Best time to visit Spain (2026): Spain best months + season-by-season breakdown + festivals + weather + peak/shoulder/off seasons. Includes when to avoid.
Quick answer: The best time to visit Spain is spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October), avoiding the intense inland summer heat.
Spain’s climate varies hugely by region, but the shoulder seasons suit almost everywhere.
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Plan around the seasons
See our full Travel Calendar 2026
Where to go every month of the year, with the best destinations for weather, wildlife, and value.
Average daily temperature ranges and what to expect, month by month:
Month
Avg temp
What to expect
Jan
3–13°C
Cold inland, mild on the coast; ski in the north.
Feb
4–14°C
Cool; quiet city breaks.
Mar
7–17°C
Spring begins; pleasant.
Apr
9–19°C
Mild, green — great for cities & festivals.
May
12–23°C
Warm, sunny — one of the best months.
Jun
16–28°C
Hot inland; beach season starts.
Jul
19–33°C
Very hot inland; coast is at its peak.
Aug
19–33°C
Hottest and busiest; head to the coast.
Sep
16–28°C
Warm, calmer — ideal all round.
Oct
12–22°C
Mild, golden; great value.
Nov
7–16°C
Cooler; quiet city season.
Dec
4–13°C
Cool; festive markets, northern skiing.
Want the full month-by-month breakdown? See our Spain weather by month (temperatures, rainfall & crowds).
Spain weather & climate by month
Best months to visit: May, June, September, October. Spain’s warmest month is July (avg 35°C / 95°F), the coolest is January (low 1°C / 33°F). The wettest is September (93 mm) and the driest is July.
Plug types: Type C (European Europlug (2-pin)); Type F (Schuko (German 2-pin + earth))
Voltage: 230 V
Frequency: 50 Hz
Driving side: they drive on the right (left-hand-drive vehicles)
Outlets here run at 230 V. Devices built only for 110–127 V (typical in the US, Canada and Japan) need a voltage converter — but phone and laptop chargers are almost always dual-voltage (check the label for “100–240V”) and just need a plug adapter.
Next public holiday: Santiago Apóstol on July 25, 2026. Expect closures, festive crowds and busier transport around national holidays — plan accordingly.
Date
Public holiday
January 1, 2026
New Year's Day
January 6, 2026
Epiphany
February 28, 2026
Day of Andalucía
March 1, 2026
Day of the Balearic Islands
April 2, 2026
Maundy Thursday
April 3, 2026
Good Friday
April 6, 2026
Easter Monday
April 23, 2026
Castile and León Day
April 23, 2026
Day of Aragón
May 1, 2026
Labour Day
May 2, 2026
Day of Madrid
May 17, 2026
Galician Literature Day
May 30, 2026
Day of the Canary Islands
May 31, 2026
Day of Castilla-La Mancha
June 4, 2026
Corpus Christi
June 9, 2026
Day of La Rioja
June 9, 2026
Day of Murcia
June 24, 2026
St. John's Day
July 25, 2026
Santiago Apóstol
July 28, 2026
Day of the Cantabrian Institutions
August 15, 2026
Assumption
September 8, 2026
Day of Asturias
September 8, 2026
Day of Extremadura
September 11, 2026
National Day of Catalonia
September 15, 2026
Feast of Our Lady of Bien Aparecida
October 9, 2026
Day of the Valencian Community
October 12, 2026
National Day of Spain
November 1, 2026
All Saints Day
December 6, 2026
Constitution Day
December 8, 2026
Immaculate Conception
December 25, 2026
Christmas Day
December 26, 2026
St. Stephen's Day
January 1, 2027
New Year's Day
January 6, 2027
Epiphany
February 28, 2027
Day of Andalucía
March 1, 2027
Day of the Balearic Islands
March 25, 2027
Maundy Thursday
March 26, 2027
Good Friday
March 29, 2027
Easter Monday
April 23, 2027
Castile and León Day
April 23, 2027
Day of Aragón
May 1, 2027
Labour Day
May 2, 2027
Day of Madrid
May 17, 2027
Galician Literature Day
May 27, 2027
Corpus Christi
May 30, 2027
Day of the Canary Islands
May 31, 2027
Day of Castilla-La Mancha
June 9, 2027
Day of La Rioja
June 9, 2027
Day of Murcia
June 24, 2027
St. John's Day
July 25, 2027
Santiago Apóstol
July 28, 2027
Day of the Cantabrian Institutions
August 15, 2027
Assumption
September 8, 2027
Day of Asturias
September 8, 2027
Day of Extremadura
September 11, 2027
National Day of Catalonia
September 15, 2027
Feast of Our Lady of Bien Aparecida
October 9, 2027
Day of the Valencian Community
October 12, 2027
National Day of Spain
November 1, 2027
All Saints Day
December 6, 2027
Constitution Day
December 8, 2027
Immaculate Conception
December 25, 2027
Christmas Day
December 26, 2027
St. Stephen's Day
Source: Nager.Date public-holiday data. National holidays only — regional or religious observances may vary; confirm locally before travel.
Peak — July & August: Beach and island high season. The coast and the Balearics are busiest and priciest, while Madrid, Seville and Córdoba turn furnace-hot. Many Spaniards holiday in August, so smaller inland towns can feel half-shut.
Shoulder — April–June & September–October: The sweet spot for almost the whole country — warm but not oppressive, long days, manageable crowds and better-value hotels.
Low — November–March: Cool and quiet inland, mild on the southern coast, ski season in the Sierra Nevada and Pyrenees. City breaks are cheapest and least crowded now.
When to visit Spain by travel goal
Beaches & islands: June to September for reliable heat and a warm sea; late May and early October still deliver in the south.
Cities & sightseeing: April–June and September–October — comfortable for walking and far shorter queues at the Alhambra, the Sagrada Família and the Prado.
Festivals: Las Fallas in Valencia (March), Semana Santa and Seville’s Feria de Abril (around Easter), San Fermín in Pamplona (July) and La Tomatina near Valencia (late August).
Skiing: December to March in the Sierra Nevada above Granada and across the Pyrenees.
Wine & harvest: September–October in Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
Budget trips: November–March (outside Christmas and New Year) for the lowest city-break prices.
What to avoid in Spain
Inland cities at the height of summer: Madrid, Seville and Córdoba regularly climb past 35°C in July and August, turning sightseeing into a siesta-and-shade affair.
August in small towns: many family-run restaurants and shops close while owners take their own holidays.
Easter week (Semana Santa): unforgettable, but Seville and much of Andalusia are packed and hotel prices spike — book well ahead or base yourself elsewhere.
Booking & money-saving tips
Reserve coastal and island stays for July–August months in advance; last-minute summer beach rooms are scarce and expensive.
Travel in the shoulder months for the best balance of weather, crowds and price.
Spain’s high-speed AVE trains are far cheaper booked early, with fares rising as seats sell.
For winter sun on a budget, the Costa del Sol and the Canary Islands stay mild and cost far less than in summer.
Spain timing FAQ
What is the cheapest time to visit Spain? November to March, outside Christmas and New Year, when city hotel and flight prices are lowest and crowds thinnest.
Is Spain too hot in summer? The coast stays comfortable thanks to sea breezes, but inland cities can be genuinely draining in July and August — plan early mornings and late evenings.
When does Spain have the best weather? Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) bring warm, settled weather across most of the country.
