The best winter sun holidays you can fly to from Birmingham Airport

As the colder weather and early nights begin to draw in, we’ve officially waved goodbye to the warm weather for the year.

And with changes to the government’s traffic light system opening up more travel options, you might find that you’re keen to jet off for some winter sun.

Some countries still have entry requirements in place, so it’s always best to check the Government foreign travel advice for guidelines before booking your trip.

But now that we’ve been given the go-ahead to safely leave the country under certain conditions, there’s never been a better time to squeeze in a break.

Whether it’s a short city stay or a long-haul jaunt, more flights are now operating from Birmingham Airport to a host of sun-kissed destinations.

Here are the top seven destinations to escape the cold this winter, flying directly from Birmingham Airport.

Culture and cuisine in Barcelona

One of the most beautiful cities in Spain, Barcelona is a popular destination for a short city break.

Home to a wealth of tourist attractions including the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, it’s a city that’s rich in culture.

You’ll find delicious food and drinks here too, from mouth-watering seafood to traditional tapas.

Temperatures are around 18°c to 14°c in the winter months, but you’ll still have the chance to soak up some sun.

With an average flight time of just over two hours, airlines including Jet2.come, Ryanair and Vueling all fly direct to Barcelona Airport during the low season of November to March.

Beach life and architecture in Dubrovnik

With a charming Old Town, Dubrovnik combines charming architecture with luscious beaches and a fantastic food and drink scene.

There’s plenty to see, do and explore here, from art galleries to city walks that provide picturesque views, it’s the ideal destination for a short getaway.

No trip to Dubrovnik is complete without trying the local famous dessert rožata, so make sure you add that to your list.

This Croatian city does have a reputation of being rather hot and humid, but in the winter months, it offers warm temperatures of around 17°c to 14°c.

With an average flight time of three hours, Jet2.com and TUI are the two airlines that offer direct flight times out to Dubrovnik.

Click here to discover more about holidays in Dubrovnik.

Luxury hotels and harbour heaven in Heraklion

As the capital of Crete and Greece’s fifth-largest city, Heraklion has plenty to discover, from a bursting food and drink scene to luxury hotels and culture spots.

A four-hour flight direct from Birmingham, this gorgeous destination offers a picturesque Old Town, complete with a harbour, shops and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the sun whilst sipping on a cocktail.

If you’re keen to learn the history of the area, you can visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, or simply wander through the charming streets.

There are plenty of luxurious places to stay here, and it offers nice temperatures in the cooler months, too.

Coastal views and fabulous food in Paphos

An incredibly popular holiday destination for us Brits, Paphos is a great all-rounder for a great family holiday.

With crisp, clean beaches, museums, a bursting food and drink scene and plenty more, it’s one of the warmer destinations for a winter break.

It has stylish hotels and its harbour is bursting with places to explore.

If you enjoy a long walk, you can take a stroll up the coast, which offers beautiful views across the ocean, with plenty of places to sit and soak in the sun along the way.

However, Paphos has an incredible food scene. From plentiful mezes to fresh seafood, you’ll be spoilt for choice in what to try.

It also has great temperatures of around 22°c in November and 19°c in December.

You can fly direct to Paphos with Jet2.com and TUI in around four and a half hours. Click here to find out more.

Romance and history in Rome

Steeped in culture from head to toe, Rome is one of the most romantic cities to visit in the world.

Italy’s capital welcomes millions of tourists each year who come to explore its incredible historical architecture including the world-famous Colosseum.

Beyond that, it also surrounds the Vatican City, home to the Pope, and has cafes and restaurants on every corner.

Of course, its food and drink culture speaks for itself, but the Romana pizza is a delicacy that you have to try during your trip.

Birmingham Airport operates four flights a week direct to Rome with Jet2.com, with an average flight time of two and a half hours.

Kick back and relax in Santorini

Dubbed as the supermodel of the Greek Islands, Santorini is a popular honeymoon destination.

This gorgeous island is a go-to destination if you’re simply looking to kick back and relax.

Known for its stunning hotels and infinity pools, Santorini is also filled with nightlife spots, and its Old Town is filled with attractive shops.

It’s also known for its crystal clear beaches and waters, so simply back your book, towel, swimsuit and you’re good to go.

Jet2 and TUI operate flights direct to Santorini, flying twice a week from Birmingham Airport, with a flight time of just over four hours.

World-class shopping and beach life in Dubai

One of the most luxurious holiday destinations, Dubai combines world-class shopping with incredible attractions and stunning beaches.

Home to the world’s only seven-star hotel and the world’s tallest building, Dubai is a glamourous city that’s a popular destination for long-haul holidays.

You can experience shopping like never before in the Dubai Mall, which is also home to an underwater zoo; venture to the top of the Burj Khalifa, jump out of a plane with Skydive Dubai, ride camels and race dune buggies in the desert - the list goes on.

Dubai also has some of the most decadent hotels, including Atlantis The Palm, One&Only The Palm and the Burj Al Arab.

The city of Abu Dhabi is also an hour and a half’s drive away. Here, adrenaline junkies can experience thrills like no other at Ferrari World, as well as the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix.

You can fly direct to Dubai International with Emirates in around seven hours, or indirect with airlines including  KLM, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.

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