Best Time to Visit Spain: The Complete Month-by-Month Guide (2026)

The best time to visit Spain is April to June and September to October when temperatures are comfortable across most regions, major attractions have manageable crowds, and you'll experience the country at its best.

But here's the truth: Spain is a country of dramatic contrasts.

When Seville bakes at 45°C in August, San Sebastián enjoys pleasant 25°C beach weather.

When Andalusia blooms in February, the Pyrenees offer world-class skiing.

Spain's diversity means there's always somewhere perfect to visit, every month of the year.

We've lived in Spain for several years now. This guide shares everything we've learned about timing your visit, including some things we wish someone had told us before our first trip.

Spain's Climate: What You Need to Know

Spain isn't one climate zone.

It's several. Understanding this transforms how you plan your trip.

• Mediterranean Spain: (Barcelona, Valencia, Costa del Sol): Hot, dry summers. Mild winters with occasional rain. The coast moderates extreme temperatures.
• Inland Spain: (Madrid, Toledo, Castilla): Continental extremes. Scorching summers (40°C+), cold winters. Spring and autumn are brief but beautiful.
• Andalusia: (Seville, Granada, Córdoba): Spain's hottest region. Summers are brutal (locals call July and August "the frying pan months"). Winters are mild and pleasant.
• Northern Spain: (Bilbao, San Sebastián, Santiago): Atlantic climate. Cooler, wetter year-round. Green landscapes even in summer. Spain's escape valve when the south overheats.
• The Canary Islands: Eternal spring. 20-26°C year-round. Europe's winter sun destination.

Best Time to Visit Spain: Season by Season

Spring in Spain (March–May)

Spring is Spain's most universally pleasant season. This is when we tell friends to visit.

March brings unpredictable weather but also Valencia's spectacular Fallas festival, when the city burns giant sculptures in a week of fire, noise, and celebration. Temperatures range from 12-18°C in most regions, with southern Andalusia already warming nicely.

April transforms Spain. Orange blossoms perfume Seville. Holy Week (Semana Santa) brings solemn processions and packed streets to every major city. The Alhambra gardens burst with colour. It's peak season for good reason, but book everything months ahead.

May might be Spain's perfect month. Warm enough for beaches in the south (22-26°C), cool enough for comfortable sightseeing anywhere. The crowds of Semana Santa have dispersed, summer prices haven't kicked in, and the light is extraordinary.

Spring Weather by Region

Best Places to Visit in Spring

For festivals: Seville (Semana Santa, Feria de Abril), Valencia (Fallas)

For sightseeing: Granada, Ronda, Madrid, Barcelona

For early beaches: Costa del Sol (Málaga, Marbella, Nerja)

Summer in Spain (June–August)

Summer divides Spain in two: the scorching south and the pleasant north.

June is the sweet spot.

Beaches are swimmable everywhere, temperatures haven't reached their peak, and prices remain somewhat reasonable. The summer solstice brings San Juan celebrations: bonfires on beaches from Barcelona to Valencia.

July turns inland Spain into an oven.

Seville, Córdoba, and Madrid regularly exceed 40°C. The coast offers relief, but beaches fill with Spanish families on holiday. Northern Spain (Galicia, Asturias, the Basque Country) becomes Spain's escape valve.

August is when Spain empties.

Locals take their annual vacation. Madrid feels abandoned (many restaurants close). The Mediterranean coast is packed. Inland cities are almost unbearably hot. But this is also when northern Spain shines. San Sebastián's pleasant 25°C draws food lovers and beach seekers alike.

Summer Weather by Region

Best Places to Visit in Summer

To escape the heat: San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, the Pyrenees

For beaches: Costa Brava, Costa del Sol (early mornings), Asturian coast

For festivals: Pamplona (San Fermín, July), Buñol (La Tomatina, August)

Read more: Is August in Spain Too Hot?

Autumn in Spain (September–November)

Autumn is Spain's secret season. Locals know it; tourists are catching on.

September offers summer's warmth without summer's crowds.

The Mediterranean remains swimably warm (24-25°C). Wine regions celebrate the vendimia (grape harvest). Prices drop. This might be Spain's best-kept timing secret.

October brings golden light and pleasant temperatures across most of Spain.

It's ideal for hiking, city breaks, and cultural tourism. The Alhambra without summer crowds. Barcelona without the heat. Madrid at its most liveable.

November signals shoulder season's end.

Northern Spain turns grey and wet. But Andalusia enjoys beautiful 18 to 22°C days, perfect for exploring Granada, Ronda, or the Costa del Sol's quieter beaches.

Autumn Weather by Region

Best Places to Visit in Autumn

For wine: La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat (Catalonia)

For beaches: Costa del Sol (Nerja, Marbella), Costa Blanca (September-early October)

For sightseeing: Granada, Seville, Barcelona, Madrid

For food: San Sebastián, Basque Country (mushroom season)

Winter in Spain (December–February)

Winter reveals a different Spain: quieter, more local, surprisingly rewarding.

December brings Christmas markets, nativity scenes, and festive atmosphere.

Spanish Christmas extends through January 6 (Three Kings Day), when Spaniards traditionally exchange gifts. Tourism is low except during the holidays themselves.

January is Spain's emptiest month.

The Alhambra has same-day ticket availability. Barcelona's streets are walkable. Prices hit their annual low. The catch? Cold weather inland (Madrid averages 6°C) and reduced opening hours at some attractions.

February starts winter's end.

Andalusia blooms with almond blossoms. Carnival celebrations liven up Cádiz, Tenerife, and Las Palmas. And the Sierra Nevada offers Spain's best skiing, with Granada just an hour away.

Winter Weather by Region

Best Places to Visit in Winter

For mild weather: Costa del Sol, Canary Islands, coastal Andalusia

For skiing: Sierra Nevada (near Granada), Pyrenees (Baqueira Beret, Formigal)

For festivals: Cádiz (Carnival, February), Tenerife (Carnival, February). Don't miss Spain's flower festivals in spring.

For city breaks: Seville, Granada, Málaga (all mild and uncrowded)

Best Time for Different Activities

Best Time for Beaches

Mediterranean coast (Barcelona to Málaga): June–September. Water temperature peaks at 25°C in August. May and October are swimmable but cooler.

Northern coast (Basque Country to Galicia): July–August only. Water rarely exceeds 20°C, but summer weather is pleasant.

Canary Islands: Year-round. Water stays 19-23°C throughout the year.

Costa del Sol: Late May–October. Nerja and Marbella offer the longest beach season on mainland Spain.

Best Time for Sightseeing

Major monuments (Alhambra, Sagrada Familia, Prado): November–February for fewest crowds. April–May and September–October for the best weather/crowd balance.

Andalusia's historic cities: March–May, October–November. Summer is too hot for comfortable sightseeing.

Northern cities (Bilbao, San Sebastián): May–June, September. Summer is pleasant; winter is grey and wet.

Best Time for Festivals

Best Time for Food and Wine

Wine harvest (Vendimia): September–October in Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Priorat.

Seafood: Winter and spring, when the catch is freshest (especially in Galicia).

Jamón and cured meats: Year-round, but traditional matanzas (pig slaughters) happen in winter.

Tapas culture: Best experienced in cooler months when locals spend evenings bar-hopping.

Best Time for Hiking

Camino de Santiago: May–June, September–October. Summer is crowded and hot; winter brings rain and closed albergues.

Sierra Nevada: June–October for hiking (skiing December–April).

Pyrenees: July–September for high-altitude trails.

Andalusia (Ronda, Caminito del Rey): March–May, October–November. Summer is too hot.

Month-by-Month Calendar

January

• Weather: Cold inland, mild in south, snow in mountains
• Why visit: Lowest prices, Three Kings celebrations (Jan 6), sales season
• Why avoid: Short days, some closures
• Best for: Budget travellers, skiing, uncrowded sightseeing

February

• Weather: Still cold but lengthening days, almond blossoms in Andalusia
• Why visit: Carnival in Cádiz and Tenerife, low prices continue
• Why avoid: Northern Spain still wet and grey
• Best for: Carnival lovers, skiing, pre-spring Andalusia

March

• Weather: Transitional, warming in south, variable elsewhere
• Why visit: Fallas in Valencia, spring arriving, prices still reasonable
• Why avoid: Weather unpredictable, some rain likely
• Best for: Festival seekers, early spring travel

April

• Weather: Pleasant nationwide (17-22°C), occasional rain
• Why visit: Semana Santa, Feria de Abril, perfect sightseeing weather
• Why avoid: Easter crowds and prices, book far ahead
• Best for: Cultural immersion, photography, first-time visitors

May

• Weather: Warm and sunny (22-26°C), increasingly dry
• Why visit: Ideal weather, manageable crowds, beach season starting
• Why avoid: Popular month, book ahead
• Best for: Almost everything—Spain's closest to "perfect" month

June

• Weather: Hot inland (28°C+), warm coast, long days
• Why visit: Beach season, San Juan festivities, last pre-peak month
• Why avoid: Getting crowded, inland heat building
• Best for: Beach holidays, summer festivals, northern Spain

July

• Weather: Very hot inland (33°C+), pleasant in north
• Why visit: San Fermín in Pamplona, full beach season
• Why avoid: Extreme heat, peak crowds and prices
• Best for: Northern Spain, beach resorts, festival lovers

August

• Weather: Hottest month, north remains pleasant
• Why visit: La Tomatina, northern Spain at its best
• Why avoid: Extreme heat inland, many closures, peak everything
• Best for: Northern Spain only, or if it's your only option

Read more: Is August in Spain Too Hot?

September

• Weather: Still warm (25-30°C), sea warmest, heat easing
• Why visit: Perfect balance of weather, crowds, prices, wine harvest
• Why avoid: Few downsides, book popular spots ahead
• Best for: Wine country, beaches, shoulder-season value

October

• Weather: Cooling (18-24°C), occasional rain in north
• Why visit: Golden autumn light, great sightseeing weather, low crowds
• Why avoid: Variable weather, northern Spain getting wet
• Best for: City breaks, wine regions, Andalusia

November

• Weather: Cool (12-19°C), grey in north, pleasant in south
• Why visit: Lowest prices of shoulder season, uncrowded everywhere
• Why avoid: Short days, some rain, some seasonal closures
• Best for: Budget travellers, Andalusia, Canary Islands

December

• Weather: Cold inland, mild in south, Christmas atmosphere
• Why visit: Festive season, Christmas markets, New Year in Madrid
• Why avoid: Christmas week is busy and expensive
• Best for: Holiday atmosphere, mild Andalusia, Canary Islands

Regional Best Times: Quick Reference

City-Specific Guides

For detailed timing advice for specific destinations:

• Best Time to Visit Granada: Alhambra tickets, Sierra Nevada skiing, and beating the heat
• Best Time to Visit Seville: Semana Santa, Feria, and surviving summer
• Best Time to Visit Ronda: Gorge views and mountain weather
• Best Time to Visit Nerja: Costa del Sol beach season
• Best Time to Visit Marbella: Glamour and beach weather
• Best Time to Visit Frigiliana: Mountain village timing
• Best Time to Visit Jaén: Olive oil country seasons
• Best Time to Visit Baeza: Renaissance towns in Jaén
• Best Time to Visit Estepona: Garden of the Costa del Sol

Practical Tips for Planning Your Visit

What to Pack

• Spring/Autumn: Layers.

Mornings can be cool, afternoons warm. A light jacket for evenings.

• Summer: Sun protection is essential. Hat, sunscreen, light clothing. For northern Spain, pack a light rain jacket anyway.
• Winter: Warm layers for inland and northern Spain. Lighter clothing works for Andalusia and the Canaries.

Spanish Holiday Calendar

Be aware of these dates. They affect openings, crowds, and prices:

• January 6 (Three Kings Day): Major holiday.

Many closures.

• Semana Santa (Easter Week): Processions nationwide. Peak tourism.
• May 1 (Labour Day): Public holiday.
• August 15 (Assumption): Peak of Spanish summer holidays.
• October 12 (National Day): Public holiday.
• November 1 (All Saints): Public holiday.
• December 6 & 8 (Constitution Day, Immaculate Conception): Long weekend.
• December 25 – January 6: Extended holiday period.

Final Verdict

For most visitors, May or September offers the ideal Spain experience. You get pleasant weather nationwide, manageable crowds, reasonable prices, and Spain at its best.

But Spain rewards those who understand its regional diversity:

• Summer visitors: Head north to the Basque Country, Galicia, and Asturias
• Winter visitors: Embrace mild Andalusia, the Canary Islands, or Sierra Nevada skiing
• Festival seekers: Plan around Semana Santa, Fallas, or San Fermín
• Budget travellers: Target November–February (avoiding Christmas)

Whatever time you choose, Spain delivers.

We've lived here through every season, and each one reveals something new. The question isn't whether Spain is worth visiting. It's which Spain you want to experience.