Topping the list is Alicante, on the southeastern coast of Spain, clocking in an average of 349 hours of sun a month and an average temperature of about 66 F that can be enjoyed on the beaches of the Costa Blanca and among the colorful homes of its old town.
1. Alicante, Spain: 349 sunshine hours/month. It's official – Alicante is the sunniest city in Europe! With an average of 349 hours of sun each month, Alicante is the ultimate destination for sun-seeking travellers.
The best climate in Spain and the most sunshine is found in Alicante on the Costa Blanca. With an average of 349 hours of sunshine per month, it's easy to see why so many expats choose to move to Alicante, not to mention the city's lively culture scene, great nightlife and an endless list of historical sights to visit.
Andalucia is the hottest part of Spain in winter. It's the best bet for a warm honeymoon destination in Europe for couples who choose to marry in winter. Between November and February, most of the places we mention here maintain a sunny outlook. Making it ideal for a beach holiday.
Seville, Andalusia
Another Andalusian town, Montoro, holds the official record for highest temperature. In July 2017, it reached a scorching 47.3C (117.2F). Generally speaking though, Seville is the hottest city in Spain.
Both countries have Mediterranean climates, meaning they are generally temperate, with warm summers and mild winters. In Portugal, the average temperature in Lisbon is 24°C in July and 11°C in January, and in Spain the average temperature in Barcelona is around the same: 24°C in August and 10°C in January.
Almeria, Spain
Well, Spain is the warmest country in Europe in winter and the southern city of Almeria is located in the driest area in Europe, with very little rain throughout the year. This makes it a great location for some winter sun!
Spain is a country with a mild climate all year round but still preserves its seasonal contrasts. Here you can check the average temperatures and hours of sunshine in some of the main destinations.
Did you know that the rainiest area in the country is in Andalusia? Explore the humid Sierra de Grazalema and enjoy the white villages travelling through the greenest Andalusia.
The Costa Tropical is the name given to the coastline of Granada province, it is located just to the east of Nerja and the popular Costa del Sol. This stretch of coastline was given its' name due to the effects of a micro climate that gives the weather characteristics of a sub tropical environment.
Is Spain hotter than Italy? The temperature in Spain is always a notch up than in Italy because it is closer to the sun which is why the degrees are always higher than Italy.
The Canary Islands - The Spanish archipelago is a firm favourite with holidaymakers as it is the warmest winter location not only in Spain but the whole of Europe. With an average temperature of around 22C, the Canary Islands are the perfect destination for those looking to top up their tan during the winter months.
Alicante, Spain – avg.
It's official – Alicante is the sunniest city in Europe! With an average of 349 hours of sun per month, Alicante is the ultimate destination for sun-seeking travellers.
Spain. Between Portugal and France, Spain also enjoys a low humidity Mediterranean climate with hot or warm, dry summers and mild winters. Córdoba is known as the hottest and driest city in Europe but if you want something less extreme, the Andalusian Coast cities of Málaga or Valencia could be a good choice.
Andalusia is the hottest area, not just in Spain but in the whole of Europe. The autonomous region boasts cities like Seville and Cordoba averaging above 36C in the summer. Seville is the hottest city in Spain, with an annual average temperature of 19C. Each year there are multiple days when the heat rises above 40C.
The World Health Organisation loves the climate around Valencia. It describes the Northern Costa Blanca and Valencia as having the ideal climate, not too hot, not too dry (so it's green), and with plenty of sunshine so you get your Vitamin D hit regularly.
Quality of Life in Spain is Best in World, according to 2022 Report.
Unlike any other time of the year, the winter months experience lesser crowd, which makes it the best time to visit Spain. 2. During winter, temperatures in Spain vary between 5 degrees Celsius to 14 degrees Celsius and the weather is absolutely perfect for sightseeing.
Alicante, Spain tops the list with 349 average monthly sun hours.
1. Yuma (USA) According to the World Meteorological Organization, Yuma (Arizona) is the sunniest place on earth. It has a total of 11 hours of sunlight in winter and up to 13 in summer.
As mentioned before, one thing that contributes to the overall quality of life in any particular country is safety. While both countries are considered generally safe, Portugal is by far safer than Spain. In fact, according to the Global Peace Index, Portugal ranks 4th, right behind Iceland, New Zealand, and Denmark.
Cost of living in Spain vs Portugal
Spain and Portugal have very similar cost of living. While Portugal tends to be on the cheaper side for most things, it's also possible to have a cheaper cost of living in some Spanish cities.
Portugal is in the top 3 of the 2020 Global Peace Index, the ranking of the safest countries in the world. Portugal is beaten only by Iceland and New Zealand on this list of the safest countries, and is ranked far higher than neighbouring countries such as Spain and France.