Europe - where to find warm, sunny climate, cool summers? Portugal? (hot, warmest)

[saucewagon]

I'm curious about where to find a climate in Europe which is sunny (2500-3000hrs), dry, and warm, but not super hot in the summer, similar to coastal Southern California. It seems like most of the areas with Mediterranean climates are oppressively hot and humid in the summertime. I prefer temps to be below 75-80 degrees in order to be comfortable.

I was thinking that due being ocean-adjacent, Lisbon would be a good contender, but summer highs seem often above 80. Although would I be right in thinking that the temperature would be slightly cooler right next to the ocean, since downtown Lisbon is slightly inland, as in Los Angeles?

I see that Sagres, Portugal has summer highs of about 71 in the summer, presumably because it is right next to the ocean. Is this a trend all the way up the Portuguese coast?

Also, does anyone have any information about year round wind in coastal Portugal? I'm wondering whether the ocean breeze keeps Lisbon comfortable in the summer, or a place like Sagres freezing in the summer (or the winter for that matter).

Thanks!

[irlinit]

Originally Posted by saucewagon

I'm curious about where to find a climate in Europe which is sunny (2500-3000hrs), dry, and warm, but not super hot in the summer, similar to coastal Southern California. It seems like most of the areas with Mediterranean climates are oppressively hot and humid in the summertime. I prefer temps to be below 75-80 degrees in order to be comfortable.

I was thinking that due being ocean-adjacent, Lisbon would be a good contender, but summer highs seem often above 80. Although would I be right in thinking that the temperature would be slightly cooler right next to the ocean, since downtown Lisbon is slightly inland, as in Los Angeles?

I see that Sagres, Portugal has summer highs of about 71 in the summer, presumably because it is right next to the ocean. Is this a trend all the way up the Portuguese coast?

Also, does anyone have any information about year round wind in coastal Portugal? I'm wondering whether the ocean breeze keeps Lisbon comfortable in the summer, or a place like Sagres freezing in the summer (or the winter for that matter).

Thanks!

Nice, France is a good bet.

At 43 degrees north, it seems to fit your tastes pretty well, and it also has warmer SSTs than the Atlantic

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nice[/url]

[nei]

Nice is hotter than anywhere on the coast of California. OP mentions Lisbon as too hot.

[Rozenn]

Yup Portugal would be your best bet. Like in California, the ocean there is chilly, as opposed to the warmish, humidity-inducing Mediterranean waters.

It's the same trend as in Sagres all the way up to central and northern Portugal:
Figueira da Foz - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And even all the way down to southern Morocco:
Essaouira - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not sure about wind.

[Jas182]

Originally Posted by irlinit

Nice, France is a good bet.

At 43 degrees north, it seems to fit your tastes pretty well, and it also has warmer SSTs than the Atlantic

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nice

Yep, I agree. South of France is probably the place... However, I will argue that it's expensive there.
Sydney, Australia has perfect averages, and although the sunshine summer hours are a little low - the year as a whole is genuinely sunny. It's worth mentioning though that late spring, summer, and early Autumn heatwaves will be extreme...

[irlinit]

Ahh woops, I though the OP said between 75-80 degrees, not below it

[Rozenn]

Southern France wouldn't be the best choice, it's either too warm (the Med area) or too gloomy (the Atlantic coast). People refer to Nice as being a mild climate, but it still averages 75°F+ in its warmest month (I'm not talking about the high).

[forgotten username]

Nice is still less prone to extreme heatwaves it seems.

[youlourou]

Originally Posted by saucewagon

I'm curious about where to find a climate in Europe which is sunny (2500-3000hrs), dry, and warm, but not super hot in the summer, similar to coastal Southern California. It seems like most of the areas with Mediterranean climates are oppressively hot and humid in the summertime. I prefer temps to be below 75-80 degrees in order to be comfortable.

I was thinking that due being ocean-adjacent, Lisbon would be a good contender, but summer highs seem often above 80. Although would I be right in thinking that the temperature would be slightly cooler right next to the ocean, since downtown Lisbon is slightly inland, as in Los Angeles?

I see that Sagres, Portugal has summer highs of about 71 in the summer, presumably because it is right next to the ocean. Is this a trend all the way up the Portuguese coast?

Also, does anyone have any information about year round wind in coastal Portugal? I'm wondering whether the ocean breeze keeps Lisbon comfortable in the summer, or a place like Sagres freezing in the summer (or the winter for that matter).

Thanks!

What do you want winter to be like? Nowhere in Europe is as warm as SoCal in the winter.

[nei]

Originally Posted by youlourou

What do you want winter to be like? Nowhere in Europe is as warm as SoCal in the winter.

Coastal Morocco is closer to SoCal in the winter but probably doesn't count for the thread.