Yes, you can swim in Europe in December, but the Canary Islands are the clearest choice if you want the best combination of warm air, sunshine, and sea temperatures that still feel realistic for a proper swim. Southern Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura usually have daytime temperatures around 21–24°C in December, while the Atlantic is generally around 20–22°C.
Madeira is another good option if you are happy with slightly cooler water and want hiking, natural pools, and dramatic scenery as well as swimming. Cyprus, Rhodes, Crete, and Malta can also have beautiful sunny December days, but the sea is cooler and the weather is less reliable. Think winter sun with the possibility of swimming, rather than a guaranteed hot beach holiday.
If your priority is simple — wake up, go to the beach, and have a realistic chance of getting into the sea without immediately regretting it — choose the Canary Islands.
The best places to swim in Europe in December at a glance
- Tenerife, Spain — daytime 21–24°C, sea around 20–22°C. Best overall choice for reliable winter sun and easy beach days.
- Gran Canaria, Spain — daytime 21–24°C, sea around 20–22°C. Best for sheltered southern beaches and resort convenience.
- Fuerteventura, Spain — daytime 20–23°C, sea around 20–21°C. Best for long sandy beaches and a quieter beach-focused trip.
- Lanzarote, Spain — daytime 20–23°C, sea around 20–21°C. Best for volcanic landscapes, beaches, and an easy road trip.
- La Gomera, Spain — daytime 20–23°C, sea around 20–21°C. Best for a quieter Canary Island escape with hiking and swimming.
- Madeira, Portugal — daytime 18–21°C, sea around 18–20°C. Best for natural pools, hiking, and a mild island break.
- Cyprus — daytime 17–20°C, sea around 18–21°C. Best for combining a winter-sun city break with occasional swimming.
- Rhodes, Greece — daytime 16–19°C, sea around 19–20°C. Best for history, empty beaches, and cool-water swims.
- Crete, Greece — daytime 16–19°C, sea around 18–20°C. Best for food, road trips, and a quieter side of Greece.
- Malta — daytime 16–18°C, sea around 17–19°C. Best for sightseeing with a possible sea dip on a calm sunny day.
The 10 best warm beach destinations in Europe in December
Tenerife, Spain: best overall place to swim in Europe in December
If you want the safest answer to “Where should I go in Europe for a beach holiday in December?”, start with Tenerife.
The south of the island is the key. Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, and Playa de las Américas are usually warmer, sunnier, and drier than the north. December daytime temperatures often sit in the low 20s, and the sea is usually around 20–22°C. That is not tropical water, but it is warm enough for many people to swim, especially around midday when the sun is out.
For an easy beach day, look at Playa del Duque, Playa de las Vistas, or smaller sheltered bays around Costa Adeje. If you want to do more than lie on the beach, Tenerife also gives you Mount Teide, whale-watching trips, coastal walks, and plenty of restaurants that stay open year-round.
December is also one of the reasons Tenerife works so well compared with seasonal Mediterranean islands: it still feels like an active holiday destination rather than a resort town that has closed for winter.
Best for: couples, families, first-time winter-sun travelers, and anyone who wants the highest chance of a proper beach day.
Gran Canaria, Spain: best for sheltered beaches and easy winter sun
Gran Canaria is another of the strongest choices for swimming in Europe in December, especially if you stay in the south.
The areas around Puerto Rico, Playa de Amadores, Puerto de Mogán, and Maspalomas usually have some of the island’s most dependable winter weather. The sea is typically around 20–22°C, while daytime temperatures are often in the low 20s.
Playa de Amadores is particularly useful in winter because its curved bay is more sheltered than many exposed Atlantic beaches. Puerto Rico is another practical base if you want restaurants, boat trips, hotels, and beaches within easy reach.
Maspalomas gives you a more dramatic landscape, with dunes running down toward the ocean. The beach is beautiful, although exposed sections can feel breezier than smaller coves.
Gran Canaria is a good choice if you want a simple holiday with minimal planning. Stay in the south, pick a hotel with a heated pool as backup, and use sunny days for the beach while keeping Las Palmas, mountain villages, and inland viewpoints for cooler or cloudier days.
Best for: resort holidays, couples, families, and travelers who want plenty of restaurants and things to do beyond the beach.
Fuerteventura, Spain: best for long sandy beaches
Fuerteventura feels more like a pure beach destination than most of the other Canary Islands. It has huge stretches of sand, clear water, and an open, almost desert-like landscape.
In December, daytime temperatures are commonly around 20–23°C and the sea is roughly 20–21°C. Swimming is very possible, but wind matters here more than it does in some of the more sheltered resort areas of Tenerife or Gran Canaria.
For the best balance, look at Costa Calma or Morro Jable in the south. Playa de Sotavento is spectacular, but it is also famous for wind, so it may be better for walking, kitesurfing, or simply enjoying the scenery than for a relaxed swim on breezy days.
Morro Jable has a long beach, hotels, restaurants, and an easy holiday feel. It is a strong base if you want to spend most of the trip close to the sea.
Fuerteventura is also a good choice for people who do not need a packed sightseeing schedule. The point is the space: beach walks, swimming when conditions are good, seafood lunches, drives through volcanic landscapes, and sunsets without trying to fit five attractions into one afternoon.
Best for: beach lovers, couples, surfers, slow travelers, and anyone who wants space rather than a busy resort.
Lanzarote, Spain: best for beaches plus a volcanic road trip
Lanzarote is a great option if you want winter sun but know you will get bored sitting on the same beach every day.
December temperatures are usually around 20–23°C during the day, and the sea is generally around 20–21°C. Playa Blanca in the south is one of the best bases for a December trip because it combines beaches, a walkable waterfront, restaurants, and relatively easy access to some of the island’s most beautiful coves.
The Papagayo beaches are the obvious highlight. They sit inside a protected natural area and have pale sand, clear water, and volcanic cliffs around them. On a calm sunny day, this is exactly the kind of place that makes December in Europe feel much less like winter.
Puerto del Carmen is another practical base, especially if you want more nightlife and a larger choice of hotels and restaurants.
Away from the water, visit Timanfaya National Park, the lava landscapes around La Geria, and César Manrique sites across the island. That makes Lanzarote especially useful in December: even if one day is too windy for the beach, the trip still works.
Best for: couples, road trippers, design lovers, and travelers who want beaches without making the whole holiday about the beach.
La Gomera, Spain: best quiet alternative to Tenerife
La Gomera is a better choice for people who like the Canary Islands climate but do not want the resort atmosphere of Tenerife or Gran Canaria.
The island is greener, quieter, and much more focused on nature. December temperatures near the coast are often around 20–23°C, while the sea is usually close to 20–21°C.
Valle Gran Rey is the most obvious base if you want to combine swimming with a relaxed village atmosphere. Beaches here are smaller and often darker than the classic golden beaches of Fuerteventura, but the scenery is beautiful and the pace is much slower.
The real reason to choose La Gomera is the combination of coast and hiking. You can spend the morning walking through Garajonay National Park, return to the coast for a late lunch, and swim before sunset if the sea is calm.
It is not the best island for someone looking for a polished resort holiday. It is excellent for people who want a winter trip that still feels like travel.
Best for: hikers, couples, nature lovers, and travelers who want a quieter Canary Island.
Madeira, Portugal: best for natural pools and active winter sun
Madeira is mild all year, but it is a different kind of December beach destination. Do not come expecting endless sandy beaches. Come for ocean swims, natural pools, mountain views, levada walks, and a climate that feels far softer than winter in most of Europe.
Along the south coast, daytime temperatures are often around 18–21°C. The sea is generally around 18–20°C in winter, so it is noticeably cooler than the Canary Islands but still swimmable for many people.
Calheta is one of the easiest places to stay if you want an actual sandy beach. In Funchal, the Lido swimming complexes make getting into the ocean simple. Porto Moniz is famous for volcanic natural pools, although the north coast can be rougher and wetter, so conditions matter.
The south and southwest are generally the better areas for winter sun. Ponta do Sol and Calheta are good choices if you want to maximize your chance of brighter, calmer weather.
Madeira works especially well if swimming is one part of the trip rather than the only reason for going. You can hike in the morning, eat lunch overlooking the ocean, swim in the afternoon, and still have a full day even if the weather changes.
Best for: active couples, hikers, nature lovers, and travelers who want winter sun without a traditional resort holiday.
Cyprus: best Mediterranean option for the warmest possible December sea
If you want to stay in the Mediterranean rather than fly to the Atlantic islands, Cyprus is one of the better bets.
December daytime temperatures on the coast are often around 17–20°C. Sea temperatures can sit roughly around 18–21°C depending on location and the part of the month. That means swimming is possible, but it will feel cool and you should not expect every day to be beach weather.
Paphos is one of the best winter bases because it stays active year-round. You can walk along the seafront, visit archaeological sites, eat outside on sunny afternoons, and head to Coral Bay when the weather is calm.
The east coast around Ayia Napa and Protaras has some of the island’s most beautiful beaches, but many seasonal businesses slow down or close during winter. For a December trip, Paphos or Limassol is usually easier unless you specifically want a very quiet off-season stay.
Cyprus is best viewed as a mild winter escape where you may get several excellent beach afternoons, not as a guaranteed week of sunbathing.
Best for: travelers who want Mediterranean food, history, easy sightseeing, and the possibility of swimming on warm days.
Rhodes, Greece: best for history and empty beaches
Rhodes can still hold onto relatively mild sea temperatures in December, often around 19–20°C, even when the air feels cooler. That makes it one of the more interesting Greek islands for travelers who do not mind a brisk swim.
The trade-off is weather reliability. Daytime temperatures are often around 16–19°C, rain is more likely than in the Canary Islands, and many seasonal beach businesses are closed.
This is exactly why Rhodes is better for a mixed trip than a pure beach holiday. Stay in or near Rhodes Town so you have restaurants, history, and the medieval old town around you. Then use sunny, calm days for the coast.
Lindos is beautiful even in winter, but it is much quieter than in summer. Elli Beach in Rhodes Town is convenient if you want a quick swim without driving across the island.
If your idea of a perfect December holiday is walking through an almost empty medieval town, having a long lunch, and swimming in the sea because the sun came out, Rhodes can be brilliant.
Best for: history lovers, couples, off-season travelers, and confident cool-water swimmers.
Crete, Greece: best for food, road trips, and occasional winter swimming
Crete is farther south than most of Greece, which helps in winter, but December is still winter. Expect mild days mixed with rain, wind, and cooler spells rather than reliable beach weather.
Daytime temperatures along the coast are often around 16–19°C, while the sea is usually roughly 18–20°C. Swimming is possible for people who are comfortable in cooler water, particularly on sunny days with little wind.
Chania is a good base because it remains interesting even when the beach is not the plan. You have the old harbor, restaurants, local food, and easy drives into the countryside. Agios Nikolaos is another pleasant year-round option on the eastern side of the island.
Crete makes sense in December if you want to see the island without summer crowds and treat swimming as a bonus. It is not the destination to choose if your entire holiday depends on seven consecutive beach days.
Best for: food lovers, road trippers, couples, and travelers who want Greece without summer crowds.
Malta: best for a city break with a possible sea swim
Malta is one of Europe’s sunniest countries over the year, but December is still firmly off-season. Daytime temperatures are often around 16–18°C, and the sea is usually around 17–19°C.
That is cool for most casual swimmers. Still, on a calm sunny day, people do get in, especially at sheltered spots and rocky swimming areas.
Melliħa Bay is the obvious sandy-beach option. Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa are beautiful for coastal walks, while St. Peter’s Pool is better known for swimming from rock platforms when the sea is calm.
The advantage of Malta is that the trip does not fall apart if the weather turns. Valletta, Mdina, the Three Cities, cafés, museums, and restaurants give you plenty to do. You can treat a December swim as a nice extra rather than the whole plan.
Best for: city-break travelers, history lovers, couples, and people who are happy with a cool dip rather than a warm sea.
Which European destination has the warmest sea in December?
For most travelers, the Canary Islands are the best answer. Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and La Gomera usually keep sea temperatures around 20–22°C in December, while daytime temperatures often reach the low 20s.
Within the Canary Islands, small differences in sea temperature matter less than local weather, wind, and beach exposure. A sunny sheltered bay at 20.5°C can feel much better than a windy open beach at 21.5°C.
If swimming comfort is your main priority, focus on southern Tenerife or southern Gran Canaria. Both have a strong mix of winter sunshine, sheltered beaches, year-round hotels, and plenty of alternatives if the ocean feels too cool.
Is the sea actually warm enough to swim in December?
That depends on what “warm” means to you.
Water around 21–22°C feels refreshing rather than bath-like. Many people are comfortable swimming in it, especially in sunshine. Water around 18–20°C feels distinctly cool and is better for short swims unless you are used to colder water. Below that, most casual beach travelers will probably prefer a heated pool.
That is why the Canary Islands stand out. They are not tropical, but they give you the most realistic chance of having both warm-enough air and swimmable sea temperatures in Europe in December.
A useful rule for planning is simple: if the sea matters a lot, choose the warmest destination and a sheltered south-facing beach. If the sea is only one part of the holiday, Madeira, Cyprus, Rhodes, Crete, and Malta become much more attractive.
How to plan a December beach holiday in Europe
Choose the south side of the island whenever possible. On Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Madeira, southern areas are generally drier and sunnier in winter than northern areas.
Book a hotel with a heated pool. It gives you an easy backup on windy or cloudy days without turning the entire trip into a weather gamble.
Pay attention to wind, not only temperature. A 22°C day can feel lovely in a sheltered bay and surprisingly cold on an exposed beach.
Do not build the whole itinerary around swimming. December weather can change quickly, even in the warmest destinations. Pick places where you would also enjoy hiking, food, towns, museums, viewpoints, or road trips.
Check what stays open in winter. The Canary Islands, Madeira, Malta, and larger cities in Cyprus generally have plenty of year-round tourism infrastructure. Smaller Greek resort towns can become very quiet after the summer season.
Frequently asked questions about swimming in Europe in December
Can you swim in Tenerife in December?
Yes. Tenerife is one of the best places in Europe for swimming in December. The sea is typically around 20–22°C, and the south of the island often has daytime temperatures in the low 20s. Choose Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, or Playa de las Américas for the most reliable winter beach weather.
Can you swim in Gran Canaria in December?
Yes. Southern Gran Canaria is a strong December swimming destination. Playa de Amadores, Puerto Rico, and Puerto de Mogán are good choices because they combine mild weather with sheltered beach areas.
Can you swim in Cyprus in December?
You can, but the water is cooler than in the Canary Islands and the weather is less reliable. Sea temperatures are often roughly 18–21°C. Paphos is one of the easiest winter bases because the city remains active outside the summer season.
Can you swim in Greece in December?
Yes, technically, especially in southern islands such as Rhodes and Crete, where the sea can remain around 18–20°C. For most people, though, it will feel cool. Greece in December is better for a mixed sightseeing trip with occasional swimming than for a guaranteed beach holiday.
Where is the warmest place in Europe in December?
For a warm-weather holiday, the Canary Islands are usually the best choice. They are part of Spain and have a subtropical climate, with average December daytime temperatures around the low 20s and some of Europe’s most reliable winter sunshine.
Where in Europe is around 25°C in December?
There is nowhere in Europe where 25°C is guaranteed throughout December. The Canary Islands can reach the mid-20s on warm days, but typical daytime temperatures are closer to 21–24°C. If you need consistently hotter weather and warmer water, you will usually need to travel outside Europe.
Can you sunbathe in Europe in December?
Yes, especially in the Canary Islands. On clear, calm days, southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria can be warm enough for comfortable sunbathing around midday. Madeira and Cyprus can also have sunny days, but conditions are more variable.
What is the best European island for a December beach holiday?
Tenerife is the strongest all-round choice. It combines some of Europe’s best December weather with swimmable sea temperatures, beaches, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, hiking, and plenty to do if the weather changes.
Plan your December beach trip with EasyMiles
A December beach holiday needs a little more flexibility than a summer one. The warmest beach might change depending on wind, cloud, opening hours, or what you actually feel like doing that day.
EasyMiles helps you plan the whole trip in one place. Tell it where you are going, your dates, and what you like, and it builds a personalized itinerary with places to visit, restaurants, activities, and practical timing between stops. It can take factors such as opening hours, travel time, and weather into account, so you are not stuck following a beach-heavy plan on the one cloudy day of your trip.
That is especially useful in December, when a good itinerary might mean swimming at noon, exploring a town later in the afternoon, and moving a hike or viewpoint to the clearest day.
Plan your trip with EasyMiles and spend less time building spreadsheets and more time actually enjoying the winter sun.