January - Europe - Help please- Malta?

[SliceOfMammasPeachPie]

Needs to be January sadly.

Not looking for sunbathing or pools, just somewhere that is warm during the day.

More worried about rain than temperature.

Anyone been to Malta in January, the island appears to be open?

I went end of Feb this year and it was 16 degrees at that point, so I think 'warm' in January is unlikely. Mild, possibly, warmer than here, but warm? I think you'd be better off going to the Canaries or Cyprus if you want Europe. Neither of them are guaranteed to be warm, but probably a bit warmer than Malta.

Thanks, yes you are right- 16 with no rain would be ok, but if windy and wet it would be different.

So annoying having to go in Jan- I've always done canaries because of the time of year but fancy something different - didn't like Cyprus when we visited a few years ago.

I don’t think anywhere in Europe is guaranteed warm in January tbh.

Malta can be pleasantly warm in January and February. But it can also rain, and wherever you go there will be an increased risk of adverse weather events, pretty much, because of El Niño.

mind you, I don’t mind rain so much when the climate is pleasantly warm.

Marsaxlokk was very nice as I remember. Or Valletta if you like a big town vibe.

I’ve sunbathed in the Algarve over Xmas and new year - think we had 4 days of gorgeous sunshine but two days of down pours….

Yeah you could go to lots of places and be lucky - or not! e.g. I've been to Lanzarote twice at new year. First time we had a week of lovely, sunny weather, it wasn't hot, but it was warm enough to lie by the pool and swim. Second time we had two days where it was warm enough to do that and the rest of the time the wind was howling and it was actually pretty chilly with some rain.

Southern Spain/Portugal can be lovely and sunny in the winter, but can also be grey and rainy. Nothing is guaranteed. With the Super El Niño this year too, that makes things even more unpredictable.

Having previously researched where in the Med is likely to be warmest/least rainy in January, I think Majorca and Sicily, alongside Malta, were statistically the best bet. But as pps have said, it's a bit of a lottery.

Having said that, both were beautiful with good food (even out of season) and I'd recommend them. My criteria was enough things to do (galleries, museums, attractions) which could be done even if the weather wasn't great so we stayed in towns/cities to maximise that.

Problem is the weather in the Med in winter is very variable. It can be anything between under 10 and over 20 C, windy or not windy and dry or very rainy/stormy. So it's up to you whether you embrace that and find things to do if the weather isn't ideal, taking waterproofs if necessary or you choose a different type of holiday.

I think Majorca and Sicily, alongside Malta, were statistically the best bet.

That's what I want to hear so in true MN fashion will ignore everything else 😂

Thanks all for your input - I certainly don't mind wearing a rain coat and making the best of it- but a bit of sun does make all the difference.

Going to Valletta in January next year.
Went to Seville one New Year. It was lovely during the day, t shirt weather. But cool at night.

I was looking at Seville today - I'm so torn but do like the look of the indoor activities in Malta if it is horrible.

We had 1 nice sunny day (16 degrees) out of 8 days in January. Lots of rain and generally cold around 10 to 14 degrees.I'd look at Madeira, the Canaries, or a bit further afield. If they are too far, Gibraltar or southern Spain is a better bet than Malta, but variable.

Thanks, that is my worry and the El Nino mentioned above is definitely evident at the moment

Madeira is heavy rain at the moment and I saw benidorm with flooding this week.

I know it is a lovely problem to have, but I just need to decide

i know it’s not Europe but it’s similar flight time - we went to Morocco at Xmas one year and it was nice and warm every day - a few showers and cold at night but we were walking round in t shirts and eating lunches outside on roof terraces most days.

Been to Malta twice, first time in late November, Second time in March 7 days. Windy both times and "warmish (i.e. light fleece)" to "warm" (sunbathing) most of the times, but not hot enough to go in an outside pool, apart from maybe a couple of days for the brave. Bit of rain, bit of cloud. Been to Morocco November, similar to be fair, clearer days with less rain. Colder at night. Suspect the Canaries and Madeira would be better. I have used this before, which you can give your exact week of travel, and your exact boundaries, and found it quite useful, I am not sure who the author is, or how accurate it is, but Ryan thank you. public.tableau.com/app/profile/ryan7046/viz/TheBestTimetoVisitAnywhereCelsius/Sheet1

Went to Malta in Jan a couple of years ago. One wet day in a week and some days warm enough for shirtsleeves during the day. It was a bit windy though and the ferry to Gozo couldn't run every day.
We found enough to keep us busy and stayed in Valetta.

That is really disappointing Ryan.

Benidorm is mid Spain on the east coast and doesn't get the weather as good as the south.

Not strictly true @PrincessofWills

Benidorm has a microclimate which means its weather is better than it's more northerly position would suggest.

https://sunbenidorm.eu/blog/benidorm-climate-320-days-sunshine/

But anywhere in the Med or Canaries is luck of the draw between about October and April, could be pretty much any type of weather so you need to work with it or choose another type of holiday, ie not go somewhere where the only thing to do is sunbathe if that's what you want to do.

But there are plenty of options anywhere where there's accessible cities and towns, museums, historical sites, walks etc.

@Bjorkdidit thanks, I won't sunbathe even if the weather is good, so I'm not worried about that.

I just can't bare the idea of flying somewhere to be wet and cold. Happy to be in jeans and jumper, can cope with a few showers.

My son was in Portugal in August and it rained solidly for two whole days , which is unheard of, so I know nothing is guaranteed.

Maybe - I lived near Gib for some years, and we had some lovely days in the south including one memorable NY swim of the beach at Tarifa. Lovely day, sea water freezing.
I've only passed through Benidorm and I'm afraid I thought it was an horrendous place 😟

Have you looked at Seville? Might be worth looking at but January holidays are honestly such a gamble with the weather. I'd probably go for somewhere with lots of sightseeing options so a rainy day doesn't completely ruin the plans

French overseas territories are technically in Europe. How about Martinique or Réunion?

anywhere in the southern parts of Europe are possibly late teens to early 20’s but storms are possible too. I’ve had lovely weather in the canaries and also Sicily. Morocco is another option though you do need worldwide travel insurance and my eu wide sim doesn’t work there so extra cost for a Morocco one