With rain being recorded in at least one place in the UK every day for 2026 so far, Brits are understandably craving some dry days and joy-boosting escapes.
The constant grey hue is taking its toll.
Weeks of grey skies and rain can do more than ruin our social plans – it can also dampen our moods.
When daylight levels drop for extended periods, people can feel more tired, unmotivated and irritable.
Even a short break in brighter, drier conditions can help restore routine and provide a noticeable mood lift.
Thankfully, the European destinations with the highest likelihood of dry weather have now been ranked.
The top destination? Research found that Athens offers the best chance of dry, sunny conditions in February and March.
Mediterranean cities dominate the top of the index, with Barcelona and Madrid in second and third place.
Rainy weather is certainly taking its toll on Brits, as downpours hit the UK
If you’re looking to escape the rain, Athens is your best bet
That’s thanks to a combination of mild temperatures, longer daylight hours and fewer wet days across February and March.
Nice, France and Valletta, Malta round out the top five on the list.
In contrast, popular city breaks such as Dublin and Amsterdam rank significantly lower due to more frequent wet days.
Some cities with comfortable average temperatures fall down the rankings because of inconsistent rainfall patterns.
Northern European cities rank lower due to the frequency of rainfall, even when they have mild temperatures.
The list, from Viva Holidays, has ranked destinations higher where travellers are more likely to enjoy several consecutive dry days, rather than just occasional sunshine between rainy showers.
Lisbon, for example, performs strongly overall thanks to its mild climate, but sees more variability between February and March compared to the highest-ranked cities.
Shubhang Gupta, director of Viva Holidays, said: ‘Late winter and early spring in southern Europe are often influenced by more stable high-pressure systems, which bring clearer skies and lower rainfall totals compared to northern parts of the continent.
In second place is Barcelona, with little rain expected, sunshine and plenty to do
Top cities for guaranteed dry days in February/March
1. Athens
2. Barcelona
3. Madrid
4. Nice
5. Valletta
6. Lisbon
7. Rome
8. Milan
9. Amsterdam
10. Budapest
11. Prague
12. Paris
13. Vienna
14. Copenhagen
15. Berlin
16. Istanbul
17. Dublin
‘While the UK can remain unsettled during this period, many Mediterranean destinations benefit from more predictable dry spells.’
For travellers feeling fed up of the weeks of rain, the good news is that many of the top-ranked destinations are just a short flight away from the UK.
With journey times often under three hours, Brits can swap grey skies for brighter, drier conditions on a simple weekend-long escape.
As flexible working and short breaks become more common, a long weekend in one of Europe’s more reliable dry-weather cities could offer a quick reset before spring fully arrives at home.
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Europe’s best cities for guaranteed dry days revealed – as it’s rained every day of 2026 in the UK
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