Hate the rain? A gorgeous island in southern Europe could be the ideal destination for a last-minute winter sun break.

The expert travel team at Planet Cruise have looked for the continent’s sunniest holiday destinations for Brits looking to escape the rain.

While a coastal city in Spain was named the continent’s sunniest destination, an island could give it a run for its money.

Valletta, the capital city of Malta, is around 14 degrees on average during the winter and has just seven rainy days a month.

It’s Europe’s smallest capital city, making it the dream destination to explore on foot under a warm winter sun.

The entire city is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site with historic sites around every corner.

Valletta’s top-rated attraction on Tripadvisor is St John’s Co-Cathedral which is home to two masterpieces by Caravaggio.

‘Dorothy M’ wrote on the review platform: “Absolutely breathtaking. I am left amazed every time I visit this Church and its museum. It was a must do when visiting Valletta.”

‘Vehvari’ wrote: “Glorious cathedral. A must see place in Valletta. It was really beautiful and you can also listen to the historic tour.”

Valletta is very close to some of Malta’s prettiest beaches so it’s the perfect break to combine sunshine and culture.

Malta also held a special place in the late Queen Elizabeth II’s heart as she lived there with Prince Philip while Meghan Markle also loved the island.