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Vitamin D Destinations: Europe's Top Cities for Sun-Starved Travellers

Posted on: 22 Apr 2026

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While many areas in Europe remain under a seasonal grey spell, a handful of cities are already drenched in reliable spring sunshine. The holiday rental portal Holidu has gathered the latest data from World Weather Online to crown Europe’s true solar capitals in order to help travelers trade raincoats for sunglasses.

Ranging from hidden gems such as Cartagena to timeless favourites like Málaga, this comprehensive guide reveals exactly where the 'Golden Hour' starts early, making it the ultimate blueprint for those planning their next sun-soaked escape.

The data at a glance: The top 15 sunniest cities in Europe

Ranking	Country	City	Avg. Monthly Sun Hours	Avg. Monthly Temperature
1	Cartagena	Spain	282.18	19.12
2	Malaga	Spain	277.78	18.87
3	Seville	Spain	271.53	19.34
4	Alicante	Spain	278.58	18.52
5	Murcia	Spain	276.1	18.52
6	Catania	Italy	272.38	18.63
7	Santa Cruz de Tenerife	Spain	247.24	20.38
8	Cordoba	Spain	266.23	18.61
9	Athens	Greece	261.45	18.38
10	Palma de Mallorca	Spain	257.24	18.31
11	Las Palmas de Gran Canaria	Spain	231.13	19.89
12	Palermo	Italy	246.78	17.94
13	Bari	Italy	248.39	17.8
14	Messina	Italy	240.33	18.21
15	Granada	Spain	272.89	15.51

You can find the complete top 30 ranking here.

Spain’s "Sunbelt" Cities Retain Top Global Honors for 2026

Cartagena, Spain | Sun score of 9.6/10

Cartagena continues to hold its crown with a staggering average of 282 hours of sunshine per month. This ancient "hidden gem" is tucked away in the southwest region of Murcia and has transitioned from a traveler's secret to a must-visit for those looking to avoid the overcrowding of more commercial hubs.

• The Highlights: Beyond its unrivaled Vitamin D levels, visitors are increasingly drawn to the beautifully restored 1st-century BC Roman Theatre as well as the panoramic views from Concepción Castle.
• Average Temperature: 19.1°C

Malaga, Spain | Sun score of 9.4/10

Securing the second-place position is Malaga, with 277.8 average sun hours per month. As the gateway to the Andalusia region, Malaga bridges the gap between high-end cultural tourism and dependable Mediterranean weather.

• The Highlights: Don't miss the Alcazaba, a stunning 11th-century Moorish fortress, or the world-renowned Picasso Museum in the heart of the city.
• Average temperature per month: 18.9ºC

Seville, Spain | Sun score of 9.4/10

Rounding out the top three is the city of Seville, with an average of 271.5 sun hours per month. Known for its orange-scented streets and vibrant traditions, Seville is the heart of Flamenco culture, offering a radiant energy that is just as bright as its sunny days.

• The Highlights: Marvel at the Seville Cathedral (the largest Gothic cathedral in the world) or wander through the lush gardens of the Alcázar palace.
• Average temperature per month: 19.3ºC

Methodology

All European cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants were considered. This ranking was made using data from World Weather Online. The average number of sun hours per month in each city for the years 2009 to 2026 was extracted. With this data from World Weather Online, we then calculated the overall average number of sun hours per month using the average from each month of the year. The average temperature (via World Weather Online) was also collected as a secondary data point. The sun hours and average temperature were then normalized to a score out of 10 to determine the final ranking.

Main image: A panoramic view of Alicante’s harbour and coastline from the heights of Santa Bárbara Castle, © Dean Milenkovic via Unsplash

About Holidu

Holidu is a fast-growing holiday rental technology company, driven by its mission to make hosting and booking holiday rentals free of doubt and full of joy. Its proprietary property management software (PMS) and expert local teams help holiday rental hosts and small property managers increase bookings with less effort. For travellers, Holidu offers a large, curated portfolio of holiday homes, ensuring confident and worry-free bookings. The company also equips destination marketing organisations (DMOs) with its Holidu Smart Destination software. Founded in 2014 by brothers Johannes and Michael Siebers, the Munich-headquartered company now employs more than 700 people and operates offices in over 25 prime European holiday destinations. See more on www.holidu.co.uk.

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