Alicante
Best time to visit Alicante: weather month by month
In January you can have lunch under the palms of the Explanada in 17 degrees and sunshine. Alicante is the driest place on the mainland in our comparison of Spanish holiday spots, with 37.5 rain days a year. Here are the official AEMET averages month by month.
12 November 20266 min read
Picolo Editorial
Alicante weather in short
Warmest: August, with an average high of 30.8°C at the airport.
Coolest: January, with 17.0°C by day and 6.3°C at night.
Driest: July, with 0.6 rain days and 4 mm of rain.
Most rain: September, with 56 mm.
Best time for the beach: June and September, with highs of 27.8°C and 28.5°C.
Best time for a city break: March to May and October, at 20 to 25°C.
Winter sun: December to February, with 164 to 181 hours of sunshine a month.
Our first choice: Hospes Amérigo in the centre, with a rooftop pool facing the castle. See rooms at Hospes Amérigo
The figures are AEMET standard climate values for 1981 to 2010 from the weather station at Alicante airport.
Alicante weather by month
Winter nights are colder than in Málaga, 6.3°C in January against 7.4°C. In return it rains less often: Alicante has 3.6 rain days in January, Málaga 5.8.
For all the Spanish holiday spots side by side, see Spain weather.
How warm is Alicante in winter?
Mild and sunny. From December to February the average high is 17.0 to 17.7°C, and February is the driest winter month, with 3.0 rain days. It is too cool for most swimmers, but pleasant enough to sit outside at midday.
When does it rain in Alicante?
Rarely, but heavily. Alicante gets only 311 mm of rain a year. September has the most, 56 mm, spread over just 3.3 rain days, so the rain tends to arrive in a few heavy downpours.
When is it too hot in Alicante?
July and August have highs of 30.3°C and 30.8°C and nights above 20°C. It is hot but not extreme, so pick a hotel with a pool or one close to the sea.
Alicante weather season by season
Winter, December to February
Quiet, mild and good value. Days reach around 17°C, and you have the old town and the castle almost to yourself.
Spring, March to May
Highs rise from 19.6°C in March to 24.1°C in May, with around 230 to 280 hours of sunshine a month. The best time for a city break.
Summer, June to August
Beach season, with 27.8°C in June and over 30°C in July and August. Postiguet and Playa de San Juan fill up, and prices peak.
Autumn, September to November
September is hot, at 28.5°C, but has the most rain of any month. October has 24.9°C, and November is still mild at 20.5°C.
Where to stay
Three central hotels for different seasons: a rooftop pool for winter days, a beach hotel for June and September, and a town house for spring.
Our pick
Hospes Amérigo: a rooftop pool facing the castle
Our first choice in Alicante. The rooms are in a former convent in the centre, and from the rooftop pool you look up at Santa Bárbara castle. There is a spa, so it works on a cool January day too. The roof pool is small and fills up during the afternoon.
Beach in June and September: Meliá Alicante
Postiguet beach is right in front, and many rooms look over both the sand and the marina. It suits families who want a pool and a beach without a drive. The building is large and plain, and in July and August both the pool and the beach are crowded. Read more in our Meliá Alicante review.
A spring city break: Casa Alberola
A restored mansion on the palm-lined Explanada, with high ceilings and views over the marina. From here you walk along the promenade to Postiguet. There is no pool, so it suits the months when it is too cool for long pool days. Read more in our Casa Alberola review.
More hotels in the best hotels in Alicante.
Our verdict
Picolo picks: April, May and October for a city break, June and September for the beach, and winter for sun and quiet.
Why: May has 24.1°C and 277 hours of sunshine, September 28.5°C, and January 17.0°C and only 3.6 rain days.
The trade-off: winter nights are cold, at 6.3°C in January, and Málaga is slightly milder at night.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Alicante in March?
Around 20°C by day and 9°C at night. AEMET gives an average high of 19.6°C and a low of 8.9°C at the airport in March, with 3.4 rain days and 227 hours of sunshine. It is warm enough to eat outside at midday, but bring a jacket.
What is the weather like in Alicante in October?
Around 25°C by day and 15°C at night. The average high is 24.9°C and the low 14.5°C in October, according to AEMET, with 4.5 rain days and 47 mm of rain. October is a good month for a city break and the last beach days.
How warm is Alicante in April?
Around 21°C by day and 11°C at night. AEMET gives 21.3°C and 10.9°C for April, with 4.1 rain days and 247 hours of sunshine. Easter is busy, so book early. Evenings are cool, so pack a light jacket, and expect a little rain on about four days.
How warm is Alicante in February?
Around 18°C by day and 7°C at night. The average high is 17.6°C and the low 7.1°C in February, according to AEMET. February is the driest winter month, with 3.0 rain days and 180 hours of sunshine. Nights are cold, so pack warm layers.
What is the weather like in Alicante in November?
Around 21°C by day and 10°C at night. AEMET gives 20.5°C and 10.3°C for November, with 4.2 rain days and 173 hours of sunshine. It is mild enough for long walks along the Explanada, but too cool for most swimmers.
Sources
Temperatures, rain days, rainfall and sunshine are AEMET standard climate values for 1981 to 2010 from Alicante airport. The figures for Málaga are AEMET standard values from the airport there. Hotel details come from Hotels.com and Picolo's own hotel reviews. The comparison and the picks are Picolo's own. For the forecast, see AEMET. Last checked 13 November 2026.
Enjoy Alicante
Picolo Editorial