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London · December · warmth

Warmest places to go from London in December

In December, the warmest well-known place within 15 hours of London is Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, averaging 20.4 °C across day and night and 9.7 h sun a day, about 8h 42m each way by air. Without flying, it is Reus, Spain, averaging 10.4 °C across day and night, about 14h 24m each way by train, for about 27× less carbon (34.1 kg CO₂e return against 909 kg).

Every city at once, with and without flying: where is hot in December.

The 10 warmest places within 15 hours of London

Ranked on warmth in December alone, among well-known places (a Wikivoyage travel guide and at least 40,000 Wikipedia readers a year), one per area and at most three per country. The carbon is shown, not used to choose: the list further down is the other question, how much warmth each extra kilogram buys.

  1. Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt20.4 °C · 9.7 h sun a day · mostly dry · sea 25.2 °Cair ≈ 8h 42m · 909 kg CO₂e return
  2. Hurghada, Egypt19.9 °C · 9.8 h sun a day · mostly dry · sea 24.7 °Cair ≈ 8h 42m · 915 kg CO₂e return
  3. Maspalomas, Spain19.7 °C · 9.4 h sun a day · mostly dry · sea 21.9 °Cair ≈ 7h 24m · 740 kg CO₂e return
  4. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain19.1 °C · 9.3 h sun a day · 2.8 mm rain a day · sea 21.9 °Cair ≈ 7h 24m · 729 kg CO₂e return
  5. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain18.9 °C · 9.3 h sun a day · 1.3 mm rain a day · sea 22.2 °Cair ≈ 7h 24m · 728 kg CO₂e return
  6. Aswan, Egypt18.7 °C · 10.1 h sun a day · mostly dryair ≈ 9h · 970 kg CO₂e return
  7. Aqaba, Jordan18.0 °C · 9.2 h sun a day · mostly dry · sea 23.5 °Cair ≈ 8h 30m · 886 kg CO₂e return
  8. Agadir, Morocco17.4 °C · 9.1 h sun a day · mostly dry · sea 19.1 °Cair ≈ 6h 48m · 622 kg CO₂e return
  9. Essaouira, Morocco16.4 °C · 9.0 h sun a day · mostly dry · sea 18.4 °Cair ≈ 6h 36m · 593 kg CO₂e return
  10. Ponta Delgada, Portugal15.8 °C · 7.0 h sun a day · 4.1 mm rain a day · sea 19.1 °Cair ≈ 6h 54m · 632 kg CO₂e return

Without flying

The warmest places the train reaches within 15 hours. Reus is 10.4 °C for 34.1 kg — about 27× less carbon than flying to Sharm el-Sheikh.

  1. Reus, Spain10.4 °C · 7.9 h sun a day · mostly dry · sea 16.2 °Crail ≈ 14h 24m · 34.1 kg CO₂e return
  2. Toulon, France10.2 °C · 7.4 h sun a day · 1.3 mm rain a day · sea 15.2 °Crail ≈ 9h 42m · 30.6 kg CO₂e return
  3. Bilbao, Spain10.1 °C · 5.0 h sun a day · 4.1 mm rain a day · sea 14.9 °Crail ≈ 12h 42m · 27.8 kg CO₂e return
  4. Perpignan, France9.9 °C · 6.2 h sun a day · 1.2 mm rain a day · sea 14.6 °Crail ≈ 10h 48m · 29.7 kg CO₂e return
  5. Barcelona, Spain9.7 °C · 7.7 h sun a day · mostly dry · sea 15.8 °Crail ≈ 12h 30m · 33.6 kg CO₂e return
  6. Nice, France9.2 °C · 7.5 h sun a day · 1.4 mm rain a day · sea 15.8 °Crail ≈ 11h 30m · 30.4 kg CO₂e return

≈ is the model's estimate (air times include getting to and through the airport); ✓ is a rail journey checked against a real timetable, with the date it was checked. Temperatures are historical daily means for 2023–2024, averaged across day and night, so afternoons run warmer.

The low-carbon trade-off

The warmest place you can reach from London in December within 15 hours is Maspalomas, 19.7 °C, costing 740 kg CO₂e return. The lowest-carbon option is Calais at 4.5 kg — 164× less carbon, for 11.9 degrees less warmth.

Every destination here is on the efficiency frontier: nowhere else this site covers is both warmer in December and lower in carbon. Anything a better option beats outright has been left out.

CalaisMaspalomas
Where they are. Solid lines are rail or ferry, dashed are flights, from London. Pick one to compare.
Carbon against warmth, December, departing London. Journeys of up to 15 hours each way.11 destinations. Lowest carbon Calais at 4.5 kilograms and 7.8 °C; best for warmth Maspalomas at 740 kilograms and 19.7 °C. Calais · 4.5 kgDonostia / San Sebastian · 27.2 kgSagunto · 331 kgMaspalomas · 740 kg

By rail or ferry By air

Carbon against warmth, December, departing London. Journeys of up to 15 hours each way.
December from London — 11 destinations on the frontier, 3 without flying.
DestinationHowCO₂e returnTempSun/dayRain/dayJourney
Calais, FranceRail4.5 kg7.8 °C2.9 h2.8 mm5h 24m
Cherbourg, FranceRail6.9 kg9.1 °C2.9 h2.8 mm9h 12m
Donostia / San Sebastian, SpainRail27.2 kg10.5 °C5.4 h7.1 mm11h 36m
Sagunto, SpainAir331 kg12.0 °C8.0 h0.3 mm5h 18m
Ibiza Town, SpainAir354 kg14.0 °C8.4 h0.4 mm5h 24m
Bizerte, TunisiaAir445 kg14.5 °C7.4 h3.2 mm5h 54m
Melilla, SpainAir457 kg15.2 °C8.9 h0.4 mm5h 54m
San Pawl il-Bahar, MaltaAir523 kg16.0 °C7.9 h1.3 mm6h 18m
Taroudant, MoroccoAir616 kg17.9 °C8.9 h0.3 mm6h 48m
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, SpainAir728 kg18.9 °C9.3 h1.3 mm7h 24m
Maspalomas, SpainAir740 kg19.7 °C9.4 h0.5 mm7h 24m

Can you actually book it?

The table above is the model's answer: the warmest places the data says you can reach. This one is the practical answer, researched 2026-09-14 from London airports / London St Pancras: how you would get there, whether a direct service exists, and the reason a place may be a poor recommendation however warm it is. "Not checked on dates" means a route is listed but no dated search was run; treat it as a lead, not a booking.

Feasibility from London, checked 2026-09-14. Sources per row are listed below the table.
DestinationHow you would get thereVerdictThe catch
Calais, FranceEurostar from London St Pancras to Lille Europe, then TER to Calais Ville — 1 changePossible, not checked on datesNo direct Eurostar was verified; the city offers limited material for a five-night standalone break. Calais Tourisme presents the City of Lace and Fashion and Dragon of Calais among the city's continuing attractions.
Cherbourg, FranceEurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, transfer to Gare Saint-Lazare, then a Normandy train to Cherbourg — 1 changePossible, not checked on datesRequires a cross-Paris transfer and a long domestic leg; timetable feasibility was not established. The Cotentin tourism office presents Cherbourg's maritime museum, harbour and historic centre as principal attractions.
Donostia / San Sebastian, SpainEurostar to Paris, cross to Montparnasse, TGV to Hendaye, then Euskotren to Donostia — 2 changesPossible, not checked on datesLong journey with a Paris transfer and separate local operator; weak fit for a three-night break. The official tourism site centres winter visits on food, culture and the compact old town.
Sagunto, SpainValencia VLC, about 35 km; verified public-transport time to Sagunto not found — direct: yes — Aena lists London Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and StanstedPossible, not checked on datesThe onward airport-to-Sagunto connection was not verified and Monday closures reduce a short itinerary. From 15 October to 31 March, Sagunto's castle, theatre and archaeological museum publish reduced winter opening hours and close on Mondays.
Ibiza Town, SpainIbiza IBZ, about 8 km; public-bus journey time not found — direct: seasonal or reduced — Aena lists London routes, but December operation was not establishedPossible, not checked on datesDecember flight frequency and attraction opening were not established; this cannot be treated as a verified winter break. Dalt Vila remains the principal heritage area; the Archaeological Museum's Dalt Vila building is currently listed as temporarily closed.
Bizerte, TunisiaTunis–Carthage TUN, about 68 km; road or bus transfer roughly one hour where connections align — direct service: not checkedPossible, not checked on datesLong onward transfer and no verified direct London flight. FCDO restricts travel in specified Tunisian border and military areas, checked 2026-09-14. Tunisia's tourism authority presents Bizerte's old port and nearby Ichkeul National Park as the principal visitor draws.
Melilla, SpainMelilla MLN, about 4 km; transfer time not found — direct: no — Aena lists only Spanish domestic destinationsNot a sensible bookingNo direct UK service; a Spanish domestic connection makes it an inefficient three-to-five-night recommendation. Melilla's tourism office highlights its large concentration of Modernist and Art Deco architecture.
San Pawl il-Bahar, MaltaMalta MLA, distance and public-bus time not found — direct service: not checkedPossible, not checked on datesA spread-out coastal resort rather than a compact cultural town; winter boat and attraction schedules were not established.
Taroudant, MoroccoAgadir AGA, about 65 km; verified public-transport time not found — direct service: not checkedPossible, not checked on datesA substantial onward transfer with limited verified public transport. FCDO showed no destination-specific against-travel warning for Taroudant on 2026-09-14.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, SpainTenerife North TFN, about 13 km; UK non-stops normally use Tenerife South TFS, about 61 km — direct: yes — to Tenerife South from London; no London service to the nearer airport was establishedPossible, not checked on datesThe usual UK arrival airport is across the island, adding a long bus or road transfer. The city tourism site lists the auditorium, markets, museums and Casa del Carnaval as urban attractions.
Maspalomas, SpainGran Canaria LPA, about 25 km; Global buses 66 and 90 serve the resort in roughly 40 minutes — direct: yes — London appears on the airport's destination list; exact December operating days not establishedPossible, not checked on datesThis is a dispersed resort area rather than a compact town-centre break; some journeys require buses. The protected Maspalomas dunes remain accessible only on designated routes intended to limit damage to the reserve.
Sources for this table

Would rather not fly at all? Three to five nights from London without flying or hiring a car — four destinations checked against a timetable in both directions.

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 Donostia / San Sebastian (27.2 kg, 10.5 °C) to Sagunto (331 kg, 12.0 °C) buys 1.5 °C more warmth for an extra 304 kg — 202 kg of CO₂e per degree. That single step is the most expensive warmth on the whole curve.

The pick of them

CalaisFrance4.5 kg CO₂e return7.8 °C · 2.9 h sun · 5h 24m by railcoolDonostia / San Sebastian, SpainDonostia / San SebastianSpain27.2 kg CO₂e return10.5 °C · 5.4 h sun · 11h 36m by railmild but wetMaspalomas, SpainMaspalomasSpain740 kg CO₂e return19.7 °C · 9.4 h sun · 7h 24m by airwarm, bright and dry

The same month, asked differently

December answers differently depending on what you are after, and the lists genuinely diverge: the brightest places are not the hottest, and in summer the useful question stops being where is warm at all.

Where to stay in Maspalomas

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

Search places to stay in Maspalomas →Opens the booking search in a new tab. Same partners as the map below.

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 London

December from elsewhere

Photo credits

Questions

Where is the warmest place to go from London in December?

Maspalomas, Spain, at 19.7 °C. Reaching it emits 740 kg CO₂e return, travelling 7h 24m each way by air (modelled).

Can I get somewhere warm from London in December without flying?

Yes. Donostia / San Sebastian reaches 10.5 °C and is reachable by rail or ferry in 11h 36m (modelled), emitting 27.2 kg CO₂e return — though Maspalomas is warmer still, if you fly.

How much carbon does a return trip from London to Maspalomas produce?

740 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.