Five Sunniest Cities

In these five lucky places, the sun can shine more than 90% of the time.

Ranked by the World Meteorological Organization, the sunniest places on Earth are concentrated heavily in the southwestern United States, northern and western Australia, South Africa, northern Africa and the Middle East. Many of these desert regions are sparsely inhabited.

Phoenix, Arizona, United States With the exception of Yuma, a small city of in southwestern Arizona, Phoenix sees more sunny days than any other city in the world. That can be a mental boon­ – until it gets taken away. Once run down, the state capital’s downtown is now a popular area for young professionals, with farmers’ markets, hipster coffeehouses, taco trucks and museums. Young families and retirees flock to Scottsdale, a nearby upscale suburb about 12 miles northeast of Phoenix. Ten miles east, Tempe is overrun with students from Arizona State University, who frequent the bars and clubs that line Mill Avenue.

Darwin, Australia Many of Australia’s sunniest cities are concentrated in the country’s sparsely populated Northern Territory: Alice Springs gets about 3,500 hours of sunlight each year, and Tennant Creek gets about 3,569. At 3,097 hours, the region’s capital, Darwin, has fewer sunny days than its neighbors, but the city is home to the Northern Territory’s largest population, and those 150,000 people enjoy the benefits year-round.

Nizwa, Oman

The endless sunny days make it easy for Nizwa locals to explore the surrounding area. Nearby mountain Jabal Akhdar (meaning “the green mountain”), about 60km north of the city, sits 2,000m above sea level and is popular with hikers and overnight campers. Nizwa is also famous for its suq, a large outdoor shopping area with local silver and pottery for sale.

Amman, Jordan Even in the middle of winter when temperatures can be as low as 5C, sunny days and an outdoor lifestyle are the norm in Jordan. Amman is also one of the 50 most expensive in the world, yet locals can eat cheaply at one of the many cafes that line historic Rainbow Street, 3km to the west of the city centre. Inexpensive street food vendors also populate the Gardens area in the newer part of the city, 7km from the centre.

Johannesburg, South Africa

The nice weather means that most city folk spend their time outdoors, with residents having  The northern suburbs of Parkhurst and Parktown North are attracting more and more businesses, and have plenty of restaurants within walking distance, making them attractive areas for expats.lots of braais (barbeques), eating outdoors (alfresco spots in restaurants always fill up first), and spending time in the swimming pools that are popular in the homes of middle- and upper-class residents.