Flying from Manchester in December

A flat, sunny Cape Verde island with white beaches, kitesurfing and warmth all year.

• Winter sun
• Beaches
• Kitesurfing

Red Sea resort known for coral reefs, snorkelling and diving, with warm sun through the winter.

• Winter sun
• Diving
• All-inclusive

Red Sea reefs in Ras Mohammed National Park and reliable winter sunshine.

• Winter sun
• Diving
• All-inclusive

The Maspalomas sand dunes in the south, mountain villages in the middle and year-round warmth.

• Winter sun
• Dunes
• Hiking

The biggest Canary Island, with Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, above the resorts of the sunny south coast.

• Winter sun
• Volcano
• Whale watching

A long sandy bay with year-round sun, a rebuilt kasbah on the hill and the Souk El Had market.

• Winter sun
• Beach
• Surfing

Long, empty beaches and the sand dunes of Corralejo. Quieter and windier than its Canary neighbours.

• Beaches
• Dunes
• Windsurfing

Black lava fields and red volcanic cones in Timanfaya National Park, with low whitewashed villages in between.

• Winter sun
• Volcanic landscapes
• Beaches

Funchal's flower markets, levada walks along old irrigation channels and dramatic sea cliffs.

• Hiking
• Gardens
• Mild all year

Sphinx International Airport is the closest airport to the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum.

• Pyramids
• History
• Museums

The souks and the Jemaa el-Fnaa square of the medina, riad courtyards, and the Atlas Mountains on the horizon.

• Souks
• Riads
• Culture

Roman mosaics, the Tombs of the Kings, and Aphrodite's Rock along the coast road. One of the warmest places on this list.

• History
• Winter sun
• Beaches

Morocco's calm capital, with a clifftop kasbah, the Hassan Tower and a walkable medina.

• Culture
• History
• Coast

A palm-lined seafront under the hilltop Santa Bárbara castle, with long city beaches and an old quarter of narrow streets.

• Beach
• Old town
• Mild winters

Picasso's home town: a Moorish fortress above the port, tapas bars below, and a city beach a short walk from the centre.

• City break
• Tapas
• Museums
• Mild winters

A flat island off southern Tunisia with sandy beaches, whitewashed villages and the Ghriba synagogue.

• Beaches
• Winter sun
• Culture

The airport for the Mar Menor lagoon and the Costa Cálida, with plenty of golf resorts nearby.

• Beaches
• Golf
• Families

Valletta's honey-coloured fortress city, prehistoric temples and clear water for diving and boat trips to Gozo and Comino.

• History
• Diving
• Island hopping

The futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, the home of paella, and city beaches along the Mediterranean.

• City break
• Food
• Beach

A walled old town beside the Ria Formosa lagoon, and the gateway to the Algarve's cliffs and coves.

• Algarve coast
• Old town
• Golf

A port city on the Strait of Gibraltar with a hilltop kasbah and a long literary history.

• Culture
• Medina
• Coast

The airport for Turkey's Lycian coast: Dalyan's rock tombs, Ölüdeniz lagoon and the marinas of Fethiye and Göcek.

• Beaches
• Boat trips
• All-inclusive

The Rock, with its Barbary macaques, cable car and Great Siege Tunnels. British, with Spain across the border.

• History
• Monkeys
• Short break

The Alcázar palace, a vast Gothic cathedral, and flamenco in the lanes of Triana and Santa Cruz.

• City break
• History
• Flamenco

The largest Balearic island: Palma's Gothic cathedral, the Serra de Tramuntana mountains and hundreds of coves.

• Beaches
• Mountains
• Palma city break

A Roman-walled old harbour town backed by the Taurus Mountains, with long beaches either side of the city.

• Beach
• Old town
• All-inclusive

Enfidha airport serves Tunisia's resort coast, from Hammamet's beaches to Sousse's walled medina.

• Beaches
• All-inclusive
• Medina

Seven hills of tiled houses, the historic trams, custard tarts in Belém and the beaches of Cascais along the coast.

• City break
• Food
• Coast

Gaudí's Sagrada Família and Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter's lanes and a city beach at Barceloneta.

• City break
• Architecture
• Beach

Port wine lodges across the river, tiled churches, and the double-decker Dom Luís I bridge.

• City break
• Wine
• Old town

The Acropolis above the city, the Plaka's tavernas, and ferries from Piraeus to the islands.

• History
• Food
• City break

The home of pizza, with Pompeii, Vesuvius and boats to Capri all within reach.

• Food
• History
• Islands

A medieval old town with a Jewish quarter and riverside houses, and the airport for the Costa Brava's beaches.

• Old town
• Costa Brava
• Food

The Promenade des Anglais along the bay, the old town's market, and the Riviera villages of Èze and Monaco nearby.

• Riviera
• Beach
• Old town

The Guggenheim Museum, pintxos bars in the old town and the green Basque coast.

• Food
• Art
• City break

The Colosseum, the Pantheon, Vatican City and trattorias down every side street.

• History
• Food
• City break

Brightly painted buildings, the Bunk'Art museums in Cold War bunkers, and the cable car up Dajti mountain.

• City break
• History
• Mountains

The Leaning Tower and the Field of Miracles, and the easiest airport for Florence and Lucca.

• Tuscany
• History
• Food

A riverside city of grand eighteenth-century stone, at the heart of one of the world's great wine regions.

• Wine
• City break
• Food

A fairytale fortified city with 52 towers and a double ring of medieval walls.

• Castle
• History
• Wine

The Prado, the Retiro park, late dinners and tapas bars that stay busy past midnight.

• City break
• Art
• Food

A port city with medieval walls, the SeaCity Museum's Titanic story and the New Forest nearby.

• History
• New Forest
• Short hop

Georgian squares, the bridges over the Liffey, Trinity College and a pub on nearly every corner.

• Pubs
• Live music
• City break

The airport for Limerick, the Cliffs of Moher and the limestone landscape of the Burren.

• West of Ireland
• Cliffs
• Castles

The largest Channel Island: sandy bays, the Jersey War Tunnels and Mont Orgueil castle. No passport needed from the UK.

• Beaches
• History
• Short hop

The TT motorcycle races, Celtic heritage and a coastline of glens and harbours. No passport needed.

• Coast
• Motorsport
• Short hop

The airport for the Ring of Kerry, Killarney National Park and the Dingle Peninsula.

• Scenery
• Walking
• West of Ireland

Ireland's second city, with the English Market, Blarney Castle nearby and the coast of West Cork.

• Food
• Coast
• Short hop

An Edwardian city hall, the shipyard where Titanic was built, and the pubs and live music of the Cathedral Quarter.

• City break
• History
• Short hop

The only completely intact walled city in Ireland, with the Peace Bridge across the Foyle.

• History
• City walls
• Short hop

Ireland West Airport opens up Mayo: Westport, Clew Bay and the climb up Croagh Patrick.

• West of Ireland
• Walking
• Coast

Baroque arcades, the Egyptian Museum and the Alps on the skyline. The birthplace of Fiat and of chocolate hazelnut spread.

• City break
• Museums
• Food

Canals instead of streets, St Mark's Square, and the islands of Murano and Burano by water bus.

• City break
• Canals
• Art

A walled hilltop old town reached by funicular, close to Lake Como and Lake Iseo. Many fly here for Milan.

• Old town
• Lakes
• City break

The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre, with cafés on every corner and Disneyland Paris east of the city.

• City break
• Museums
• Food

A porcelain city in the heart of rural France, close to the Dordogne and the Limousin countryside.

• Countryside
• Porcelain
• Quiet

A Roman arena that still hosts opera, Juliet's balcony, and Lake Garda about half an hour away.

• History
• Opera
• Lakes

Porticoed streets, Europe's oldest university and the food capital of Italy: mortadella, tortellini and ragù.

• Food
• City break
• History

France's food capital, with a Renaissance old town, Roman theatres and the Festival of Lights in December.

• Food
• Old town
• City break

The Duomo and its rooftop terraces, Leonardo's Last Supper and the shops of the Quadrilatero. Lake Como is an hour away by train.

• City break
• Shopping
• Art

A city ringed by mountains, and the airport for the French Alps ski resorts.

• Skiing
• Mountains
• City break

Paris Beauvais airport, about 85km north of Paris, with a coach link to the city. Beauvais itself has the tallest Gothic choir in the world.

• Paris by coach
• Cathedral
• Budget

A small Alpine airport serving the ski resorts of the Tarentaise valley.

• Skiing
• Mountains
• Lakes

Seventeenth-century canals, the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, and a city best seen by bike.

• City break
• Museums
• Cycling

A Gothic cathedral beside the Rhine, chocolate and beer museums, and one of Germany's biggest carnivals.

• City break
• Christmas markets
• Beer

One of Europe's oldest cities, with a Roman theatre still in use and a cobbled old town.

• History
• Old town
• City break

Brussels South Charleroi airport, an hour by coach from central Brussels.

• Brussels by coach
• Budget

One airport, three countries: it serves Basel in Switzerland, Mulhouse in France and Freiburg in Germany.

• Art
• Rhine
• Christmas markets

Half-timbered houses in La Petite France, a towering cathedral and France's oldest Christmas market.

• Christmas markets
• Old town
• Food

The lakeside Jet d'Eau, a compact old town, and the Alps close by for skiing in winter.

• Lake
• Skiing
• City break

A huge port, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, the warehouse district and the St Pauli nightlife.

• City break
• Music
• Nightlife

The Charles Bridge, a castle complex above the river, and a beer culture that goes back centuries.

• City break
• Beer
• Old town

Beer halls, the English Garden, Oktoberfest in autumn and day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle.

• Beer
• City break
• Castles

Imperial palaces, the opera house and coffee houses that have served cake since the 1800s.

• City break
• Music
• Christmas markets

The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Roman ruins in the metro and Vitosha mountain above the city.

• City break
• History
• Mountains

The colourful harbourfront at Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens and a city where everyone cycles.

• City break
• Design
• Food

Sweden's second city, with canals, seafood and car-free archipelago islands.

• City break
• Seafood
• Islands

The Palace of the Parliament, one of the largest buildings in the world, and the lanes of the old town.

• City break
• History
• Nightlife

A green, car-free old town on the river, an hour from Lake Bled.

• City break
• Lakes
• Food

The Brandenburg Gate, the remaining stretches of the Wall, Museum Island and a famous club scene.

• History
• Nightlife
• City break

One of Europe's grandest market squares, and hundreds of small bronze dwarf statues hidden around the old town.

• Market square
• Dwarf statues
• City break

A mountain city with ski areas you can reach by funicular from the centre.

• Skiing
• Mountains
• Christmas markets

A walled medieval city, one of Germany's most famous Christmas markets and its own little sausages.

• Christmas markets
• History
• Food

Mozart's birthplace, a clifftop fortress, and the setting of The Sound of Music.

• Music
• Old town
• Christmas markets

A lakeside city with an old town on both banks of the river and the Alps within easy reach.

• Lake
• Mountains
• City break

A compact old town under a hilltop castle, an hour from Vienna along the Danube.

• City break
• Castle
• Danube

Steaming outdoor thermal baths, the Parliament on the Danube, and ruin bars in old courtyards.

• Thermal baths
• City break
• Nightlife

A small Bavarian airport about an hour from Munich, close to the Alps and Neuschwanstein Castle.

• Alps
• Castles
• Budget

The base for the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon and, in winter, the chance of the Northern Lights.

• Northern Lights
• Hot springs
• Nature

A colourful market square where two mechanical goats butt heads from the town hall clock every noon.

• Old town
• City break
• Food

A rebuilt Hanseatic old town of tall merchants' houses, amber shops and the Baltic beaches at Sopot.

• Old town
• History
• Baltic coast

Wawel Castle above the Vistula, one of Europe's largest medieval market squares, and the Wieliczka salt mine nearby.

• Old town
• History
• Salt mine

A post-industrial city with striking modern architecture, an hour from Kraków.

• City break
• Architecture
• Budget

Iceland's northern capital, near the Mývatn lake area, Goðafoss waterfall and whale-watching boats.

• Northern Lights
• Whale watching
• Nature

Oslo Torp airport, about two hours south of Oslo, close to the coastal towns of Vestfold.

• Coast
• Oslo by bus

A carefully rebuilt old town, the Chopin museum and Łazienki park, and a fast-growing food scene.

• City break
• History
• Food

A lively student city in south-eastern Poland, and a gateway to the Bieszczady mountains.

• City break
• Mountains
• Quiet

A medieval old town and whole streets of Art Nouveau buildings, often dusted with snow in winter.

• Snow
• Art Nouveau
• Old town

A medieval walled old town and the Toompea hill views, with ferries to Helsinki.

• Old town
• City break
• Christmas markets

A city 350km inside the Arctic Circle, one of the best places for the Northern Lights in winter.

• Northern Lights
• Snow
• Fjords

Sweden's largest ski area, reached by its own mountain airport.

• Skiing
• Snow
• Families

The official home town of Santa Claus, on the Arctic Circle, with husky rides and Northern Lights.

• Santa
• Northern Lights
• Snow

The airport for Levi, Finland's biggest ski resort, inside the Arctic Circle.

• Skiing
• Snow
• Northern Lights