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.
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.
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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.”
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.