sunniest

WHEN it comes to taking a break in autumn, many Brits look to escape the worsening weather at home with a sun-soaked getaway.

So we’ve found the sunniest beach in Europe – and it’s just over four hours from the UK.

Saga Holidays has discovered Europe’s sunniest beaches during the low season, and coming in the top spot is Playa de Maspalomas in Gran Canaria.

During the months of November to April it has just over 10 hours of average daily sunshine, and average maximum highs of 22C.

Playa de Maspalomas is just over two miles long and the waters are ideal for swimming and paddling.

Visitors can sunbathe on the sandy shore, but be warned that the beach is known for being windy thanks to it being so flat.

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It’s also well-known for its golden sand dunes that look like a desert – which are made from the island’s breeze which moves the sand to create the spectacular shapes.

The dunes even have its own ecosystem with plants, animals and a lagoon – here you might spot waterbirds and the native Maspalomas giant lizard.

Near the beach is the Maspalomas Lighthouse, which was built in 1861, and there are plenty of beach bars and restaurants for families to enjoy too.

Behind the front row of eateries on the promenade are even more places to grab a snack and lots of souvenir shops.

Playa de Maspalomas was also one of the best beaches for 2024 according to Tripadvisor.

It was well-loved thanks to its family-friendly facilities, as well as miles of rolling sands as well as watersport zones and designated nudist areas.

To get to the sunny beach, you need to head to Gran Canaria which you can do from £16 for a one-way ticket with easyJet.

You can fly from all over the UK including London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton, Belfast, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Birmingham.

As a whole, the island of Gran Canaria is a favourite of Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski.

She said: “I paid a visit to Gran Canaria for the first time this year – and it did not disappoint. 

“The volcanic island is only a four-hour (ish) flight from the UK, yet it offers balmy weather that is worlds apart from those April showers back home, reaching highs of up to 23C in spring.

“I’ll be honest, I barely left the resort during my visit, but there’s no harm in that. Book yourself a plush all-inclusive hotel and it’s simply impossible not to unwind when you’ve got pina coladas being delivered to your sunbed every hour. 

“Got children? That’s what the kids clubs are for. My resort, Paradisus by Melia, had an excellent one for all ages from tiny tots up to teens.”

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Here are the sunniest beaches in Europe…

Low Season

Gran Canaria, Playa de Maspalomas
Tenerife, Playa de Las Teresitas
Limassol, Lady’s Mile Beach
Almeria, Playa de los Genoveses
Crete, Agia Fotia Beach

High Season

Fethiye, Ölüdeniz Beach

Rhodes, Antony Quinn Bay

Samos, Tsamadou beach

Limassol, Lady’s Mile Beach

Ayia Napa, Nissi Beach

Here you can find more of our travel team’s favourite European holiday destinations.

Plus, here are the top five places in the UK where you get the most hours of sunlight during autumn and winter months.

The striking beach appears like an alien landscape from above. The way its orange sand undulates and twists across great hills is unlike anything else you can find in Europe

The sunniest beach in Europe during winter has been crowned, and it’s surprisingly cheap to get there.

Playa de Maspalomas in Spain has topped the chart, soaking up an average of just over 10 hours of sunshine a day – perfect to escape the winter blues. By some measures, the vast beach sprawls for 7.5miles along the coastline.

The golden-sanded beach is best known for its spectacular dunes, which form the protected Maspalomas Natural Dune Reserve. People out walking, surfers and nudists mingle freely on a beach, which also has quiet, isolated areas for nude bathing.

It is home to the iconic Maspalomas Lighthouse. Built in 1861, it was once a vital guide for steamboats navigating routes between Europe, Africa, and America. Today, the lighthouse marks the beginning of a vibrant seaside promenade.

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A little further from the beach is the Maspalomas Palm Tree Plantation, a protected natural space providing a resting spot for birds migrating from Europe to Africa. Wandering through its palm-lined paths offers a breath of fresh air after a day in the sun.

The striking beach appears like an alien landscape from above. The way its orange sand undulates and twists across great hills is unlike anything else you can find in Europe.

It was named the Continent’s sunniest winter beach by Saga, which has compiled a list of the beaches that enjoy the most hours of sunshine during the winter months.

Playa de Maspalomas, which sits on the south of the Canary Island of Gran Canaria, isn’t just sunny during the winter. It’s hot as well. The island has hit 24C today and is forecast to stay at that level for the rest of the week.

The beach is well loved on TripAdvisor, where it has received thousands of positive reviews. One person wrote: “Enjoyable especially in the early morning and at sunset, when the sun seems to play with the ocean waves and golden sand dunes giving unique and always new views.”

Another added: “One of the most beautiful beaches in Gran Canaria. Super extensive and the dune landscape is unique. The beach as well as the water are always super clean. We love coming here.”

If the idea of swapping the soggy UK for a spell on a sunny beach appeals, then the good news is that Gran Canaria is not too far or too expensive a flight away. The cheapest direct flight this week is £24, with Ryanair from Edinburgh Airport. Later in the month, a one-way fare can be yours for £13.

There are also direct flights this month from the following airports: Bristol, Manchester, Bournemouth, Belfast, Newcastle, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Cardiff and Exeter.

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