7 countries with a mild climate you can visit year-round

A comfortable climate without extreme heat or freezing temperatures is possible beyond the summer months. Find out where the weather stays mild all year round and what has changed in 2026

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Summer heat is exhausting, winter cold ruins the mood, and yet the urge to travel doesn’t depend on the calendar. For exactly this kind of traveler, Travel Off Path put together a selection of seven destinations, and this article is based on its information, with updates as of 2026. Countries with a mild climate year-round usually share one of two geographic advantages: they either sit high in the mountains not far from the equator, or lie on islands and coastlines where ocean currents even out the temperature.

The result is a varied list, from Spanish volcanoes to New Zealand vineyards. First, a quick cheat sheet on temperatures, and then we’ll go through each destination and what’s worth knowing about it this year.

Also read how to travel around Europe on a budget from €212.

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How warm will it be at each destination for year-round travel?

- Canary Islands (Spain): 20–25°C throughout the year.

- Medellín (Colombia): around 22°C.

- Azores (Portugal): around 24°C in summer, rarely below 13°C in winter.

- Quito (Ecuador): cool and stable, noticeably colder at night.

- Central Valley (Costa Rica): moderate, without the tropical heat of the coast.

- Cape Town (South Africa): warm summers, around 15°C in winter.

- Auckland (New Zealand): around 20°C in summer and around 12°C in winter.

These are averages. In practice, a lot depends on the area: on the same island, the northern and southern coasts can feel quite different, and in the mountains the gap between day and night is bigger than the average figure suggests.

10 trending travel destinations for 2027 from Skyscanner at the link.

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Year-round island getaways where the ocean keeps temperatures steady

Canary Islands, Spain

Photo – Magnific

The archipelago lies off the west coast of Africa, yet the Saharan heat doesn’t reach it: the Atlantic tames it in summer and keeps winter from getting truly cold. It’s no accident that the Canaries are called the islands of eternal spring. There’s just one note on microclimates: the south of Tenerife is usually sunnier, while the north is more often cloudy.

Tenerife’s main attraction, Teide National Park, looks like a landscape from another planet: lava fields, volcanic slopes, frozen flows. The rules changed here in 2026. An eco-fee of up to €25 has been introduced on two popular trails in the park, and a spot must be booked in advance through the Tenerife ON platform. Local media also report plans to restrict access by private cars and launch electric shuttle buses, so it’s best to check the current conditions right before your trip. After a hike, find a local guachinche and order papas arrugadas, wrinkled salty potatoes served with spicy mojo sauce.

Azores, Portugal

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This Portuguese archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic barely has an off-season. Volcanic craters, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs and intensely green slopes attract those who come for nature rather than beach service. On São Miguel island, climb to the Boca do Inferno viewpoint for a look at the Sete Cidades lakes.

In Furnas, in Terra Nostra park, there are thermal pools. The water is rich in iron and has a rusty orange color, so it’s better to leave a light-colored swimsuit at home: the stains may not wash out. The weather in the Azores is changeable, and rain often gives way to sunshine several times a day, so a light rain jacket in your backpack won’t hurt.

14 best destinations where it’s warm year-round in the selection at the link.

High-altitude cities near the equator

The logic here is simple: the higher the spot, the cooler the air, even if the equator is a stone’s throw away.

Medellín, Colombia

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The city lies in the Aburrá Valley at an altitude of about 1,500 meters, which is how it earned the nickname City of Eternal Spring. Hills, open-air cafés and street life create an energetic atmosphere, while the Metrocable cable cars work as ordinary public transport and carry passengers right above the neighborhood rooftops. Line L goes to Arví Park. It’s cooler up there and often foggy, so a light raincoat will come in handy, and you can have a cup of hot tinto (black coffee) from a local vendor.

Quito, Ecuador

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Ecuador’s capital sits almost on the equator, but there’s no heat here: the city lies at an altitude of more than 2,800 meters in the Andes. Altitude is easy to underestimate, so it’s best to spend the first day on relaxed walks through the colonial center. There you’ll find 16th-century squares and the Compañía de Jesús church, with an interior decorated in gold leaf.

The TelefériQo cable car takes you up the slope of the Pichincha volcano to roughly 4,000 meters. The air is thin up there, so go slowly and bring warm clothing, such as a fleece jacket.

The best places to travel in 2027 according to Lonely Planet are here.

Central Valley, Costa Rica

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Costa Rica’s coast is hot and humid, but the inland Central Valley has an entirely different climate. San José sits at an altitude of over a thousand meters, which works like a natural air conditioner. The surroundings are covered with coffee plantations, and the rhythm of life follows the Pura Vida philosophy.

Atenas, where expats happily settle, is often called a town with one of the best climates in the world. On Friday mornings it hosts a farmers’ market (feria), where chorreada, a corn pancake, is cooked right on the grill. One caveat to the words “year-round”: there is a rainy season here, which usually runs from about May to November.

Cape Town and Auckland: a mild climate in the Southern Hemisphere

Cape Town, South Africa

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Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate without sharp swings. Summer (December to March) is warm and sunny but rarely stuffy, because a coastal breeze freshens the air. Winters are cooler and greener, but without frost. At the same time, winter is usually when more rain falls.

The city’s main natural landmark, Table Mountain, is reached by a rotating cable car. Locals call the strong wind the Cape Doctor. When taking photos at the summit or at the Cape of Good Hope, keep your camera on a strap, because gusts can rip it out of your hands. On windy days the cable car is sometimes shut down.

Auckland and the North Island, New Zealand

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The North Island has a mild oceanic climate: no sub-zero temperatures and no exhausting heat waves. This destination suits those who spend most of their time outdoors. Near Auckland you’ll find the black-sand beaches of the west coast, and right in the city there are extinct volcanic cones you can climb on foot.

If city bustle gets tiring, a forty-minute ferry ride takes you to Waiheke Island. You can rent an e-bike right at the wharf and ride between vineyards and tastings. The hills there are sizable, so the electric assist comes in handy.

Also read about 10 hidden gems of the world in this article.

Have entry rules for countries with a mild climate changed in 2026?

Weather is only half of the planning; the other half is entry rules, which have changed noticeably over the past year.

For Spain and Portugal, including the Azores, the main novelty is the EES system. It was rolled out in stages from October 12, 2025 and, according to reports, became fully operational at Schengen borders on April 10, 2026. For third-country nationals arriving for a short stay, a passport stamp has been replaced by digital registration with a photo and fingerprints. At the border, it’s worth allowing a bit more time.

The next step is ETIAS, an electronic authorization for trips to Schengen for those who don’t need a visa. The fee will be €20. There is no official launch date yet: according to trade publications, in July 2026 the “fourth quarter of 2026” target was removed from the ETIAS portal. Follow announcements on the official EU website rather than on third-party services that already offer to process applications.

To enter New Zealand, citizens of visa-waiver countries obtain an NZeTA electronic authorization, while everyone else needs a tourist visa. A separate tourist levy, the International Visitor Levy, is charged at NZ$100 per person, and it is non-refundable even if the application is rejected.

In August 2026, South Africa launched its own electronic travel authorization system, ETA. At the start it is open to citizens of selected countries and operates at four international airports, including Cape Town, so before buying tickets, check whether your country is on the list.

In Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica, visa requirements also depend on citizenship.

What to check before booking?

Before buying tickets to one of these destinations, run through a short checklist:

- rainy season and changeable weather: the Central Valley, the Azores, Cape Town in winter;

- altitude above sea level: Quito, Arví Park, Teide, where you need time to acclimatize;

- entry rules for your citizenship: visa, NZeTA, ETA, EES registration;

- booking national parks in advance, for example Teide through Tenerife ON.

For those looking for the best places to travel in any season, these seven destinations are a decent starting point. Choose by mood: volcanoes and wine, coffee and cable cars, or an ocean stretching to the horizon. In every case you can pack your suitcase almost without glancing at the calendar.

A trip to volcanoes, high-altitude cities or remote islands often involves routes where a large clinic isn’t always nearby. Climbing Teide, taking the cable car above Quito or spending a hiking day in the Azores is exactly the kind of situation where a sudden injury or a decline in well-being can quickly turn into significant expenses.

A travel policy usually covers emergency medical care: hospitalization, an ambulance, a doctor’s visit and medication, as well as emergency evacuation. It may also protect against lost or stolen luggage, accidents, and trip cancellation or delay. It’s important to read the terms: check whether the activities you plan, including mountain hikes, are covered. With Visit World, the process takes minimal time: enter your citizenship and destination country, compare offers and choose a policy for your route.

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A reminder! Europe in winter means the sun of the Canary Islands, the snow of the Bavarian Alps and the quiet of Santorini without the crowds. We have already covered the season’s top destinations.

Photo – generated with Gemini