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Best Countries for Climate & Weather in Europe (2026)

Every European country in our catalog ranked for climate appeal in 2026. Higher scores mean weather and seasons that tend to suit year-round living.

Last updated

Mediterranean sunshine is not the same as a Nordic winter. This list ranks every European country in our catalog by how appealing the climate tends to be for someone living there full time, not visiting for a holiday week.

Heat, rain, and wildfire risk still vary inside each country. Pair this table with city-level cost of living checks when you are down to two bases.

Climate Score on the map

Higher score = stronger climate

Tap a country to see its score.

Climate Score world map
8.5+
7.0–8.4
5.5–6.9
Below 5.5
RankCountryClimate Score
#1Portugal9.2
#2Greece9.2
#3Italy8.8
#4Cyprus8.8
#5Spain8.7
#6Malta8.5
#7Monaco8.5
#8Croatia8.5
#9Turkiye8.2
#10France8.0
#11Switzerland7.8
#12Austria7.5
#13Hungary7.5
#14San Marino7.5
#15Bulgaria7.3
#16Luxembourg7.2
#17Czech Republic7.2
#18Moldova7.2
#19Serbia7.1
#20Belgium7.0
#21Andorra7.0
#22Romania7.0
#23Ukraine7.0
#24Bosnia and Herzegovina7.0
#25Germany6.8
#26Denmark6.8
#27Poland6.8
#28Liechtenstein6.8
#29Netherlands6.5
#30Norway6.5
#31Ireland6.5
#32United Kingdom6.5
#33Estonia6.5
#34Lithuania6.5
#35Latvia6.5
#36Finland6.2
#37Sweden5.8
#38Iceland5.8
#39Russia4.5

Why the leaders rank here for climate

Southern and Atlantic Europe lead our European climate ranking for movers who want mild winters and long outdoor seasons without extreme polar swings.

  1. #1
    Portugal9.2

    Mild Atlantic winters and long coastal sunshine support patio seasons without the extreme heat spikes of some inland Mediterranean peers.

  2. #2
    Greece9.2

    Islands and southern mainland areas offer long dry summers and a lifestyle built around sea and outdoor dining.

  3. #3
    Italy8.8

    Regional variety from Alpine north to Mediterranean south lets you pick climate intensity while keeping EU access.

  4. #4
    Cyprus8.8

    Year-round warmth and low rainfall on the coast suit movers who want a small-island rhythm with limited winter shock.

  5. #5
    Spain8.7

    Regional variety from Atlantic north to Mediterranean south offers strong outdoor seasons, though southern heatwaves and fire risk need honest planning.

Rankings are based on our scoring model. Always verify visa and cost information with official sources before making relocation decisions.

How we calculate these rankings

We filter to European countries in our geographic model (Western, Southern, Northern, and Eastern Europe buckets, plus cross-listed peers such as Turkey), then sort by climate score, highest first. The order below is generated at build time from our latest editorial model.

What this does not measure: Personal tolerance for humidity, wildfire belts, or city-level heat islands. Always model the town you will actually live in.

Updates: Rankings refresh when we redeploy after underlying country data changes.

Explore these countries

Open any country profile for full climate context, visas, and scores. Use compare when you are weighing a shortlist.

Showing top 8 of 39 ranked countries. Scroll the table above for the full list.

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