Beat the rain at the sunniest beaches in Europe - more than 10 hours of sun a day, even in winter

The study by Saga Holidays found that 68 per cent of UK holidaymakers consider beach temperatures a dealbreaker when booking their holidays.

To help, the experts analysed European beaches based on sunshine hours and average temperatures, creating rankings for both high-season (May to October) and low-season (November to April) travel.

Ölüdeniz Beach in Fethiye, Turkey, topped the overall rankings with a score of 95 out of 100.

Best European beaches for sunshine

1. Ölüdeniz Beach (Blue Lagoon), Fethiye - 95/100
2. Anthony Quinn Bay, Rhodes - 94/100
3. Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa - 93/100
4. Playa de las Teresitas, Tenerife - 92/100
5. Agia Fotia Beach, Crete - 91/100
6. Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria - 90/100
7. Lady's Mile Beach, Limassol - 89/100
8. Elafonissi Beach, Crete - 88/100
9. Tsamadou Beach, Samos - 87/100
10. Praia do Barril, Tavira - 86/100

Turkey is often praised for affordable prices, luxurious resorts and relatively short flights from the UK, at just under four hours from London to Istanbul.

The rankings looked at each destination's average maximum temperatures during high and low seasons alongside daily sunshine hours to determine the overall scores.

Ölüdeniz Beach in Fethiye enjoys 10 hours and 26 minutes of daily sunshine during high season, nearly five hours more than the UK average. The Turkish destination shares the highest temperature with Anthony Quinn Bay, both reaching 32°C in peak season.

For winter sun seekers, Playa de Maspalomas in Gran Canaria offers the most sunshine hours during the low season, with over 10 hours daily. This represents eight hours more sunlight than London receives during the same period.

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Playa de las Teresitas in Tenerife maintains particularly warm temperatures year-round, averaging 22°C even in low season, compared to London's 6°C maximum average.

The health benefits of seeking sunny destinations are well-documented. Speaking for Saga Holidays, Carolina Goncalves explained that "moderate sun exposure helps your body produce serotonin, the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter that lifts your mood and brings a sense of calmness".

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