What is the best time to visit Spain?

Best Time to Visit Spain

The best time to travel to Spain is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Spring in Spain

Spring in Spain is a beautiful time to visit, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. From March to May, travelers can expect pleasant weather conditions with temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. During this time, wildflowers are in bloom and the countryside is lush and green. Popular attractions like the Alhambra Palace in Granada and the Mezquita in Cordoba are especially beautiful during the spring months. Additionally, travelers can take part in various festivals throughout the season, such as the Feria de Abril in Seville and Las Fallas in Valencia.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Spain

Spain in January

Weather

January is the coldest month of the year in Spain. The average temperature in the mainland is around 10°C (50°F), while in the Canary Islands it is around 20°C (68°F). The weather is usually dry and sunny, with occasional rain and snow in the northern and central regions.

Events

• The Three Kings Parade is held in many cities in Spain on the 5th of January. The parade features floats, music, and costumed characters from the Bible.
• The Festival of San Sebastian is held in the city of Seville on the 20th of January. The festival includes music, dancing, and traditional foods.
• The Carnaval de Cadiz is a carnival held in the city of Cadiz from the 17th to the 20th of January. The carnival features floats, music, and costumes.
• The San Anton Festival is held in the city of Madrid on the 17th of January. The festival includes traditional foods, music, and dancing.
• The San Sebastian Festival is held in the city of Barcelona on the 20th of January. The festival includes music, dancing, and traditional foods.

Spain in January

Weather

January in Spain is generally cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from 5-15°C (41-59°F). Snowfall is common in the mountainous regions, while the coastal areas remain relatively mild.

Events

• Epiphany, celebrated on January 6th, is a religious holiday in Spain. It marks the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus and is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and the exchange of gifts.
• The Festival Internacional de Málaga takes place in January, usually during the last two weeks of the month. It is a celebration of Spanish and international cinema, featuring screenings of new and classic films.
• The San Sebastian Jazz Festival is held in the Basque city of San Sebastian in January. It is one of the most important jazz festivals in Europe, featuring performances from renowned local and international jazz musicians.
• The Carnaval de Cádiz is held in the city of Cádiz in late January. It is one of the most famous carnivals in Spain, featuring parades, music, and colorful costumes.
• The Festival Internacional de Benicàssim takes place in the city of Benicàssim in late January. It is a four-day music festival featuring performances from both local and international artists.

Spain in March

Weather

March is the start of spring in Spain, and temperatures start to rise. The average temperature in Madrid is around 10-15°C (50-59°F), while in Barcelona it is 12-17°C (54-63°F). Rainfall is common in March, with an average of around 10 days of rain.

Events

• Fallas de Valencia: This is a five-day festival held in Valencia to celebrate the arrival of spring. It features parades, fireworks, and the burning of large papier-mâché figures.
• Semana Santa: This is a week-long religious celebration held throughout Spain in March or April. It includes processions, street performances, and other activities.
• Festival Internacional de Málaga: This is an annual film festival held in Málaga. It features screenings of films from around the world, as well as workshops and other activities.
• Festival Internacional de Jazz de Madrid: This is an annual jazz festival held in Madrid. It features performances from a variety of jazz musicians, as well as workshops and other activities.
• Feria de Abril: This is an annual fair held in Seville. It features traditional Spanish music, dancing, and food.

Spain in April

Weather

April is a great time to visit Spain as the weather is mild and sunny. Temperatures range from a low of 10°C (50°F) to a high of 22°C (72°F). Rainfall is light, with an average of 2-3 inches of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The Seville April Fair is a popular event that takes place in Seville during the first two weeks of April. It is a celebration of traditional Andalusian culture, with flamenco music, dancing, and bullfights.
• The Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a religious celebration that takes place during the week leading up to Easter Sunday. It is a colorful event with parades, processions, and street parties.
• The San Isidro Festival is a week-long celebration in Madrid that takes place in mid-April. It is a celebration of the patron saint of Madrid with concerts, bullfights, and parades.
• The Feria de Abril is a popular fair that takes place in Malaga during the last week of April. It is a celebration of traditional Andalusian culture with flamenco music, dancing, and bullfights.
• The San Vicente Ferrer Festival is a religious festival that takes place in Valencia during the last week of April. It is a celebration of the patron saint of Valencia with parades, processions, and street parties.

Spain in May

Weather

The weather in Spain during May is generally mild and sunny. Temperatures range from an average low of 13°C to a high of 24°C. Rainfall is minimal, with an average of only 7 days of rain.

Events

• San Isidro Festival: This festival is held in Madrid in honor of the city’s patron saint. It includes parades, concerts, and bullfighting.
• Feria de Abril: This fair is held in Seville and celebrates the culture of Andalusia. It includes traditional flamenco performances, horse parades, and bullfights.
• La Tomatina Festival: This festival is held in the town of Buñol and involves thousands of people throwing tomatoes at each other.
• La Rioja Wine Festival: This festival is held in the city of Logroño and celebrates the region’s wine-making culture. It includes tastings, parades, and concerts.
• Fiesta de San Juan: This festival is held in many cities and towns throughout Spain and celebrates the summer solstice. It includes bonfires, fireworks, and traditional dances.

Spain in June

Weather

June in Spain is a pleasant month with warm temperatures, ranging from an average low of 17°C (63°F) to an average high of 28°C (82°F). Rainfall is relatively low, with an average of 2-3 inches per month.

Events

• The San Juan Festival is a celebration of the summer solstice and the shortest night of the year. It is celebrated on June 23rd and 24th with bonfires, fireworks, and music.
• The Running of the Bulls is an annual event held in Pamplona, Spain. It takes place from July 6th to 14th and involves running with the bulls through the city streets.
• The San Fermin Festival is a week-long event held in Pamplona, Spain, from July 6th to 14th. It features bullfights, music, and other traditional activities.
• The Feria de Abril is an annual festival held in Seville, Spain, from April 28th to May 5th. It features traditional Spanish music, dancing, and food.
• The San Isidro Festival is a week-long celebration held in Madrid, Spain, from May 15th to 24th. It features bullfights, music, and other traditional activities.

Spain in July

Weather

July is the warmest month in Spain, with temperatures ranging from the low 20s to the high 30s Celsius. The south of Spain is the hottest, with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is relatively low, although there is a risk of thunderstorms in some areas.

Events

• The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona takes place from July 6th to 14th. This is a traditional event in which people run in front of a herd of bulls.
• The Festival Internacional de Benicàssim (FIB) is a four-day music festival held in Benicàssim. It takes place from July 18th to 21st.
• The Festival de Cine de San Sebastián is an international film festival held in San Sebastián. It takes place from July 19th to 27th.
• The Fiesta de Santiago is a religious festival held in Santiago de Compostela. It takes place on July 25th.
• The Festival Internacional de Teatro Clásico de Mérida is a classical theatre festival held in Mérida. It takes place from July 25th to August 25th.

Spain in August

Weather

August is the hottest month of the year in Spain with temperatures usually ranging from 24-31°C (75-88°F). The south and east of the country are particularly hot and humid, while the coastal regions are usually cooler and breezier. August is also the driest month of the year in Spain, with only a few days of rain.

Events

• The Feria de Málaga is a week-long celebration held in Málaga in early August. The event features live music, traditional dancing, and plenty of food and drink.
• The Festival Internacional de Benicàssim is a four-day music festival held in Benicàssim in mid-August. The festival features some of the world’s biggest acts in rock, indie, and electronic music.
• The San Fermín festival is held in Pamplona in July and early August. The festival is best known for its running of the bulls, which sees participants running through the streets of the city in front of a herd of bulls.
• The Semana Grande de Bilbao is a week-long celebration held in Bilbao in late August. The event features live music, traditional dancing, and plenty of food and drink.
• The Feria de San Sebastián is a week-long celebration held in San Sebastián in late August. The event features live music, traditional dancing, and plenty of food and drink.

Spain in September

Weather

September is the transition month between summer and autumn in Spain. Temperatures are still warm, but the days become shorter and the nights become cooler. The average temperature in September is around 22°C (71°F). Rainfall is higher than in the summer months, but it is still relatively low.

Events

• The San Sebastian Film Festival is held in San Sebastian in the Basque Country. It is one of the most prestigious film festivals in Spain and attracts many international celebrities.
• The Feria de Malaga is an annual fair held in the city of Malaga in Andalusia. It is a week-long event that includes concerts, parades, and other activities.
• The La Tomatina Festival is held in the town of Buñol in Valencia. It is a tomato-throwing festival that attracts thousands of people from all over the world.
• The Fiesta de la Virgen de la Merced is held in Madrid. It is a religious festival that celebrates the Virgin Mary.
• The Fiesta de la Vendimia is held in the region of La Rioja. It is a wine-harvesting festival that includes parades, concerts, and other activities.

Spain in October

Weather

In October, Spain experiences mild temperatures with average highs of around 21°C (70°F) and lows of around 12°C (54°F). Rainfall is common throughout the month, with an average of 10-12 days of rain per month.

Events

• Fiesta de la Hispanidad: This national holiday celebrates the day Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Americas. It is celebrated on October 12th with parades, music, and dancing.
• Festival Internacional de Cine de San Sebastian: This film festival takes place in the city of San Sebastian and features a variety of international films. It takes place from October 1st to October 10th.
• Feria de Otoño: This autumn fair is held in the city of Granada and features a variety of food, music, and entertainment. It takes place from October 3rd to October 13th.
• Festival de Musica de Granada: This music festival takes place in the city of Granada and features a variety of international and local musicians. It takes place from October 15th to October 25th.
• Fiesta de San Francisco de Asis: This religious festival is held in the city of Zaragoza and celebrates the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. It takes place from October 4th to October 6th.

Spain in November

Weather

November marks the end of autumn and the beginning of winter in Spain. Temperatures start to drop and the days become shorter. The average temperature in November is around 15°C (59°F) with highs of 18°C (64°F). Rainfall is also common throughout the country, with the average precipitation amounting to around 70mm.

Events

• All Saints’ Day (November 1): All Saints’ Day is a national holiday in Spain, celebrated with parades and processions throughout the country.
• Tenerife Carnival (November 8-17): The Tenerife Carnival is one of the most popular carnivals in Spain, taking place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The carnival features colorful parades, live music, and traditional food.
• Festival Internacional de Cine de Gijón (November 13-22): The International Film Festival of Gijón is one of the most important film festivals in Spain, showcasing the best of Spanish and international cinema.
• Festival de Jerez (November 22-30): The Festival de Jerez is an annual flamenco festival held in the city of Jerez de la Frontera. The festival features performances by some of the best flamenco artists in the country.
• Constitution Day (November 6): Constitution Day is a national holiday in Spain, commemorating the adoption of the Spanish Constitution in 1978.

Spain in December

Weather

December in Spain is generally mild and wet, with temperatures ranging from 8-15°C (46-59°F). The days are short, with an average of 8-9 hours of daylight. Rainfall is common, especially in the north of the country. Snow is rare, but can occur in the mountainous regions.

Events

• The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8th. This is a national holiday in Spain and is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and religious processions.
• The Festival Internacional de Jazz de Madrid takes place in December. This annual jazz festival features performances from some of the world’s top jazz musicians.
• The Christmas markets in Madrid are a popular attraction in December. The markets feature traditional Spanish food, crafts, and decorations.
• The city of Valencia hosts the Las Fallas Festival in December. This is a five-day celebration of art and culture, featuring parades, fireworks, and the burning of giant papier-mâché figures.
• The Three Kings Parade is held in many cities in Spain on the evening of January 5th. This parade celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings who, according to legend, brought gifts to the baby Jesus.