Sunniest Places in Europe

Tired of cold, cloudy weather? Thinking of moving to a sunny city in Europe with consistent sunshine?

Here are top 55 sunniest places in Europe with high temperatures all year round (at least 15 °C/59 °F mean daily maximum during the coldest month) that get no more than 90 annual overcast days. They’re ranked by the number of overcast days, starting with the less sunny (but still sunny!) destinations and ending with the sunniest places.

55. Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Located in the northern part of the Greek island of Crete, Heraklion enjoys four months of sunny weather (between June and September) with little to zero overcast days. Winter months can get cloudy, though, with up to 17 overcast days a month.

Mean daily maximum temperatures during the summer hit 32 °C (90 °F) and don’t fall below 15 °C (59 °F) during the coldest months. This means that even during the winter days you can still enjoy pleasant weather (nights can be colder, with mean daily minimum of 8 °C/46 °F).

With over 200,000 inhabitants of the urban area, Heraklion offers all the main benefits of urban living without the drawbacks of a big agglomeration. Heraklion International Airport has direct flights to all main European cities and is the second busiest airport in Greece, while a bustling port offers ferries and boats to numerous other Greek islands as well as to Athens.

Clear days: 115.4

Partly cloudy days: 163.5

Overcast days: 86

54. Kamari, Santorini, Greece

Santorini is a small picturesque Greek island located north of Crete. Kamari, a coastal village on the southeastern part of the island, features pretty much the same climate as Heraklion, except it’s slightly hotter in the summer with temperatures reaching on average 33 °C (91 °F).

Despite being a small island with just 15,000 inhabitants, Santorini is renowned as one of the top island destinations in the world. It gets about 2 million tourists a year. The island has a major airport and ferries to and from other Greek destinations.

If you’re looking to move to a small island that is still easy to get to (and it doesn’t bother you that the island’s population dramatically increases during the summer), Santorini might be for you.

Clear days: 115.4

Partly cloudy days: 163.5

Overcast days: 86

53. Santa Cruz de la Palma, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain

Santa Cruz de la Palma is the capital city of La Palma, the fifth largest of the Canary Islands. La Palma is wetter and cloudier than other Canary Islands. La Palma is a good choice for people who enjoy hiking, dramatic landscapes, and a slow, relaxed pace of life.

Temperatures are mild with mean daily maximums of about 23 °C (73 °F) during the summer and 18 °C (64 °F) during the winter. Most months feature only 5-6 overcast days with the exception of June, July, and August with up to 13 cloudy days. La Palma gets many more clear days than other islands of the archipelago which have fewer overcast days, but don’t get that many clear days (mostly days are partly cloudy).

La Palma Airport offers flights to some European countries, but it’s nowhere near as easy to reach La Palma as it is to reach the bigger islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, or Lanzarote. Instead of flying directly to La Palma, you can also fly to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and take a ferry from there.

Clear days: 109.5

Partly cloudy days: 170.7

Overcast days: 85

52. Rethymno, Crete, Greece

Rethymno is located in the northern part of Crete, roughly halfway between Heraklion and Chania. With a little over 37,000 inhabitants, Rethymno is a small town which makes it a good choice for those who’d like to move to Crete, but not necessarily to a larger city or a small village.

Just like Heraklion, summers are extremely sunny. Winters feature up to over two weeks of overcast weather. Summer mean daily maximum temperatures are slightly higher than they are in Heraklion because they reach 33 °C (91 °F). Winters are mild, with mean daily maximum temperatures reaching 15 °C (59 °F) and mean daily minimums slightly higher than in Heraklion (9 °C/48 °F during the night).

Because of Rethymno’s location between two big cities (Heraklion and Chania), you have two nearby airports from which you can fly to pretty much any major destination in Europe, making it very well connected.

Clear days: 105.6

Partly cloudy days: 177.8

Overcast days: 81.6

51. Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Its area and population comprise of roughly 8.5% of Italy. Palermo is its capital and the biggest city on the island with 1,300,000 people living in the metropolitan area. Palermo has its own airport with direct flights to all major destinations in Europe.

Palermo is one of the hottest cities in Italy, with mean daily maximums reaching 35 °C (95 °F) in the summer and 15 °C (59 °F) in the winter. Mean daily minimum during the coldest month is 7 °C (45 °F) so early mornings and nights can get chilly. Summers in Palermo are very sunny with almost no overcast weather in July and August and only a handful of such days in June and September. During the month with least sunshine (January) there are still on average over two weeks of sunny or partly cloudy weather.

Palermo is a good choice for those who are interested in moving to a sunny place in Europe, but would prefer to live in a big city.

Clear days: 105.6

Partly cloudy days: 183.4

Overcast days: 76.1

50. Caldas da Rainha, Portugal

Located north of Lisbon, the small city of Caldas da Rainha features much fewer clear days than the previous destinations on the list, but has many more partly cloudy days. This means that while you get fewer days with clear skies, the combined number of clear days and partly cloudy days is the same or higher than in the previous places.

Summers are warm, but not extremely hot, with mean daily maximums reaching 30 °C (86 °F). Mean daily maximums during the winters reach 15 °C (59 °F), while mean daily minimums are around 6 °C (43 °F).

The municipality of Caldas da Rainha has over 51,000 inhabitants which makes it a medium-sized city in Portugal. It takes a little over an hour by car to go from Caldas da Rainha to Lisbon which has a busy airport. Caldas da Rainha might be a good choice for those who’d like to move to Portugal, but prefer a smaller city that is still close to an international airport.

Clear days: 67.8

Partly cloudy days: 221.7

Overcast days: 76.1

49. Santarém, Portugal

(author: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Santar%C3%A9m_-_Igreja_do_Semin%C3%A1rio_(cropped).jpg)

Located to the east of Caldas da Rainha, the city of Santarém features a similar climate with slightly cooler summers. With about 30,000 inhabitants in the city proper and almost 62,000 in the municipality, it has a similar size to Caldas da Rainha. If you’d like to move to a sunny inland city in Portugal, but still close to the coast, this might be a good choice for you.

Clear days: 67.8

Partly cloudy days: 221.7

Overcast days: 76.1

48. Chania, Crete, Greece

Chania is the second largest city of Crete and the only bigger city of the Western Crete. It gets 11 fewer overcast days than Heraklion and 6 fewer overcast days than Rethymno. Temperatures are slightly higher than in these two cities. In the winter there are up to two weeks of overcast weather a month.

Over 100,000 people live in the municipality of Chania which makes it about two times smaller than Heraklion. The city has its own airport with connections to numerous European cities, though it’s much less busy than Heraklion International Airport. There’s also a ferry from Chania to Athens.

If you’re looking for the sunniest city on the western side of the island, Chania is for you.

Clear days: 129.4

Partly cloudy days: 161.4

Overcast days: 74.7

47. Kapsali, Kythira, Greece

Located south of the Peloponnese and to the northern east of Crete, the Greek island of Kythira is located between the Greek mainland and Crete.

With only 4,000 people living on the island, Kythira is an interesting destination for those who are seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of big cities. Kapsali is a small coastal village on the southern part of the island where tourist facilities, shops, restaurants and cafes are located.

While not a major tourist destination, Kythira’s population triples during the tourist season. The island has a small airport offering flights to Athens. There are also ferries connecting the island to other islands and the Peloponnese. Kythira features a climate similar to Crete, with hot, extremely sunny summers and winters that feature up to two weeks of overcast weather.

Clear days: 129.4

Partly cloudy days: 161.4

Overcast days: 74.7

46. Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece

Agios Nikolaos, a small tourist town of about 27,000 inhabitants, lies east of Heraklion. Compared to the previous Cretan destinations, Agios Nikolaos is much sunnier (with 7 fewer overcast days than Chania) and hotter in the summer (with mean daily maximums reaching 34 °C/93 °F).

If you’re looking to relocate to a small Cretan town with easy access to the rest of the world (through Heraklion International Airport), Agios Nikolaos might be the right choice for you. Because of its popularity among tourists, there’s no shortage of tavernas, shops, and beaches with organized facilities.

Clear days: 145.1

Partly cloudy days: 152.9

Overcast days: 67.5

45. Catania, Sicily, Italy

Compared to Palermo, the previous Sicilian destination we covered on this list, Catania, the second largest city of the island, features 10 fewer overcast days and slightly higher summer temperatures (making it the hottest city in Italy). Catania is located on the western part of Sicily and is served by the busiest Sicilian airport that connects it to numerous European destinations.

Over 300,000 people live in the municipality of Catania, making it four times less populated than the island’s biggest city, Palermo. Winters in Catania are less cloudy than in Palermo, and they’re slightly warmer, too.

If you don’t mind extremely high summer temperatures, Catania is a suitable choice if you’re looking to move to a bigger Italian city with plenty of sunshine all year round.

Clear days: 110.9

Partly cloudy days: 187.9

Overcast days: 66.6

44. Lisbon, Portugal

The capital of Portugal, Lisbon, is the largest city in the country with over 550,000 people living in the area. Among the big European cities, it’s one that features some of the warmest winters in Europe. Lisbon airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe with flights to every major European destination and some major cities on other continents, too. It’s one of the most important European hubs to South America and Africa.

Summers in Lisbon are very sunny with on average just one cloudy day a month in June, July, and August. Spring is sunny, too, with just a few overcast days a month. Fall and winter still feature 20 days of clear skies or partly cloudy weather. Mean daily maximums reach 32 °C (90 °F) in the summer and 16 °C (61 °F) in the winter, while mean daily winter minimums are around 6 °C (43 °F).

If you’d like to live in a global sunny and warm city that is very well-connected not only with other European destinations, but also other continents, Lisbon might be the best choice for you.

Clear days: 132.1

Partly cloudy days: 167.7

Overcast days: 65.5

43. Córdoba, Spain

Córdoba, with over 300,000 inhabitants, is the third largest city in Andalusia. Compared to other destinations in Andalusia, Córdoba and its surroundings is relatively untouched by mass tourism characterizing the coastal part of the province. To get to Córdoba, you need to fly to Málaga (about 2 hours by car).

Córdoba has some of the hottest summers in all of mainland Europe with mean daily maximums reaching 37 °C (99 °F) in July and August. In the winter temperatures drop to around 15 °C (59 °F) with mean daily minimums around 5-6 °C (41-43 °F). Except for December, no single month features more than 10 overcast days meaning that there are on average at least 20 sunny days each month. Clear skies are a daily occurrence between June and August with slightly more partly cloudy days during the other seasons.

If you don’t mind extremely hot summers, Córdoba is an interesting choice for those who’d like to move to Andalusia, but would prefer a more local vibe without tourist crowds.

Clear days: 184.2

Partly cloudy days: 116.1

Overcast days: 65.1

42. Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Spain

The largest city of the Balearic islands, Palma de Mallorca (or just Palma) is the gateway to one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Palma de Mallorca Airport is the third largest airport in Spain and one of the busiest European airports during the summer.

Sunny weather is guaranteed in the summer, while winters can feature up to 10 days of overcast weather. Summer temperatures reach 32-33 °C (90-91 °F) while winter daytime temperatures don’t exceed 15 °C (59 °F) and drop to 7-8 °C (44-46 °F) at night.

Over 500,000 people live in the urban area of Palma de Mallorca, making it a good choice if you’d like to move to a large sunny and warm city in the Mediterranean. Mallorca is a relatively small island (seven times smaller than Sicily, the largest island of the Mediterranean), but it’s easy to access from Mallorca the other (smaller) islands of the archipelago, Menorca and Ibiza.

Clear days: 122.5

Partly cloudy days: 178.6

Overcast days: 63.9

41. Ceuta, Spain

(author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jebel_musa_from_benzu.jpg)

Ceuta is an autonomous Spanish city located in Africa. It’s located on the northern coast of Africa, separated from Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar and sharing a land border with Morocco. You can get there by taking a ferry from Algeciras.

Ceuta gets almost four times more partly cloudy days than days with clear skies, meaning that if you prefer clear skies over some clouds, Ceuta would be one of the least sunny destination on this list. Nonetheless, Ceuta gets only 64 overcast days and most of them during the fall and winter, meaning that you’ll rarely see gray skies during the remaining six months. Summer temperatures climb up to 31-32 °C (88-90 °F), while winters are relatively warm with daytime temperatures hovering around 16-17 °C (61-63 °F) and nighttime winter temperatures around 9 °C (48 °F).

Ceuta, with only 18.5 sq km (7.1 sq mi) of area, has a population of over 80,000 inhabitants, meaning it’s densely populated and will not be a good fit for those who don’t want to live in a crowded city. It can be a good destination for those who are interested in living in an ethically-diverse place with European, Arab and Berber influences.

Clear days: 63.1

Partly cloudy days: 238.6

Overcast days: 63.8

40. Motril, Spain

Motril, a town of about 60,000 residents, is located on the Costa Tropical, the Mediterranean coastline of the province of Granada, Andalusia. The town is well-connected with an airport both in Granada (which is a little closer) and a much bigger airport in Málaga (Costa del Sol).

Due to its unique geographic location, with the Sierra Nevada mountains that block the cold northern winds in the winter and the Mediterranean Sea to the south regulating temperatures, Motril enjoys a subtropical microclimate. It has some of the warmest winters in all of mainland Europe, with daily temperatures even in the coldest months reaching 17-18 °C (63-65 °F) and nighttime temperatures hovering around 9-10 °C/48-50 °F). Summers are extremely hot with temperatures soaring to 36 °C (97 °F) in July and August.

Motril gets most overcast days in the winter, with 8-10 cloudy days during the cloudiest months, while summers feature blue skies almost all of the time.

Clear days: 137.8

Partly cloudy days: 164.1

Overcast days: 63.5

39. Gibraltar, UK (British Overseas Territory)

Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and bordered to the north by Spain, is one of the most densely populated sunny destinations in Europe with over 30,000 people living in an area of 6.7 sq km (2.6 sq mi). Gibraltar has its own airport connecting it to the United Kingdom and Morocco. It’s also possible to fly to Málaga Airport and cross the border.

Gibraltar is the sunniest and warmest English-speaking territory in Europe. Mean daily maximum temperatures in the summer reach 34 °C (93 °F) and don’t fall below 16-17 °C (61-63 °F) during the winter (with nighttime temperatures around 8 °C/46 °F).

Gibraltar is a tiny, highly-populated territory that won’t be the right choice for people who prefer wide open spaces. You might enjoy it if you don’t mind high population density and would like to live in a sunny, English-speaking city in Europe.

Clear days: 98.5

Partly cloudy days: 203.5

Overcast days: 63.1

38. Sines, Portugal

(author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sines03.jpg)

Sines is a small coastal town of 18,000 inhabitants located south of Lisbon. To get to Sines, you have to fly to Lisbon (1.5 hours by car) or Faro (2 hours by car). The town is a viable alternative to Lisbon for those who don’t want to live in a big city, but value easy access to a well-connected airport.

Sines gets fewer clear days than Lisbon, but the combined number of clear and partly cloudy days is higher than in the capital. Summers in Sines are slightly cooler (mean daily maximums reach 31 °C/88 °F instead of 32 °C/90 °F), but in general the climate is almost the same as in Lisbon.

Clear days: 120.1

Partly cloudy days: 182.2

Overcast days: 63

37. Benidorm, Spain

Benidorm is one of the most famous summer destinations in Spain with a large number of immigrants and long-term visitors. It has a permanent population of almost 70,000 people and is a well-known destination for the retirees.

Climate in Benidorm is characterized by hot summers with mean daily maximums of 32 °C (90 °F) and mild winters with daytime temperatures of 16 °C (61 °F). The city gets more clear days during the winter than summer (11-12 days of clear skies in the winter and 7-8 in the summer). Overcast days during the summer are very rare.

If you’d like to move to Spain and prefer a culturally diverse expat-friendly destination, Benidorm might be the right place for you.

Clear days: 107.7

Partly cloudy days: 194.9

Overcast days: 62.9

36. Mahón, Menorca, Spain

Menorca is a Spanish island located in the Balearic islands, east of its six times larger sister, Mallorca. Mahón is the island’s capital city located on the eastern coast of the island.

Mahón has a climate that is pretty similar to Palma de Mallorca, except it gets fewer clear days and more partly cloudy days. Summers are extremely sunny, while winters get up to 10 days of overcast weather. Daytime temperatures in the summer reach 32 °C (90 °F) while in the winter they hover around 15 °C (59 °F) and drop to 6-7 °C (43-44 °F) at night.

Mahón has 29,000 inhabitants which makes it a perfect choice for those who’d like to move to a quiet Mediterranean island and live in a small town with pleasant year-round weather.

Clear days: 113.5

Partly cloudy days: 188.9

Overcast days: 62.9

35. Ibiza (Eivissa), Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza is the third largest island of the Balearic Islands. It’s slightly smaller than Menorca. Ibiza Town (Eivissa) located on the southeast coast of the island is its capital city with roughly 50,000 inhabitants. Ibiza has a busy airport; it’s also possible to take a ferry from Mallorca or from mainland Spain.

The island’s climate is similar to the climate of Menorca and Mallorca with hot summers and mild winters. Ibiza is known for its nightlife which makes it a good destination for those who enjoy partying, but not necessarily for those who’d like to live in a tranquil location.

Clear days: 107.7

Partly cloudy days: 194.9

Overcast days: 62.9

34. Sant Francesc de Formentera, Formentera, Spain

Formentera is the smallest permanently populated island of the Balearic Islands, with just 83 sq km (32 sq mi) and about 11,000 inhabitants. It’s the least densely populated island of the archipelago. You can get to the island by taking a ferry from Ibiza or from the Spanish mainland. Sant Francesc de Formentera (also known as Sant Francesc Xavier) is the largest village of the island with a little over 2,700 inhabitants.

Formentera features pretty much the same climate as other coastal destinations in the Balearic Islands. If you’re looking to relocate to the Balearic Islands but would like to escape mass tourism, Formentera might be the right choice for you.

Clear days: 107.7

Partly cloudy days: 194.9

Overcast days: 62.9

33. Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal

(author: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vila_Nova_de_Milfontes_-_panoramio_-_D.Majerus.jpg)

Vila Nova de Milfontes is a small tourist-oriented town of 5,000 inhabitants located along the western coast of Atlantic Ocean in Portugal, roughly halfway between Lisbon and Faro. It falls within the natural park of Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast.

The town doesn’t get as many clear days as Lisbon or Sines, but the combined number of clear and partly cloudy days is slightly higher. Mean daily maximums in the summer reach 31 °C (88 °F), while daytime winter temperatures hover around 16-17 °C (61-63 °F) with nights dropping to 7 °C (45 °F). No matter the month, there are always at least 7 days of clear skies and no more than 10 overcast days a month.

If you’d like to move to a small town in Portugal, Vila Nova de Milfontes is one of the sunniest and warmest choices in the country.

Clear days: 112.5

Partly cloudy days: 190.6

Overcast days: 62.5

32. Portimão, Portugal

(author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Praia_da_Rocha,_Portim%C3%A3o_2.jpg)

Located on the southern coast of Portugal in the region of Algarve, Portimão is the second biggest city of the region with roughly 55,000 residents. It’s a popular tourist destination, particularly among visitors from the United Kingdom and Ireland. To get to Portimão, you need to fly to Faro which is about one hour by car from the city.

Portimão is one of the sunniest destinations in Portugal, but it gets more partly cloudy days than clear days. During the summer there are almost no overcast days, and even during the winter, you won’t have to deal with more than 9-10 cloudy days per month.

Temperatures are similar to Lisbon, with mean daily maximums of 32 °C (90 °F) in the summer and 16 °C (61 °F) in the winter, and slightly higher mean daily winter minimums around 7-8 °C (45-46 °F).

Clear days: 135.7

Partly cloudy days: 167.7

Overcast days: 61.9

31. Lagos, Portugal

Located east of Portimão, Lagos is a town of about 31,000 inhabitants. It’s popular among tourists who enjoy local beautiful beaches, rock formations, and nightlife. To get to Lagos, you need to fly to Faro.

Climate in Lagos is the same as in the neighboring Portimão. If you prefer the feel of a smaller town, Lagos is a good alternative to Portimão.

Clear days: 135.7

Partly cloudy days: 167.7

Overcast days: 61.9

30. Málaga, Spain

Málaga and the neighboring cities of Torremolinos and Marbella are some of the most popular European sunny destinations. The area is served by the Málaga airport, also known as Costa del Sol Airport. The airport, the fourth busiest in Spain, has connections to all major destinations in Europe and some cities on other continents, too.

Málaga is the second most populous city in Andalusia with over 500,000 people living there. It’s visited by millions of tourists and is popular among foreign residents who move there because of its climate. It’s sunny all year round, with most sunny days between June and August. During the winter, there are on average up to 9 days of cloudy weather a month.

Málaga gets very hot during the summer with temperatures soaring up to 34 °C (93 °F). Winters are mild with daytime temperatures around 16-17 °C (61-63 °F) and around 8 °C/46 °F during the night. If you want to move to a big city with one of the best climates in Europe, Málaga is one of the best options.

Clear days: 144.6

Partly cloudy days: 158.9

Overcast days: 61.9

29. Marbella, Spain

Marbella is the second most populous city in the area. It has about 140,000 inhabitants. The city attracts short-term visitors (mostly from Northern Europe) as well as foreigners who stay there long-term.

It’s known as a favorite sunny destination of wealthy people, aristocrats, and celebrities, with Puerto Banús, a luxury marina to the southwest of the city, renowned for expensive shopping malls, luxury yachts and exotic cars.

Climate in Marbella is virtually the same as in Málaga. Since Marbella is much smaller than Málaga, it might provide a good alternative to those who’d like to live in a smaller city on the Costa del Sol.

Clear days: 144.6

Partly cloudy days: 158.9

Overcast days: 61.9

28. Torremolinos, Spain

(author: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Torremolinos_-_view.jpg)

Located right by Málaga, Torremolinos is the most popular resort town in the area. Almost 70,000 people call it home, with its population multiplying during the summer. It’s particularly popular among the British and Scandinavian visitors, some of whom stay there permanently.

If you’re looking for an expat-friendly, international sunny destination in the southern Spain, Torremolinos is one of the primary choices you should consider.

Clear days: 144.6

Partly cloudy days: 158.9

Overcast days: 61.9

27. Trapani, Sicily, Italy

Trapani is a small Sicilian city of 70,000 people located on the western side of the island. It’s slightly cooler in the summer than Palermo (with temperatures reaching 34 °C/93 °F) with winter daytime temperatures hovering around 15 °C (59 °F) and dropping to 7-8 °C (44-46 °F) at night.

Trapani has its own airport which is the third busiest airport on the island. It’s an important destination for ferries linking Sicily with the nearby small Aegadian Islands, Pantelleria, Sardinia, and Tunisia.

If you want to move to Sicily but don’t like big cities, Trapani offers a good alternative since it’s small, but still located relatively close to bigger cities of Marsala to the south and Palermo to the east.

Clear days: 113.2

Partly cloudy days: 191

Overcast days: 61.3

26. Faro, Portugal

Located in the Algarve region, Faro is the sunniest and warmest city in all of Portugal. With around 65,000 inhabitants, it’s the biggest city in the region and one of the largest in southern Portugal. Faro has its own busy airport which serves as the gateway to the Algarve region.

Summers in Faro are hot with temperatures reaching 34 °C/93 °F in the hottest month. Winters are mild, with daytime temperatures in the coldest months reaching 16-17 °C (61-63 °F). Clear skies are almost guaranteed in July and August, with other months getting at least 9-10 clear days and no more than 10 overcast days during the cloudiest month (December).

Faro, along with neighboring Albufeira, offers the best climate you can get in Portugal, so if you’re looking to move to a sunny and warm Portuguese city with an airport, Faro is the place for you.

Clear days: 164

Partly cloudy days: 140.1

Overcast days: 61.3

25. Albufeira, Portugal

Albufeira is located west of Faro, just 40 minutes by car from the city, and east of Portimão and Lagos, also 40 minutes by car. There are about 40,000 people living in the municipality, but its population dramatically increases during the summer season.

Albufeira is a good option for those who enjoy the feel of a tourist-oriented town and numerous facilities it offers. Due to its convenient location between three cities, it’s a great choice if you’d like to live in a town well-connected with other important cities in the region.

Clear days: 164

Partly cloudy days: 140.1

Overcast days: 61.3

24. Pantelleria, Pantelleria, Italy

(author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pantelleria_sulla_Costa.jpg)

Pantelleria is a small island of 83 sq km (32 sq mi) located 100 km (62 miles) southwest of Sicily and 60 km (37 miles) east of the Tunisian coast. It’s inhabited by roughly 8,000 people. Pantelleria is the biggest town on the island. Pantelleria has an airport connecting it to Sicily and mainland Italy.

Pantelleria gets over twice as many partly cloudy days than clear days, but is still one of the sunniest destinations in Italy with about 60 overcast days a year (cloudy weather is most prevalent between November and March). Summers are very hot with temperatures reaching 34 °C (93 °F), while winter daytime temperatures stay around 16 °C (61 °F) and nighttime temperatures drop to 7-8 °C (44-46 °F).

If you’re dreaming of moving to a small Mediterranean island away from it all, Pantelleria might be your dream destination.

Clear days: 96

Partly cloudy days: 209.3

Overcast days: 60.2

23. Valencia, Spain

Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain with around 800,000 inhabitants in the administrative center and over 1,500,000 people living in the urban area. It has an airport connecting it to major European destinations and bringing millions of tourists each year.

Valencia receives plenty of sunshine year-round, with about 7 overcast days a month during the winter and summers with no more than 1-2 cloudy days a month. Summer temperatures go up to 32 °C (90 °F). While mean daily maximums during the winter are around 15 °C (59 °F), they sharply drop all the way down to 3-4 °C (37-39 °F) at night.

Valencia is a good choice if you’re looking for a major sunny coastal city in the Mediterranean. It’s not only one of the biggest cities in Spain, but also in all of Europe.

Clear days: 130.8

Partly cloudy days: 177

Overcast days: 57.1

22. Lentas, Crete, Greece

(author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Loutra_R01.jpg)

Lentas is a small coastal village on the south coast of Crete. It’s the sunniest place in Greece. Because of its location on the other side of the island, it features a warmer and sunnier climate than the other Cretan destinations on this list.

Lentas has exceptionally sunny summers. Between June and August there are no overcast days: it’s either clear skies (for up to 27 days in July) or some clouds. Overcast weather is almost non-existent in September and very rare in May. December and January are the cloudiest months with 11-12 days of overcast weather.

Temperatures climb up to 35 °C (95 °F) in the summer and drop to 16 °C (61 °F) in the winter (with nighttime temperatures dropping to 8-9 °C/46-48 °F). Lentas is a very small village and there are no major towns or cities in the vicinity, so it might be a good choice if you’re looking to escape from it all. Fortunately, it only takes about an hour and a half to get from Heraklion International Airport to Lentas.

Clear days: 155.3

Partly cloudy days: 153.4

Overcast days: 56.2

21. Castellón de la Plana, Spain

(author: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Playa_del_Serradal_(Castell%C3%B3n_de_la_Plana).JPG)

Castellón de la Plana is a city of about 170,000 people. It’s located north of Valencia. Castellón has its airport (Costa Azahar Airport), but it only offers a few connections and isn’t the main airport serving visitors going to Castellón (they fly to Valencia instead).

Castellón has slightly cooler weather in the summer and a little warmer winter nights than Valencia. It gets fewer clear days and more partly cloudy days than Valencia. Sunny days are distributed throughout a year with most clear days in the winter.

If you’d like to live in the Valencian community, but prefer a smaller city with fewer tourists, Castellón might be an option to consider.

Clear days: 117.8

Partly cloudy days: 192.2

Overcast days: 55.2

20. Syracuse, Sicily, Italy

Syracuse is a city of around 125,000 people. It’s located on the eastern coast of Sicily, south of Catania. Like other Sicilian destinations on this list, Syracuse is one of the hottest cities in Italy, with mean daily maximums reaching 35 °C (95 °F) in the summer and 16 °C (61 °F) in the winter. Mean daily minimums during the coldest month can drop to 6 °C (43 °F).

In July and August cloudy weather is virtually non-existent, while the cloudiest months, December and January, still feature up to 20 days of clear or partly cloudy weather.

It only takes 40 minutes by car to get from Syracuse to the airport in Catania, which means that Syracuse is a good alternative for those who’d like to move to this part of Sicily, but live in a smaller city.

Clear days: 126.1

Partly cloudy days: 184.1

Overcast days: 54.7

19. Alicante, Spain

Alicante is the second-largest Valencian city with about 330,000 people living in the city proper and over 450,000 in the municipality. The city has its own busy airport offering flights to all major European destinations.

Alicante enjoys the warmest winter daytime temperatures in Europe. They usually don’t drop below 17 °C (63 °F). Nighttime winter temperatures can get chilly and reach just 6 °C (43 °F). Summers are hot, with temperatures climbing up to 33 °C (91 °F). No matter the month, Alicante never gets more than 8 overcast days a month, with almost no overcast days during the summer.

If you’re looking for a bigger Spanish city with the warmest winters in mainland Europe, Alicante is definitely an interesting option to consider.

Read a detailed article about the climate in Alicante.

Clear days: 116

Partly cloudy days: 195.3

Overcast days: 54.1

18. Marsala, Sicily, Italy

Marsala is the fifth-largest town in Sicily, located south of Trapani on the island’s western coast. It’s served by the Trapani airport located merely 25 minutes by car from the city. It has over 80,000 inhabitants.

Temperatures in Marsala are very similar to Trapani, with temperatures reaching 34 °C (93 °F) in the summer and winter daytime temperatures hovering around 15 °C (59 °F) and dropping to 6-7 °C (43-44 °F) at night.

Marsala gets 9 fewer days of overcast weather than Trapani and features more days of partly cloudy weather than clear skies.

Clear days: 117.8

Partly cloudy days: 194.9

Overcast days: 52.8

17. Cádiz, Spain

Cádiz is an Andalusian city of about 124,000 inhabitants. It’s located in southwestern Spain, situated on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the Bay of Cádiz and Gulf of Cádiz. Cádiz is located about 30 minutes by car from the International Airport of Jerez-La Parra which is a small airport with domestic and international flights to a few European countries, including Germany and the UK. Cádiz offers ferries to the Canary Islands.

Like other Andalusian destinations, Cádiz gets very hot during the summer with temperatures going up to 35 °C (95 °F) in July and August. Winters are mild with daytime temperatures around 16-17 °C (61-63 °F) and nighttime temperatures dropping to 7 °C (45 °F).

If you’re thinking about moving to a smaller coastal city in Andalusia, Cádiz could be a potential candidate for you. Its location on the coast, with easy access to the bigger city of Jerez de la Frontera (which has pretty much the same climate as Cádiz) just 30 minutes by car, makes it a convenient choice if you’d rather live in a smaller city.

Clear days: 173.6

Partly cloudy days: 140.3

Overcast days: 51.3

16. Melilla, Spain

(author: https://www.flickr.com/photos/melillamirada/3354911700/)

Melilla is technically located in Africa on its northern coast across the sea from Almería, but it’s a Spanish autonomous city which operates in most ways like any other Spanish city. You can take a ferry from the Spanish mainland, fly from Spain, or fly to the nearby Moroccan city of Nador and cross the border.

Melilla is sunny year-round, with only 1-2 days of overcast weather during the sunniest months and no more than 6 overcast days during the cloudiest months. Summer temperatures reach 35 °C (95 °F), while winters are still warm with 18-19 °C (64-66 °F) during the day (nights can get cold, though, with temperatures around 6 °C /43 °F).

The city has a very small area of just 12.3 sq km (4.7 sq mi) populated by about 78,000 people. It’s surrounded by Morocco, meaning that if you want to get away, you have to cross the border. Melilla is an interesting choice for adventure seekers and those who would like to experience one of the most culturally-diverse destinations in Europe (or technically, belonging to an European country).

Clear days: 114.2

Partly cloudy days: 200.6

Overcast days: 50.5

15. Cartagena, Spain

Cartagena is the second-largest city in the region of Murcia. About 220,000 people live there, while the metropolitan area has a population of 410,000 people. To get to Cartagena, you need to fly to Murcia which has a small international airport with flights to the UK, Norway, Ireland, and Belgium.

Cartagena gets approximately twice as many partly cloudy days as clear days. With just 50 overcast days a year, it’s one of the sunniest coastal destinations in mainland Spain. Summer mean daily maximums reach 33 °C (91 °F). Winters, as in every other destination in southern Spain, are mild with 16-17 °C (61-63 °F) during the day and nighttime temperatures around 6 °C (43 °F).

If you don’t necessarily need clear skies and partly cloudy weather is still good enough for you, Cartagena is worth consideration if you’d like to live in a bigger city in southern Spain.

Clear days: 108.6

Partly cloudy days: 206.8

Overcast days: 49.9

14. Écija, Spain

(author: https://www.flickr.com/people/48389833@N02)

Écija is a town of 40,000 inhabitants located in the Andalusian countryside, about an hour by car from Seville which has a major airport connecting the region to all major European destinations.

Summers in Écija feature clear skies almost every single day during July and August and 21 clear days in June. Winter months get at most up to 9 days of overcast weather. Summers in Écija are some of the hottest in the country, with temperatures soaring up to 36 °C (97 °F) in July and August. Winter daytime temperatures are around 15 °C (59 °F) and drop to 5 °C (41 °F) at night.

If you’d like to live in the Andalusian countryside, but not necessarily in a village, consider Écija. Écija gets the highest number of clear days in all of Europe, so if you love blue skies, the town should be one of your primary choices.

Clear days: 195.6

Partly cloudy days: 120.1

Overcast days: 49.6

13. Huelva, Spain

Huelva is a city of about 150,000 people, located west of Seville and north of Cádiz, close to the border with Portugal (and just 80 minutes by car from Faro). To get to Huelva, you need to fly to Seville.

Like other places in Andalusia, Cádiz gets very hot during the summer with temperatures going up to 34 °C (93 °F) in July and August. Winters are mild with daytime temperatures around 16-17 °C (61-63 °F) and nighttime temperatures dropping to 5-6 °C (41-43 °F). There’s consistent sunny weather all year round, with the highest number of days with clear skies between June and September. The cloudiest months get up to 9 days of overcast weather.

Huelva is yet another interesting option for those looking to move to a small, sunny and warm city in Andalusia located close to the coast.

Clear days: 183.8

Partly cloudy days: 132.3

Overcast days: 49.3

12. Seville, Spain

Seville is the sunniest city in Andalusia with about 49 overcast days a year, most of which are between October and March. With a municipal population of about 700,000 and a metropolitan population of about 1.5 million, Seville is the biggest urbanized area in the region. The city has its own airport with flights to major European destinations.

Temperatures in Seville are extremely high during the summer, with mean daily maximum temperatures of up to 37 °C (99 °F) in July and August. During winter, temperatures are between 16-17 °C (61-63 °F) during the day and 5-6 °C (41-43 °F) at night.

If you’d like to move to a major Andalusian city, Seville is a much sunnier and warmer alternative to Málaga, except it isn’t located on the coast, which might make hot summers more difficult to bear.

Clear days: 193.2

Partly cloudy days: 122.8

Overcast days: 49.2

11. Gela, Sicily, Italy

(author: https://www.flickr.com/photos/giovanbattista_brancato/6413548911/)

Gela is the sunniest city of Sicily. Located on the southern coast of the island, it’s the most populated urban settlement in the area with over 75,000 inhabitants. The closest airport is located in Catania, about 100 km (62 mi) away.

Like other places on the island, temperatures reach 34 °C (93 °F) in the summer, while winter daytime temperatures hover around 15 °C (59 °F) and drop to 7-8 °C (44-46 °F) at night.

With just 49 overcast days a year, most of which occur during the winter months, you’ll rarely, if ever, complain about bad weather.

Clear days: 108.5

Partly cloudy days: 207.5

Overcast days: 49.1

Top 10 Sunniest Places in Europe

And now it’s time for the top 10 sunniest cities in Europe… Watch as a video below or scroll down to keep reading.

10. Almería, Spain

Almería is a city of about 200,000 people. It’s located in southern Spain, east to Málaga. Because of very low precipitation, Almería is the only city in Europe which features a hot desert climate. It’s also one of the sunniest European destinations with only 45 overcast days a year (out of which, almost none occur between June and August).

Almería has its own airport connecting the city with major European cities. Winters are warm, with 17-18 °C (63-65 °F) during the day and 7-8 °C (44-46 °F) at night. In the hottest months (July and August), temperatures reach 34-35 °C (93-95 °F).

If you dislike rainy weather and/or would like to live in the desert, Almería is your best bet in mainland Europe.

Clear days: 151.5

Partly cloudy days: 168.9

Overcast days: 44.8

9. Murcia, Spain

(author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Murcia1_tango7174.jpg)

Murcia is the most populous city of the Region of Murcia located between Andalusia and Valencian Community. About 500,000 people call Murcia home. It has a small international airport with flights to the UK, Norway, Ireland, and Belgium. When it comes to consistent sunshine in Europe proper, Murcia is the sunniest place.

Summers in Murcia are hot, but slightly cooler than in many other Spanish destinations. Summer mean daily maximums reach 33 °C (91 °F). Winters are mild with 16-17 °C (61-63 °F) during the day, but nights can get cold with temperatures dropping to 4-5 °C (39-41 °F).

Murcia is yet another choice to consider when looking to relocate to one of the sunniest regions of Spain. Other nearby alternatives (Cartagena, Alicante and Benidorm) are less sunny than Murcia, with Cartagena, the second sunniest place, getting 7 more days of cloudy weather.

Clear days: 138.5

Partly cloudy days: 183.6

Overcast days: 43.2

8. Limassol, Cyprus

Limassol is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus with an urban population of about 185,000 people. The port of Limassol is one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean. To get to Limassol you either have to fly to Larnaca or Paphos (both located about 50 minutes by car from the city).

While geographically Cyprus is located in Asia, it belongs politically and culturally to Europe. Cyprus is a favorite choice of numerous British expats who enjoy warm and sunny weather and feel at home with left-hand traffic.

Winter daytime temperatures in Limassol reach 16 °C (61 °F) and drop to 9 °C (48 °F) during the night. Summers are very hot with mean daily maximums of 35 °C (95 °F). Between May and September, there are virtually no overcast days.

Clear days: 114.2

Partly cloudy days: 207.8

Overcast days: 43.2

7. Paphos, Cyprus

Paphos features a very similar climate to Limassol, except it’s slightly cooler during the summer with daytime maximums of 34 °C (93 °F) and slightly colder winter nights with temperatures dropping to 8 °C (46 °F).

Paphos is a good alternative to Limassol if you prefer to live in a smaller city. Paphos has about 63,000 people living in the urban area, which is three times fewer people than in Limassol.

Paphos has its own airport (the second largest of Cyprus) which might be an advantage over Limassol if you plan to frequently fly home.

Clear days: 114.2

Partly cloudy days: 207.8

Overcast days: 43.2

6. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as the entire island of Tenerife, doesn’t get many clear days compared to other destinations on this list. It, however, features over 270 partly cloudy days and ultimately, there are only about 43 days of cloudy weather a year which makes it one of the sunniest destinations in Europe.

Santa Cruz is the capital city of Tenerife. It has over 200,000 inhabitants. The city has its own airport (Tenerife North Airport), but the other airport of the island, located in the south (Tenerife Sur), is much busier.

Santa Cruz features a climate that can be described as endless summer. Mean daily maximums during the summer reach 29-30 °C (84-86 °F) while the daytime temperatures during the coldest months are around 22 °C (71 °F) and drop to 13 °C (55 °F) at night.

Clear days: 51.9

Partly cloudy days: 270.5

Overcast days: 42.5

5. Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus

Kyrenia is located on the northern coast of Cyprus and politically, belongs to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (meaning that it’s not a part of the European Union). Northern Cyprus has its own airport, but it doesn’t have direct flights from Europe (all stop in Turkey before flying to Northern Cyprus). Another option is to fly to Larnaca and cross the border.

A little over 30,000 people live in the area that enjoys one of the sunniest climates in the world. Kyrenia gets only 40 cloudy days a year and virtually none between May and September. Summers get extremely hot with temperatures reaching 36 °C (97 °F) in July and August. Winter daytime temperatures are around 15-16 °C (59-61 °F) and drop to 8 °C (46 °F) at night.

Due to its delicate political status, Kyrenia (and other destinations in Northern Cyprus) can be tricky to relocate to—and certainly, much more difficult than moving to the Republic of Cyprus.

Clear days: 141.1

Partly cloudy days: 184.3

Overcast days: 39.9

4. Larnaca, Cyprus

Larnaca is the sunniest city of Cyprus. With a population of 150,000 people living in the municipality, it’s one of the most inhabited areas of the island. Larnaca has its own busy airport which is the main airport of the island connecting it to Europe and the Middle East.

Larnaca gets only 37 cloudy days with most occurring between November and March. There are virtually no overcast days between May and September. It’s the hottest city of the island, with mean daily maximums reaching 37 °C (99 °F) in July and August. Winters are mild with daytime temperatures of 16 °C (61 °F) and nighttime temperatures of 7-8 °C (44-46 °F).

Except for the Canary Islands, Cyprus is the sunniest European destination.

Clear days: 142.5

Partly cloudy days: 186.3

Overcast days: 36.6

3. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital city of Gran Canaria. About 385,000 people live in the city proper, making it the biggest city of the Canary Islands and one of the biggest of Spain. Gran Canaria Airport is the busiest airport of the Canary Islands. It’s connected with all major European cities as well as other islands of the archipelago and some destinations in Africa.

Like other destinations of the archipelago, Las Palmas enjoys endless summer with comfortable temperatures all year round. Mean daily maximums during the summer reach 29 °C (84 °F) while daytime temperatures during the coldest months are around 22 °C (71 °F) and 13 °C (55 °F) at night.

Las Palmas gets more clear days than the nearby islands of Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote, though there are still over three times more partly cloudy days than clear days. If you greatly prefer clear, sunny days over partly cloudy days, Gran Canaria might be a better choice than Tenerife.

Clear days: 81.6

Partly cloudy days: 253.1

Overcast days: 30.1

2. Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain

And the winners are… the island of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, both of which are the sunniest destinations in all of Europe. Corralejo is a resort town of about 16,000 people located on the northern tip of the island of Fuerteventura. It gets mere 23 days of overcast weather a year. To get to Corralejo, you need to fly to the main airport on the island located 30 minutes by car away.

While Corralejo isn’t the place with most clear days in Europe (this place is Écija) as there are almost four times more partly cloudy days than clear days, the fewest number of overcast days makes it the best place to be if your priority is to avoid dark skies.

Temperatures in Corralejo are pleasant all year round. Mean daily maximums during the hottest months, August and September, reach up to 30 °C (86 °F) while the daytime temperature during the coldest months doesn’t drop below 22-23 °C (71-73 °F) meaning that summer lasts the entire year.

Clear days: 74.9

Partly cloudy days: 266.9

Overcast days: 23.4

1. Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

Arrecife is a port city of about 56,000 people. It’s located on Lanzarote, an island north of Fuerteventura. The place features pretty much the same climate as Fuerteventura, with pleasant summer-like weather all year round. Arrecife has its own airport connecting it to all major European destinations and serving as the entry point for all visitors to the island.

Dark skies are almost non-existent between March and September, with only 4 days of overcast weather in the cloudiest month, January. As already mentioned when we talked about Fuerteventura, Lanzarote gets much fewer clear days than partly cloudy days. In July and August it gets almost no clear days, though the entire month features partly cloudy weather (and not clear skies).

If Fuerteventura doesn’t appeal to you for some reason but you’d still like to live in the place with the lowest number of overcast days in all of Europe, consider Arrecife.

Clear days: 74.9

Partly cloudy days: 266.9

Overcast days: 23.4