Last updated on May 11th, 2025
Europe has plenty of fantastic holiday destinations with great weather. Its cities are amongst the sunniest on earth. Below, we discuss which places get the most sun to help guide you.
When looking for holiday destinations in Europe, the weather is always a key factor. While many people may look at the sunniest cities and see a lot of familiar spots, others on the list may surprise them. When cross-referenced with the many things available to do or see, it can provide some great surprise destinations. Below, courtesy of a study done by Holidu, the holiday rental portal, we look at the sunniest cities in Europe to find your next holiday destination.
The Top Three
Cartagena is a city in Spain, and while the other places in this sweltering country are mostly well-known tourist spots, this place is often overlooked. It gets a huge 283 hours of sun per month, with the highest average temperature of 19.1 degrees. It is official: according to Holidu’s study, Cartagena is the sunniest city in Europe. However, it has a lot more to offer than just good weather.
The town is most well known as being a naval port and has been since it was founded in Roman times. It was the home of the Spanish Fleet in later times and this patchwork of history is what gives the city its unique flavor. You can still visit the old Roman Theatre, and trek into the mountains to its medieval Bateria de Castillitos. However, it does also have a great beach and abundance of places to taste great wine, for that more traditional med holiday vibe.
Second and third respectively sit Alicante and Malaga, the home of the package holiday. Both average just over 279 hours of sun per month, with a monthly temperature of just above 18 degrees. This is why holidaymakers have been attracted to these places for so long. Combined with their luscious beaches and infrastructure, you really can’t go wrong for a quick break.
Even if you think these places are not for you, chances are that they have hidden delights to offer. You can go beyond the sun, sea, and sand to find almost anything you want. From fine dining to history and arts, both towns can surprise even the most travelled of visitors. For example, did you know that Alicante has the Santa Bárbara Castle, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain?
The Rest of the Top Ten
It probably won’t surprise you to know that in the top ten, eight of the positions are held by Spanish towns and cities. The only other countries that manage to pierce the top ten are Catania in Italy and Marseille, France.
Catania manages to get 273 hours of sun per month on average. This gives it roughly a monthly temperature of 18 degrees. As the second largest municipality in Sicily, it is a great place to visit Mount Etna, which is always smoking away in the background. This makes it even more attractive in cooler months when you can get out into its fantastic countryside and watch the sunset behind the volcano.
Marseille is a large thriving city. It gets an average of 266 sun hours per month. This gives it a slightly lower temperature of 16 degrees each month. As you gaze over the med to Africa, you can indulge in its old quarter and take in some of the finest food France has to offer, or rent a car and take in its fantastic seaside drive.
The Also Popular
Surprisingly, the only place in Greece to scrape into the top twenty is Athens. It has an average of 261 hours of sun per month. Anyone who has visited will also tell you that it can not only be extremely hot, but quite stifling as a capital city. It is busy, and there seems to be little sea air to cool the streets. However, this is the price you may pay for seeing some of the most exquisite and oldest architectural features in Europe. In fact, it is one of the oldest cities on earth, making it one of the best places to visit in Europe.
Northern Italy has many others rounding out the list, but the only other country to feature is Portugal. This has Lisbon at rank 23 and Porto at 28. Luckily, both of these cities also benefit from a cool sea breeze to cool them down. Facing the Atlantic, you can also get some fantastic sunsets over the ocean. If one of these big cities does not interest you, then you can get plenty of holidays in the small towns dotted along the coast.
Of course, the amount of sunshine should not be the only decision you make when visiting a destination. It all depends on what you are looking for. Luckily, it is easier than ever to find great holiday destinations in Europe at a price that suits you. Pack your bags, make sure you have your sun hat, and then get on board and discover what Europe has to offer.
