22C

The Spanish island of La Graciosa has no roads or cars, boasts the largest marine reserve in Europe, and is perfect for hiking. Best of all, it’s basking in balmy 22C temperatures this week

If you’re looking for a holiday destination that will let you escape the winter chill, traffic noise and festive stress, then Spanish island La Graciosa, is your ideal getaway. With no cars, Europe’s largest marine reserve, and perfect hiking conditions, it’s a paradise.

Even as we brace ourselves against frosty mornings, La Graciosa enjoys a balmy 22C this week, with its coldest days rarely falling below 16C. Rain is also a rarity, making any time of year perfect for a visit.

One of the unique features of La Graciosa is its lack of traffic, owing to the absence of paved roads. In fact, it’s the only European island without a road, making it the most untouched of all the Canary Islands.

With just a few hundred permanent residents and no mass tourism, the locals travel by bicycle along sandy paths.

From atop the Risco de Famara, La Graciosa appears like a golden mirage amidst the Atlantic: a strip of golden sand, silent and luminous. Its sandy paths and tranquil atmosphere make it the most secluded and serene of the Canary Islands.

In line with its minimalistic approach to tourism, the island offers a small but well-maintained range of accommodation options. These are mainly located in Caleta de Sebo, where guesthouses, apartments and a fully-equipped camping area can be found.

With the limited availability of holiday accommodation, it’s recommended to book well ahead, particularly for summer, Easter, Christmas or during July’s Carmen festivities when the island is buzzing with an unusual festive spirit.

La Graciosa is conveniently located near Europe’s largest marine reserve. Excursions from La Graciosa take you to the islets of the Chinijo Archipelago Marine Reserve, a 70,700-hectare natural sanctuary.

Here, the crystal-clear waters offer a glimpse of the seabed and remote beaches where you can escape from reality. The Marine Reserve is a biological treasure chest, home to a variety of seabirds nesting in its cliffs.

On the nearby islets, a small population of monk seals, largely hunted to extinction elsewhere in the world, still clings on.

Roque del Este houses the Integral Reserve, an area accessible only to scientists where nature continues undisturbed by human interference.

To reach the stunning island of La Graciosa, Brits will need to fly to Lanzarote first, with flights from London as cheap as £39 in December. From there, a 45-minute taxi ride will take you to the port of Orzola, where a short 25-minute ferry ride will transport you to this secluded paradise.

easyJet has launched new routes to a stunning beach resort with crystal clear blue waters, popular for snorkelling, and stretches of golden sand beaches, and flights start from just £91.99

With the temperature taking a dramatic drop in the UK, many of us are dreaming of blue skies and days spent basking in the sunshine without the need for roll-neck jumpers and padded coats. Luckily for us, easyJet has introduced new routes to a stunning beach resort that boasts an inviting climate of 22°C in January, making it the idyllic escape to avoid the British chill.

easyJet unveiled its new schedule to the lesser-known holiday hotspot of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, offering direct flights from Newcastle to the city known for its pristine sand beaches and turquoise blue waters. The budget airline already offers direct flights to Sharm El Sheikh from six UK airports, but its Newcastle addition is set to make travel even easier for those in the north seeking some winter sun.

Located on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea, Sharm El Sheikh is packed with luxury resorts dotted along the coastline, offering direct access to the crystal-clear sea that is home to tropical marine life, with scuba diving and snorkelling popular activities. Most resorts have their own sunbeds and parasols lined up in their own private area along the golden beaches for maximum ease and comfort.

Away from the coastline, holidaymakers can explore the Pyramids of Giza during an excursion, or visit the Ras Mohammod National Park, which is home to a breathtaking coral reef and rated as one of the top things to do on TripAdvisor. In addition to its awe-inspiring landscapes, tourists can enjoy places like Shark’s Bay Beach, Naama Bay Beach, the Old Market, and the Heavenly Cathedral, all in easy reach of Sharm El Sheikh.

Making this stunning location more accessible for tourists on a budget, flights from Newcastle will be available to book from August 2026 and will start from £91.99, so you can already think ahead for your winter getaway towards the end of next year. And with the flight time of around five and a half hours from Newcastle, you can be transported to the glorious city under the blazing sun in no time.

Alternatively, there are several flights already operating directly to Sharm El Sheikh from Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, and Manchester, with flights in December 2025 starting from £91.99. For more information on flights to Sharm El Sheikh, you can check the easyJet website.

“We’re delighted to be putting 11 new routes on sale from Newcastle for next summer as we gear up to the opening of our new base, which is enabling us to provide greater direct connectivity and choice for customers in the North East to even more destinations across Europe and North Africa, all with great value fares and fantastic service,” said Kevin Doyle, the UK country manager at easyJet.

Holidaymakers have taken to TripAdvisor to share their glowing reviews of Sharm El Sheikh. One shared: “I’ve been to Sharm five times now, and still want to go back. There is so much to see and do, but anyone coming to Sharm MUST, MUST, MUST see what is under the water. If you can’t swim, don a life jacket or go on a glass-bottom boat. The fish are every colour of the rainbow. We’ve seen sharks, dolphins and rays too.

“Great nightlife that does go on all night, including Pacha. Great restaurants and shopping. Get ready to haggle! Tons of trips including desert trips, camel treks(a must), diving and snorkelling and also trips to Cairo, Luxor and the pyramids (well recommended). It gets very, very hot from May onwards, so take lots of high-factor sun cream. Don’t forget to use it when you are snorkelling too. Burnt bum cheeks are very painful!!”

However, one warned: “I have really enjoyed my visits to Sharm, especially in the winter months where it’s one of the only places close to home you are guaranteed sunshine in December and excellent snorkelling. But if you’re not smart about things you will be taken for a ride by the locals and not get the best out of the place.”

The island is just a four-and-a-half hour flight from London and offers year-round sunshine, with flowers beginning to bloom in March

Brits seeking a sun-soaked escape might want to consider this English-speaking island, just a short hop from the UK and basking in a cosy 22C during winter.

Just a four-and-a-half hour jaunt from London, this Mediterranean jewel provides a much-needed respite from the UK’s current frosty, damp weather.

With sunshine all year round and flowers starting to blossom in March, Cyprus is an excellent pick for families, with plenty of family-friendly hotels on offer.

The island also boasts a variety of activities, from hiking to exploring cultural and historical sites. Winter brings fewer tourists, making it the ideal time to visit popular attractions without the long queues, reports the Express.

Party animals will be attracted to Ayia Napa, one of Europe’s premier party hotspots, while those in search of relaxation can soak up the island’s 300 days of annual sunshine.

A journey into the Troodos Mountains reveals breathtaking scenery and a charming village nestled in the valley below.

In an unexpected twist, there’s a ski resort tucked away in the Troodos Mountain Range. Open from January to March, it’s situated on Mount Olympus,

Holidaymakers can drive up to the slopes, which offer several picturesque viewpoints along the way.

Nestled in the valley is the village of Omodos, teeming with restaurants serving traditional dishes – perfect after a day of mountain trekking.

The village is also home to a monastery that welcomes visitors for tours. A local fortified sweet wine, commandaria, is a favourite in the area and can be found on locals’ doorsteps for €2-€5 (£1.61-£4.23).

Another must-see is Nicosia, Cyprus’ divided capital. Following the 1974 civil war, the island was split into two states: the Greek Republic of Southern Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The border, known as the ‘green line’, runs through Nicosia, making it the world’s only divided capital city. Tourists can cross the border at several points.

Other attractions include underwater waterfall hikes, a turtle conservation station, Aphrodite’s Rock, the Tombs of the Kings, snorkelling adventures, Akamas Peninsula National Park, castles and even a wellness retreat.