When's the best time to visit Spain?

Spain is mostly seen as a summer destination, and accommodation prices increase drastically between June and August. Particularly in August, it can be hard to find accommodation as most Spanish take their holiday then. If you plan to travel in August, make sure you book months in advance to secure a good deal.

Generally, to get the best prices during the summer, book at least six months in advance. In summer, you should also stick to the coastal destinations, as inland destinations like Seville, Cordoba, and Madrid easily see temperatures up to 45-50 Degrees Celcius.

Summer in Spain is best for:

• Beaches

• Beach bars

• River hiking

• Hiking in the north and the southern 3000-meter peaks

• Swimming in the lakes

Autumn in Spain is best for:

• Beach days without the crowds (in the south!)

• Hiking

• Chasing fall colors

• Sightseeing

Winter in Spain is best for:

• Christmas shopping and holiday festivities

• Skiing

• Hiking

• Sightseeing

Spring in Spain is best for:

• Patio tours

• Hiking

• Sightseeing

• Olive oil tasting (usually harvested over winter and spring)

• Experiencing Easter Celebrations

The weather and seasons in Spain vary a lot depending on where you go in the country. In the north, you can get snowy winters and temperatures below zero. There are ski resorts in northern Spain and one in the Sierra Nevada at 3000 meters of altitude.

In contrast, in the south, you can get temperatures up to 20 degrees Celcius in the daytime and easily spend your days in shorts and t-shirt while covering up in the evenings when the temperatures drop.

Usually, during the winter months, you can experience heavy rains in periods of a few days to a couple of weeks straight. This might turn into torrential rains with heavy wind and flooded streets. In the summer, the south sees hardly any rain at all, while the north might get some days of refreshing rain throughout.

The Spaniards are famous for their love for “Fiestas” and where there is a reason to celebrate something, they will do it full on. Some fiestas are local to single villages or cities while others are national, celebrated all over the country.

At any time of the year, you can find some kind of celebration going on somewhere in the country. Do not be surprised if you unexpectedly come across a golden float of a virgin carried around town.

Here are a few of the most important celebrations, so that you can time your visit for what attracts you the most.

Three Kings Day (Reyes)

• When: 6th of January

• Where: National

• What: Both the evening of the 5th and the morning of the 6th of January you can witness floats of fairytale figures and the Three Kings carried around the streets, music, dance, and candy are thrown at the spectators. Celebration of the Three Kings bringing gifts to the Baby Jesus.

Carnival

• When: February/March (one week, dates change from year to year)

• Where: National, most noteworthy is the oldest carnival in Spain in Cadiz, Andalucia

• What: Humorous, colorful, and filled with music and dance, processions around the streets with dressed-up people.

Holy Week

• When: Easter Week

• Where: National

• What: Large processions filling the streets with music and “nazarenos” from each brotherhood wearing religious dresses with pointy hats covering everything but their eyes. Large floats are carried around the streets telling the tale from the Bible leading up to Christ’s crucifixion.

Feria de Abril

• When: 2 weeks after Easter, the fiesta lasts a week

• Where: Seville, Andalucia

• What: The city’s fair, famous for its large area with street names and numbers, giant fairground for children, locals partying all night in their Flamenco dresses dancing the Sevillanas.

Festival de Los Patios

• When: 2 first weeks in May

• Where: Every city and town in the Cordoba Province, Andalucia

• What: A display of the prettiest patios decorated with colourful flowers, sculptures, and fountains in each city and town, including several prizes for the best patios.

Patum de Berga Festival

• When: The week of Corpus Christi (5 days between the end of May and the end of June) 

• Where: Berga, Cataluña

• What: The streets fill with people dressed up as mythical figures dancing around the streets to the sound of a drum.

Hogueras de San Juan 

• When: 23rd of June 

• Where: Celebrated on the beach around the country, especially worth experiencing in Alicante.

• What: A spectacle of fireworks, colours, and music, this festival is dedicated to fire, and this is the only time you will see bonfires on the beaches.

Batalla del Vino

• When: 29th of June

• Where: Haro, La Rioja

• What: Translated to Wine Battle, this festival includes throwing wine at each other in the morning after mass. Later the party moves to Plaza de La Paz.

La Tomatina

• When: Last Wednesday in August

• Where: Buñol, Valencia

• What: People fill the streets throwing tomatoes at each other. The fiesta dates back to 1945 when some kids had a tomato battle.