Where to Find a Proper Summer: 12 Hot Right Now Destinations

Leave  miserable 'summer' weather at home and say hello to sunshine at these 12 destinations:

Malta

The Blue Lagoon, Comino island

They may speak English and drive on the left, but that’s where the similarities between Malta and this part of the world end. The most striking difference? They get proper summers. Soak up all that lovely June sunshine in Mellieha Bay, dive into Comino’s Blue Lagoon or wander real life Game of Thrones sets in Valetta.

 

Average June Temperature: 25C

 

Hours of Sunshine: 13

 

Flights to Malta

Pula

Pula, Croatia

Looking for a lazy beach holiday?  Head to Pula at the southern tip of Croatia’s Istrian peninsula. Located beneath seven hills and with stunning views of the Adriatic, Pula’s unspoiled natural surroundings offer everything you need for a laid-back break.  Inland, the hilly landscapes and vineyards are paradise for both foodies and hikers.

 

Average June Temperature: 24C

 

Hours of sunshine: 12

Barcelona

Barcelona

Bye bye grey skies – break away to Barcelona and soak up the sunshine on golden beaches and sun-filled terraces. Take a tour of Camp Nou, home of one of the world’s most successful soccer teams, stroll the narrow streets of the Barri Gótic  and check out Antoni Gaudí’s surreal buildings including the iconic Sagrada Familia cathedral. When the sun goes down, Barcelona’s balmy evenings are all about tapas, cocktails and dancing ’til dawn.

 

Average June Temperature: 24C

 

Hours of sunshine: 9.5

Lanzarote

Sunshine on tap

The combination of great beaches, lively resorts and sunshine-on-tap makes Lanzarote the perfect antidote to Northern Europe’s washed-out weekends and chilly June temperatures. Swap your wellies for flip-flops and get ready to experience June as it’s intended.

 

Average June Temperature: 26C

 

Hours of Sunshine: 10

Fuerteventura

Surf’s up!

With the biggest and best beaches in the Canaries, not to mention fantastic surfing and watersports, it looks like Fuerteventura has it all. Ditch your winter coat, it’s time for outdoor fun in the sun.

 

Average June Temperature: 26C

 

Hours of sunshine: 10

The Algarve

Take your pick of the beaches…

Fly into Faro and prepare for sunshine all the way this June. With school holidays still a few weeks away, you’ll have the pick of the Algarve’s golden beaches to yourself.

 

Average June Temperature:  24C

 

Hours of sunshine: 12

Nice

All set for summer

 

From the moment you spot the vivid turquoise waters of the Bay of Angels you’ll fall under the spell of Nice. You could spend your whole holiday just lazing around on mile after mile of the city’s beautiful palm-lined urban beach, but the markets and restaurants of Nice’s old town are just too good to ignore – a trip to Nice has a little bit of everything this June.

 

Average June Temperature: 22C

 

 

Hours of sunshine: 14

Lisbon

Alfama, Lisbon

Fact: Lisbon is one of the sunniest capital cities in the world, enjoying 3023 hours of sunshine a year.

Just outside of the city, there are even more reasons to be cheerful, with the palaces of Sintra and the sandy beaches of Estoril and Cascais just a short train journey away.

 

Average June Temperature: 25C

 

Hours of sunshine: 11

Malaga

Forget the rain

Kick-back and soak up the easy-going Mediterranean vibe in Malaga’s chilled out city centre. All along the coast, the beaches and golf courses of the Costa del Sol will have you forgetting about the rain at home in no time.

 

Average June Temperature: 26C

 

Hours of Sunshine: 10.9

Alghero

Alghero, Sardinia

Interesting: In the same time it takes to fly to Alghero’s beautiful beachfront setting, with its pine fringed resorts and sweeping sandy bays, you could be standing in a downpour trying to get your barbecue going for the seventeenth time.

 

Average June Temperature: 24C

 

Hours of sunshine: 7

Palermo

Mondello Beach, near Palermo

While you’re shivering at home with your cocoa, spare a thought for the poor souls of Santa Flavia, Cefalú and Mondello Beach dipping in and out of crystal clear waters and sipping on refreshing, ice-cold drinks.

 

Average June Temperature: 23C

 

Hours of sunshine: 9.9

 

Chania

Chania, Crete

Crete is known for having the longest summers in Greece – all the more reason to get in there early when temperatures are still bearable and beaches aren’t too crowded.

 

Average June Temperature: 26C

 

Hours of sunshine: 12

 

- Fiona Hilliard