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TUNISIA has been named both the cheapest winter sun destination and a top spot for 2026 holidays.

Known for its stunning blue coasts, vibrant souks and fascinating architecture, Tunisia in Africa boasts temperatures of up to 18C during the winter months.

According to Thomas Cook’s list of best-value winter sun destinations, alongside its warm weather, Tunisia boasts top resorts and value for money as well.

For example, 15 nights with Thomas Cook at the 4* Hotel Riviera in Port El Kantaoui, Tunisia on an all-inclusive basis costs from just £370 per person.

And this includes flights, heading out from London Southend on December 6.

Tunisia has also been named one of the top 25 destinations for 2026 by Lonely Planet with it particularly being best for desert and coast adventures.

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Lonely Planet stated: “It’s interesting times in Tunisia, a country that feels suspended between an old world of romantic Roman ruins and vintage beach resorts and a new world of possibilities birthed by the Arab Spring in 2011.”

It added that the country has a “laid-back atmosphere”.

Despite being small, Tunisia has a lot to boast about.

With around 40 per cent of the country being covered by the Sahara desert – the largest hot desert in the world – visitors can do many desert-based activities such as going on camel rides or quad bike journeys.

You could even grab a sandboard and surf down the dunes.

Or simply go for a walk and take in the landscape, especially in places like Matmata – a number of cave dwellings carved into the rock – which is where some of Star Wars was filmed.

The capital of the country is Tunis and can be found in the north.

The city sits along Lake Tunis and is home to a centuries-old medina, which is a UNESCO-listed labyrinth of alleys making up the city’s historic quarter.

Here you will find a number of artisan shops, souks and traditional cafes.

You can also see the world’s largest and finest collection of Roman mosaics at the Bardo Museum, which is inside a 15th century palace.

Hammams – traditional spa experiences – are also popular across the country.

Away from the capital, Tunisia also has many quaint villages to explore.

For example, Sidi Bou Said is a clifftop village that overlooks the Mediterranean sea and is famous for its white-and-blue buildings.

Just off of the mainland is also an island called Djerba, that recently got new flights from the UK.

EasyJet is launching flights from both London Luton and Manchester for as little as £81 return.

On the island, travellers can head to Houmt Souk, home to Bazaar Houmt Souk, which sells lots of fresh food and cute souvenirs.

The island also boasts a number of olive groves, including some that date back to the Roman Empire.

When looking for a place to eat, make sure to keep an eye out for traditional Tunisian dishes.

These include brik – a type of crispy fried pastry – and chorba – a tomato-based soup.

Food won’t set you back much either, with a mid-range three-course restaurant meal for two people usually costing around £15.33.

And to enjoy a beer with your meal, you are likely to spend between £1.28 and £1.72.

Hotel prices range in Tunisia, depending on where you are and what kind of place you are looking to stay at.

For example, Sousse Pearl Marriott Resort & Spa costs from around £55 per night.

The hotel features 222 guest rooms and suites, a wide range of restaurants and bars and a number of outdoor pools.

Alternatively, in Tunis, you could stay at El Mouradi Gammarth from around £76 per night.

The hotel sits on the beach and boasts a five-star rating.

And of course, it has indoor and outdoor pools.

You can fly to various destinations across the country – for example, return flights to Enfidha cost from £38 per person in December.

Also in December, return flights from the UK to Djerba cost from £39 per person and return flights to Tunis cost from £89 per person.

Flight times vary from two hours and 50 minutes for Tunis and Enfidha, to around three hours and 20 minutes for Djerba.

Lonely Planet has also named the ‘Cuba of Europe’ as one of the top trending destinations for 2026.

And in the UK, there is a city that is home to one of the best experiences to do in 2026.

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If you are looking for more winter sun destination inspiration, one Sun reporter visited the hidden winter sun island that feels like stepping back to the 1990s – with £1 beers and free moped rides.

And here are the best winter sun destinations that are less than six hours from the UK.

Two stunning but overlooked destinations just a couple of hours from the UK are slated for a huge tourist boom, after a major airline ramps up its offerings – but there is one small catch

British Airways is ramping up its offerings as it launches two new direct routes – with prices starting at just £60. The upmarket airline has revealed that Brits will soon be able to fly to two new stunning destinations under its Gatwick-based subsidiary, BA Euroflyer, bringing its total number of short-haul destinations to 130. This includes the fairytale city of Graz in Austria and the overlooked hotspot of Rabat in Morocco.

However, there is one small catch. Both new routes won’t debut until November this year, meaning Brits wanting to explore somewhere new this summer won’t be able to take advantage of the new flights.

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“We are excited to further strengthen our connectivity between London and Austria with the addition of Graz,” said Karen Hilton, managing director of BA Euroflyer. “We will be the only direct operation between the two cities, offering more choice to our customers, whether it’s for business, leisure, or visiting friends and family.

“With its year-round warm weather, Morocco is ideal for those seeking an off-season escape without a lengthy flight time. The addition of Rabat means we now fly to three fantastic destinations in Morocco – an excellent choice for families, couples, and friends alike.”

Graz, Austria

Graz is the capital city of the southern Austrian province of Styria, but has long remained out of the tourist spotlight. Overshadowed by the likes of Vienna and Salzburg, this quaint city was named a UNESCO City of Design in 2011, and its historic core is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

BA will operate flights to Graz three times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, starting on November 21, 2025. The journey takes, on average, two hours and 20 minutes.

Highlights include the prominent mid-16th century clock tower on the Schlossberg mountain, which offers breathtaking views of the city – showing off its impressive range of architecture from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Historism and Art Nouveau eras. Its main square, Hauptlaz, is a great place for those wanting to pick up souvenirs at the weekly markets – and used to be used as an execution site back in the Middle Ages.

“Next to the Grazer Dom cathedral is one of the most striking buildings in Graz,” explains travel experts over at Lonely Planet. “This is the Mausoleum of Ferdinand II, part of St. Catherine’s Church, complete with soaring turquoise domes. Ferdinand had his court artist Giovanni Pietro de Pomis, originally from northern Italy, start work on the mausoleum and church in 1614.”

Rabat, Morocco

Attracting a fraction of the tourists that flock to Marrakech, Rabat is actually Morocco’s capital – and is brimming with rich history, impressive architecture, and things to do. BA will fly to the city twice per week (on Wednesdays and Sundays) starting on November 5, 2025.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage city thanks to its blend of tradition and modernity, this riverside region boasts manicured green spaces and an efficient tramway linking its districts together. The biggest attraction has to be Kasbah des Oudaias, a 12th-century citadel located within the Kasbah’s medieval gates. Initially constructed as a military fortress to protect the region, this preserved landmark now has a Mediterranean feel to it, and is filled with artisan shops and cobbled streets.

“Rabat is also a modern eco-responsible capital with its green spaces. Beautiful parks await you, such as the botanical test garden or the Exotic Gardens of Bouknadel which is a few kilometres from the city,” hails the country’s official tourist board, Visit Morocco. “Rabat also boasts an outstanding coastline; on the Atlantic Ocean shores, it has kilometres of well-equipped beaches that lead to the neighbouring city of Casablanca.”

*BA Euroflyer flies from London Gatwick to Graz from £60 each way, and to Rabat from £70 each way. This included taxes and carrier fees.

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