1
Maldives
Maldives- Temperature
- 26–31°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Dry-season sunshine, calm water and excellent visibility make January a classic Maldives month.
–Christmas/New Year demand carries into early January and resort rates remain high.
January
Best island getaways in January
For an island trip in January, Maldives comes out first, with average highs around 31°C and high crowds.
Island destinations, ranked by how good the month is there: weather, crowds, prices and events. Each card shows the real average temperature, crowd level and price level for January, and links to the full January guide for that destination.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
Photo: Aruba (#4 on this list)
2Phuket
Thailand- Temperature
- 25–33°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Dry, sunny and excellent for beaches and boat trips.
–Peak-season demand and prices.
3Zanzibar
Tanzania- Temperature
- 24–33°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$$
+Beach days, swimming, snorkeling, diving and warm-weather escapes
–Heat, humidity and lingering New Year crowds
- 4
Aruba
Aruba- Temperature
- 25–30°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Sunny, breezy and dry-ish.
–Busy and expensive.
5Bahamas
Bahamas- Temperature
- 17–25°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$
+Dry, sunny days and Junkanoo on January 1.
–High-season crowds and prices.
6Koh Samui
Thailand- Temperature
- 24–29°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Sunshine after the rains.
–Busy and pricey.
7Seychelles
Seychelles- Temperature
- 25–30°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$
+Warm seas and vivid greenery
–Frequent rain and high humidity
8Palma de Mallorca
Spain- Temperature
- 8–16°C
- Crowds
- Low
- Prices
- €
+Quiet streets and the first almond blossom.
–Cool and some rain.
9Bali
Indonesia- Temperature
- 25–31°C
- Crowds
- Low
- Prices
- $$
+Green landscapes, warm temperatures and a much quieter Bali.
–Heavy tropical showers and high humidity can interrupt beach days.
10Santorini
Greece- Temperature
- 10–14°C
- Crowds
- Very Low
- Prices
- €
+Almost no crowds and the lowest prices.
–Many hotels, restaurants and ferries are closed.
11Madeira
Portugal- Temperature
- 14–20°C
- Crowds
- Low–Moderate
- Prices
- €€
+Mild and good value.
–Rainy spells.
12Maui
United States- Temperature
- 18–28°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Humpback whales offshore.
–The rainiest month, and busy.
13San Juan
Puerto Rico- Temperature
- 22–28°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+The San Sebastián Street Festival.
–High season prices.
14Honolulu
United States- Temperature
- 19–27°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Humpback whales and big North Shore surf.
–Peak prices and more showers.
15Malta
Malta- Temperature
- 10–16°C
- Crowds
- Low
- Prices
- €
+Low visitor numbers and generally better value
–Unpredictable weather and cold swimming conditions
Temperatures are monthly averages. Crowd and price levels are my own judgement. Want to narrow it down? Filter all destinations for January.
FAQ
Best island getaways in January
What are the best island getaways in January?
Maldives, Phuket and Zanzibar come out best in January. Island destinations, ranked by how good the month is there: weather, crowds, prices and events.
Which of these is warmest in January?
Phuket, with average highs around 33°C in January.
Which of these is quietest in January?
Santorini, where crowds in January are very low.
Best island getaways in another month
More ideas for January