THE SUNNIEST CITIES IN EUROPE | FLIGHTLAYAWAY
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Europe is not often associated with
sunshine. When people imagine the European cities of London, Hamburg, Dublin,
or Reykjavik, they’ll often imagine them dull in the rain or cloud. However,
this is not the case for all European cities. In fact, some cities are some of
the sunniest and warmest in the world, making for a great retreat to soak up
the sun and top up on vitamin D. We’ve put together a list of the best cities
for the sun to help you better plan your sunny escape, which includes some
well-known sunny favorites along with some alternative destinations you may not
be aware of and, of course, the cheapest cities in Europe for the sun.
1. Valletta, Malta - For year-round sun
The capital of Malta, Valletta is
well-known for being one of the sunniest cities in Europe. The city not only
ranks number 1 in Europe for the sunniest hours annually (2,957 hours), but
also features in position 1 or 2 for each individual month and is also top of
the list for the hottest city in Europe, with an annual average of 22°C. This
means that Valletta is a great summer destination to guarantee great weather,
but will also make for a great winter retreat to get away from the winter
blues.
On the hottest summer days when
sunlight is at its highest, head to one of the nearby beaches to enjoy the
great weather. Choose from the popular Mellieħa Bay, the largest sandy beach
(complete with lifeguards, sunbeds, and water sports), or Għajn Tuffieħa for a
quiet beach retreat, left untouched by tourism. If you’re visiting in the
winter, only some will be able to brave a swim in the December average air
temperature of 17°C, whereas most will feel more comfortable exploring the
history and culture in Valletta, where the winter temperatures are perfect for
walking and exploring.
Top Tip: If you’re thinking of
planning a holiday to Valletta, make sure you read our ‘Local’s Guide to Malta’
for tips on where to go, what to see and what to eat!
Take me to Valletta
2. Andorra la Vella, Andorra - For winter sun
Andorra la Vella is a city nestled in
a green valley near the Andorran Pyrenees, located just 10 km from the
Catalonian border. Andorra la Vella is a city that’s not often associated with
sunny weather—and for good reason. For most of the year, Andorra receives
pretty mediocre sunshine, however, winter is when this destination really
shines through. Andorra ranks within the top 10 for December through February
at 359 hours of sunshine, making it a great destination for the winter sun.
What makes this even better is that Andorra la Vella is often a stopping point
to the skiing destinations within the Pyrenees, meaning you can catch some rays
before wrapping up for the snow in ski suits.
There are plenty of things to do for a
short trip in Andorra de la Vella, from the great shopping scene to the
historic quarter, the Barri Antic, complete with buildings in the traditional
Catalonian style. If you’re stuck with things to do, the high location in the
mountains sets it up for some great hikes where you can get impressive views
and panoramas of the surrounding valley.
Take me to Andorra la Vella
The nearest airport to Andorra la
Vella is Carcassonne Airport (CCF), which is around a three-hour drive away.
Ryanair is currently the only airline that flies to this airport, with direct
flights from the UK, Portugal, Ireland, and Belgium. If you do not plan to hire
a car, then it may be better to fly to Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) which is
connected to Andorra la Vella via public transport. This airport also has a
greater choice of airlines such as Eurowings, Iberia, Level, and Vueling. You
could also pair your trip to Andorra la Vella with a weekend in nearby
Barcelona in Spain, which is another city great for the sun with 2,524 annual
hours!
3. Podgorica, Montenegro - For cheap sunshine
Podgorica is one destination on this
list that many readers may not have heard of, which may have something to do
with its five name changes. Although Montenegro’s capital is not known for
beautiful architecture, its mixed history has resulted in an interesting mix of
architecture from the Ottoman Empire, Eastern bloc buildings, and also European
styles.
However, Podgorica is not only an
interesting place culturally, but also one of the best cities to top up your
tan—with some flights even costing less than a fake tan! Flight prices,
however, are not where the end of the bargain - when you get there, the prices
of food, drink, and accommodation will seem unbelievably cheap, especially when
compared to neighboring countries of Croatia. Podgorica performs well
year-round in terms of hours of sunshine, being in the top 10 for annual (2,480
hours), summer (848), and autumn hours (582). In addition, the city ranks
joint-second for the average annual hottest temperature of 21°C! One of the
best ways to enjoy the sun in Podgorica is by enjoying the recently-added
pedestrian walkways which snake through the city.
Take me to Podgorica
Podgorica Airport (TGD) is located
just 11 km from central Podgorica and is served by a range of airlines such as
Wizz Air, Ryanair, Montenegro Airlines, and Alitalia.
4. Athens, Greece - For guaranteed heat and
sun
People asking for guaranteed sunny
destinations in Europe will often be directed to Greece, and for good reason!
The Greek capital of Athens ranks in fourth place for annual sunshine at 2,771
hours, and also has an annual average temperature of 22°C.
If you’ve already ticked off the
obvious attractions of the Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Poseidon, the
Panathenaic Stadium, and the Plaka District, take a break from the sun in the
green oasis of the National Gardens or cool off in one of the many museums.
With good weather and temperatures guaranteed year-round, plan a day to the
beach with the peace of mind that you won't get caught in the rain or chill. Be
sure to check out the options of Kavouri, Voula, or Edem for great beach day trips.
Take me to Athens
To get to Athens, you will need to fly
to Athens International Airport (ATH) with airlines such as Aegean Airlines,
Ellinair, Sky Express, Olympic Air, and Ryanair. From the airport, it’s about a
40-minute drive or an hour train away from the city center.
5. Skopje, Macedonia - for the cheapest
European (and some of the world) sunshine
Macedonia was mentioned in our blog
about the cheapest countries in Europe, as the 12th cheapest country in the
whole world, meaning you can bag a bargain when going there! In addition, the
capital city of Skopje ranks 11th for the annual sun with 2,339 hours,
performing well in every season with an annual average temperature of 18°C.
Therefore, you can enjoy the sunshine in Skopje, with the comfort that you’re
not breaking the bank in doing so.
Some people may not have heard of
Skopje, and far less will have actually been there. However, this is predicted
to change as the city has invested a lot in tourism as part of the urban
project named ‘Skopje 2014’, in the hope to become a trendy up-and-coming
destination. This project focused on the monumental and historical aspects of
the city, which is plentiful due to its history with as early as the Neolithic
era, but also more recent history with the Ottomans, in the Balkan War, and
also as part of Yugoslavia. Cultural and historical must-sees in Skopje include
the Old Bazaar, the 15th century Kameni Most (stone bridge), Debar Maalo, and
the Tvrdina Kale Fortress.
Take me to Skopje
Skopje International Airport (SKP) is
only a 25-minute drive from the city center of Skopje. You can fly into this
airport with airlines such as Wizz Air, Croatia Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and
Adria Airways.
6. Lisbon, Portugal - A beautiful city in the
sun
Lisbon is another well-known sunny
city in Europe, that performs well year-round including in winter (6th with 437
hours). It places third for annual sunshine (2,799 hours) and also performs
well for the average temperature at joint second place with a daily average of
21°C. This means that no matter when you’re planning to visit Lisbon, you’re
highly likely to get sunny weather with comfortable temperatures.
Lisbon has many impressive attractions
and things to see, all of which are much better seen on a beautiful sunny day.
From simply strolling the streets of Bairro Alto to a sunny rooftop bar such as
PARK or being in the mountains for Sintra, Lisbon looks its best from every
angle in the sun, which is guaranteed most of the year. If you’re looking to capture
this city’s beauty on camera, be sure to check out our blog on the most
Instagrammable spots in Lisbon.
Take me to Lisbon
You can fly to Lisbon Airport (LIS)
with airlines such as Azores Airlines, Norwegian, TAP Air Portugal, and
Vueling. It’s a 15-minute drive from the airport to the center of Lisbon.
Sunlight hours and annual average temperature data were taken from the Current Results. Data given in yearly averages for the number of hours that are sunny, with the data collected over 30 years. Cities included are those which are capitals and also cities with a population of over one million people.
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