Winter
Dec → Feb14 to 15°
nights 5 to 6°
- 5 rainy days · 35 mm
- 8.1 h of sun
- sea 14°
When is the best time to visit Spain?
- Jan14°not recommended
- Feb15°not recommended
- Mar16°fair
- Apr18°recommended
- May21°recommended
- Jun26°recommended
- Jul29°fair
- Aug29°fair
- Sep25°recommended
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov17°fair
- Dec15°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Spain, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14° | 5° | 7.9 h | 44 mm | 4 d | 14° | |
| February | 15° | 6° | 8.7 h | 36 mm | 6 d | 13° | |
| March | 16° | 8° | 9.8 h | 46 mm | 7 d | 14° | |
| April | 18° | 10° | 10.7 h | 70 mm | 8 d | 16° | ✓ |
| May | 21° | 14° | 12.3 h | 47 mm | 7 d | 18° | ✓ |
| June | 26° | 18° | 13 h | 35 mm | 6 d | 22° | ✓ |
| July | 29° | 22° | 13.5 h | 26 mm | 4 d | 25° | |
| August | 29° | 22° | 12.2 h | 53 mm | 7 d | 27° | |
| September | 25° | 18° | 10.2 h | 91 mm | 12 d | 25° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 15° | 8.8 h | 105 mm | 9 d | 22° | ✓ |
| November | 17° | 10° | 7.8 h | 58 mm | 8 d | 18° | |
| December | 15° | 6° | 7.7 h | 25 mm | 4 d | 16° |
The four seasons in Spain, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Barcelona) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May16 to 21°
nights 8 to 14°
- 7 rainy days · 54 mm
- 10.9 h of sun
- sea 16°
Summer
Jun → Aug26 to 29°
nights 18 to 22°
- 6 rainy days · 38 mm
- 12.9 h of sun
- sea 25°
Autumn
Sep → Nov17 to 25°
nights 10 to 18°
- 10 rainy days · 85 mm
- 8.9 h of sun
- sea 22°
Book early for April to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Spain, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 15h09 of daylight, in December 9h12, a difference of 5h57.
9h30Jan
10h33Feb
11h49Mar
13h16Apr
14h29May
15h09Jun
14h53Jul
13h49Aug
12h25Sep
11h01Oct
9h47Nov
9h12Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Barcelona" (41.39°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Spain, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsHoly WeekMarch to AprilLas Fallas in ValenciaMarchSan Fermín in PamplonaJulyLa TomatinaAugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Towns & culture: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, December
- Beach & swimming: June, July, August, September
- Diving & snorkelling: July, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Spain, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- March to AprilHoly Week big crowds
Religious brotherhoods carry their pasos through the streets of Seville, Málaga and Valladolid during the seven days before Easter.
- MarchLas Fallas in Valencia big crowds
Valencia puts up hundreds of cardboard sculptures in its streets, then burns them all on the night of St Joseph's Day, in mid-March.
- JulySan Fermín in Pamplona big crowds
Bulls run through the streets of Pamplona every morning for a week, and the town drinks on its feet day and night, in July.
- AugustLa Tomatina big crowds
The town of Buñol, near Valencia, is covered in tomato pulp for an hour, on the last Wednesday of August.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Spain, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇸 Barcelona | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇪🇸 Madrid | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇪🇸 Seville | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇪🇸 The Canary Islands | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇪🇸 Mallorca | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇪🇸 Andalusia | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended14°5° at night
- 44 mm · 4 d
- 7.9 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended15°6° at night
- 36 mm · 6 d
- 8.7 h
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair16°8° at night
- 46 mm · 7 d
- 9.8 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended18°10° at night
- 70 mm · 8 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 16°
High season, book early
May
Recommended21°14° at night
- 47 mm · 7 d
- 12.3 h
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended26°18° at night
- 35 mm · 6 d
- 13 h
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair29°22° at night
- 26 mm · 4 d
- 13.5 h
- sea 25°
High season, book early
August
Fair29°22° at night
- 53 mm · 7 d
- 12.2 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
September
Recommended25°18° at night
- 91 mm · 12 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°15° at night
- 105 mm · 9 d
- 8.8 h
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair17°10° at night
- 58 mm · 8 d
- 7.8 h
- sea 18°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended15°6° at night
- 25 mm · 4 d
- 7.7 h
- sea 16°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 14 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 44 mm over 4 days. Expect 7.9 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 15 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Rain stays light: 36 mm over 6 days. Expect 8.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 16 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Rain stays light: 46 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.8 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (70 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
May. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 47 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Rain stays light: 35 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 29 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Rain stays light: 26 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
August. 29 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Rain stays light: 53 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
September. 25 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (91 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (105 mm). Expect 8.8 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 17 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (58 mm). Expect 7.8 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 15 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Rain stays light: 25 mm over 4 days. Expect 7.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Spain?
April to June and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 18 to 26 °C, with 8 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Barcelona).
Which month should you avoid in Spain?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 44 mm over 4 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Barcelona).
What is the hottest month in Spain?
July, with 29 °C on average in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Barcelona).
What is the coldest month in Spain?
January, with 14 °C at best during the day and 5 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Barcelona).
What is the driest month in Spain?
December: 25 mm over 4 days of rain, against 105 mm in October, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Spain?
July, with 13.5 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Spain?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in June, July, August, September, October (warmest 27 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Barcelona).
When is the best time to hike in Spain?
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Barcelona), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Spain?
July, August, September: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Barcelona).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Spain guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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