Best City Breaks in January
Prague, Czech Republic
Despite the cold weather, January is actually a great time to visit Prague. If you’re lucky, the entire city might be covered in a beautiful white blanket of snow making for some truly magical backgrounds for your photos. Charles Bridge is beautiful any time of the year. But in the quieter winter months it’s easier to visit and get photos without hundreds of people getting in your way.
Prague is also home to some rather unique attractions, best visited in winter, such as Spa Beerland where you can take a hot tub in a bath full of warm beer. It also includes a few cold beers for drinking, of course! While the nightlife is a lot quieter than in the wild summer months, there are still plenty of nightclubs operating right through the winter months that will keep you entertained until the small hours of the morning. You should also be able to get cheaper hotel deals in January. And there are always budget flights to be found from Dublin.
How to get to Prague
Flights from Ireland to Prague start from as little as €31 return this January. There are both regular city buses and an Airport Express Bus operating between the airport and Prague city centre making it both easy and cheap to get to your hotel.
Miami, USA
If all you want is a little sunshine to brighten up your mood this January, then a long weekend in sunny Miami might be the perfect treat. While it is obviously a lot further, and more expensive to get to, than the other city breaks mentioned, we guarantee you will be smiling the minute you land in Miami International Airport and step out into the palm tree-lined streets.
The land of eternal sunshine, beautiful boardwalks, busy beaches and more shopping malls than you can shake a stick at, you are almost guaranteed sunny weather and an unforgettable holiday in Miami! Spend the morning at South Beach followed by a long walk down Ocean Drive scouting out what bars and clubs you fancy checking out that night. Do as the locals do the next day, and run off your hangover in Lummus Park, where you will probably bump into bikini-loving celebrities and super models. Finish off your long weekend in Lincoln Road Mall, a mile-long shopping mall that is sure to empty your bank account before you fly home.
Travel inspiration: Top things to do in Miami!
How to get to Miami
Flights from Ireland to Miami in January start from €327 return. The airport is only 5 miles form downtown Miami so a taxi should set you back about $22. There are also public buses running between the airport and the city and nearby beaches.
Marrakech, Morocco
January is the perfect time to visit Marrakech, as you can avoid the crowds that descend on the city during high season, while also escaping the unbearably hot summers. With January temperatures that would rival Ireland in July, a long weekend in Marrakech can really brighten up a long, cold January.
Spend your afternoons exploring the various museums and parks on the outskirts of the city and then head to Jemaa el-Fnaa, the main public square, once the sun sets as that is when the market really comes alive. Get lost in the various souks in the medina and be sure to bargain hard with any street vendors – they love a good haggle!
If you’re feeling brave, spend a morning in a local hammam (a Moroccan spa) where you will get scrubbed so hard that you’ll leave feeling like a new person! If you’re feeling adventurous, book yourself on one of the many day trips to the Atlas Mountains where you can meet the Berber people and ride through the dunes on the back on a camel.
Travel inspiration: Top things to do in Marrakech
How to get to Marrakech
Flights from Ireland to Marrakech start from as little as €79 return this January. The airport is only a short distance from the city centre so the easiest way to get to your hotel is with a taxi. Just remember to confirm the price before you get in!
Longyearbyen, Norway
Longyearbyen isn’t exactly a city, or a town or even a village. The entire settlement consists of colourful wooden houses built on stilts. And don’t be surprised if you spot reindeer, or even polar bears wandering through the streets. Snowmobiles are the transport method of choice here, with two snowmobiles existing for every one resident! The northernmost settlement in Norway, this unique destination is one of the best places in the world to spot the Northern Lights. Check into the Basecamp Hotel, then spend your time chasing the northern lights and enjoying a weekend break you will never forget.
How to get to Longyearbyen
As Longyearbyen is situated in the very North of Norway, in the very North of Europe, it is a little tricky to get to! From Dublin you need to first fly to Olso and then get an internal flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen in Svalbard.
Best Beach Breaks in January 2019
Dubai, UAE
If Asia or the Caribbean seem too far, and you’re unsure if the Canary Islands will be warm enough, then Dubai might be your perfect January destination. With January temperatures averaging 24C and the sea temperature a balmy 21C, it’s the perfect time for a trip to Dubai regardless of whether your focus is on swimming, sunbathing or sightseeing.
Spend a day at the Wild Wadi Water Park, spend some time soaking up the sun on one of the city’s beautiful beaches or admire the striking sail-shaped Burj Al Arab Hotel, one of the most opulent hotels in the world. if you are looking for some quirky activities – head along to a camel racing event or do some shopping at Souk Madinat, a shopping mall with its own waterway to transport shoppers!
A visit to Dubai Marina at night time is also a must, as is witnessing the light an water show in front of The Dubai Fountain which take place every 30 minutes between 6pm and 11pm. If you don’t want to blow your budget, read this guide to travelling to Dubai on the cheap.
Travel inspiration: Top Things to Do in Dubai!
How to get to Dubai
Flights from Ireland to Dubai in January start from €340 return. Once in Dubai, there is a single bus stop outside Terminal 1 with public buses to the centre. A taxi to the centre should cost AED 40 (about 10 euros).
Costa Verde, Costa Rica
Rugged, rainforested and lined with stunning coastlines on both the Pacific side and the Caribbean side, Costa Rica is an idyllic holiday location any time of the year. But it’s ideal for a January sun holiday. Known as one of the happiest countries in the world, Costa Rica is also home to some very unique accommodation options including a converted 747 Jumbo Jet at Hotel Costa Verde sticking out of the jungle with views of the ocean.
Costa Rica is also brimming with unique activities from white water rafting to watching turtles hatching on the Pacific Coast, surfing or exploring extinct volcanoes. Costa Rica is also home to Sloths – the cutest endangered animals in the world!
Travel inspiration: Top Things to do in Costa Rica!
How to get to Costa Rica
Return flights to Costa Rica from Ireland start at €617 this January.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Even the word Jamaica conjures up images of hammocks hanging from palm trees and an endless supply of rum and coconut cocktails! With an average temperature of 28C, we’re not sure anything could be more tempting than Jamaica in January! If lying on the beach all day with a good book and a great cocktail does not tickle your fancy, fear not as there are plenty of things to keep you entertained in Montego Bay.
For adventure lovers, Montego Bay might just be paradise. From bamboo rafting and canopy tours to ATV safaris, zip lining and your chance to pretend your part of the Jamaican Bobsleigh team in a bobsleigh that moves through the jungle, Montego Bay is brimming with activities for the adrenaline junkie. Pick a hotel with an infinity pool overlooking the crystal clear waters, and pretend you’re never returning to Ireland!
Travel inspiration: Top Things to Do in Jamaica!
How to get to Jamaica
Return flights to Montego Bay in Jamaica start from €570 this January.
Best Events in January 2019
Up Helly Aa, Lerwick, Scotland
Up Helly Aa is an annual festival held in Shetland, Scotland to mark the end of the yule season. The event involves fire festivals taking place all over the region, as thousands of people march down the streets in local towns in villages wearing themed costumes and carrying torches of fire. The tradition, which has been up and running in Scotland since 1876, culminates in everyone throwing their burning torches into a replica Viking longship. This is a very unique festival to attend and, as it takes place in Scotland, it’s just a short flight away from Dublin. You’ll need to get a boat to Shetland, however, as it’s an island right off the north coast!
Kaapse Klopse, Cape Town
Dating back to the 19th Century, the Kaapse Klopse (or Cape Carnival) is an annual festival held on January 2nd each year in Cape Town, South Africa. The streets of Cape Town, and in particular around the colourful Bo Kaap district, are decorated in bright colours. Up to 13,000 people take part in the celebrations by either carrying colourful umbrellas or playing an array of musical instruments. This is one of the most colourful, fun and entertaining festivals of the year and a must-attend event if you’re in Cape Town.
Bikaner Camel Festival, India
One of the most unique events on the festival calendar, the Bikaner Camel Festival in India is a real once-in-a-lifetime experience. The entire festival is dedicated to these incredible strong and tough animals, and acknowledges how difficult their lives in the desert must be. The festival starts with a procession of camels adorned in brightly coloured blankets, as they walk in against the backdrop of the striking Junagarh Fort.
There are also many traditional Rajasthani folk dance performances, puppet shows, fire dancers and a spectacular fireworks display that closes the festival. You can also taste camel milk tea and camel milk sweets and spend some time shopping for locally made crafts, which are on display around the city throughout the festival.
Where to go in January: Best city breaks, beach holidays and events
| Best City Breaks in January | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Miami, USA | |
| Marrakech, Morocco | |
| Longyearbyen, Norway | |
| Best Beach Breaks in January | Dubai, UAE |
| Costa Verde, Costa Rica | |
| Montego Bay, Jamaica | |
| Best Events in January | Up Helly Aa, Lerwick, Scotland |
| Kaapse Klopse, Cape Town | |
| Bikaner Camel Festival, India |
*All flight prices mentioned in this article are estimates of the cheapest prices as found using Skyscanner’s flight search tool, for return flights, 1 person, economy. These are subject to change and were correct at time of writing.
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