The Best Destinations to Book Now for Winter Sun

Multilayered in many ways, from history to cuisine and from its traditions to its landscape, head inland from the beaches to hike the many mountain trails, wander through the sleepy mountains villages unchanged by time and enjoy some of the most delicious cuisine.

The Troodos Mountains are where to pull on your hiking boots and follow the many trails which take you through pine forests, over mountain streams and stunning wild terrain. If wine is more to your tase then the best wineries are found in the mountain villages known as Krasochoria.

To make the most of your island trip rent a car and drive all over. The scenic route between Limassol and Troodos is famous for its twists and dips as it climbs upwards through spectacular landscapes, whilst the easier but no less scenic drive from Paphos to Petra tou Romiou, the famous Aphrodite’s Rock, is far more enjoyable without the summer crowds.

History buffs will love Cyprus – a small island with a long history and a rich culture that spans 11,000 years making it one of the oldest civilisations in the Mediterranean. No wonder there are so many fascinating cultural sights, museums, monuments and galleries. Situated at the crossroads of three continents – Europe, Asia and Africa – the island is an open-air museum of prehistoric settlements, classical Greek temples, Roman theatres and villas, early Christian basilicas, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Crusader castles, Gothic cathedrals, Venetian fortifications, Moslem mosques, and British colonial-style buildings.

With such a melting pot of cultures, Cyprus is well known for its diverse cuisine and from hearty meat dishes and specialty cheeses to unique desserts of carob and grape, the Cypriot cuisine remains an exotic blend of Greek and Middle Eastern flavours found in the welcoming tavernas and restaurants across the island.

Flying into Faro, turn west and you’ll soon be in the manicured playgrounds of Quinta do Lago and Val do Lobo, where the streets are lined with vast white villas and upmarket restaurants, there are championship golf courses at every turn, and an uninterrupted stretch of beach which takes you all the way past Albefueria. Turn right, towards Spain, and you’ll soon find a very different, more authentic Algarve, one which retains a much more sedentary pace of life where locals still rub shoulders with tourists in the back street bars and cafés, and you can often have the famous sandy Ria Formosa to yourself in winter.

Head past the busier town of Olhao to Fuseta, a tiny fishing village still relatively unspoilt, and wander down its sleepy cobbled streets lined with pastel-coloured houses to find authentic Portuguese cafés serving fresh seafood. Join the locals at the market which dominates the harbour and sit at the waterside cafés with a coffee to watch the fishing boats bobbing about in the marina, or take the tiny ferry to the Praia da Fuseta-Mar on the Ilha da Armona in the Ria Formosa lagoon and enjoy the white sandy beaches and crystal clear water.

Further east, Praia do Barril is one of the area’s most stunning beaches (and there are many). The beach is reached via a floating footbridge that crosses the Ria Formosa (a mini train runs during high season to transport visitors across the island to the sea) and unlike elsewhere along the Algarve’s Atlantic coast the sea is relatively calm here. Once a centre of tuna fishing, the anchors from stranded or abandoned tuna boats gradually piled up on Barril Beach and you shouldn’t miss the rather moving Anchor Graveyard here.

East again, and near the Spanish border, Tavira, which straddles the Gilao river, used to be an important harbour exporting figs, almonds, salt and wine until the river silted up and the harbour was abandoned. The town centre is now three kilometres from the sea but it retains much of its charm and history – there are more churches here than in any other town or city in the Algarve and tourists love the unusual tesouro rooftops, and the mix of Roman, Moorish and Christian heritage. The beach here on Tavira Island can only be reached by boat or water taxi but that often means it’s pretty deserted, except for the many birds who call the Ria Formosa home.

Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria all share otherworldly volcanic landscapes and mountainous interiors interspersed with pockets of dense pine trees. Tenerife is the most developed but quieter corners can still be found in the north of the island. Gran Canaria is perhaps best known for its vast sandy stretches in the south, whilst Lanzarote’s lunar-type landscape and rocky beaches attract cyclists and surfers all year round. Less well known are the smaller islands of La Gomera which boasts some of the best food and local crafts, El Hierro, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve with a wilderness of an interior and low-key tourism, and La Graciosa, which was only recognised as part of the Canary Islands in 2018. Half an hour by ferry from Lanzarote, it remains unspoilt, there are no tarmac roads and just a smattering of restaurants and guesthouses.

But for sun, sea and sand in winter, what tempts us back are the white beaches and rolling breakers of Fuerteventura, where goats still seem to outnumber tourists. Its craggy mountains, terracotta lava fields, desert-like expanse of sand dunes, black sand of Ajuy and turquoise sea all add to its appeal. Known as ‘the windy island’ it’s a popular kite and windsurfing destination and for the novice there are plenty of surf schools to help you get started.

When you can drag yourself away from the 150 kilometres of picture-perfect beaches and sheltered lagoons, explore the island’s austere interiors and be amazed by the beauty of its rolling hills as you follow the many hiking trails, stop in villages where time moves at a different pace and discover the small, picturesque coastal towns where freshly caught fish and local cheeses dominate the menu (the island is famous for its Majorero coast cheese).