Best Countries to Visit in January: Top Destinations to Kick Off Your Year
Winter & Tropical Escapes Best Countries to Visit in January 12 Must-Visit Destinations for 2025
Discover the best countries to visit in January for snowy adventures, sunny beaches, and cultural experiences!
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Why Travel in January?
Welcome to Mangoes and Palm Trees, where we’ve picked the best countries to visit in January for snowy mountains, sunny beaches, or cultural adventures! January is special—a fresh start to the year with fewer crowds and unique experiences. Whether you love skiing, relaxing by the sea, or exploring new cultures, this list has something for you. Sip a tropical juice from our drinks page and start planning your trip! Some countries offer snow and cold weather—perfect for winter fun—while others have warm sunshine for a beach getaway. (Lonely Planet)
Top Countries to Visit in January
1. Japan – Snowy Festivals and Hot Springs
Japan in January is like a fairy tale. Snow falls, and the air is crisp—20 to 30°F (-6 to -1°C). It’s a top pick for winter lovers.
- What to Do: Ski on Hokkaido’s soft snow. See big ice sculptures at the Sapporo Snow Festival. Relax in a hot spring called an onsen. Visit Kyoto’s old temples for New Year traditions.
- Best Spots: Niseko for skiing. Sapporo for the festival.
Matcha Hot Chocolate Recipe
Warm up with this easy drink!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Milk | 1 cup |
| Dark chocolate, chopped | 2 ounces |
| Matcha powder | 1 teaspoon |
| Sugar | 1 tablespoon |
| Whipped cream (optional) | 1 dollop |
How to Make It:
- Heat milk in a pot on medium heat.
- Stir in chocolate, matcha, and sugar until it’s all smooth.
- Pour into a mug. Add whipped cream if you like.
2. Australia – Summer Beaches and Festivals
Australia is warm in January—75 to 85°F (24 to 29°C). It’s summer there, so it’s all about sun and fun.
- What to Do: Enjoy the Sydney Festival with music and art. Swim or surf at Bondi Beach. Dive into the Great Barrier Reef. Taste wine in Yarra Valley.
- Best Spots: Sydney for the festival. Gold Coast for beaches.
Aussie Mango Smoothie Recipe
Cool off with this sunny treat!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mango, diced | 1 cup |
| Greek yogurt | 1/2 cup |
| Coconut water | 1/2 cup |
| Honey | 1 teaspoon |
| Ice cubes | 4 |
How to Make It:
- Put mango, yogurt, coconut water, honey, and ice in a blender.
- Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and drink it cold!
3. Thailand – Tropical Shores and Temples
Thailand in January is dry and mild—75 to 85°F (24 to 29°C). It’s a great time for beaches and sightseeing.
- What to Do: Relax on Phuket’s sandy beaches. Visit Bangkok’s beautiful temples. Feel the excitement before Chiang Mai’s Flower Festival.
- Best Spots: Krabi for islands. Wat Pho in Bangkok for culture.
Thai Coconut Iced Coffee Recipe
Try this cool, tasty drink!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Strong brewed coffee | 1 cup |
| Coconut milk | 1/4 cup |
| Condensed milk | 2 tablespoons |
| Ice cubes | 4 |
How to Make It:
- Mix coffee, coconut milk, and condensed milk in a glass.
- Add ice cubes, stir, and enjoy!
4. Switzerland – Alpine Magic
Switzerland is cold and snowy in January—15 to 25°F (-9 to -4°C). It’s perfect for winter sports.
- What to Do: Ski in Zermatt. Walk with snowshoes. Watch horse races on St. Moritz’s frozen lake at White Turf.
- Best Spots: Zermatt for skiing. St. Moritz for events.
Swiss Hot Chocolate Recipe
Warm up after a snowy day!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Milk | 1 cup |
| Swiss chocolate, chopped | 2 ounces |
| Sugar | 1 tablespoon |
| Cinnamon | 1 pinch |
How to Make It:
- Heat milk in a pot. Add chocolate, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Stir until smooth. Pour into a cup and sip it warm.
5. South Africa – Safaris and Sunshine
South Africa has warm summer weather in January—70 to 85°F (21 to 29°C). It’s a fun time for outdoor trips.
- What to Do: Climb Table Mountain in Cape Town. Go on a safari in Kruger National Park. Drive the pretty Garden Route.
- Best Spots: Cape Town for views. Knysna for scenery.
Rooibos Iced Tea Recipe
Enjoy this local favorite!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rooibos tea bags | 2 |
| Water | 2 cups |
| Honey | 1 tablespoon |
| Lemon slices | 2 |
| Ice cubes | 4 |
How to Make It:
- Boil water and steep tea bags for 5 minutes. Take out the bags.
- Stir in honey. Let it cool. Pour over ice with lemon slices.
6. Norway – Arctic Wonders
Norway is cold in January—10 to 20°F (-12 to -6°C). It’s the best time to see the Northern Lights.
- What to Do: Watch the Northern Lights in Tromsø. Ride a dog sled. Learn about Sami people and reindeer.
- Best Spots: Tromsø for lights. Lofoten for beauty.
Norwegian Mulled Berry Juice Recipe
Warm up with this fruity drink!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mixed berry juice | 2 cups |
| Cinnamon stick | 1 |
| Cloves | 3 |
| Honey | 1 tablespoon |
How to Make It:
- Heat juice in a pot with cinnamon, cloves, and honey.
- Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and serve warm.
7. Costa Rica – Eco-Adventures
Costa Rica is warm and dry in January—75 to 85°F (24 to 29°C). It’s great for nature lovers.
- What to Do: Surf at Tamarindo beach. Hike near Arenal Volcano. Look for sloths and monkeys.
- Best Spots: Manuel Antonio for beaches. Monteverde for forests.
Pineapple Coconut Refresher Recipe
Taste the tropics!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pineapple juice | 1 cup |
| Coconut water | 1/2 cup |
| Lime juice | 1 tablespoon |
| Ice cubes | 4 |
How to Make It:
- Mix pineapple juice, coconut water, and lime juice in a glass.
- Add ice cubes and enjoy it cold!
8. Argentina – Southern Summer
Argentina has warm summer weather in January—70 to 85°F (21 to 29°C). It’s perfect for outdoor fun.
- What to Do: Hike in Patagonia’s El Chaltén. Dance tango in Buenos Aires. Sip wine in Mendoza.
- Best Spots: El Chaltén for trails. Mendoza for vineyards.
Mate Citrus Spritz Recipe
A fun Argentine drink!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Yerba mate tea (brewed) | 1 cup |
| Orange juice | 1/4 cup |
| Sparkling water | 1/2 cup |
| Ice cubes | 4 |
How to Make It:
- Brew mate tea and let it cool a bit.
- Mix with orange juice and sparkling water. Pour over ice.
9. Morocco – Desert and Souks
Morocco is mild in January—50 to 65°F (10 to 18°C). It’s a nice time to explore.
- What to Do: Shop in Marrakech’s busy souks. Walk in the Atlas Mountains. Ride camels in the Sahara desert.
- Best Spots: Fes for old towns. Sahara for dunes.
Moroccan Mint Tea Recipe
A fresh, classic drink!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Green tea leaves | 1 tablespoon |
| Fresh mint leaves | 1 handful |
| Sugar | 2 tablespoons |
| Water | 2 cups |
How to Make It:
- Boil water and add tea leaves. Let it sit for 3 minutes.
- Add mint and sugar. Pour into glasses from high up.
10. India – Cultural Riches
India has mild weather in January—60 to 75°F (15 to 24°C). It’s a good time to visit.
- What to Do: See Rajasthan’s forts. Float on Kerala’s backwaters. Enjoy the Jaipur Literature Festival.
- Best Spots: Jaipur for culture. Kerala for beaches.
Masala Chai Recipe
A warm, spicy tea!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Black tea leaves | 1 tablespoon |
| Milk | 1 cup |
| Cardamom pods | 2 |
| Cinnamon stick | 1 |
| Sugar | 1 tablespoon |
How to Make It:
- Boil milk with tea, cardamom, cinnamon, and sugar.
- Simmer for 5 minutes. Strain into a cup and drink hot.
11. Egypt – Historical Sites and Red Sea Relaxation
Egypt has mild weather in January—60 to 75°F (15 to 24°C). It’s cooler than summer, perfect for sightseeing.
- What to Do: Visit the Pyramids of Giza and Luxor’s Valley of the Kings. Take a Nile River cruise. Swim or snorkel at Red Sea beaches in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Best Spots: Giza for pyramids. Luxor for ancient ruins.
Hibiscus Tea Recipe
A bright, Egyptian-inspired drink!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dried hibiscus flowers | 2 tablespoons |
| Water | 2 cups |
| Sugar | 1 tablespoon |
| Ice cubes | 4 |
How to Make It:
- Boil water and add hibiscus flowers. Let it steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain, add sugar, and cool. Pour over ice and sip cold.
12. United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Luxury and Desert Experiences
The UAE is comfortable in January—65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C). It’s a fun time for shopping and desert trips.
- What to Do: Shop at the Dubai Shopping Festival. Go on a desert safari with camel rides and sandboarding. See the Burj Khalifa and Louvre Abu Dhabi.
- Best Spots: Dubai for shopping. Abu Dhabi for landmarks.
Date Milkshake Recipe
A sweet UAE treat!
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dates, pitted | 5 |
| Milk | 1 cup |
| Vanilla ice cream | 1 scoop |
| Ice cubes | 4 |
How to Make It:
- Blend dates, milk, ice cream, and ice until smooth.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy it cold!
Questions and Answers
Insights from 15+ years in hospitality and 50+ countries explored, sharing family-tested travel tips for January 2025.
You can see the Northern Lights in Norway. Tromsø is a great place—it’s above the Arctic Circle and very pretty.
Try Thailand, Australia, or Costa Rica. They have warm weather and sunny beaches.
Japan and Switzerland are great. They have lots of snow and fun ski hills.
Yes, it’s summer there. You can go on safaris or visit beaches.
It’s mild and nice—good for seeing places like Rajasthan or Kerala.
Yes! Japan has the Sapporo Snow Festival, and Australia has the Sydney Festival.
It’s cooler—perfect for seeing pyramids and relaxing by the Red Sea.
The weather is nice—not too hot—and there’s shopping and desert fun.
Wrap-Up
Start your year with a big trip! Japan’s snowy hills, Egypt’s old pyramids, or the UAE’s desert adventures are waiting. We at Mangoes and Palm Trees love sharing these places. Try our drink recipes while you travel. Want more ideas? See our December travel spots or February getaways. Book your trip today and explore more inspiration at Condé Nast Traveler! (National Geographic)
Top January Destinations
Here’s a video to inspire your trip!
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About Oliver & Natalia Mayerhoffer
Oliver & Natalia Mayerhoffer blend British, Austrian, and Siberian roots across 50+ countries. With Victor (born November 24, 2016, Koh Samui), they share kid-tested recipes and travel tips from Thailand (2016–2018), the UK (2018–2023), and now Vietnam.
