WEATHER in Spain
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Top Attractions in Spain
Overall, Spain has some of the best weather in Europe. In the south and along the Mediterranean coast is where you will find stereotypical Spanish weather – lots of sun and hot summer days. And even in winter the temperatures are still comfortable.
But there are several other regions of Spain that have completely different weather. The north is colder and far wetter. There are even ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada and Pyrenees Mountains. And then there’s the subtropical Canary Islands, with year-round pleasant temperatures.
Spring in Spain brings sun and mild weather – perfect temperatures for enjoying the outdoors. This is ideal weather for city breaks and sightseeing. And when you want to take a break you can relax on a terrace and enjoy a drink and tapa in the sun.
As soon as the sun disappears though, the temps can get pretty chilly. It makes a big difference if you are even in the shade as opposed to getting baked directly by the sun. So make sure you dress in layers.
By late spring the water of the Mediterranean starts to warm up but it’s probably still too cold except for the very brave.
Spain’s weather in spring can be quite unpredictable – make sure to bring a mixture of jackets and cooler summer wear. An umbrella may also not be a bad idea either since you could experience the occasional rain shower.
Summer is fairly hot in most of Spain. Along the Mediterranean coast the average high temperatures usually reach around 30°C or 86°F – comfortable and perfect weather to enjoy the Spanish beaches.
However, the interior of Spain can get very, very hot in the summer – especially in the south. The region of Andalusia often sees temperatures rising above 40°C (104°F). It is best to avoid these areas in the height of summer if you don’t want to sweat like a pig.
The exception to the warm weather is along the northern stretch of Spain (from Galicia over to northern Catalonia). There, the temperatures are more on the mild side. Average highs usually don’t surpass 25°C (77°F).
The southern interior of Spain gets scorching hot in the summer. Avoid visiting places such as Seville and Cordoba in the summer months unless you are prepared to be constantly dripping with sweat!
To find out more about Seville's weather, visit our Best time to visit Seville page.
The weather in early fall is often a continuation of summer. September and early October can still be great times to visit beaches in the Mediterranean. The temperatures do start to drop as you get further into the season.
Sunny days start to become more overcast and winter precipitation begins to near. As with spring, you will start to notice a bigger change in the temperature throughout the day.
Compared to northern Europe, winter in Spain is very mild. Except in the mountains, it rarely drops below freezing. Temperatures in the south and along the Mediterranean coast usually hover around 18-20°C (64-68°F) during the day. Winter is when Spain receives the most amount of rain, so don’t forget an umbrella.
The best of Spain’s winter weather is found in the subtropical Canary Islands. While the water at the beach can be downright cold, you can defiantly expect to be able to lay out in the sun – and probably even get in the water, albeit not for a long time.
There are a few mountainous regions of Spain that receive snowfall and have ski resorts. Those are mostly located in the Pyrenees, on the border with France, and in Sierra Nevada, outside of Granada.
The whole northern section of Spain – from the Pyrenees all the way to the region of Galicia – experiences mild temperatures all year. Winters are cold compared to the rest of Spain, but humidity from the ocean keep things pretty constant. That humidity also brings a lot of rain (over 800mm per year). And there are over 150 rainy days per year. For this reason, the north is very green.
Average high temperatures in the summer are typically around 20-25°C (68-77°F). Winter temps don’t often drop below freezing and daytime temps usually reach 10°C (50°F).
| BILBAO | Jan-March | April-June | July-Sept | Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. avg. temperature | 15°C (59°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| Min. avg. temperature | 6°C (43°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 8°C (46°F) |
| Hours of Sunshine | 105 | 162 | 175 | 97 |
Most of Spain’s interior is occupied by a large raised plateau know as the meseta. The temperatures can be extreme – cold in winter and very hot in summer. There is also a bigger difference between temps during the day and at night.
As you move south, the temperatures are hotter in summer and more mild in winter.
Central Spain does not receive much rain and almost no rain in the summer.
| MADRID | Jan-March | April-June | July-Sept | Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. avg. temperature | 12°C (54°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 30°C (86°F) | 14°C (57°F) |
| Min. avg. temperature | 4°C (39°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 7°C (45°F) |
| Hours of Sunshine | 173 | 271 | 315 | 156 |
Spain’s mediterranean coast experiences short, mild winters and long, hot summers. Temperatures in winter rarely drop below 10°C (50°F) and easily reach into the low 30’s (86°F) during the summer months.
Although the summer time can be hot, it can still be described as confortable. That’s one of the reasons why Spain’s beautiful beaches attract millions of visits every year. The best months for a beach holiday are June to September.
The mediterranean sees very little rain and the rain that it does get, falls irregularly. It is possible to go 6 months without rain but it is also possible to have flash floods.
| BARCELONA | Jan-March | April-June | July-Sept | Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. avg. temperature | 15°C (59°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 28°C (82°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| Min. avg. temperature | 6°C (43°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 9°C (48°F) |
| Hours of Sunshine | 173 | 248 | 260 | 156 |
| MALAGA | Jan-March | April-June | July-Sept | Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. avg. temperature | 18°C (64°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 30°C (86°F) | 21°C (70°F) |
| Min. avg. temperature | 8°C (46°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 12°C (54°F) |
| Hours of Sunshine | 194 | 288 | 306 | 182 |
There is a small portion of Spain’s southeast coast that has a slightly different Mediterranean climate. From the eastern coast of Almeria (Cabo de Gata) all the way up to Alicante, the climate is arid and desert-like.
These dry areas receive less than 300mm of rain per year and often suffer from extreme drought. While the temperatures are similar to the Mediterranean climate, the summer is usually more intense.
| ALICANTE | Jan-March | April-June | July-Sept | Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. avg. temperature | 15°C (59°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 28°C (82°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| Min. avg. temperature | 6°C (43°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 9°C (48°F) |
| Hours of Sunshine | 173 | 248 | 260 | 156 |
The Canary Islands are located close to the Tropic of Cancer, right off the western coast of Africa. This archipelago enjoys 12 months of sunny weather with temperatures rarely dropping below 17°C (63°F). The yearly average temperate is between 22 and 28°C (72°F to 82°F).
The Canary Islands have a very pleasant climate making it the perfect place to visit throughout the entire year.
| LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA | Jan-March | April-June | July-Sept | Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. avg. temperature | 21°C (70°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 27°C (81°F) | 24°C (75°F) |
| Min. avg. temperature | 15°C (59°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| Hours of Sunshine | 201 | 261 | 283 | 195 |
There are several mountain ranges in Spain with altitudes over 1,000m. The Pyrenees Mountain chain is the largest in the country. Snow is common all winter long and there are even several ski resorts.
Another well known mountain chain, albeit much smaller, is the Sierra Nevada Mountains found in the south of the country. This is a very unique area where you can be in the snow-filled mountains and after a 2 hour drive, be sitting on a Mediterranean beach.
Winter temperatures in the mountainous regions average around freezing. Summer temps average about 20°C (68°F).
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