Rome · December · sunshine

Sunniest places to go from Rome in December

The sunniest place you can reach from Rome in December within 15 hours is Aswan at 10.1 h, costing 687 kg CO₂e return. The lowest-carbon option is Grosseto at 4.4 kg — 156× less carbon for 2.9 h less.

Every destination here is on the efficiency frontier: nowhere else in Europe is both sunnier in December 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 Rome. Pick one to compare.

By rail or ferry By air

Carbon against sunshine, December, departing Rome. Journeys of up to 15 hours each way.

December from Rome — 6 destinations on the frontier, 2 without flying.
Destination	How	CO₂e return	Temp	Sun/day	Rain/day	Journey
Grosseto, Italy	Rail	4.4 kg	8.1 °C	7.2 h	1.8 mm	4h 6m
Catania, Italy	Rail	15.8 kg	12.6 °C	7.9 h	1.0 mm	9h 18m
Houmt Souk, Tunisia	Air	227 kg	15.2 °C	8.5 h	1.3 mm	4h 42m
Oujda, Morocco	Air	375 kg	11.9 °C	9.1 h	0.1 mm	5h 30m
Bouarfa, Morocco	Air	414 kg	8.7 °C	9.6 h	0.0 mm	5h 42m
Aswan, Egypt	Air	687 kg	18.7 °C	10.1 h	0.0 mm	7h 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 Bouarfa (414 kg, 9.6 h) to Aswan (687 kg, 10.1 h) buys 0.5 hours more sunshine for an extra 273 kg — 545 kg of CO₂e per hour. That single step is the most expensive sunshine on the whole curve.

The pick of them

GrossetoItaly4.4 kg CO₂e return8.1 °C · 7.2 h sun · 4h 6m by railcold but bright CataniaItaly15.8 kg CO₂e return12.6 °C · 7.9 h sun · 9h 18m by railmild and bright AswanEgypt687 kg CO₂e return18.7 °C · 10.1 h sun · 7h 6m by airwarm, bright and dry

If you'd rather have heat than sunshine

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

Where to stay in Aswan

Places to stay in Aswan, 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 Rome

December from elsewhere

Questions

Where is the sunniest place to go from Rome in December?

Aswan, Egypt, at 10.1 h. Reaching it emits 687 kg CO₂e return, travelling 7h 6m each way by air.

Can I get somewhere sunny from Rome in December without flying?

Yes. Catania reaches 7.9 h and is reachable by rail or ferry in 9h 18m, emitting 15.8 kg CO₂e return — though Aswan is sunnier still, if you fly.

How much carbon does a return trip from Rome to Aswan produce?

687 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.