Canary Islands Caribbean Norwegian Fjords

12 Months of holidays

Where will the year take you? We’ve got 12 months of tempting travel inspiration in our handy guide to some of the world’s dreamiest destinations. So whether you’re after a last-minute escape or are planning ahead, a year’s worth of holidays is at your fingertips.

8 min 28 Jun 2024

Editorial Team

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1. January – Tenerife, Spain

Top reason to visit in January: To kick off the new year with some sea, sand and sun

Average weather in January: 15-20°C, 6 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in January: Arcadia, Azura, Iona, Ventura

Key sights: If you see one thing in Tenerife, make it Mount Teide. Spain’s highest peak is set in an otherworldly volcanic landscape and offers hiking, a cable car and even stargazing if you’re there at night. For even more mind-blowing scenery, you can get an eyeful of the island’s imposing coastline with a kayaking trip near the Los Gigantes Cliffs. But of course, if you’re tempted to simply flop on the beach and soak up some much-needed vitamin D, you’re in a great place to do it. Playa de las Teresitas is one of our favourites; a sandy stretch lined with palm trees and the Angara mountains as a backdrop.

Visit Tenerife in January

Mount Teide, Tenerife

2. February – Lanzarote, Spain

Top reason to visit in February: For warm, sunny days without the crowds

Average weather in February: 14-21°C, 7 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in February: Arcadia, Azura, Iona, Ventura

Key sights: If you can tear yourself away from the beaches, Lanzarote’s lunar-like interior is a joy to discover. A drive or hike through the volcanic ash-covered heartland makes a stunning trip: parts of the Timanfaya National Park are a desert landscape full of strange rock formations and little else. In other areas, the mineral-rich soil can support vines, and there are wineries producing delicious and unique wines. La Geria, the area just a few kilometres from the well-known resort of Puerto del Carmen, is one of the best places to try them. Artist César Manrique was born in Lanzarote and his artistic legacy can be seen all across the island, from Los Jameos del Agua (an arts centre in a volcanic tunnel) to the Cactus Garden, his last great work.

Visit Lanzarote in February

Camel Ride and Fire Mountain, Lanzarote

3. March – Tromsø, Norway

Top reason to visit in March: Searching for the Northern Lights in a winter wonderland

Average weather in March: -6°C to 0°C, 3 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in March: Aurora

Key sights: Tromsø’s unique location – there are no other comparable cities this far north in the world – makes it a fabulous base to explore some of the Arctic Circle and search for the Northern Lights. Elusive as they are, travelling to this region between September and April gives you the best chance to see them. Come for the aurora borealis, stay for the culture. There are some stunning buildings within the city including the Toblerone-shaped Ishavskatedralen, aka the Arctic Cathedral, and the distinctive Polaria aquarium that looks like icy dominoes that have toppled over. A trip into the surrounding countryside will introduce you to some of the culture and scenery of this remote location. Winter visitors can even get around by husky sled.

Visit Tromsø in March

Tromso, Norway

4. April – Stavanger, Norway

Top reason to visit in April: A springtime city break with natural beauty on your doorstep

Average weather in April: 3-9°C, 6 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in April: Aurora, Britannia, Iona

Key sights: Spring comes early in Stavanger, and as you stroll the city’s cobbled streets, past white-painted wooden cottages, art galleries and craft shops, you’ll feel the season’s arrival in the warming sun and smell it on the crisp, cool breeze. As you amble along, keep your eyes peeled for street art – Stavanger is fast becoming one of the world’s leading destinations for the artform. Outside the city, some of Norway’s most spectacular natural wonders await. Take a boat trip along the lovely Lysefjord, the highlight of which is Preikestolen – Pulpit Rock – a dramatic flat-topped cliff that rises vertically from the mountainside to a height of 604 metres. Or visit Sola beach, a beautiful stretch of coastline where you can stroll powder-soft sands as the waves crash gently nearby.

Visit Stavanger in April

Stavanger, Norway

5. May – Copenhagen, Denmark

Top reason to visit in May: Mild weather, long days and a city in bloom

Average weather in May: 8-16°C, 8 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in May: Britannia

Key sights: Cosmopolitan Copenhagen is home to over a million people (and seemingly as many bicycles) and buzzes with youthful energy. This is one of the world’s leading design cities, and beautiful buildings can be found around virtually every corner, from the magical modernism of the Radisson Collection Royal Hotel to the striking Royal Danish Playhouse on the waterfront. The food scene here is equally incredible, and you’ll find so many excellent examples of it in the former industrial district of Refshaleoen – head to Reffen for a street-food bonanza, La Banchina for relaxed waterside wine and seafood, or Lille for comforting baked goods. If you’re staying into the evening or overnight, Vesterbro is where you want to be for buzzing nightlife and world-class bars and restaurants.

Visit Copenhagen in May

Copenhagen waterside

6. June – Málaga, Spain

Top reason to visit in June: A cultural summer escape

Average weather in June: 22-28°C, 8 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in June: Arvia

Key sights: One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, Málaga has witnessed empires rise and fall through the ages. You can soak up a great deal of this history at the golden-hued Alcazaba, where you’ll find Islamic, Roman and renaissance architecture all in one place. There’s lots to swoon over for art lovers, too. The Picasso Museum houses nearly 300 works from the Málaga-born master, while the Pompidou Centre, the Spanish outpost of the Parisian institution, displays works from the 20th and 21st centuries by the likes of Miró and Kahlo. When it’s time to refuel, join the locals at the Atarazanas Central Market, where you can pull up to the counter for a cool cerveza and a plate of pescaíto (fried fish).

Visit Málaga in June

Malaga, Spain

7. July – Dubrovnik, Croatia

Top reason to visit in July: Sunshine, city strolls and warm seas

Average weather in July: 21-28°C, 13 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in July: Arcadia, Azura

Key sights: ‘The Pearl of the Adriatic’ was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, and inside its 13th-century city walls you’ll find Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance gems such as the Sponza Palace, the Rector’s Palace and the Clock Tower with its bronze warrior bellringers, Maro and Baro. Walk the walls and study Dubrovnik’s ancient gatehouses or get the bird’s-eye view with a cable-car ride over the city, taking in the red-tiled rooftops, fragrant pine forests and the shimmering Adriatic Sea. Those after a beach break can venture to the sands of Copacabana or take a boat trip to Lokrum Island nature reserve to swim and soak up the serenity – keep your eyes peeled for peacocks, the ruins of a Benedictine monastery and a salt lake.

Visit Dubrovnik in July

Dubrovnik, Croatia

8. August – Valletta, Malta

Top reason to visit in August: Fabulous festivals and fun in the sun

Average weather in August: 27-32°C, 13 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in August: Aurora, Azura

Key sights: You’ll find something different around every corner in Valletta. The city is a masterpiece of the Baroque, with 320 historical monuments within its beautiful, butterscotch-coloured city walls, including the magnificent St John’s Co-Cathedral. Art lovers will find streets with ornate architecture and ancient townhouses converted into contemporary galleries. The café culture is incredible – try the ftira, a sourdough bread typically filled with tomato paste, tuna, capers, olives and onion, and pair it with the local bittersweet soft drink, Kinnie. Depending on when you visit, you might get lucky and stumble across one of the many festivals and events held in August, celebrating everything from wine and beer to culture and concerts on the beach.

Visit Valletta in August

Valletta, Malta

9. September – Rhodes, Greece

Top reason to visit in September: History and adventure in the late summer sun

Average weather in September: 22-27°C, 11 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in September: Azura

Key sights: Where the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea meet, between Europe, the Middle East and Africa, you’ll find the Dodecanese island of Rhodes. Its medieval Old Town seems to come straight from a history book, with cobbled alleyways, magnificent mosques and imposing palaces. Visit the nearby village of Lindos to soak up both history and sun: Tsambika and St Paul’s are two of the prettiest beaches on the island. Alternatively, find a spot in a shady courtyard and watch the world go by with a glass of the local Athiri wine and some mezedes (small plates) such as saganaki (a fried halloumi-like cheese) and keftedes (meatballs).

Visit Rhodes in September

St Paul's beach, Rhodes, Greece.

10. October – Split, Croatia

Top reason to visit in October: To stroll less-crowded streets, with waters still warm enough for a dip

Average weather in October: 12-21°C, 8 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in October: Aurora, Azura

Key sights: It’s easy to live the good life in Split. The cafés along the seafront (Riva) and in the old town squares are always thronged with people enjoying a coffee. Excellent seafood restaurants abound; plus, autumn is peak season for white truffles and chestnuts in Croatia, so keep an eye out for these fresh and flavourful ingredients on menus. Pop into one of many konobas (wine cellars) where you can try a glass or two of Dalmatian wine. While strolling the old town, you can’t miss the spectacular remains of Diocletian’s Palace, built for the Roman emperor at the end of the third century. Stretch your legs and get some fresh air with a walk up Marjan Hill, where you can take in the sea views under the canopy of a dense pine forest.

Visit Split in October

Split, Croatia

11. November – Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Top reason to visit in November: For blissful beaches on a peaceful island, just ahead of high season

Average weather in November: 23-29°C, 7 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in November: Arvia, Britannia

Key sights: Bijou Tortola is a laid-back gem with some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. A few of our favourites are Smuggler’s Cove for tranquillity, Apple Bay for surfing, and Cane Garden Bay if you like your beach with a side of rum – here you can visit the Callwood distillery to try the local sugarcane rum (ideally in a Painkiller, a cocktail of pineapple, orange juice, cream of coconut and rum that lives up to its name). Once you’ve worked up an appetite, swing by D’Coal Pot for a lunch of the local delicacy, fish and fungi (a type of polenta, pronounced foon-ji) prepared in an iron pot. Afterwards, visit the nearby North Shore Shell Museum and check out the thousands of shells and signs hand-painted with local sayings.

Visit Tortola in November

Virgin Gorda, shore experiences available form Tortola, British Virgin Islands

12. December – St Maarten

Top reason to visit in December: Clear skies and warm seas for a Christmastime escape

Average weather in December: 24-28°C, 8 sunshine hours

Ships that visit in December: Arvia, Britannia

Key sights: While there are many similarities – and no border – between the Dutch and French sides of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, each has its own characteristics and charms. On the Dutch (south) side you’ll find the capital, Philipsburg, where the picturesque streets are lined with leafy courtyards and colourful houses. You’ll also find Maho Beach, where jets pass mere metres overhead before landing at Princess Juliana International Airport. In the French north, the beaches tend to be quieter and Grand Case is one of the best, with picture-perfect scenery and calm waves. It’s just moments away from the town of Grand Case – once you’ve worked up an appetite, savour a lunch of chicken and johnnycakes at a ‘lolo’ (local restaurant).