The UK is well known for its unpredictable and often dreary weather, which is why many Brits planning their staycations or trips abroad are usually on the lookout for guaranteed glorious weather.
With spring underway and summer on the horizon, online slots site Betway have discovered which cities around the world are the best destinations for a dreamy climate, analysing the following:
- The average number of daylight hours in the year
- Which month of the year has the most sun
- Each city’s average temperature
- Each city’s number of beaches
- The average annual rainfall
- The windspeed in each location
- The most popular/visited landmark and their insta and TikTok views and hashtags
The cosmopolitan capital Barcelona is crowned the biggest sun trap city in Europe, receiving an overall score of 55.4/70. Whether you’re sipping sangria on the beach or sampling some traditional tapas dishes in the city, you’re guaranteed to catch the rays in sunny Spain.
The second-sunniest city you should visit if you’re looking to get your tan on is Rio de Janeiro, with a score of 54.4/70. The seaside city in Brazil is home to the best beaches from Copacabana to Costa Verde, where you can sit back and relax on the sunny shorelines.
Snapping up the spot of the third-best city to bask in the sunshine is another Brazilian city, São Paulo, scoring 54.1/70. Known for being the largest city in Brazil, São Paulo can add another moniker of ‘sun trap city’ to its title.
British weather is often unpredictable, but some lucky UK cities get to enjoy the glorious sunshine far more often than others.
The capital city of London emerges as the city with the most sunshine exposure, scoring a pleasant 44.6 out of 70. Whether you’re exploring the city’s iconic landmarks or taking a boat trip down the River Thames, make sure to always carry a pair of sunnies with you on your travels.
Another southern city secures second place with Reading ranking as the second-best UK city for sunbathing, scoring 39.6/70. However, it’s not just the southern cities lapping up all of the sunshine, as the northern city of Manchester lands the third spot for its bright skies, scoring 29.6/70.
Unfortunately for some UK cities, their skies look a little gloomier, with Bradford emerging as the least sunny city with a score of 1.7/70. Also suffering from a lack of sunshine are the cloudy cities of Blackpool (12.4/70) and Aberdeen (13.5/70).
Which Cities Boast the Most Daylight Hours?
Whether you have a number of tourist hotspots to explore in the day, or enjoy sipping an apéritif on your balcony and soaking up the last of the sun, longer daylight hours are always welcomed. So, which cities are best for getting a little extra daylight?
São Paulo, the hugely popular city in Brazil, secures its place in first as the destination with the highest number of daylight hours in the ranking, with an average of 12 hours and 23 minutes. This gives the vibrant city a score of 10/10, and its long daylight hours make it perfect for exploring the city’s stunning architecture, which includes everything from Neo-Gothic to Modernist.
More Brazilian cities emerge as having the second and third-most daylight hours in the world, with Rio de Janeiro enjoying 12 hours and 22 minutes (scoring 9.8/10), and Brasília having 12 hours and 16 minutes (scoring 9.6/10).
In the UK, Plymouth lands the top spot as the city boasting the most daylight hours. Blessed with brighter evenings, the port city of Devon enjoys 11 hours and 17 minutes of daylight each day, scoring 5.3/10.
Following closely behind Plymouth are the two seaside hotspots Brighton and Bournemouth. Boasting beautiful beaches that sit on the English Channel, the popular tourist locations also benefit from long daylight hours of 11 hours and 16 minutes, scoring 4.2/10.
Sheffield and Liverpool jointly emerge as having the least amount of daylight hours in the UK with an average of 10 hours and 51 minutes, scoring them an unappealing 0/10.
Other cities lacking in daylight hours include Nottingham, with 10 hours and 52 minutes (scoring 0.4/10) and Birmingham, with 10 hours and 53 minutes (scoring 0.6/10).
Which Cities Have the Highest Average Temperature?
For many Brits, the hotter the weather the better, and whilst the UK does enjoy some occasional warm spells, many destinations get to bask in higher temperatures all year round.
Mérida, Mexico tops the table as the hottest destination on average year round, with a scorching average temperature of 26.5°C, scoring the city a 10/10. Yucatán’s vibrant capital city has a rich Mayan and colonial history that is perfect to be explored on foot, as you wander around in the warm climate.
Mexico emerges once again as having the highest average temperature, as Cancún secures the second spot with its summery temperature of 26.1°C, scoring 9.8/10. Known for its stunning beaches bordering the Caribbean Sea, where better to relax and enjoy the heat?
With its tropical coastline, it’s no surprise that Salvador, Brazil, has tropical temperatures that go alongside it, ranking as the third-hottest city in the world, with an average temperature of 25.6°C and a score of 9.6/10.
If you’re looking to plan your summer getaway within Europe, then Seville, Spain is leading the way as the warmest destination, with an average temperature of 18.8°C (scoring 8.7/10). The capital city of the Spanish region of Andalusia is a cultural hub, with endless architecture to explore – and its great climate makes it perfect to do so.
Portugal’s scenic and summery cities arise in second place, with Lagos’ average temperature at 18.3°C (scoring 8.5/10) and Faro’s average at 18°C (scoring 8.3/10).
Whether you’re booking a staycation, or the UK is on your bucket list of holiday destinations to explore, it’s no surprise that Britain boasts lower temperatures than the rest of the world. However, the UK does get its fair share of warm weather, so here are the cities with the best climates to travel to.
Bournemouth brings it home for the Brits, as it claims the title of the UK city with the highest average temperature of 11.4°C, scoring 5.3/10. Whilst it’s not quite bikini weather all year round like other climates, the summer temperatures can make for ideal sunbathing conditions on Bournemouth Beach.
Other southern cities in the UK follow behind, with Southend-on-Sea stealing second place with an average temperature of 11.2°C (scoring 4.9/10), London placing third with 11.1°C (scoring 4.7/10), and Plymouth and Brighton in joint fourth (10.9°C).
On the chillier side, Glasgow ranks as the coldest city in the UK, with the Scottish city having an average temperature of 8.1°C (scoring 0/10). If you plan on visiting the port city that sits on the River Clyde, it’s best to pack your suitcase for a cooler climate.
Fellow Scottish cities Edinburgh and Aberdeen follow in second and third for their cooler climates. Edinburgh’s location, between hills and the coast, makes for chillier temperatures of 8.3°C (scoring 0.2/10), whilst Aberdeen sits in the Highlands and Islands region, with strong winds from the North Sea making for a more bitter climate of 8.8°C (scoring 0.4/10).
The northern cities are next in line, with Bradford fourth at 9°C, followed by Sheffield at 9.2°C, and Manchester and Leeds at 9.4°C.
Which Cities Have the Most Beaches?
For most people, a summer holiday is incomplete without a beach, whether it’s to sunbathe on the white sand or snorkel in the crystal blue waters – so which cities around the world have the most beaches?
Salvador, Brazil bags the win for the city with the most beaches, with 160 in total (scoring 10/10). The city has a tropical coastline bordering the Atlantic Ocean and an array of golden sandy beaches to choose from, including the likes of Porto da Barra Beach, Praia do Rio Vermelho and Flamengo Beach.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has the second-highest number of beaches with 68 in total, scoring 9.8/10. From the stunning, white sandy Copacabana Beach to the popular sunbathing location of Ipanema Beach that overlooks turquoise waters – any beach in Rio feels like paradise.
Putting Europe on the map for having a city with the third-most beaches is Nice, France, with 31 in total (scoring 9.6/10). The city has beautiful public beaches like La Reserve, Coco Beach, and Villefranche-sur-mer, alongside stunning private beaches, including Castel Plage and Ruhl Plage.
In the UK, Swansea, Wales leads the way for having the highest number of beaches with 20 in total, scoring 8.9/10. Take a short stroll down from the town centre to find Swansea Beach, or enjoy the far-stretching bay and sand dunes of Lllangennith Beach backed.
Plymouth earns its place in second for being one of the UK cities with the biggest beach offerings, with a total of 16 beaches and a score of 8.5/10. If you’re looking for a beautiful sandy beach to explore, Bovisand and Wembury are great options.
Bournemouth and Liverpool take joint third with 10 beaches each and a total score of 7.2 out of 10. Bournemouth offers Boscombe Beach, Alum Chine Beach and Bournemouth Beach, whilst Liverpool boasts New Brighton and Wallasey Beach, Crosby Beach, and Formby Beach.
Which Cities Have the Most Annual Rainfall?
Rainy weather can really dampen your day (quite literally), and in some cases, stormy conditions can mean that some activities – like taking a boat trip – have to be cancelled.
That’s why the cities with less rainfall are usually the most desirable, and Majorca, Madrid and Valencia are leading the way as the driest.
The capital of Majorca, Palma, is crowned the city with the lowest amount of annual rainfall at 402mm and a score of 10/10, making it the perfect holiday destination. From its rich culture and picturesque architecture, to its golden sandy beaches that sit on the western Mediterranean Sea, it’s an idyllic city with perfect weather for exploring.
More Spanish cities secure their positions as the least rainy destinations in Europe, with Madrid ranking in second with 415mm of average rainfall a year (scoring 9.8/10) and Valencia in third with 427mm (9.6/10).
London is the city with the least rain in the UK, with 621mm on average annually giving the city a score of 8.1/10. If you’re planning a staycation in Britain and want to bank on somewhere that will stay dry, then there’s no better choice than the capital.
UK city Reading follows closely behind as the second-least rainy city with 709mm of rainfall annually (scoring 7.9/10), and Nottingham is third with 712mm annually (scoring 7.7/10).
When it comes to the rainiest cities in the world, Brazilian cities Brasília and São Paulo top the table, with 1,443mm annually (scoring 0/10) and 1,356mm annually (scoring 0.2/10). The cities’ tropical climates are a result of being close to the equator, with both destinations experiencing wet seasons.
Ranking as the rainiest city in the UK is seaside destination Blackpool, with 1,324mm of average rainfall annually (scoring 0.4/10). So, if you’re planning a trip to the city’s popular theme park Blackpool Pleasure Beach, it’s best to take a raincoat.
Another UK city prone to rain is Swansea in Wales, which has the second-highest amount of rainfall annually, with 1,321mm on average and a score of 0.6/10.
European city Porto in Portugal takes the title of the third-rainiest city, with 1,285mm annually on average and a score of 0.8/10. The majority of this rain occurs between October and May, with the city remaining mostly dry in the summer months.
Which Cities are the Windiest?
From windswept hair and watering eyes to being blown around by blustery weather, high wind speeds can make for an unenjoyable trip. But which cities escape the gusty winds and make for more desirable holiday destinations?
Liverpool lands itself with the label of the windiest city in the UK, with an average wind speed of 29.5km per hour. Located close to the sea, Liverpool’s oceanic climate makes for gusty winds, so if you fancy a leisurely stroll around The Royal Albert Dock, it’s best to wear a windproof coat.
Devon’s largest city, Plymouth, ranks as the second-most blustery UK city, with a wind speed of 23.1km per hour, which is unsurprising as the port city sits on the English Channel where it opens up onto the Atlantic Ocean.
Taking third place as one of the UK’s windiest cities is the Scottish port city of Aberdeen, with an average wind speed of 22.93km per hour. The city’s coastal location, where the Dee and Don rivers join the North Sea, means the city is particularly windy.
The city of Manchester comes out on top as the least windy city in the UK, with an average wind speed of 15.8km per hour. So, whether you’re taking in the sights of the city or visiting Heaton Park (the biggest park in the North West at 600 acres) you can enjoy a calm, windless day out.
Other UK cities to visit, if you’re looking to avoid windy destinations, include Wolverhampton with an average wind speed of 17.93km per hour, and Birmingham with 18.03km per hour.
Heading further afield and taking the title of the least windy city worldwide, is Mérida in Mexico, with an average wind speed of 4.26 km per hour. This is followed by Mexico City (7.5km per hour) and Guadalajara (8.1km per hour), with Mexico dominating the category for the least windy locations.
Methodology:
The ‘SunTrap Cities’ report conducted by Betway reveals which cities around the world are the best spots for guaranteed sun. To do this, the team took a seed list of the most populated cities around the world and ranked them based on the following factors:
- Average number of daylight hours in the year
- Which month of the year has the most sun
- Average temperature
- The number of beaches/distance to the nearest beach
- Average annual rainfall
- How windy the area is (km)
- The most picturesque cities based on Instagram hashtags and TikTok hashtags/views
- The most popular/visited landmark
- Landmark Instagram hashtags
- Landmark TikTok discover views
