tapas offering family celebration dinner wine

Best Time to Visit Spain

Experience the magic of spring and fall in Spain

A whole lot of sunshine, beautiful beaches, stunning architecture, delectable cuisine and some of the world’s most popular religious and cultural festivals – what’s not to love about Spain?

There is a vibrancy to the country, which extends across its culture, nightlife, and cuisine, making it arguably among the most popular destinations in Europe. Exploring Barcelona, sampling Basque cuisine or hiking in Andalusia are some of the top acitivities in Spain for visitors, all of which is best done during the warmer months.

While its beaches are a huge draw in the summer and one of the top attractions of Spain, it can get crowded and hot around this time. The best time to visit Spain is usually during Spring (April and May) and Fall (September and October). The weather in Spain is pleasant during those months – it is not as hot as it is in summer (when temperatures usually average in the 80s) and not as crowded as well. Before you start planning your Spain vacations, learn more about the weather and highlights by month, from our destination experts.

Best Time To Visit

Most Ideal

Low Season

overview

January paves the way for the high season. The average highs hover in the mid 50s (℉) and lows can drop to freezing and below. Some parts of the country even witness snowfall. In the smaller towns, some of the attractions may be closed.

we recommend

Enjoy the festivities of Dia de Los Reyes Magos (Epiphany/Three Kings Day)

overview

Cold, gloomy conditions continue through this month. Major cities such as Barcelona and Madrid tend to get fewer visitors around this time; so you could head here for a winter vacation with fewer crowds.

we recommend

Head to the Canary Islands for some sun
Enjoy the flamenco festival in Jerez and the Carnival festivities in Cádiz

overview

Though the nights continue to remain cold, day temperatures begin to rise. Crowds are still thin, so this could be a good time to plan a visit to popular attractions.

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Enjoy the vibrant Las Fallas festival in Valencia
Explore the museums and other sights and sounds of Madrid

overview

Spring has set in by this time: expect rising temperatures and sunny days – the temperature usually averages around the mid 60s, though it can sometimes drop to the mid 40s at night time.

we recommend

Participate in some of Spain’s biggest festivals: the Holy Week festivities or Semana Santa, in the week leading up to Easter, as well as the Feria de Abril festivities in Seville, two weeks after Semana Santa
Visit the Alhambra and other popular attractions in Granada

overview

Much like April, May is a great time to visit Spain. Expect plenty of sunshine and pleasant conditions – the temperatures in Barcelona are usually in the mid 60s.

we recommend

Go on a walking tour of Barcelona
Take in the sights of Cordoba

overview

This is the peak season in Spain. At most beach destinations, the temperatures will average in the high 70s to the early 80s. This is also school vacation time in Spain, so popular tourist destinations can be crowded.

we recommend

Enjoy sunbathing on the beaches of Spain and a range of watersports
Maximize your time indoors by visiting museums in Barcelona and Madrid

overview

Expect high temperatures, sunshine and large crowds. It can get very hot in cities like Madrid, so remember to stay hydrated. This is an extremely busy month being the peak of the tourist season.

we recommend

Head out on an evening food tour in Barcelona or Madrid
Watch a football match in Barcelona

overview

August continues to be hot, humid, sunny and crowded across most of Spain. Keep yourself hydrated and wear a cap/hat and plenty of sunscreen. The beaches will be busy at this time of the year as well.

we recommend

Go on a culinary tour in San Sebastian
Head to the town of Bunol to participate in the La Tomatina festivities, one of Spain’s biggest celebrations

overview

This is among the best times to visit Spain. The crowds reduce and the fiery heat of summer begins to abate gradually through the month.

we recommend

Head to Catalonia to participate in two big festivals: La Mercé and Festa de Santa Tecla
Enjoy a wine tour in the La Rioja region, as this is the start of the wine harvest season in the country

overview

Temperatures begin to drop and you can expect some amount of rain, especially towards the end of the month as winter approaches. This is still a good month to visit the country as there is a fair bit of sunshine. Expect daily temperatures to average around the 70s across the country.

we recommend

Take advantage of the fewer crowds and explore popular attractions in Barcelona and Madrid
If you enjoy surfing, head to places such as the Basque region and Bilbao to make the most of the great swells

overview

Temperatures drop throughout the country and you can expect a fair amount of rainfall as well.

we recommend

Take advantage of the cooler weather and go on a walking tour in Seville

overview

Expect it to be cold across most of the country with occasional bursts of rainfall; cities like Madrid usually see temperatures in the 50s. It can get busy around Christmas and New Year’s eve.

we recommend

Go skiing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Enjoy Christmas festivities across the country, especially the Christmas markets in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor

What to Pack for Spain

Irrespective of when you travel, comfortable walking shoes are an absolute must, as you will likely embark on walking tours and many of the smaller towns have cobbled stone streets. If you plan to visit churches and museums, make sure that your stomach and shoulders are covered to show respect for local customs. Spanish people love wearing sunglasses and you’ll find this a useful practice too, especially in the scorching summer months!

Spring: Carry layers – light cotton clothes to wear during the day and a sweater or jacket for chilly evenings and nights. Carry an umbrella for the occasional spring showers.

Summer: It gets very hot in Spain during summer especially in cities such as Madrid. Carry lightweight breathable clothing, a hat/cap, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen. Summer dresses, shorts, and short-sleeved clothes are a good idea around this time.

Fall: Carry layers – lightweight clothes for the day and a warm shawl or sweater for the evenings. This is also the time Spain experiences a fair amount of rainfall, so carry adequate rain gear.

Winter: Winters can get cold and rainy, so make sure you pack adequate warm clothes. Temperatures average in the mid 50s, though the rainfall and grey conditions make it seem much colder. Carry layers, including plenty of raingear as Spain sees a good amount of rainfall during winter.

From beautiful landscapes and cultural hotspots to culinary gems, there’s much to explore in Spain. Plan your vacation now!

Picturesque street of Mijas with flower pots in facades. Andalusian white village. Costa del Sol. Southern Spain

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Typical Spanish woman dancing flamenco in Seville, Andalusia, Spain.-min

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Best Places To Visit

Barcelona is the global traveler’s dream come true. Expect to encounter a flamboyant cosmopolitan city with a history encompassing Roman catacombs and magnificent medieval cathedrals to modernist architecture and street art.

Barcelona

Bilbao is a sunny port city celebrated for its urban architecture of soaring skyscrapers, cultural centers and museums such as Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, offset by a coastal landscape and towering cathedrals.

Bilbao

Cordoba’s colorful historical past and an equally vibrant present brought together with a medieval Islamic heritage delights travelers from all over the world.

Córdoba

Comfortably ensconced at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in southern Spain, the grand Andalusian city of Granada is best known for the Alhambra, the symbol of Europe’s colorful Moorish history from the middle ages.

Granada

La Rioja Region is marked by idyllic vineyards watered by the Ebro River, the lovely Cantabrian Mountains with the river valley below, and vast open blue skies.

La Rioja Region

The beautiful city of Madrid serves the global traveler an amalgamation of Spain’s glorious history and modern culture on a platter.

Madrid

Safety

Spain, like most countries in Europe, is extremely safe and welcoming, every year millions of people visit and enjoy the country incident-free. Here are a few things you should always keep in mind.

Is Spain Safe

Travel Guide

Whether you’re interested in medieval palaces or treating your taste buds with exceptional food and wine, expect a fantastic vacation with an abundance of things to experience. Here’s our travel guide to see you through the journey.

Spain Travel Guide

Cuisine

If you’re planning a trip to this beautiful country, you’ll be spoiled for choice with its many restaurants, cafes, and markets serving up all sorts of sizzling and seasonal delights. Eat your way through Spain with our tips!

Cuisine in Spain

What Our Guests Say

We used Enchanting Travels to help us plan a big graduation trip for my two sons. There was 6 of us in total and we had the perfect blend of activity/tours/sightseeing as well as free time to explore Spain and Switzerland. We had a perfect trip; all the details were thought of and there were no worries or stress throughout our travels. I would recommend them to anyone looking for help planning a European vacation!

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Daphne Fleck

USA

Enchanting Travels is a great way to go! Travel plans are made according to our own desires yet with the expertise of well travelled guidance. We were grateful for having a point of contact during our trip. It gave us reassurance that we had someone to call for questions and emergencies. Our trip to Spain went without a hitch! We appreciated the itinerary that was suggested and that we followed. The whole trip plan was right on. We had the best time ever!!

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David Cook

USA

First and foremost – A huge shout out to Nurit for how incredible she is! We love her! She, not only listens – truly listens, she is an amazing person and now a friend:) We appreciate her and trust her – which is so important! She was very patient and understanding throughout the process and made things work that we were wanting to do! The entire process is so simple and alleviates so much undo stress that is associated with traveling. You all know the areas – the places to go – where to go and when, etc. The transfers to and from airport, train station, excursions and hotels were a huge help! We will work with you all again and again! Also, Tanisha and team were and are GREAT – they were on top of responding to us when needed throughout the entire trip. Very good about getting right back always! Last minute questions were answered throughout the entire trip and if we needed to adjust anything she and the team were on it! Thank you! Thanks overall for a great trip – we are working on our next one now 🙂 100% recommend to anyone traveling! Tracy and Michayla George

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Tracy George

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Enchanting truly makes your trip an enchanting experience!! I have used them a few times with the same results. They are all so nice and willing to work with you and make it that very special experience

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