The best time to visit Spain is during the shoulder seasons in the spring and the fall. The shoulder season in the spring runs between March and May. The fall shoulder season runs from September to November. While these are the best times to visit in my opinion, they are not the most popular time to visit. The summer months are the most popular time to visit Spain as is common with most of Europe due to students being on break.
If you are considering a trip to Spain, check out our Spain Itineraries page for all the best ways to explore the country on your vacation.
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Weather in Spain
Spain occupies the Iberian peninsula with Portugal in the south of Europe. Due to this location, temperatures tend to be warmer in Spain than in most of Europe. The Iberian peninsula is also very dry which leaves Spain as a dusty country most of the year.
Temperatures
The average daily upper temperatures in much of Spain is high – 90°F in the summer months of July and August. This can be very difficult for travel if you are doing outdoor activities during this time. Spain has long had a siesta culture. Part of the reason for siesta culture is to avoid the heat in the hottest part of the day. It is also notable that the interior of the country gets much hotter than the coastal areas during the summer.
Because of the heat of summer, the spring and fall months are much nicer. These times of the year average highs are between 72 – 88°F. During the winter months, the lows approach the lower 40°F, but most of the year, lows stay around the mid-50°F to upper 60°F.
Rain
As mentioned earlier, the Iberian peninsula is very dry. Spain receives average yearly precipitation totaling between 4 – 7 inches depending on the region. Spain will receive nearly half of its yearly rainfall between October and December. Tourists generally avoid the rainy season anywhere they go on travel. However, when Spain’s rainy season amounts to 1 inch of rain a month, there isn’t an impact to travel.
All in all, the weather in Spain is quite nice year-round. The summer months do get a little warm (especially around mid-day), so it is often nicer to travel to Spain in the spring and fall. However, if your schedule only allows summer travel the weather is still nice enough to go. Keep the heat in mind as you plan your activities. You will want to have indoor activities scheduled during the middle of the day.
Crowds
Despite the hot weather in Spain during June, July, and August, these are the most popular months to visit Spain. During the summer months, many people throughout Europe and America travel for vacation when schools are on recess. Due to the similar school schedules in the Northern Hemisphere, the travel demand combines into these three months. In addition, during the summer months, many locals will also travel to the coast for cooler climates to escape the high heat in the interior of the country.
Following the basic economic rules of supply and demand, a large number of travelers in June, July, and August result in higher prices. The additional crowds also mean longer lines at popular attractions and additional difficulty securing tickets. If you want to avoid crowds at most of the major attractions, choose to travel during non-summer months. Traveling in the shoulder or off-season will also mean lower prices for flights and hotels. If your schedule allows, traveling in March-May or September-November tends to be the best bang for your buck. During these months, the weather is still good, and daylight hours are still long. In addition, you will be able to avoid the crowds of summer and save some money.
Festivals and Major Celebrations
Festivals and major celebrations can draw large crowds and change the normal setting of a city. At the same time, the festivals and celebrations are special events that provide unique insights into the cultural observances of a country. It is helpful to know when the festivals and celebrations are so you can plan the best time to visit Spain. Depending on your preferred type of travel, you can plan to see them or avoid them altogether. Some of the major festivals and celebrations observed in Spain are listed below.
Holidays by Date
- New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day – Businesses are closed on New Years Day to celebrate the start of the new year.
- Three Kings Festival/Dia de Los Reyes (January 5th) – Many towns throughout Spain will put on colorful parades on January 5th. These parades celebrate the arrival of the three wise men in the Christian nativity story. In Spain, gifts are given to children on the night of January 5th instead of Christmas as it is throughout most of the world.
- Holy Week/Semana Santa (Spring – dates vary) – Some businesses will close on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Many cities will host passion plays and processions through the streets.
- Easter Sunday and Monday (Spring – dates vary) – Most businesses will be closed in observance of the religious holiday.
- Bullfight Opening – Most bullfighting seasons begin after Easter Sunday or during the month of May.
- Dos de Mayo (May 2nd) – Businesses are closed in Madrid to celebrate the uprising of the people of Madrid against occupying French troops.
- National Holiday of Spain/Fiesta Nacional de Espana (October 12th) – National holiday with business closures celebrating the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the Americas. This holiday is also celebrated in many other parts of the world as Columbus Day.
- Constitution Day/Dia de la Constitucion (December 6th) – National holiday with business closures celebrating the creation of the Spanish constitution in 1978.
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 24th and 25th) – Businesses start closing the evening of the 24th and are closed all day on the 25th. A big family meal and attendance at a midnight church service is traditional in Spain.
