Chasing 75 Degrees - the top 25 cities around the world with the best weather
24 Degrees Celcius for those more metrically inclined
Travel & Leisure Magazine just released its list of the top 25 cities around the world. T&L’s readers voted these cities as having the most phenomenal attractions, superlative hotels, electric dining scenes, and world-class vibes. It’s a great list of highly ranked and regarded cities and we are lucky to have experienced 17 of these places (or will by the end of this year). But would these cities be our top picks no matter the season? Nope. Temperature and/or crowds can make or break a great experience in even the most magical of places, in our humble opinion.
We are wimpy when it comes to weather. Levon, who grew up in the heat of Phoenix, Arizona likes to say that he wants to be in a climate where he can’t feel the air… basically, Goldilocks (not too hot, not too cold…. just right). And while I grew up between New England and the Deep South of the United States thinking only four seasons could ever bring me joy, living in Nairobi, Kenya and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico convinced me that Levon is right. I’m just no longer happy in dark, cold, snowy winters or hot, muggy, summers. And now that we are (practical) globe trotting nomads, packing for 1-2 seasons is about as much as our luggage can handle.
So, we do a lot of research as we plot out our travels each year - where do we want to go to enjoy a great location when the weather is just about 75° Fahrenheit/ 24°Celcius? Bonus if we aren’t fighting crazy crowds?
Over the coming months, we will be sharing our research of some of the most interesting places to travel to experience that magical temperature (or as close as possible). These aren’t the only places we plan to travel to - sometimes a little heat or cold is worth it (I’m looking at you, Kuala Lumpur) and going to a place in high season can be worth it - it’s high season for a reason! But if you want to be your own Goldilocks, this information should help you choose where you want to go and when.
Are there places with pretty much perfect weather all year long? Yes! Here are our top 25 with mild year-round temperatures (although climate change can certainly mix it up on occaison):
Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Cooler, dry air due to elevation (~7,700 ft)
High Season: October to February (cool, dry, and sunny)
Shoulder Season: March to May (warmer, before the heavy rains)
Low Season: June to September (heavy rainfall, cooler temperatures)
Cape Town, South Africa (T&L #17) Mediterranean-like climate
High Season: December to February (warm, dry, and sunny; peak summer)
Shoulder Season: March to May (autumn, pleasant temperatures) & September to November (spring, blooming flowers)
Low Season: June to August (cooler, wetter winter)
Nairobi, Kenya Mild year-round due to high elevation (~5,800 ft), low humidity
High Season: July to October (cool and dry) & January to February (warm and dry)
Shoulder Season: March to May (long rains) & November to December (short rains)
Low Season: April to June (heaviest rainfall)
Windhoek, Namibia Warm semi-arid climate with very low humidity
High Season: July to October (dry and sunny, wildlife viewing is excellent)
Shoulder Season: April to June (cooler, less humid) & November (before the peak rains)
Low Season: December to March (rainy season, hotter, higher humidity)
Asia
Da Lat, Vietnam Highland (~4,900 ft); spring-like temps and low humidity
High Season: December to March (cool, dry, and sunny)
Shoulder Season: April to June (warmer, pre-monsoon) & October to November (post-monsoon, pleasant)
Low Season: July to September (rainy season, higher humidity)
Kathmandu, Nepal Mountain valley; moderate temps and dry air
High Season: October to November (clear skies, mild temperatures, post-monsoon) & March to April (spring, pre-monsoon, blooming rhododendrons)
Shoulder Season: December to February (cold, but clear)
Low Season: May to September (monsoon season, hot and humid with heavy rains)
Mussoorie, India Cool air in Himalayan foothills, mild temps
High Season: April to June (pleasant temperatures, escape from plains' heat) & September to November (post-monsoon, clear views)
Shoulder Season: March (spring, pleasant) & December (chilly)
Low Season: July to August (heavy monsoon rains, landslides) & January to February (cold, snow possible)
Europe
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal Ocean-moderated climate, low humidity
High Season: May to September (warm, sunny, and dry; peak summer)
Shoulder Season: April & October (mild, pleasant)
Low Season: November to March (cooler, higher chance of rain)
Lisbon, Portugal Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild winters
High Season: June to August (hot, dry, and sunny; peak summer)
Shoulder Season: April to May (spring, pleasant temperatures) & September to October (autumn, still warm)
Low Season: November to March (cooler, wetter winter)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain Warm and dry year-round
High Season: June to August (warm and sunny; peak summer) & December to February (popular for winter sun escape)
Shoulder Season: March to May & September to November (mild, pleasant)
Low Season: No real "low" season due to year-round appeal, but November can be slightly quieter.
North America
Hilo, Hawaii, USA Cooler than west Hawaii, breezy and mild
High Season: December to May (cooler, less humid, popular for whale watching)
Shoulder Season: June & November (good weather, fewer crowds than peak)
Low Season: July to October (warmer, more humid, higher chance of tropical storms)
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Steady trade winds moderate heat and humidity
High Season: December to May (cooler, less humid, popular for whale watching)
Shoulder Season: June & November (good weather, fewer crowds than peak)
Low Season: July to October (warmer, more humid, higher chance of tropical storms)
Mexico City, Mexico (T&L # 7) Temperate climate; low humidity due to high altitude (~7,300 ft)
High Season: March to May (warm, dry, and sunny) & October to November (pleasant, post-rainy season)
Shoulder Season: December to February (cooler, dry)
Low Season: June to September (rainy season, afternoon showers)
San Diego, California, USA Mild temperatures, plenty of sunshine and low humidity
High Season: June to September (warm, sunny, and dry; peak summer)
Shoulder Season: April to May (spring, pleasant) & October to November (autumn, still warm)
Low Season: December to March (cooler, higher chance of rain, but still mild)
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (T&L #1) Mild temperatures, semi-arid highland climate
High Season: October to April (dry, sunny, and mild, with cooler evenings)
Shoulder Season: May (can be hot before the rains) & September (post-rainy, pleasant)
Low Season: June to August (rainy season, afternoon showers, but green and lush)
Oceania
Noumea, New Caledonia Mild temps year-round; oceanic breezes = low humidity
High Season: May to October (dry, sunny, and cooler temperatures)
Shoulder Season: April & November (pleasant, before and after the wet season)
Low Season: December to March (hotter, more humid, higher chance of cyclones and rain)
Sydney, Australia Warm summers and mild winters
High Season: December to February (warm, sunny, and peak summer)
Shoulder Season: March to May (autumn, pleasant) & September to November (spring, blooming flowers)
Low Season: June to August (cooler, wetter winter)
Central & South America
Arequipa, Peru High desert city; warm and very dry
High Season: April to November (dry season, sunny, clear skies)
Shoulder Season: March & December (transition months)
Low Season: January to February (rainy season, but usually light showers)
Buenos Aires, Argentina Warm summers and mild winters
High Season: October to April (warm to hot summers, pleasant spring and autumn)
Shoulder Season: May & September (mild, pleasant)
Low Season: June to August (cooler, sometimes chilly winters)
Guatemala City, Guatemala Spring-like temps, moderate humidity, highland climate
High Season: November to April (dry season, pleasant temperatures)
Shoulder Season: May & October (transition months, some rain)
Low Season: May to October (rainy season, afternoon showers)
Lima, Peru Coastal desert, cool and dry, though sometimes foggy
High Season: December to April (summer, warmer, less fog, but still often overcast)
Shoulder Season: May & November (transition months, often foggy)
Low Season: May to November (winter, cooler, very cloudy and often foggy)
Medellin, Colombia “City of Eternal Spring”, moderate humidity offset by breezes
High Season: December to March (drier, slightly warmer, clearer skies) & July to August (short dry season)
Shoulder Season: April to June & September to November (rainier, but still pleasant)
Low Season: May (often the wettest month) & October (another wet month)
Quito, Ecuador High elevation (~9,350 ft), cool and dry
High Season: June to September (dry season, sunniest, but can be windy)
Shoulder Season: October to December (transition to wet season, some rain) & January to May (wet season, but often short afternoon showers)
Low Season: April (often the wettest month)
San Jose, Costa Rica Moderate humidity, spring-like due to elevation
High Season: December to April (dry season, sunny)
Shoulder Season: May & November (transition months, less rain than peak wet season)
Low Season: May to November (rainy season, particularly September and October)
Viña del Mar, Chile Mediterranean-like climate
High Season: December to February (warm, dry, and sunny; peak summer)
Shoulder Season: March to May (autumn, pleasant) & September to November (spring, pleasant)
Low Season: June to August (cooler, wetter winter)
Interestingly, only two of T&L’s top cities are either very hot all year long - Bangkok, Thailand (#4), or quite cold all year long - Cusco, Peru (#10). These cities are still definitely worth exploring, but pack accordingly.
Does high season always mean the best weather? No! There are lots of amazing places where perfect weather occurs during low and shoulder seasons. That means, you could get the best weather at the best prices.
In our next post, we will dive into those places to go in January, February, and March (Quarter 1) and more. Stay tuned!
What wonderful research you guys do. And very interesting, too. And, of course--Practical ):
Love that you compiled this list.
Very useful post! This and the next one will be keepers. Actually, they all are.
We've never been inclined to vacation in cold weather. We avoid it even though there have been pleas from the children to go skiing, so your next post will help us find enticing places to go for our December vacation with them.
We're on Gran Canaria for a short get-to-know-you visit. It's surprisingly cooler than Madrid which is refreshing. This landscape on this island must resemble the moon. No vegetation and lots of rocks and mountains. Every now again along the coast some a beach comes into view. I would not call it pretty. But if you want to relax and hang out by beach and pool without seeing much "culture," this is a good place to be.
I'm eager to hear your experience on Tenerife. The geography is volcanic like here.
Thanks for the great post.