Best time to visit Spain
The short answer? May and October. They're the months with the best balance between pleasant temperatures (19–21 °C on average) and smaller crowds. July and August are the driest, but also the hottest — the interior exceeds 40 °C — and the most expensive. Winter (November to February) is mild, cheap and quiet: ideal for city breaks and museums. What follows is a month-by-month breakdown, calculated from the climate and footfall data we verified across 11 Spanish cities.
The short answer: May and October
If you're choosing by weather and want to avoid the crowds, aim for May or October. In May the average hovers around 20–21 °C, and in October around 19 °C: warm enough for terraces, a dip in the sea and long walks without breaking a sweat, but without the absolute crush of July and August.
The honest nuance: May already sees heavy tourism (bank holidays, festivals) and October brings more rain (it's one of the wettest months of the year). Even so, the temperature/crowds/price balance is the best on the calendar. April and early June are the next best bet.
Spring (April–June): Spain at its finest
Spring climbs from around 17 °C in April to nearly 25 °C in June. April is mild and still relatively quiet (medium footfall); May is the sweet spot for weather; June is effectively summer — dry and busy.
This is the season of the great southern festivals — the Feria de Abril in Sevilla, the Patios de Córdoba in May, Corpus Christi — so cross-check your dates with the local calendar: hotel prices rise during those events and booking ahead is essential.
Summer (July–August): heat, coast and interior
This is the driest stretch of the year (barely 19–30 mm of rainfall on average), but also the hottest: an average of 28 °C and, especially inland, peaks above 40 °C. Córdoba, Sevilla and Madrid become brutal at midday; the coast — Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga, San Sebastián — is far more manageable thanks to the sea breeze.
It's peak season through and through: maximum prices, packed cities and many locals on holiday in August. On the plus side, this is when the summer verbenas and festivals burst into life. Our tip: museums and monuments first thing in the morning, streets and beaches at sunset.
Autumn (September–October): the insider secret
September stays warm (24 °C on average) and still sees high footfall, but the sea is at its warmest and cities gradually empty out — it's "summer without the hassle". October drops to 19 °C, footfall moves to medium and rain picks up (it's the wettest month in our dataset).
For many travellers, late September and the first half of October are the best window of the year: pleasant weather, falling prices and beautiful autumn light.
Winter (November–February): cities, museums and low prices
Spanish winter is mild rather than harsh: averages of 11–12 °C, often sunny days and the lowest footfall of the year. It rains more than in summer (60–70 mm on average), especially in the Atlantic north. It's the best time for city tourism — museums without queues, restaurants without waits — and hotel prices hit rock bottom (except around the December bank holidays and Christmas).
The south (Sevilla, Granada, Málaga) is the gentlest in winter; the north (San Sebastián) and the interior are colder and wetter.
How we calculated this
These averages don't come from thin air: we averaged the temperature, rainfall and footfall data we verified city by city — eleven Spanish destinations — in our individual city guides. This isn't data from a single city or a gut feeling: it's the national average drawn from our own dataset, which you can browse and compare on the data page.
Like all climate figures, these are averages: any given year can deviate from the norm. For exact conditions in a specific city, check its guide and the official forecast before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
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Plan your trip to these cities
Barcelona
The capital of modernisme: Gaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, the Ramblas, Montjuïc and city beaches in Barceloneta.
Madrid
The art triangle (Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen), the taverns of La Latina, and a street life that keeps going late.
Sevilla
The Real Alcázar, the Cathedral with La Giralda, the flamenco of Triana, and two festivals that define it: Semana Santa and the Feria de Abril.
Valencia
Calatrava's Ciudad de las Artes, the Art Nouveau Mercado Central, the Jardins del Túria and the Fallas that set the city ablaze every March.
Granada
Nasrid Alhambra, Albaicín viewpoints, free tapas with every caña, and Sierra Nevada snow-capped half an hour from the centre.
Málaga
The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, the 'Manquita' Cathedral, the Picasso Museum and sardine espetos on its urban beaches.