January is the month travelers split into two camps: those who escape winter entirely and those who lean all the way into it. The northern hemisphere is in deep cold, which is exactly what makes Lapland, Hokkaido, and the Norwegian Lofoten, one of the lesser-known small islands, at their most theatrical.
The southern hemisphere, meanwhile, is in high summer, so Patagonia, the Australian coast and South Africa’s Cape hit their peak. It’s also one of the cheapest months for Caribbean and Southeast Asian beaches, since the post-New-Year lull keeps prices soft through mid-month.
Four very different trips below — powder, adventure, auroras and beach — each with what’s new, where to eat and drink, and how to play it over one to three days or a full week.
Editor’s pick · New & noteworthy
Janu Tokyo, Japan
If you only have a January city break in you, make it Tokyo — and make the base Janu Tokyo. Aman’s younger, more sociable sister brand chose the city for its global debut, landing in the new Azabudai Hills district with a 4,000-square-metre wellness floor that’s become the talk of the city. Below it sit new restaurants and the teamLab Borderless digital-art museum, while the temple of Zōjō-ji and the towers of Roppongi are a short walk away. It’s the most complete argument going for treating Tokyo as a long-weekend destination rather than a stopover.
January gives you a genuine choice: lean into the cold or escape it entirely. South Africa, the Australian coast, New Zealand and most of Southeast Asia are at peak season; Lapland, Hokkaido and the Lofotens are at their most dramatic; and Spain’s Costa del Sol and the Canary Islands remain the rare warm-weather European options for sun without leaving the continent. Whichever camp you’re in, January rewards booking early — start planning your trip today.
Happening in January 2026
Annual festivals and ticketed events live this month, refreshed daily.
- Up Helly Aa — Lerwick, Shetland Last Tuesday of January
- Three Kings Day — Spain & Latin America January 6
- Harbin Ice Festival — Heilongjiang, China January – February
- Sundance Film Festival — Park City, Utah Late January
