters, lush national park, and a visa-free gateway to Southeast Asia.

  50. Galle, Sri Lanka#50
    Sri Lanka · Asia

    Galle, Sri Lanka

    A UNESCO-listed colonial fort city where Dutch ramparts meet the Indian Ocean and café culture thrives.