The Best Time to Visit Spain
The best time to visit Spain is typically in the spring (March to May) or during the fall (September to November). At these times, you’ll likely find fewer crowds, cheaper accommodations, and the best weather (even for hitting the beach!).
Popular Events and Festivals
Spain has events throughout the year that attract visitors from all around the world, especially during spring and summer. If you plan on traveling to attend one of these, get an early start on booking accommodations, which fill up quickly. If you’re not trying to attend these events, go elsewhere in the country when they’re happening or wait to travel at a different time to avoid dealing with the crowds and high prices in these areas. See a more complete list of events by month below.
Spain also has national public holidays and regional ones. Take particular note of holidays that fall on a Thursday or Tuesday, as the Spanish tend to take the Monday or Friday between this holiday and the weekend off work (this is called a ‘puente’ or ‘bridge’). You may find a lot of things closed during these extended weekends
The weather in Spain
Temperatures in Spain typically don’t dip too low, even in winter when the lows typically stay in the 40- to 50-degrees F range country-wide. But summers, on the other hand, can get really hot, with highs creeping into the low to mid-90s in some places.
For this reason, it can actually be best to visit the beaches during the shoulder seasons in late spring/early summer (May or early June) or late summer (August to September, even October) to avoid the extreme heat. While temperatures are a little more unpredictable during these times (be prepared for the occasional rain shower), average temps still go up to the high 70s or low 80s, making them an ideal time for beach days and also days to sightsee and explore the cities as well.
If the hot summer months of July and August are the only time you can travel, consider visiting the north of Spain where temps don’t soar quite as high (highs reaching upper 70s in the summer.
Peak Season in Spain
For tourism, peak season is typically during the summer months, particularly July and August, and that’s evident from the higher prices for hotels, possibly flights, and other accommodations in the cities. So if you’re looking to travel at this time, book on the earlier side to avoid paying whatever higher prices are left as it gets closer.
And just because it’s peak season for tourists, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s overwhelmingly crowded. A lot of locals, especially people from the inland cities, actually leave the country or head to the coast to escape the heat. However, this also means that many local businesses in the same towns might be shut down temporarily to give their employees vacation.
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