Country guide

Spain

Barcelona and Madrid, Andalusia's Moorish cities, pintxos in the north and beach seasons that run deep into autumn.

Currency

EUR

Language

Spanish

English

Widely spoken

Payment

Cards everywhere

Power

Type C / F

230 V, 50 Hz

Dialing

+34

Destinations

Spain

Alicante

A medieval castle on a sea rock, with a real Spanish city and the Costa Blanca's best tapas streets at its feet.

✓ best all year

Spain

Barcelona

A great European city that hands you Gothic lanes, a skyline of Gaudi and a swimmable beach in the same afternoon.

✓ best Mar-Jun, Sep-Oct

Spain

Bilbao

A gritty Basque steel port turned architectural showpiece, with a pintxo-bar old town still at its heart.

✓ best Mar-Sep

Spain

Cordoba

Once the capital of a caliphate and Europe's largest city, now a walkable old town built around the most extraordinary interior in Spain.

✓ best Sep-Jun

Spain

Fuerteventura

The Canaries' sand island: a hundred-odd beaches, dunes you can lose yourself in, and trade winds you can set a holiday by.

✓ best all year

Spain

Gran Canaria

A continent in miniature - Saharan-looking dunes at one end, a volcanic monolith in the clouds at the other, an hour apart by car.

✓ best all year

Spain

Granada

The last capital of Moorish Spain, with Europe's finest Islamic palace on the hill and free tapas in the bars below.

✓ best Sep-Jun

Spain

Ibiza

The island that reinvented nightlife, wrapped around a pine-and-turquoise coastline you can still have almost to yourself.

✓ best all year

Spain

Lanzarote

Europe's strangest holiday island: a national park of live volcanic ground, and one artist's vision imposed on everything else you can see.

✓ best all year

Spain

Madrid

Europe's great late-night city, with the Prado sitting in the middle of it.

✓ best Mar-Nov

Spain

Malaga

Picasso's home city, a Moorish fortress on the hill and a beach at the end of the street - the Costa del Sol with a real old town attached.

✓ best all year

Spain

Mallorca

A Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO mountain range, hundreds of coves and the most sought-after road cycling in Europe, all within an hour's drive.

✓ best all year

Spain

Menorca

The quiet Balearic: a coast path around the entire island, and the coves you have to walk in to.

✓ best Dec-Oct

Spain

Ronda

A white mountain town sliced in half by a hundred-metre gorge, with the most photographed bridge in Spain thrown across the middle of it.

✓ best Apr-Feb

Spain

San Sebastian

Europe's loveliest city bay, wrapped around an old town that eats better per square metre than almost anywhere on earth.

✓ best Jul

Spain

Santiago de Compostela

The end of Europe's oldest pilgrim road, wrapped in a UNESCO-listed granite old town that would be worth the journey even if nobody was walking to it.

✓ best Jun-Sep

Spain

Seville

The most Andalusian city there is - Moorish palaces, orange-tree lanes and flamenco, packed into a centre you can walk end to end.

✓ best Feb-May, Oct-Nov

Spain

Tenerife

Spain's highest mountain rising straight out of the Atlantic, with laurel-forest wilderness at one end of the island and winter-sun beaches at the other.

✓ best all year

Spain

Valencia

The city that diverted its river, turned the empty bed into a park, and still cooks the best paella in Spain.

✓ best all year

The sweet-spot windows

Good weather, thinner crowds, better prices: the windows worth aiming for.

Where	When	Why it works	Watch out for
Andalusia	Mar-Apr, Oct	Spring blooms + Semana Santa/Feria, or warm autumn	Jul-Aug 36°C furnace. Easter books out
Barcelona	May, Sep-Oct	Warm, sunny, sea still swimmable, thinner crowds than Jul-Aug	Oct can turn wet
Canaries	Nov-Mar	Reliable winter-sun escape: 22°C and dry while Europe freezes	Trade winds on north coasts

Climate zones, month by month

Spain has 19 distinct climate zones. The right month depends on where in the country you're going.

Alicante Costa Blanca →

Jan

17°

7°

24mm

2d rain

Feb

18°

7°

17mm

1d rain

Mar

20°

9°

29mm

7d rain

Apr

22°

12°

29mm

5d rain

May

25°

15°

19mm

3d rain

Jun

28°

19°

8mm

2d rain

Jul

31°

21°

3mm

0d rain

Aug

31°

22°

13mm

1d rain

Sep

29°

19°

49mm

4d rain

Oct

25°

15°

33mm

3d rain

Nov

21°

11°

33mm

4d rain

Dec

18°

8°

25mm

1d rain

✓ Best all year

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Barcelona →

Jan

14°

6°

43mm

3d rain

Feb

15°

7°

33mm

2d rain

Mar

17°

9°

42mm

5d rain

Apr

19°

11°

47mm

5d rain

May

22°

15°

42mm

3d rain

Jun

26°

19°

27mm

6d rain

Jul

29°

22°

27mm

3d rain

Aug

30°

22°

51mm

3d rain

Sep

27°

19°

86mm

5d rain

Oct

23°

15°

84mm

5d rain

Nov

18°

10°

48mm

5d rain

Dec

15°

7°

38mm

2d rain

✓ Best Mar-Jun, Sep-Oct

Conditions Jan-Feb Cool · Mar Mild spring · Apr Pleasant · May Warm · Jun Warm & sunny · Jul Hot · Aug Hot & busy · Sep Warm · Oct Mild autumn · Nov Cool & wet · Dec Cool

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Bilbao Basque Country →

Jan

14°

5°

131mm

9d rain

Feb

14°

5°

109mm

7d rain

Mar

17°

7°

98mm

8d rain

Apr

18°

8°

97mm

8d rain

May

21°

11°

76mm

7d rain

Jun

24°

14°

58mm

8d rain

Jul

26°

16°

52mm

1d rain

Aug

26°

16°

53mm

4d rain

Sep

25°

14°

75mm

10d rain

Oct

22°

12°

112mm

9d rain

Nov

17°

8°

171mm

12d rain

Dec

14°

6°

125mm

13d rain

✓ Best Mar-Sep

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Cordoba Andalusia →

Jan

15°

3°

58mm

3d rain

Feb

17°

4°

53mm

2d rain

Mar

21°

7°

61mm

6d rain

Apr

23°

9°

54mm

4d rain

May

28°

13°

42mm

4d rain

Jun

33°

16°

11mm

1d rain

Jul

37°

19°

1mm

0d rain

Aug

37°

19°

7mm

1d rain

Sep

32°

17°

37mm

2d rain

Oct

26°

13°

79mm

7d rain

Nov

19°

8°

79mm

4d rain

Dec

16°

5°

91mm

4d rain

✓ Best Sep-Jun

Watch for Jul-Aug extreme heat risk

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Fuerteventura Canary Islands →

Jan

21°

15°

13mm

1d rain

Feb

21°

15°

10mm

0d rain

Mar

22°

16°

10mm

0d rain

Apr

23°

17°

5mm

0d rain

May

24°

18°

1mm

1d rain

Jun

26°

19°

0mm

1d rain

Jul

27°

21°

0mm

0d rain

Aug

27°

21°

0mm

0d rain

Sep

27°

21°

2mm

1d rain

Oct

26°

20°

11mm

0d rain

Nov

24°

18°

13mm

0d rain

Dec

22°

16°

19mm

1d rain

✓ Best all year

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Gran Canaria Canary Islands →

Jan

21°

16°

26mm

2d rain

Feb

21°

16°

20mm

0d rain

Mar

22°

16°

12mm

1d rain

Apr

23°

17°

5mm

0d rain

May

24°

18°

1mm

1d rain

Jun

25°

20°

0mm

1d rain

Jul

27°

21°

0mm

0d rain

Aug

28°

22°

1mm

0d rain

Sep

27°

21°

5mm

1d rain

Oct

26°

20°

19mm

0d rain

Nov

24°

18°

17mm

1d rain

Dec

22°

17°

26mm

2d rain

✓ Best all year

Conditions Jan Warm & dry · Feb-Mar Warm · Apr Warm & dry · May-Jun Warm · Jul Warm & sunny · Aug-Oct Warm · Nov Warm & mild · Dec Winter sun

Watch for Jun-Nov cyclones & hurricanes risk

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Granada Andalusia →

Jan

13°

1°

39mm

3d rain

Feb

15°

2°

32mm

2d rain

Mar

18°

4°

41mm

6d rain

Apr

21°

7°

37mm

3d rain

May

25°

10°

31mm

3d rain

Jun

31°

14°

8mm

1d rain

Jul

35°

17°

1mm

0d rain

Aug

35°

17°

3mm

0d rain

Sep

29°

14°

27mm

1d rain

Oct

24°

10°

42mm

3d rain

Nov

17°

5°

49mm

2d rain

Dec

14°

2°

44mm

3d rain

✓ Best Sep-Jun

Watch for Jul extreme heat risk

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Ibiza Balearic Islands →

Jan

16°

8°

40mm

3d rain

Feb

16°

8°

31mm

2d rain

Mar

18°

9°

22mm

4d rain

Apr

20°

11°

27mm

5d rain

May

23°

14°

22mm

3d rain

Jun

27°

18°

8mm

1d rain

Jul

30°

21°

3mm

0d rain

Aug

30°

22°

18mm

2d rain

Sep

27°

19°

63mm

5d rain

Oct

24°

16°

57mm

3d rain

Nov

19°

12°

61mm

6d rain

Dec

17°

9°

52mm

3d rain

✓ Best all year

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Lanzarote Canary Islands →

Jan

22°

14°

15mm

1d rain

Feb

22°

14°

16mm

0d rain

Mar

24°

15°

11mm

0d rain

Apr

24°

16°

4mm

0d rain

May

26°

17°

1mm

0d rain

Jun

27°

19°

0mm

1d rain

Jul

29°

20°

0mm

0d rain

Aug

30°

21°

1mm

0d rain

Sep

29°

21°

2mm

1d rain

Oct

28°

19°

13mm

0d rain

Nov

25°

17°

16mm

0d rain

Dec

23°

15°

21mm

1d rain

✓ Best all year

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Madrid →

Jan

10°

3°

32mm

4d rain

Feb

12°

4°

34mm

2d rain

Mar

16°

6°

35mm

6d rain

Apr

19°

8°

46mm

5d rain

May

24°

12°

48mm

3d rain

Jun

29°

17°

20mm

3d rain

Jul

33°

20°

9mm

1d rain

Aug

33°

19°

10mm

1d rain

Sep

27°

16°

24mm

5d rain

Oct

20°

11°

64mm

7d rain

Nov

14°

6°

52mm

5d rain

Dec

10°

4°

42mm

4d rain

✓ Best Mar-Nov

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Malaga Costa del Sol →

Jan

17°

8°

62mm

4d rain

Feb

18°

9°

59mm

2d rain

Mar

20°

10°

66mm

7d rain

Apr

22°

12°

41mm

3d rain

May

25°

15°

23mm

3d rain

Jun

29°

19°

4mm

1d rain

Jul

31°

21°

0mm

0d rain

Aug

31°

22°

3mm

0d rain

Sep

28°

19°

25mm

1d rain

Oct

24°

16°

61mm

4d rain

Nov

20°

12°

79mm

3d rain

Dec

18°

9°

88mm

3d rain

✓ Best all year

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Mallorca Balearic Islands →

Jan

17°

9°

44mm

4d rain

Feb

17°

9°

37mm

3d rain

Mar

18°

10°

29mm

5d rain

Apr

20°

12°

38mm

4d rain

May

24°

16°

32mm

4d rain

Jun

27°

19°

14mm

2d rain

Jul

30°

22°

5mm

0d rain

Aug

30°

23°

22mm

1d rain

Sep

28°

20°

58mm

6d rain

Oct

24°

17°

73mm

6d rain

Nov

20°

13°

68mm

7d rain

Dec

18°

10°

49mm

4d rain

✓ Best all year

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Menorca Balearic Islands →

Jan

15°

7°

59mm

4d rain

Feb

15°

7°

50mm

2d rain

Mar

17°

8°

38mm

4d rain

Apr

19°

10°

43mm

4d rain

May

22°

14°

29mm

3d rain

Jun

26°

18°

15mm

2d rain

Jul

29°

21°

5mm

0d rain

Aug

29°

21°

18mm

2d rain

Sep

26°

19°

67mm

6d rain

Oct

23°

16°

73mm

5d rain

Nov

19°

11°

101mm

8d rain

Dec

16°

8°

60mm

4d rain

✓ Best Dec-Oct

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Ronda Andalusia →

Jan

16°

9°

70mm

5d rain

Feb

17°

10°

33mm

3d rain

Mar

18°

11°

116mm

7d rain

Apr

20°

13°

38mm

4d rain

May

23°

15°

32mm

3d rain

Jun

26°

18°

10mm

0d rain

Jul

30°

21°

1mm

0d rain

Aug

31°

22°

2mm

0d rain

Sep

27°

19°

14mm

1d rain

Oct

23°

16°

61mm

4d rain

Nov

20°

13°

51mm

4d rain

Dec

17°

11°

67mm

4d rain

✓ Best Apr-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

San Sebastian Basque Country →

Jan

13°

5°

164mm

8d rain

Feb

14°

5°

139mm

7d rain

Mar

16°

8°

129mm

9d rain

Apr

18°

9°

141mm

8d rain

May

20°

12°

123mm

7d rain

Jun

23°

15°

102mm

10d rain

Jul

24°

18°

90mm

3d rain

Aug

25°

18°

104mm

5d rain

Sep

23°

15°

137mm

10d rain

Oct

21°

12°

158mm

10d rain

Nov

16°

8°

221mm

11d rain

Dec

14°

6°

176mm

14d rain

✓ Best Jul

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Santiago de Compostela Galicia →

Jan

12°

4°

216mm

11d rain

Feb

13°

4°

146mm

9d rain

Mar

16°

5°

154mm

10d rain

Apr

17°

6°

138mm

11d rain

May

19°

9°

115mm

7d rain

Jun

22°

11°

62mm

8d rain

Jul

24°

13°

41mm

2d rain

Aug

24°

14°

61mm

3d rain

Sep

22°

12°

91mm

8d rain

Oct

19°

10°

207mm

16d rain

Nov

14°

7°

222mm

13d rain

Dec

13°

5°

222mm

15d rain

✓ Best Jun-Sep

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Seville Andalusia →

Jan

16°

6°

56mm

4d rain

Feb

18°

7°

46mm

3d rain

Mar

22°

10°

47mm

6d rain

Apr

24°

12°

54mm

3d rain

May

28°

15°

34mm

3d rain

Jun

32°

18°

6mm

1d rain

Jul

36°

20°

1mm

0d rain

Aug

36°

21°

3mm

0d rain

Sep

31°

18°

33mm

1d rain

Oct

26°

15°

75mm

6d rain

Nov

20°

10°

72mm

4d rain

Dec

17°

7°

77mm

5d rain

✓ Best Feb-May, Oct-Nov · ✗ Avoid Jul-Aug

Conditions Jan Mild & wet · Feb Mild · Mar Warm spring · Apr Feria, pleasant · May Warm · Jun Hot · Jul-Aug Scorching · Sep Hot easing · Oct Warm autumn · Nov Mild · Dec Mild & wet

Watch for Jul-Aug extreme heat risk

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Tenerife Canary Islands →

Jan

23°

15°

17mm

2d rain

Feb

23°

15°

19mm

1d rain

Mar

24°

16°

13mm

1d rain

Apr

24°

16°

8mm

0d rain

May

25°

17°

1mm

0d rain

Jun

26°

19°

0mm

1d rain

Jul

28°

20°

0mm

0d rain

Aug

29°

21°

2mm

0d rain

Sep

28°

21°

3mm

1d rain

Oct

27°

20°

13mm

1d rain

Nov

25°

18°

11mm

2d rain

Dec

24°

17°

33mm

2d rain

✓ Best all year

Watch for Jun-Nov cyclones & hurricanes risk

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Valencia →

Jan

17°

8°

39mm

2d rain

Feb

17°

8°

30mm

1d rain

Mar

19°

10°

40mm

7d rain

Apr

21°

12°

33mm

4d rain

May

24°

15°

36mm

3d rain

Jun

27°

19°

26mm

4d rain

Jul

30°

22°

7mm

1d rain

Aug

30°

22°

15mm

3d rain

Sep

28°

19°

72mm

6d rain

Oct

25°

16°

63mm

3d rain

Nov

20°

11°

52mm

4d rain

Dec

17°

9°

46mm

1d rain

✓ Best all year

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions