Best trips to book in January, from Berlin to Sri Lanka

The ultimate pick of where to holiday in the gloomiest month of the year

Los Cabos in Mexico stays warm into January (iStock)

​Whisk away the January blues with an escape to one of these winter sun hotspots or ice-cool ski resorts.

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Los Cabos, Mexico

Paddleboarding around El Arco

The tip of west Mexico’s Baja California peninsula basks in sunshine while Europe shivers. January is the optimal time for whale watching, as grays and humpbacks arrive in the warm coastal waters to breed. Heading out on a boat trip to see these gentle giants and, if you’re lucky, their new calves, is an unforgettable experience; sailfish, dolphins or flying fish may make an appearance too. And you can’t miss snorkelling at Cabo Pulmo Marine Preserve, hailed as “the aquarium of the world” by French marine explorer Jacques Cousteau.

Back on dry land, visit the distinctive rock formations of El Arco (the Arch), and check into the region’s hottest new hotel opening: Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas (rooms from £1,880 per night), a contemporary hideaway on a pristine stretch of beach.

Average temperature in January: 21C

Flight time: 16h via Houston

Berlin, Germany

The once divided city has recently celebrated 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall (EPA)

The German capital certainly knows how to party, and won’t let a spot of snow stop its fun. You can put on your coolest outfit and try your luck with the bouncers at megaclub Berghain, get stuck into live music and performance art at the fabulously outre Barbie Deinhoff’s, or sample world-leading mixology at speakeasies like Green Door in Mitte or Becketts Kopf. Make your crash pad the latest address from co-living concept The Student Hotel in Mitte (rooms from £79).

Also – watch your back, Paris – Berlin Fashion Week is back this month (13-17 January 2020) and is increasingly seen as one of Europe’s coolest, with edgy, irreverent looks from up-and-coming labels like Dumitrascu and 032cv. With a glut of incredible museums – from the archaeological wonders of the Pergamon to contemporary masterpieces at Hamburger Bahnhof and the Judisches Museum’s inspired storytelling of German Jews – this is truly a city for all seasons.

Average temperature in January: -1C

Flight time: 1h 50m

Dubai, UAE​

Dubai is not a city that likes to be outdone (iStock)

This Emirate is famous for thinking big, whether that’s skyscrapers soaring out of the desert, the world’s biggest shopping mall or a manmade palm-shaped peninsula. This is a place where you can step out of the sand onto a ski slope or shop your way around 27 pavilions at Global Village (think the retail version of Walt Disney’s Epcot theme park).

But the city has substance, too: did you know it’s fast becoming the Middle East’s top creative hub for contemporary art and design (check out Tashkeel arts hub and the D3 design district), and a cool underground club scene (The Hatch, Industrial Avenue)? No wonder many of the world’s top chefs have chosen to open restaurants here, from Torno Subito by three-Michelin-starred Massimo Bottura, putting fresh spins on Italian classics in a retro diner setting, to Nobu Dubai, where sensational sushi and the signature miso black cod are joined by inspired fusion dishes like truffle-topped tuna tacos. To stay in the heart of the action, FIVE Palm Jumeirah (rooms from £274 per night) has epic pool parties, Instagrammable gold-accented interiors and a scene-y rooftop bar, The Penthouse, for after dark.

Average temperature in January: 20C

Flight time: 7h

Harbin, China

The Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival takes over Harbin (iStock)

It may not be the best-known of Chinese destinations, and it sure isn’t warm, but come January, crowds from Shanghai to Chengdu will flock to the northeastern province of Heilongjiang for Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (from 5 January 2020). Why? It’s the world’s most impressive display of carved ice structures – we’re not talking simply huge sculptures, though there are plenty of those, but also mazes, slides and even a theme park made out of ice.

Besides these subzero feats, visitors are often pleasantly surprised by the cobblestone charms and eclectic architecture of Harbin’s historic centre, where Buddhist temples sit alongside Orthodox churches and synagogues, reflecting the city’s proximity to the Russian border. Come in from the cold to the modern comforts of the Shangri-La Hotel, Harbin (rooms from £77 per night), overlooking the Songhua River.

Average temperature in January: -12.5C

Flight time: 14h 35m via Beijing

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan fisherman use traditional methods in the sea (iStock)

It’s time to rediscover this teardrop-shaped island nation; with the British Foreign Office having lifted its travel restrictions, tourism is steadily building back up after the terrorist attacks of April 2019, which saw arrivals fall 71 per cent. To help support the comeback, Sri Lanka’s government has ushered in free visas for travellers from 48 countries, including the UK and Ireland. The climate is perfect in January across the west, south and interior (just avoid the east coast, which has a different monsoon season), and there’s a slew of stylish new stays for the winter season, including restored colonial building Pekoe House in Kandy, and luxe tented camp Karpaha Sands.

You can head into the Hill Country on a scenic rail journey or play beach bum on the unspoiled sands of Kalpitiya, with its great surf and opportunity to spot sperm whales (December and mid-April). Experience the highlights with Scott Dunn’s 10-night tailor-made tour (from £2,900pp including private driver, B&B accommodation and international flights) or G Adventures’ 14-day Sri Lanka Encompassed journey from Colombo to Mirissa (from £1,369pp).

Average temperature in January: 27C

Flight time: 10h 30m​