Sunseekers looking for a European break could legally head to Gibraltar or Malta before the end of the month.

Downing Street is set to unveil its 'green list' of countries where Brits could return from without having to quarantine for 14 days on Friday.

This will come into effect from May 17 when the government lifts its ban on non-essential travel abroad put in place at the end of March.

And while the list is expected to be small to start with, plenty of holiday favourites, including France, and mainland Greece and Spain, are tipped to be added by the end of June.

But for those who are ready to jet off as soon as the borders open, two tiny Mediterranean sunspots of Gibraltar and Malta are reported to be shoo-ins to be included off the bat.

The former, a British overseas territory on the southern tip of Spain known as 'the Rock', has already vaccinated its entire population and lifted most of its restrictions.

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Senglea Fort in Malta from the sea at sunset (
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Getty Images/iStockphoto)


Last night, Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo told Brits: "Gibraltar is the safest place in Europe. 100 per cent Covid free."

Speaking to The Sun, he said: "Thanks to Great Britain, all adults are already vaccinated. We will NOT require UK residents to have a test to enter Gibraltar.

"Gibraltar is your great, British, staycation in the Mediterranean. Come enjoy the last British part of the European continent."

Gibraltar has lifted almost all its Covid restrictions (
Image:
Getty Images)

Masks are only worn inside shops and social distancing has been scrapped on the island.

Similarly, Malta is leading the way for vaccines amongst EU members, having administered at least 341,909 doses so far - that's enough to have vaccinated about 34 percent of its population.

And the Commonwealth island, nestled between Italy and Tunisia, is currently averaging 21 new infections each day.

Malta is leading the way for vaccines in the EU (
Image:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Other holiday hotspots that could be included on the initial green list, include Portugal which is said to be on the "cusp".

While others also include Jamaica, Barbados, Israel, Morocco and Grenada, according to some estimates.

It comes following reports ministers are understood to have agreed to separate travel corridors for Spanish, Greek and Portuguese islands even if the mainlands still have high Covid levels.

Rosa Ana Morilla Rodriguez, director general of tourism for the Balearic islands, said she is "very optimistic" a deal can be agreed to open Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera to Brits before June.

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The official said she is hopeful that the islands - which are traditionally flooded with UK tourists each summer - will be included on the list from May 17.

"We have the right numbers, we have the right measures in place that will allow us to be considered 'green'," Ms Morilla Rodriguez told the Telegraph.

Last night the Government quietly dropped its advice against non-essential travel to some of the most popular destinations for British tourists further fuelling green list speculation.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice with little fanfare, declaring it "no longer advises against all but essential travel" to the Canary Islands and Israel.

And "is not advising against travel to the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Zakynthos, Corfu and Crete" in Greece.

Portugal is also now deemed safe, excluding the Azores region.