A picturesque city on the Red Sea has beat out the competition in a ranking of the top winter holiday destination. EasyJet has published a new Holiday Hotlist index that ranks destinations based on how well suited they are for getaways in the colder months of the year.

The budget airline factors in various criteria, including typical winter temperature, how many hours of sunshine each place sees per day, winter precicipation, the time difference with UK, and average price of a meal out for four. It also factored in their accessibility via UK airports.

This year Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, located between the Sinai desert and the Red Sea coast took the top spot, with the carrier noting its “reliable hot temperatures averaging between 24C and 26C and less than 1mm of precipitation during the off-season months”. During the summer months temperatures rise to a toasty 35C and above.

According to Easyjet, Sharm El Sheikh is also sees nine to 10 hours of sunlight daily in the winter months, matched only by the second destination in the list, Hurghada, on Egypt’s eastern cost.

It’s also just two hours ahead of the UK, making it perfect for those looking to get a change of scene whilst doing some remote working, easyJet says.

It’s also among the more affordable travel destinations, with pints around £2.50 on average, and a meal for a family of four averaging at £65.

Sharm El Sheikh sits on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, and boasts an array of beaches, with standouts including Naama Bay, Sharks Bay Beach (said to be one of the more peaceful beaches in the city despite its ominous name), and El Fanar Beach.

According to Skyscanner, flights from the London to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) airport take acround 5 hours and 19 minutes on average.

Various carriers operate direct flights, including easyJet, Whizz Air, Tui Airways, and British Airways.

The region is known as a popular destination for diving and snorkelling, thanks to its awe-inspiring coral reefs, which are hailed as among the best in the world.

However, while Sharm El Sheikh is considered safe to visit, travellers looking to explore further north should be aware the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) advises against “all but essential travel to the northern part of the South Sinai Governorate, beyond the St Catherine-Nuweibaa road, except for the coastal areas along the west and east of the peninsula. the northern part of South Sinai”.

It also advises against all travel to the North Sinai Governorate, due to regional tensions. Travel warnings cover a significant amount of the country’s territory currently. You can find the latest guidance here.