The best time to visit Spain runs from May to June and September to October: 22 to 28 degrees in most regions, sea still warm in autumn, and fewer people than at peak summer. One regional caveat. In July and August, Andalusia and Madrid often pass 40 degrees, the Atlantic north stays mild around 25 degrees, and the Canaries keep a pleasant climate all year.
Spain is not a single climate. The country stretches from the rainy Atlantic north to the subtropical Canaries, by way of the scorching inland plains. Giving one “good month” for the whole country would make no sense.
Here is the clear answer, region by region, with a table for all twelve months and the festivals that can make or spoil your trip depending on what you want.
The short answer by trip
Before the detail, the useful shortcut by what you are after.
- Beach and swimming: June and September. The Mediterranean stays at 23 to 25 degrees in September, without the August crowds or prices.
- Cities and culture (Madrid, Seville, Granada): April to May or October. You walk all day without suffocating.
- Hiking (Picos de Europa, Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada): June and September, melted snow and clear trails.
- Tight budget: November, the month when hotels cost least, outside long weekends.
- Winter sun: the Canaries, which hold 20 to 24 degrees from December to February.
The Spanish climate month by month
The temperatures below are daytime benchmarks for the centre and south, where most visitors travel. The Atlantic north stays cooler and wetter, the Canaries milder.
| Month | Benchmark temp | Crowds | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12-16 C | Low | Mild in the south, cool in the centre. Sun in the Canaries. |
| February | 13-17 C | Low | Low rates, almond blossom in Andalusia. |
| March | 16-20 C | Medium | Spring starts in the south. Holy Week some years. |
| April | 18-23 C | Medium | Beautiful light, green countryside. Feria de Sevilla. |
| May | 22-27 C | Medium | ★ One of the best months, everywhere. |
| June | 26-32 C | High | ★ Hot but not crushing, sea already good. |
| July | 33-40 C | Very high | Andalusia and Madrid past 40 C. Coasts packed. |
| August | 33-40 C | Very high | Peak heat and prices. The north stays more bearable. |
| September | 27-32 C | High | ★ Warm sea, crowds easing. Our favourite. |
| October | 21-26 C | Medium | ★ Mild and bright, ideal for cities. |
| November | 16-22 C | Low | Hotels at their lowest. Wet in the Canaries. |
| December | 12-17 C | Medium (holidays) | Cool in the centre, mild in the south. Christmas markets. |
For the detail of high summer coast by coast, see our guide on Spain in August.
When to go by region
This is where it all turns. The same week in July can be idyllic in Galicia and unliveable in Cordoba.
The Atlantic north (Galicia, Basque Country, Asturias)
The coolest, wettest region in the country, under the ocean’s influence. Summer is mild: highs stay around 20 to 25 degrees, which makes it a refuge when the rest of Spain bakes. Aim for July and August, precisely because it is the only truly dry season in the north. The rest of the year, expect rain and a raincoat.
The centre and Madrid
A sharp continental climate. Very hot, dry summers, cold winters with night frosts. For Madrid, Toledo or Salamanca, May, June, September and October are the best months. In July and August, the city empties and the heat passes 35 degrees in the shade.
Andalusia
The question comes up again and again: when to visit Andalusia without roasting? Answer: April, May, October, sometimes early November. Seville and Cordoba are among the hottest cities in Europe, with days above 40 degrees in high summer. At those temperatures, you no longer sightsee, you seek shade. In spring and autumn, expect 22 to 28 degrees, perfect for the Alcazar or the Alhambra. Our guide to visiting Andalusia goes into the cities in detail.
The Mediterranean coast (Costa Brava, Valencia, Costa del Sol)
The good beach compromise. The sea reaches 23 to 26 degrees from June to October. September is the smart month: water still warm, reliable sun, and the families gone. July and August stay pleasant by the water, but the hinterland heats up hard and the resorts are full.
The Canary Islands
The special case. A hundred kilometres off the African coast, the archipelago lives in a stable subtropical climate, between 20 degrees in January and 26 in August. It is the Spanish winter destination, for a swim while the mainland shivers. One caveat: November is the wettest month there, to avoid for a guaranteed-sun trip.
- Part of Andalusia holds the only semi-desert climate in continental Europe. The Tabernas Desert, near Almeria, served as the backdrop for dozens of spaghetti westerns in the 1960s and 1970s, including Sergio Leone’s Dollars trilogy.
The Spanish “puente” trap
One point the weather calendars miss: public holidays push prices up regardless of season. Spain strings together puentes, those long weekends when a holiday falling on a Tuesday or Thursday bridges to the weekend. The Spanish then head out in numbers to the coasts and tourist cities. The Constitution and Immaculate Conception bridge in early December, and the 1 November one, are among the busiest. If you target these dates, book early or pick a destination the locals overlook.
Festivals to aim for or avoid
Some dates are worth the trip. Others send hotels soaring and pack the streets. Match them to your tolerance for crowds.
- Holy Week (late March to early April, around 29 March to 5 April 2026): striking processions in Seville, Malaga, Granada. Spectacular, but accommodation full and prices at their peak.
- Feria de Sevilla (21 to 26 April 2026): flounced dresses, casetas, horses. The city switches to party mode two weeks after Holy Week. Book well ahead or stay on the outskirts.
- San Fermin in Pamplona (6 to 14 July 2026): the famous running of the bulls. An electric atmosphere, but a saturated city and short nights. Aim for it only if that is your goal.
- La Tomatina in Bunol (last Wednesday of August, 26 August 2026): the giant tomato fight near Valencia. Places are limited and a ticket is now required, to book well in advance.
How long to stay by season
The ideal length also depends on the timing. In high summer in the south, a short, focused stay built around mornings and evenings beats a long tour that would turn into an ordeal at 40 degrees. In spring and autumn, by contrast, Andalusia or the coast are best savoured over seven to ten days without fatigue. For a first trip combining a big city and a region, plan a week in May or October: long enough to breathe, short enough to avoid weariness, and right in the best weather window.
When to go to pay less
If budget calls the shots, aim for November. It is the low point of the hotel year, summer crowds gone and the festive season not yet arrived. You will find the best city rates, and the weather holds up in the south and on the east coast, between 16 and 22 degrees by day.
Just avoid the Canaries in November, where it rains most. For the archipelago, switch to January or February: sun and still-reasonable prices. For a full picture of costs season by season, see our Spain travel budget guide.
Planning your trip to Spain: staying connected
Spanish weather changes fast from one region to the next. Tracking the forecast the day before, booking a timed slot during a heatwave or shifting a hike if rain reaches the north all need a reliable connection, from the moment you arrive.
Spain is in the EU, so an EU plan works there with no surcharge, data included. An eSIM for Spain becomes useful in three cases: if you risk going over your Europe data allowance, if your plan does not cover Europe, or if you chain on a stop outside the EU. Activated before you leave, it connects you the moment you land on the 4G/5G network, at a fixed price known in advance.
- For an all-round trip, go in May-June or September-October.
- Andalusia and Madrid: avoid July-August, when it passes 40 degrees.
- Atlantic north: summer is its best season, mild and finally dry.
- Winter sun: head for the Canaries, except in November, the wettest month.
- Tight budget: November on the mainland, for hotels at their lowest.
With Orange, the service from a brand trusted by over 300 million customers, you travel with peace of mind: 200+ destinations covered, 24/7 human support, and a full refund if you never use your eSIM.
Heavy data use or a stop outside the EU planned? Set up your connection before you leave.
