03-05-2025
Europe's ‘sunniest' country revealed - and it's not Spain
While many Brits flock to Spain for some sunshine, it's not Europe's hottest holiday hotspot.
There are two other, less-visited destinations which pip the popular holiday destination to the post.
A new map reveals which European countries get the most sunny days per year - and while Spain ranks high, Cyprus and Malta fared better.
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Cyprus had more than 300 days of sunshine per year, according to the map created by MCR using data World Weather Online and
Cyprus's location - in the east Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey and west of Syria - explains why it gets considerably hot and sunny weathe.
In May, the country sees temperatures which average at around 26C.
Heading into summer, the mercury rises further, with highs of 29C in August.
Popular destinations for tourists in Cyrpus include Paphos, Limassol and Ayia Napa, known for their scenic beaches and vibrant nightlife.
Meanwhile, Malta - a small island just south of Italy - also experienced more than 300 sunny days throughout the year.
Spain claimed third place with an average of 300 sunny days per year, while Portugal was third as data revealed it had 290 days of sunshine each year.
Italy and Greece followed suit with 280 sunny days per year, The Express reports.
Other European countries with a considerable amount of sunshine include Croatia with 250 and France with 230.
The UK was on the lower end of the scale with just 150 sunny days per year.
Ireland, Belgium and Lithuania also saw a similar amount of sunshine.
Iceland was the country that received the smallest number of sunny days per year, with data stating it had 120.
