Warmest winter sun destinations from Newcastle Airport to escape the UK freeze

If the freezing weather we've been subjected to so far in 2025 has left you dreaming of escaping it all in warmer climes, it might be time to treat yourself to a holiday.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options when it comes to jetting off to somewhere with better weather if you grow impatient waiting for spring to arrive, with Newcastle Airport offering a host of winter sun destinations. Whether you want to take a short hop to Spain or Portugal or explore more distant shores such as Morocco, Egypt or Cape Verde, you will find temperatures ranging from low double figures all the way to the mid-twenties in many of these locations in January.

Winter is also the perfect time to escape all the tourist crowds and have the chance to explore new places while it's quieter - not to mention when it's not too hot to even lift your head off off your sun lounger. We have rounded up some of the best destinations you can fly to directly from Newcastle this winter to inspire your next getaway.

READ MORE: Spanish Costa del Sol hotel worker tried to poison holidaymakers buffet in act of revenge

READ MORE: Woman in her 20s dies in popular Spanish tourist spot after horror 500ft fall

Spain

One of the quickest and cheapest places to jet off to from the UK, Spain may not be the hottest of places in the winter months, but depending on the region it can be considerably warmer than on our shores. It's also a great time to explore the country at times when tourist numbers aren't so high - and when it's not too hot to walk around.

In January, northern cities such as Madrid and Barcelona average at around 8°C, while southern cities such as Seville and Malaga are warmer at around 15°C during the day. You can fly directly from Newcastle to Barcelona or Malaga in the winter, as well as Alicante on the north coast between the two, which has average temperatures of around 12°C this month.

There's also the Spanish island of Majorca, which is a particular favourite among Brits, and temperatures sitting at 10°C on average in January. You can fly from Newcastle straight into the capital Palma for as little as £26 each way.

Portugal

With average January temperatures in Portugal sitting at 13°C, this is another European favourite that is fast and relatively cheap to fly to from Newcastle. Head to the southern coastal destination of Faro, where temperatures often sit between 9°C and 17°C this month - although bear in mind that January is also one of the wettest months of the year in Faro.

You can also fly in to Madeira from Newcastle Airport, where January temperatures can hit highs of 19°C. With the flight taking around four hours, Madeira is an archipelago off mainland Portugal known for its wine and warm, subtropical climate - meaning that temperatures are typically mild and stable throughout the year.

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are one of the top choices when it comes to winter sun destinations. You can fly from Newcastle directly to the four largest islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, with the average daily temperature across the islands ranging between 17°C and 21°C in January.

Lanzarote is typically the warmest of the Canary Islands overall due to its proximity with the Sahara Desert, but Tenerife is often the warmest in winter due to its position that sees warm winds come in from North Africa, driving temperatures up to that higher end of 21°C even in the first month of the year.

Turkey

Newcastle Airport offers flights to Antalya, Turkey via multiple airlines including Jet2 and TUI in the winter months, where the average daily temperature in January ranges from 8°C to 15°C. Antalya is one of the warmest parts of Turkey to visit all year round thanks to its position on the southern coast of the country.

A flight from Newcastle to Antalya takes around four-and-a-half hours. If it's too chilly for the beach, there's plenty more to get up to - from exploring the sunken sarcophagus near Kekova island to the ancient city of Phaselis.

Cape Verde

One of the newest destinations on offer from Newcastle Airport, Cape Verde, a series of islands in the central Atlantic Ocean, is also one of the warmest winter sun options, with average temperatures sitting at 23°C in January. You can fly to the island of Sal from Newcastle from £150, with the flight taking around six-and-a-half hours.

More winter sun destinations from Newcastle Airport

If you're still after inspiration for your winter escape, here are some more places you can fly to from Newcastle Airport to find some warmth and sunshine, along with their average temperatures in January:

• Paphos, Cyprus - 13°C (Flight time 4 hours 50 minutes)

• Tunisia - 11°C (Flight time 3 hours 20 minutes)

• Marrakech, Morocco - 19°C (Flight time 3 hours 55 minutes)

• Dubai - 19°C (Flight time 6 hours 50 minutes)

• Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - 22°C (Flight time 5 hours 45 minutes)

You can find more information on all of these destinations on the Newcastle Airport website.