Seven of the best islands in Europe for a spring break

As Southeast Asia approaches the end of its cooler dry season and Hong Kong nears the beginning of the Big Damp, Europe is coming out of hibernation. Greece, Spain and Italy are often wet, windy and cold in the winter but, by April, the clouds have cleared, temperatures have started to climb and sunbeds are magically reappearing on the sands. The holiday hordes won’t be arriving for another couple of months yet the climate is just about perfect – if you know where to go.

Here are seven European islands that offer the best chance of balmy blue sky days and low humidity in the next few weeks. Don’t forget your sunscreen.

1 Cyprus

Your best bet for an early-season Euro tan, Cyprus is geographically in the Middle East but culturally Greek and Turkish. Aphrodite’s Island averages 326 days of sunshine a year and boasts some of the toastiest winter temperatures in the Mediterranean – hardly surprising when you consider it’s nearer Baghdad than Athens.

The picturesque suntrap has plenty to keep visitors busy, from ancient Greek cities and Roman temples to vineyard tastings and scuba-diving sites (preferably not on the same day). Unfurl a towel on one of the many beaches or hire a car and enjoy a lazy lunch in a timeless rural village (nutritionists claim the traditional Cypriot diet is among the world’s healthiest).

Getting there: From Hong Kong, Royal Jordanian flies to Cyprus via Amman, which throws up the tempting possibility of a visit to Petra en route. Low-cost carriers connect the island with European destinations including London, Rome and, for April heat seekers, Chania.