Spain in January

Low 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 · Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Cuencacool

  Dry, sunny and continental: frost on winter nights, 35–40 °C in July and August.

• Andalusia · Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, Cádizfine

  Seville and Córdoba are Europe's hottest cities in summer (40–45 °C). Winters are mild and sunny on the coast; Granada is colder.

• Mediterranean coast and Balearics · Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Mallorca, Ibizacool

  Beach season June–October; humid in August. Autumn DANA storms can bring flash floods.

• Green north · San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Asturias, Galiciarainy

  Atlantic weather: green because it rains. The best escape from summer heat; pack a rain jacket in any month.

• Canary Islands · Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palmabest weather

  Mild all year (20–28 °C); winter is high season. Calima dust storms blow in from the Sahara a few times a year.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Many shops closed; the night before, Madrid's Puerta del Sol eats twelve grapes at midnight.

• Epiphany (Reyes)

  6 Jan

  The big gift day for children; parades on the evening of the 5th; shops closed on the 6th.

• Reyes Magos (Three Kings)

  Jan 5–6 · Madrid

  Parade on Jan 5; many shops closed on Jan 6.

• Christmas and New Year

  Dec 24–25 and Jan 1 · Madrid

  Most restaurants and shops closed on the evening of Dec 24 and Dec 25.

Crowds · Spain

Low

Prices · Spain

Low

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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Rated best or good this month

• Canary Islands

  Best weather of the year (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma)