Photo by Marita Mones on Unsplash
14 Sunniest Cities in Europe
Europe's grey reputation is earned in the north, not the south. These cities lead the continent in clear days per year, and most average more sunshine than people expect from Europe.
Gaziantep, Gaziantep leads Europe with 261 sunny days per year, a number that rivals many places well outside the continent. The grey reputation Europe carries reflects the north, not the south. These 14 cities prove that European sunshine exists in volume; it is just unevenly distributed.
9 countries are represented, though the geography is predictable once you understand why: the Mediterranean climate keeps summer skies consistently clear, and its influence extends along the coasts well beyond the sea itself. 14 of the 14 entries sit in or adjacent to that zone. Cities outside it earn their place through elevation, favorable latitude combinations, or regional weather patterns that happen to favor clear skies.
Even the sunniest European cities see a meaningful difference between summer and winter sunshine hours. Day length shortens considerably by December, and while the sun appears more often than in northern Europe, there are fewer hours of it. The sunshine advantage these cities hold is most pronounced from March through October, which also happens to be when most people want to be there.
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Explore on the Map →Cities are selected for geographic diversity, so nearby cities do not crowd each other out.
- 1 GaziantepGaziantep, TurkeySunny days261 daysSummer high: 102°F (39°C)
- 2 AntalyaTurkeySunny days251 daysSummer high: 98°F (37°C)
- 3 Izmirİzmir Province, TurkeySunny days219 daysSummer high: 97°F (36°C)
- 4 OranAlgeriaSunny days206 daysSummer high: 82°F (28°C)
- 5 TunisTunis Governorate, TunisiaSunny days205 daysSummer high: 91°F (33°C)
- 6 CataniaSicily, ItalySunny days204 daysSummer high: 93°F (34°C)
- 7 AlgiersAlgeriaSunny days200 daysSummer high: 89°F (32°C)
- 8 ZadarZadar, CroatiaSunny days196 daysSummer high: 86°F (30°C)
- 9 AnkaraAnkara, TurkeySunny days196 daysSummer high: 92°F (34°C)
- 10 TiranaTirana, AlbaniaSunny days188 daysSummer high: 89°F (31°C)
- 11 NaplesItalySunny days187 daysSummer high: 80°F (27°C)
- 12 Nomos ChaniasCrete, GreeceSunny days187 daysSummer high: 83°F (28°C)
- 13 TangierMoroccoSunny days186 daysSummer high: 87°F (31°C)
- 14 MarseilleProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, FranceSunny days184 daysSummer high: 81°F (27°C)