Malta, Palma de Mallorca, and Ibiza are the easiest European islands for a weekend, with frequent direct flights and airports minutes from the action, while Santorini, Corfu, Zakynthos, Kos, and Cagliari's Sardinian coast reward travelers who can fly direct in season.
| Destination | Country | Sunny days/yr | Winter / summer | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | Malta | 300+ | 16°C / 31°C | April, May, June |
| Palma de Mallorca | Spain | 300+ | 15°C / 29°C | May, June, September |
| Ibiza | Spain | 300+ | 15°C / 30°C | May, June, September |
| Santorini | Greece | 300+ | 14°C / 29°C | May, June, September |
| Corfu | Greece | 240+ | 14°C / 30°C | May, June, September |
| Zakynthos | Greece | 260+ | 14°C / 30°C | May, June, September |
| Kos | Greece | 300+ | 15°C / 31°C | May, June, September |
| Cagliari | Italy | 280+ | 15°C / 30°C | May, June, September |
Direct flights decide island feasibility. Malta and Mallorca have year-round connections from dozens of European cities; Ibiza and the Greek islands of Santorini, Corfu, Zakynthos, and Kos run dense direct schedules from roughly April to October, then thin out to connections via Athens. Cagliari stays connected year-round and puts the white sand of Poetto beach 15 minutes from arrivals.
On a 48-hour island trip, base yourself in one town and take a single excursion: Zakynthos' Shipwreck Beach boat trip, Corfu's old town and Paleokastritsa, or Santorini's caldera-edge walk from Fira to Oia. SunnyFlight's weekly scan of weekend fares and 7-day forecasts flags the in-season weekends when direct island flights drop in price.
Tell us your home airport and budget — we’ll email you when a cheap weekend flight to one of these lines up with a sunny forecast.
Get free weekly alerts →Malta, Mallorca (Palma), and Sardinia (Cagliari) keep year-round direct connections from many European cities, as do the Canary Islands. Most smaller Greek islands, including Santorini, Zakynthos, and Kos, only have direct international flights from roughly April through October.
No. Beyond the clubs, Ibiza has a UNESCO-listed walled old town, Dalt Vila, quiet northern coves like Cala Xarraca, and a renowned sunset coast around San Antonio. In May, June, and late September the island is markedly calmer while staying warm at 24-27°C (75-81°F).
Late May through early October is the reliable window, with 25-31°C (77-88°F) days and very little rain; the Aegean is warmest in August and September at around 25°C (77°F). July adds the strong meltemi wind on Cycladic islands like Santorini, which actually tempers the heat.