sunniest

The city is known for its rich history, stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and a pleasant Mediterranean climate

A lively European destination that boasts a distinctive mix of heritage, culture and scenic splendour has been crowned the continent’s “sunniest” city.

Alicante, situated on Spain’s south-eastern coastline within the Valencia region, is renowned for its deep-rooted heritage, breath-taking coastlines, buzzing nightlife, and delightful Mediterranean weather.

According to information from 2009 to 2021 compiled by World Weather Online, Holidu, and timeanddate.com, the city basks in 349 hours of sunshine monthly on average and around 300 days of sun over the year.

Alicante boasts a heritage spanning millennia, with traces of communities from numerous civilisations, including the Greeks, Romans, and Moors. During Roman occupation, it was originally called “Lucentum”, reports the Express.

The city has been moulded by its varied cultural heritage, especially from the Moors, who governed the area for hundreds of years. This extensive past is mirrored in the architectural styles and cultural customs that endure today.

Positioned along the Costa Blanca, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, it is encircled by spectacular natural terrain, featuring mountains and coastlines. The city benefits from a Mediterranean climate distinguished by scorching summers and gentle winters.

Typical summer temperatures frequently surpass 30C, whilst winters stay comparatively temperate, averaging approximately 15-20C. Even in October it still experiences daily highs of 25C. The city boasts several remarkable attractions that travellers simply must experience.

Things to do in Alicante

One of Spain’s largest medieval fortresses is Santa Barbara Castle. Positioned atop Mount Benacantil, it provides sweeping vistas across the city and shoreline. The fortress traces its origins to the 9th century and boasts remarkable defensive walls and towers.

Visitors can reach the castle on foot, by vehicle, or via a lift from the seafront, and it contains displays chronicling Alicante’s past.

Amongst the favoured beaches is Playa del Postiguet, situated directly adjacent to the city centre. This stretch of coastline draws crowds thanks to its soft sand and crystal-clear waters, making it beloved by both residents and holidaymakers.

Explanada de España stands as a renowned boulevard adorned with palm trees and showcasing a distinctive undulating mosaic pattern.

It serves as a cherished location for leisurely walks, al fresco dining, and various events and markets. The boulevard regularly showcases musicians and performers, creating a vibrant social hub.

Holidaymakers who have visited this stunning destination have posted glowing testimonials on the TripAdvisor travel platform.

One visitor commented: “Fabulous place to go for a few days very easy going stayed a spa portas and we had a lovely time great beach and fab food .the castle is a lovely place to walk around.”

Another traveller said: “Coming from Icelandic glaciers, warm up at a Spanish beach. The Hotel: Hotel Maya with a swimming pool 49 euros per room per night for 3 nights.

“The stroll: 10 minutes walk to Postiguet Beach and La Rambla shopping street. The drink: Tinto de verano red wine spritzer. Choose your tapas at Lizarran on La Rambla. People watch at the old market at the top of the Rambla. Alicante is: Miami without attitude.”

Brits looking for hot and sunny holiday destinations won’t need to go far with Europe’s sunniest beach less than 5 hours away – and with plenty of cheap flights available

Brits looking for sun, sea and sand on their holidays may want to consider a trip to Europe’s ‘sunniest beach’ where they’ll find balmy temperatures of 32C and a daily average of 10h 26m of sunshine.

Ölüdeniz Beach in Fethiye, Turkey, has been crowned as the must-visit for sun-seekers, impressing not only with its weather but also its golden sands and swim-friendly waters. In fact, those azure shores are also home to the iconic ‘Blue Lagoon’ that you’ll no doubt have seen in your social media feeds.

The breathtaking coastal spot topped new rankings from the experts at Saga Holidays, who looked at factors such as sunshine hours and average temperatures across both high seasons and low seasons. (So whether or not you’re tied to the school holidays, you can enjoy a sun-soaked getaway!).

The nearest airport to the beach is Dalaman, which is about a 45-minute drive from Ölüdeniz Beach. The good news for Brits is that there are heaps of budget-friendly flights to Dalaman direct from the UK. For example, easyJet has flights from £17.99 each way, while Ryanair has one-way flights from £29.99 in August. In fact, you can find returns from £54 according to Skyscanner, although it’s worth noting that the cheapest rates often don’t include extra hand luggage allowance.

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It’s not just the sunshine that makes Ölüdeniz Beach a must-visit for the summer holidays. The Blue Flag beach boasts postcard-worthy turquoise waters, fine sandy shores, and a lush green backdrop that wouldn’t be out of place in a storybook. Of course a beautiful beach like this is always popular, so it’s worth noting that it can get quite busy during the peak summer months.

There are three sandy parts to the beach – one of which is free – but for the other two there’s a small entry fee if you want to visit, with some amenities available such as sunbeds you can hire, and a series of watersports to enjoy (again you’ll need to pay an extra fee if you want to hire equipment for the likes of paddleboarding or kayaking).

On Tripadvisor the beach gets a mixed bag of reviews. Although visitors all generally agree that it’s beautiful and the surrounding mountains make for a beautiful backdrop, because the beach has become so famous, some holidaymakers have slammed the beach for getting too crowded. If you want to check it out for yourself, then it’s well worth getting up early so you can enjoy the quieter moments of the day before the larger crowds arrive.

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Alternatively you could visit in low season between November and April when temperatures range around 19C – so while it may be a little chilly for getting into the water, you can still enjoy those breathtaking views while out on a scenic stroll.

It wasn’t the only beach to impress in Saga’s rankings. Anthony Quinn Bay on the Greek island of Rhodes came a close second with a three-minute difference in terms of hours of sunshine, and 32C temperatures during the peak summer months.

You can check out the full list of Europe’s top 10 sunniest beaches below:

1. Ölüdeniz Beach (Blue Lagoon), Fethiye
2. Anthony Quinn Bay, Rhodes
3. Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa
4. Playa de las Teresitas, Tenerife
5. Agia Fotia Beach, Crete
6. Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria
7. Lay’s Mile Beach, Limassol
8. Elafonissi Beach, Crete
9. Tsamadou Beach, Samos
10. Praia do Barril, Tavira

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Europe’s sunniest city not only boasts hot weather but it’s also got cathedrals, a gorgeous harbour and amazing food – and you can find cheap direct flights with easyJet and Ryanair

Summer is fast approaching, but Brits chasing some hot and sunny weather may want to start planning a trip to the breathtaking city of Cartagena, Spain.

That’s because the historic port city has been named Europe’s sunniest city by the travel experts over at Holidu, who have estimated that it boasts an average of 283 sunshine hours every month. Cartagena may not be a hidden gem – cruise fans will no doubt know it as one of the ports where plenty of ships dock as part of their itineraries.

However, it remains underrated as most people will then flock to nearby Alicante or Murcia for their adventures, so the sun-soaked spot doesn’t always have to deal with the big crowds during peak months.

The good news for Brits is that you won’t need to break the bank to visit either. The nearest airport is Murcia, approximately an hour’s drive away, with flights from £16.62 each way available from the likes of Ryanair and easyJet. Meanwhile Holidu has uncovered a number of holiday rentals in Cartagena starting from £30 a night, although typically the cheapest rates fall outside of the school holidays.

Those who do a bit of exploring around the city won’t be disappointed, thanks to a plethora of gorgeous architecture, fascinating museums and of course, plenty of spots to sample some of that mouthwatering Spanish fare. The Roman amphitheatre remains one of the biggest highlights for any history fan, especially with the adjacent museum that delves into Roman history, and the ongoing project and renovations to sustain the landmark.

Meanwhile the ‘Casa de la Fortuna’ aka the House of Fortunes offers another interesting glimpse into Roman life, specifically what it might have been like day-to-day for residents.

Then of course it’s well worth just having a relaxed wander through the city to take in the shops and all-important tapas bars, not to mention there are plenty of scenic walks so you can enjoy views of the ships and yachts that dock into the harbour throughout the day.

For those who want a bit of downtime on the beach, there are a few spots along the coast where you can relax on sandy and pebbled shores, but if the beaches are the main focus of your holidays, then you may want to head to the likes of Barcelona or Alicante instead, where you’ll find those picture-perfect golden sands, as well as a plethora of beachfront hotels and holiday homes.

Of course while it’s no secret that Spain is blessed with plenty of hot and sunny months, it’s definitely the European hotspot for sunseekers; the research found that the country is home to nine of the top 10 sunniest destinations on the continent! You can check out the full list below for a dose of inspiration.

Europe’s top 10 sunniest cities

1. Cartagena, Spain
2. Alicante, Spain
3. Malaga, Spain
4. Murcia, Spain
5. Granada, Spain
6. Catania, Spain
7. Seville, Spain
8. Cordoba, Spain
9. Marseille, France,
10. Madrid, Spain

You can find out more on holidu.co.uk.