Spain in May

Arguably the best month: warm, long days, patios festival in Córdoba, green north waking up.

• Madrid and the central plateau · Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Cuencabest weather

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

• Andalusia · Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, Cádizbest weather

  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, Ibizabest weather

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

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

  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.

• Feria de Abril

  Two weeks after Easter (Seville)

  Seville's week-long fair: hotel prices double, many businesses keep short hours.

• Labour Day

  1 May

  Public holiday; demonstrations in big cities.

• San Isidro

  May 15 · Madrid

  City holiday; parades and events around Plaza Mayor.

Crowds · Spain

Medium

Prices · Spain

Medium

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Madrid and the central plateau

  Best weather of the year (Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Cuenca)

• Andalusia

  Best weather of the year (Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, Cádiz)

• Mediterranean coast and Balearics

  Best weather of the year (Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Mallorca, Ibiza)

• Canary Islands

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

• Madrid

  Warm, long evenings; San Isidro fiesta mid-May.