Winter Sun Day Trips in December 2026, From £37.00 Return
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The cheapest winter sun day trip in December 2026 is Alicante from Stansted on Sunday 6 December, £37.00 return with about 7.8 hours there. Malaga and Palma are next at £39.00.
December in the UK is grey, wet and dark by four. So here's the thing. You can be sat by the sea in Spain by lunchtime and back in your own bed that night, for less than a night out.
No hotel, no suitcase, no booking a week off. Just a cheap flight out early and a late one home.
Every fare below is the return price for one person, checked on our trip pages on 28 October 2026. Prices move, so open the page for your date before you book anything.
Alicante, the cheapest one
Stansted, Sunday 6 December, £37.00 return. Ryanair out at 09:20, home flight at 20:45, landing back at 22:25. That gives you about 7.8 hours there.
The later start is the best bit. No 4am alarm. The beach is right in the middle of town under Santa Bárbara castle, so you're not wasting the day on transfers.
Bus C6 gets you in from the airport in about 40 minutes for €3.85. The lift up to the castle is €2.70 and the MARQ archaeology museum is €6.00 if you want something indoors. Sunday 13 December was £47.00 on the same flights.
See Alicante from Stansted on 6 December
Malaga, the quickest in
Luton, Monday 14 December, £39.00 return. easyJet at 07:15, home at 20:45, landing 22:40. About 9.5 hours.
The train from the airport takes 12 minutes and costs €1.80, the fastest run into town on this list. Malagueta is the city beach and it's a short walk from the old town, so you can do the cathedral in the morning and sit by the sea after lunch.
The Alcazaba is €7.00, the cathedral €10.00 and the Picasso museum €13.00. Pick one, don't try and do all three. Thursday 17 December was £49.00 and Sunday 13 December £50.00.
See Malaga from Luton on 14 December
Palma, the longest day for the money
Gatwick, Wednesday 16 December, £39.00 return. easyJet at 07:00, home at 21:05, landing 22:35. About 10.7 hours.
The A1 bus is about 15 minutes and €5.00. Bellver castle is €4.00 and you get the whole bay from up there. Es Baluard, the modern art museum in the old city walls, is €8.00.
Palma stays cheap most of the month. Thursday 10 and 17 December were £42.00, and Tuesday 15 December £44.00.
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Faro, small and easy
Gatwick, Monday 14 December, £41.00 return. easyJet at 06:25, home at 20:00, landing 22:55. About 10.7 hours.
Faro is small. The old town, the marina and the walls take a morning, which leaves the afternoon for a long lunch. The town museum is €4.00, and a short Ria Formosa boat trip from the marina is €25.00 if the weather plays ball.
Tuesday 15 December was also £41.00, and Wednesday 9 and 16 December were £44.00.
See Faro from Gatwick on 14 December
Malta, the last sun before Christmas
Manchester, Tuesday 22 December, £52.00 return. easyJet at 06:45, home at 20:45, landing 23:20. About 9.5 hours. A late one back, but it's the only priced December day from Manchester we found.
The TD4 airport bus to Valletta is €3.00. St John's Co-Cathedral is €15.00 and the Grand Master's Palace €12.00. The view over Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens costs nothing.
See Malta from Manchester on 22 December
Lisbon, more city than beach
Stansted, Sunday 13 December, £54.00 return. Ryanair at 06:20, home at 20:45, landing 23:35. About 11.6 hours.
Red metro line in, about 20 minutes, €1.90 plus €0.50 for the card. Jerónimos monastery is €18.00, São Jorge castle €17.00 and Belém tower €15.00. Belém is out west, so either do it first or skip it.
Monday 7 December was £62.00 with a later 09:10 start, so the Sunday is the better day all round.
See Lisbon from Stansted on 13 December
Seville, the dearest but worth it
Gatwick, Thursday 17 December, £61.00 return. easyJet at 06:45, home at 20:50, landing 22:30. About 10.3 hours.
The EA bus is about 35 minutes and €6.00. The Real Alcázar is €15.50, the cathedral and Giralda €13.00, and the Setas €16.00 for the walkway on top. Thursday 10 December was £75.00 on the same flights, so grab the 17th if you can.
See Seville from Gatwick on 17 December
One thing all seven have in common. You're out on the first flight and back on the last, which is what makes a day trip work. Book the early one even if it hurts, the extra two hours in the sun are worth more than the lie in.
A few honest bits before you go
Check what your fare includes before you pack. A checked bag costs extra and you won't need one for a day.
Times are local. Spain and Malta are an hour ahead of us. Portugal is on UK time.
We don't quote weather. Look at the forecast the week before, and if it's looking grim, pick another date. Most of these have a second cheap day in December.
Malta, Málaga and Faro are the furthest south of the seven, if warmth is all you care about.
Want every December date rather than these seven? Search all day trips from your airport.
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