WEATHER in Spain

What’s the Weather in Spain like?

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.

Weather in Spain by Season

SPRING IN SPAIN

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.

Early spring morning in Granada's Albaicin quarter, Spain
Early spring morning in Granada's Albaicin quarter

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 IN SPAIN

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.

Beach in Mallorca in the summer, Balearic Islands – Spain
Beach in Mallorca in the summer

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.

FALL IN SPAIN

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.

WINTER IN SPAIN

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.

Spanish Weather by Region

Map of Spain showing its climates

ATLANTIC COAST & NORTHERN SPAIN

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.

Street in Santillana del Mar, Cantabria – Spain
Street in Santillana del Mar, Cantabria

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

CENTRAL SPAIN

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.

Traditional windmills in Castile La Mancha, Spain
Windmills in Castile La Mancha

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

MEDITERRANEAN

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.

Sunny morning in Malaga's city center, Andalusia – Spain
Sunny morning in Malaga's city center

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

ARID SOUTHEASTERN CLIMATE

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
Arid landscapes in Carboneras, Almeria (Spain)
Arid landscapes in Carboneras, Almeria

SUBTROPICAL CANARY ISLANDS

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).

Small village in La Gomera, Canary Islands – Spain
The island of La Gomera

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

CLIMATE OF THE MOUNTAINS

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.

Mountains in northern Aragon, Spain
Mountains in northern Aragon

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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