This City Was Just Named the Sunniest Destination in Europe

Sometimes, you just need a little sunshine in your life. And if you want to practically guarantee a sunny day, all you need to do is book a flight to Málaga, Spain. 

Located along Costa del Sol in Spain (appropriate when you consider that it translates to “Coast of the Sun”) Málaga has long been a favored European getaway destination for those hoping to soak up some rays. And it’s been named the sunniest spot in the entire continent. 

Using data from 2009 to 2024 from World Weather Online, the online rental search engine Holidu ranked the sunniest destinations, putting Málaga in the top spot thanks to its average 280.2 hours of sunshine per month, which translates to more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, and its average monthly temperature at 65.8 degrees. And, Universidad de Málaga additionally reported, the city experiences just 50 days a year with precipitation. 

Even in the winter, it promises to be pleasant. The university noted, “Málaga experiences one of the warmest winters in Europe,” with the average daily winter temperatures between December and February falling between 62 degrees and 64 degrees. And that’s not all. “Because of its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, during the summer temperatures are milder.” 

There are plenty of ways to enjoy all that sunshine in Málaga too, including heading to its famed beaches or hiking in spots like La Gran Senda de Málaga.

If, somehow, this isn’t enough sun for you, two more Spanish cities topped Holidu’s list. They include Alicante, a port city a few hours drive north along the coast, in second with 280.0 hours of sun a month, followed by Murcia, another Spanish coastal city just south of Alicante, in third, with 277.7 average sunshine hours a month. Joining them on the list are Catania, Italy; Seville and Cordoba Spain; Marseille, France; Madrid and Zaragoza in Spain; and Athens, Greece rounding out the top 10.

And while Spain took home number one, Italy could be considered an even better sun-filled option, as 10 of the top 30 spots on the list are located there. Of course, you could always plot a trip to both Spain and Italy to do a little in-person research for yourself.