When to go · Spain
Spain, month by month
The best months for Spain: Apr, May, Sep, Oct.
Month by month
- JanuaryGoodLow season on the mainland: cold nights in Madrid, mild sun in Seville and Málaga; the Canaries are at their peak. January sales in the shops.Madrid and the central plateau: cool · Andalusia: fine · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: coolCrowds: Low · 4 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryGoodAlmond blossom in the south; Carnival in Cádiz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife fills those cities.Madrid and the central plateau: cool · Andalusia: fine · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: coolCrowds: Low
- MarchGoodFallas in Valencia (15–19 Mar) sells out the city; Holy Week falls in late March in 2027.Madrid and the central plateau: fine · Andalusia: best weather · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: fineCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- AprilGreatExcellent weather everywhere; Seville's April Fair and any Holy Week in April push Andalusian prices to the year's high.Madrid and the central plateau: best weather · Andalusia: best weather · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: fineCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
- MayGreatArguably the best month: warm, long days, patios festival in Córdoba, green north waking up.Madrid and the central plateau: best weather · Andalusia: best weather · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
- JuneGoodBeach season starts; inland heat builds in the second half. San Juan bonfires on 23 June on the coast.Madrid and the central plateau: hot · Andalusia: hot · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: best weatherCrowds: High
- JulyMixedInland Andalusia and Madrid often top 40 °C: go north (Basque Country, Asturias, Galicia) or to the coast. San Fermín in Pamplona 6–14 July.Madrid and the central plateau: hot · Andalusia: hot · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: hotCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
- AugustMixedSpain's own holiday month: coasts and islands full and expensive, Madrid half closed, heat at its worst inland.Madrid and the central plateau: hot · Andalusia: hot · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: hotCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
- SeptemberGreatSea still warm, crowds thinning after the first week; grape harvest in La Rioja.Madrid and the central plateau: best weather · Andalusia: fine · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: best weatherCrowds: Medium
- OctoberGreatGood for cities and Andalusia; watch for autumn storms on the Mediterranean. 12 October is the national day.Madrid and the central plateau: best weather · Andalusia: best weather · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- NovemberGoodQuiet and cheaper; rain in the north, mild in the south. Some coastal resorts close for the winter.Madrid and the central plateau: fine · Andalusia: best weather · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: fineCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- DecemberGoodChristmas lights and markets; the 6–8 December long weekend (puente) fills hotels. The Christmas lottery on 22 December stops the country for a morning.Madrid and the central plateau: cool · Andalusia: fine · Mediterranean coast and Balearics: coolCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid and the central plateauMadrid, Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Cuenca | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Hot | Best | Best | OK | Cool |
| AndalusiaSeville, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, Cádiz | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Hot | OK | Best | Best | OK |
| Mediterranean coast and BalearicsBarcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Mallorca, Ibiza | Cool | Cool | OK | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Best | Best | OK | Cool |
| Green northSan Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Asturias, Galicia | Wet | Wet | Wet | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Wet | Wet |
| Canary IslandsTenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best |