Lisbon · January · sunshine

Sunniest places to go from Lisbon in January

The sunniest place you can reach from Lisbon in January within 15 hours is Safaga at 10.0 h, costing 983 kg CO₂e return. The lowest-carbon option is Figueira da Foz Municipality at 4.7 kg — 209× less carbon for 3.3 h less.

Every destination here is on the efficiency frontier: nowhere else in Europe is both sunnier in January and lower in carbon. Anything a better option beats outright has been left out.

Where they are. Solid lines are rail or ferry, dashed are flights, from Lisbon. Pick one to compare.

By rail or ferry By air

Carbon against sunshine, January, departing Lisbon. Journeys of up to 15 hours each way.

January from Lisbon — 6 destinations on the frontier, 3 without flying.
Destination	How	CO₂e return	Temp	Sun/day	Rain/day	Journey
Figueira da Foz Municipality, Portugal	Rail	4.7 kg	11.4 °C	6.7 h	5.1 mm	4h 12m
Portimão, Portugal	Rail	5.4 kg	13.4 °C	8.0 h	1.9 mm	4h 30m
Almuñécar, Spain	Rail	15.6 kg	13.4 °C	8.5 h	0.8 mm	9h 12m
El Jadida, Morocco	Air	154 kg	14.9 °C	9.0 h	0.8 mm	4h 18m
Essaouira, Morocco	Air	202 kg	16.0 °C	9.5 h	0.3 mm	4h 36m
Safaga, Egypt	Air	983 kg	18.9 °C	10.0 h	0.0 mm	9h 6m

Warm is not the same as pleasant, which is why sunshine and rainfall are shown alongside temperature. All three are ERA5 monthly means for 2023–2024.

Where the curve breaks

The frontier is gentle until it isn't. Going from Essaouira (202 kg, 9.5 h) to Safaga (983 kg, 10.0 h) buys 0.5 hours more sunshine for an extra 781 kg — 1562 kg of CO₂e per hour. That single step is the most expensive sunshine on the whole curve.

The pick of them

Figueira da Foz MunicipalityPortugal4.7 kg CO₂e return11.4 °C · 6.7 h sun · 4h 12m by railmild but wet AlmuñécarSpain15.6 kg CO₂e return13.4 °C · 8.5 h sun · 9h 12m by railmild and bright SafagaEgypt983 kg CO₂e return18.9 °C · 10.0 h sun · 9h 6m by airwarm, bright and dry

If you'd rather have heat than sunshine

January answers differently depending on what you're after. The warmest destinations from Lisbon in January are a different list — hours of sunshine and degrees of warmth come apart, especially early and late in the year.

Where to stay in Safaga

Places to stay in Safaga, Egypt, on a live map. Prices and availability come from Stay22 and its booking partners.

Affiliate disclosure. A booking made through this map may earn 0xCarbon a commission, at no extra cost to you. It changes nothing above it: the emissions figures come from UK Government conversion factors and are computed before anyone is paid anything.See the method.

Other months from Lisbon

January from elsewhere

Questions

Where is the sunniest place to go from Lisbon in January?

Safaga, Egypt, at 10.0 h. Reaching it emits 983 kg CO₂e return, travelling 9h 6m each way by air.

Can I get somewhere sunny from Lisbon in January without flying?

Yes. Almuñécar reaches 8.5 h and is reachable by rail or ferry in 9h 12m, emitting 15.6 kg CO₂e return — though Safaga is sunnier still, if you fly.

How much carbon does a return trip from Lisbon to Safaga produce?

983 kg CO₂e for one person, return, by air. That uses the UK Government's 2026 conversion factors, including radiative forcing for flights.

Carbon uses UK Government (DESNZ/DEFRA) 2026 conversion factors applied to great-circle distance, with radiative forcing included for flights. Rail journey times are modelled estimates, not timetabled services. Full method · download the data.