Winter Sun Padel Holidays: Where to Play, November to March

On 15 December, the sun sets in London at 15:54. You get just under eight hours of daylight, and most of it happens while you're at work.

That's the real reason people book a winter padel trip. It isn't only the warmth. It's playing outdoors at 5pm without floodlights, then sitting outside afterwards.

This guide compares four popular winter sun spots across the five darkest months: the Canaries, the Algarve, the Costa del Sol and Dubai. Two numbers matter for padel: how warm it is during the day, and when it gets dark. Both are below, month by month.

Day and night temperatures, November to March

Long-term averages (1991 to 2020) from each country's weather service. The first number is the average daytime high, the second the average night-time low.

Sunset and daylight, November to March

Times are local clock time on the 15th of each month. London is there for comparison.

After sunset there's roughly 25 minutes of twilight at all four, enough to finish a game but not to start one.

What the tables tell you

The Canaries are the steadiest. Tenerife South barely moves: 22.8°C to 25.4°C by day across the whole winter. Nights stay at 15°C or above. It also gets the fewest rain days of the three European spots, between 1.4 and 3.2 a month at the airport. Lanzarote runs a degree or two cooler; its airport averages 20.9°C in January.

The Canaries are also on UK time. The islands use Western European Time, the same clock as London in winter. So that 18:14 December sunset is 18:14 on your phone and your body. Compared with London, that's about two and a half extra hours of daylight on the same clock.

The Algarve gets dark first. It sits on UK time too, but it's further north than the Canaries. In December the sun sets at 17:17, and Faro averages seven rain days that month. Book afternoon slots before 16:00 and you're fine.

The Costa del Sol gets late mornings. Mainland Spain runs an hour ahead of the UK. Day length is almost identical to the Algarve, but the clock shifts it later. In December the sun doesn't rise in Málaga until 08:21, and it sets at 18:04. Early birds lose out. Late-afternoon players gain.

Dubai has the longest days but an early sunset. It's the furthest south of the four, so it has the most winter daylight. But on Gulf time the sun still sets around 17:30 in December. And in November and March the average high is 30°C or more, so the middle of the day is for the pool, not the court.

Month by month

November. The last month where southern Spain and Portugal still reach about 20°C by day. Dubai averages 31°C, so play early or late. The Canaries sit at 25°C, which is close to a good English summer's day.

December. The darkest month everywhere. The Algarve and Málaga drop to around 17 to 18°C by day and 9 to 10°C at night: shorts on court, a proper layer after. Dubai drops to 26°C by day, the start of its mildest stretch. The Canaries hold above 23°C.

January. Daytime highs bottom out at all four. If warmth is the priority, the Canaries and Dubai are the only two of these averaging above 20°C. The Algarve and Costa del Sol are bright, not hot: Málaga gets 183 hours of sunshine in January, but nights average 7.9°C.

February. Days stretch fast. Sunset moves to around 19:00 in the Canaries and Málaga, so a 17:30 court still finishes in daylight. Málaga has its fewest rain days of the winter, 4.6.

March. All four reach about 12 hours of daylight by mid-month. The Algarve jumps to 243 hours of sunshine in the month, the most of its winter. Clocks in the UK, Spain and Portugal go forward at the end of March, so sunsets jump an hour later after that. Dubai is back up to 30°C by day.

How to pick

• Want the warmest, most reliable week? The Canaries. Same time zone, highs in the low to mid 20s all winter.
• Want a short trip and don't mind a jumper at night? The Algarve or the Costa del Sol. Expect 16 to 20°C days and cold evenings. The Padel in Spain guide covers how to book a court as a visitor.
• Want heat and the longest days? Dubai, best from December to February. Plan around a four-hour time difference.
• Travelling as a mixed group? Our padel holiday vs tennis holiday guide helps you decide how many courts and players to book.

Two checks before you pay, wherever you go. First, ask whether the courts are outdoor, covered or indoor, so you know what a wet day means for your bookings. Second, ask whether there are floodlights. With sunset before 17:30 in some of these places, floodlights decide whether an evening session happens at all.

I've played padel in the Algarve and in Malaga, but never in Dubai. The numbers on this page come from weather records, not from anyone's memory of one good week.

What to bring for winter sun

The full list is in our padel holiday packing list. Two winter-specific points:

The sun sits low. In winter it's lower in the sky all day, which means it's in your eyes more often, especially on lobs and overheads. A cap does more work in January than people expect. Our headwear range has caps and a dad hat.

The evenings are the cold part. In December, Faro and Málaga average 9 to 10°C after dark, so dinner outside means a proper layer. In the Canaries a 15 to 16°C night is heavyweight-tee weather with something over your shoulders. Our heavyweight tees are 100% cotton at 305 g/m2 and cut oversized. Size down for a regular fit, or keep your usual size for the oversized look. The size guide has the measurements. Any two £48 tees from the 2 for £90 range come to £90 at checkout, and UK orders of £75 and over ship free. For colder evenings in Spain or Portugal, look at our sweatshirts.

Staying home this winter instead? Our list of fully indoor padel courts in the UK is the next best thing.

FAQ

Where is warmest for a padel holiday in January? Of these four, Dubai and the Canaries. Dubai averages 24°C by day in January and Tenerife South 22.8°C. The Algarve and Málaga average 16 to 17°C.

What time does it get dark in Tenerife in December? Around 18:14 in mid-December, with about 25 minutes of twilight after that. The Canaries are on the same time as the UK, so there's no clock change to think about.

Is the Algarve warm enough for padel in winter? For playing, yes. Faro averages 16 to 19°C by day from December to March, which is comfortable on court. Evenings drop to around 8 to 10°C, and December averages seven rain days, so pack a warm layer and a waterproof.

Is there a time difference on a winter padel holiday? None in the Canaries or the Algarve. Mainland Spain, including the Costa del Sol, is one hour ahead of the UK. Dubai is four hours ahead.