Sea temperature in December: where you can still swim

It is dark by half past four and the North Sea is 8 degrees. If you are leaving in December or January, there is one thing you want to know: where can you still properly get in the water? We put seven places side by side, with the temperature of the sea, the air and the hours of sun per day. With photos of our ambassadors on Aruba and in Portugal, and the shorts they wore.

Where is the sea warmest in December?

Around Aruba and Curaçao, at 27 degrees. Next come Cape Verde and Hurghada on the Red Sea at 24 degrees, and Tenerife at 21. In January the sea is about a degree cooler in most places, while Curaçao stays at 27 degrees. The bars below show the sea and the air in December, and the table underneath has both months.

These are long-term averages. What a single month does can differ by a degree or so: in December 2025 the sea around Tenerife averaged 20.9 degrees and around Sal 24.4 degrees, according to the measurements on weather-stats.com.

How does a December sea compare with the North Sea in summer?

It is warmer than a northern European August. The sea off Tenerife is 20 degrees in January, the North Sea off Terschelling is 18 degrees in August. So if you swim in the North Sea in summer, Tenerife in January will feel milder. And Hurghada adds 9 hours of sun a day in December, against 1 hour on Terschelling.

The Terschelling figures come from the same source as the rest, weather2travel, so the comparison is like for like.

How far south do you have to go for a 20 degree sea?

In December, south of the Algarve. The Canary Islands sit just on the right side of that line, Cape Verde and Hurghada well past it, and the Caribbean furthest of all. The map shows where the places lie in relation to the North Sea coast.

Is Aruba or Curaçao good for swimming in December?

Yes, it is the warmest water in this comparison. On Aruba and Curaçao the sea is 26 to 27 degrees in December and January and the air reaches 29 to 32 degrees by day. That is summer, only in winter. Our ambassadors photographed the Tampa collection there, on the rocks by the surf and on the beach.

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1. Tampa Solid Presidential Blueunderstated blue, from beach to restaurant

Aruba, shoot 2018. An ambassador of Sanwin Beachwear in the Tampa Solid Presidential Blue.

One thing to know before you go: do not have your swim shorts shipped to Aruba or Curaçao, because import costs are charged at the door. Order them at home before you leave. An order placed before 2 pm on a working day ships the same day.

Tenerife, Cape Verde or Hurghada: which one suits you?

If you want to stay close, take Tenerife: a 21 degree sea in December and 23 degrees by day on the south coast. If you want properly warm water without crossing the ocean, Cape Verde and Hurghada, at 24 degrees, are the choice. Hurghada has the most sun of the seven, 9 hours a day.

1. TenerifeSea 20 to 21 degrees, air 22 to 23 degrees on the south coast. Good for a week of sun with short swims.
2. Cape VerdeSea 23 to 24 degrees on Sal, air 25 to 26 degrees. For anyone who wants to stay in the water for a while.
3. HurghadaSea 23 to 24 degrees in the Red Sea, air 21 to 23 degrees. The evenings are cooler, the water stays warm.

Can you swim in the Algarve in December?

Yes, but briefly. The sea at Albufeira is 17 degrees in December and 16 degrees in January, and by day the air is 16 degrees with 5 hours of sun. That is fine for a bracing dip after a walk along the beach. It is not enough for an afternoon in the sea.

What should you pack for a week of winter sun?

Less than you think, but the right things. This is the list our ambassadors keep for a week by the sea.

• Two pairs of swim shorts, so there is always a dry pair ready.
• A pair that works at the restaurant too, like the Tampa with its zip and buckles.
• A linen shirt for the evening: it cools down in Hurghada and on Tenerife.
• Your size checked: waist in inches, and if in doubt, one size up.
• A rinse in fresh water after swimming, so the colour stays good.

Which swim shorts should you take?

A pair that looks right in the sea and at the table afterwards. The Sanwin Tampa has a tailored fit and a zip, and the adjustable buckles with the Sanwin logo hold it in place. Inside is a mesh brief, and there are two side pockets and a back pocket with a zip. The Tampa is made of quick-dry peach polyester and comes with a 5 year warranty.

Pick your size in inches

The Tampa size is your waist in inches, the way jeans are sized in the United States. The sizes run from 30 to 38, labelled XS to XL, and a size 32 is about 81 centimetres around the waist. The shorts run small, so if you are between two sizes take the larger one. The buckles let you tighten the waistband but not loosen it. The model in the product photos is 182 cm and wears a size 32.

Tampa Solid Flamingo Pinkpink, stands out against a tanTampa Solid Presidential Blueunderstated blueTampa Solid Sky Bluelight blue, freshTampa Stripes Hint of Mintmint with white stripesTampa Stripes Tangerine Orangeorange stripesTampa Dots Redred with small dots

All colours of the Tampa are at the Tampa swim shorts. Prefer another model? See the whole collection of swim shorts for men.

Questions about swimming in December

The delivery time for your country is on the shipping page, and an exchange starts from returns and exchanges.