Málaga
Best time to visit Malaga: weather month by month
On a February afternoon you can sit in the sun on the Muelle Uno harbour promenade, but once the sun goes down the temperature drops towards 8 degrees. Málaga has mild winters and hot, dry summers. Here are the official AEMET averages month by month, and when the city works best for the beach, a city break and walking.
12 November 20266 min read
Picolo Editorial
Málaga weather in short
Warmest: July and August, with average highs of 30.5°C and 30.8°C at the airport.
Coolest: January, with 16.8°C by day and 7.4°C at night.
Driest and sunniest: July, with 0.1 rain days and 347 hours of sunshine.
Wettest: November and December, with 100 mm of rain each.
Best time for the beach: June and September, with daytime highs of 28°C.
Best time for a city break: March to May and October, at 20 to 24°C.
Best time for walking: March, April and November, at around 20°C.
Our first choice: Palacio Solecio in the old town. See rooms at Palacio Solecio
The figures are AEMET standard climate values for 1981 to 2010 from the weather station at Málaga airport.
Malaga weather by month
In winter the gap between day and night is wide: 16.8°C by day and 7.4°C at night in January. In summer the nights stay warm too, at 20.5°C in July and 21.1°C in August.
To compare Málaga with Alicante, Mallorca and the Canary Islands, see Spain weather.
How warm is Málaga in winter?
Mild, but not beach weather. From December to February the average high is 16.8 to 17.7°C, and January and February get 180 hours of sunshine each. Gran Canaria, by comparison, has 20.8°C in January.
When is it too hot in Málaga?
Rarely, for most people. July and August have highs of 30.5°C and 30.8°C, well below inland Seville at 36.0°C in July. The nights are warm, though, above 20°C, so choose a hotel with air conditioning.
Rain and sunshine in Málaga
There is almost no rain in summer, with 0.1 rain days in July and 0.5 in August. The rain comes in autumn and winter, and November and December get 100 mm each. Over a year Málaga has 42.3 rain days and 2,905 hours of sunshine.
Málaga weather season by season
Winter, December to February
The season for museums, tapas and long lunches outdoors. Days reach 17 to 18°C, but evenings are cool enough for a jacket.
Spring, March to May
Perhaps the best time of all. Highs climb from 19.6°C in March to 24.3°C in May, and the Semana Santa processions fill the streets at Easter.
Summer, June to August
Beach season, with 28.1°C in June and over 30°C in July and August. La Malagueta, the city beach, fills up, and the city stays warm late into the evening.
Autumn, September to November
September is still summer, at 28.2°C. October has 24.1°C and is one of the best months for a city break, before the rain returns in November, with 5.6 rain days.
Where to stay
Three hotels for different seasons: a palace in the old town, a rooftop pool by the cathedral and a beachside palace at La Malagueta.
Our pick
Palacio Solecio: a courtyard in the old town
Our first choice in Málaga. The hotel occupies an 18th-century noble palace a few minutes from the Picasso Museum, and its courtyard of columns and arches is the heart of the house. Best for couples and for a city break from October to May.
Summer in town: Catalonia Molina Lario
The rooftop pool looks straight at the cathedral tower and the harbour, and it is where you will want to be on a hot July afternoon. The hotel stands beside the cathedral, with more rooms and more space than the palace hotels in the lanes, and Muelle Uno is a couple of minutes away. A safe choice for a first visit.
Winter by the sea: Gran Hotel Miramar
A 1920s palace by La Malagueta beach, with a vast glass-roofed courtyard, three restaurants and a spa. The sea is just across the road. The spa makes it a good choice in December and January too, when daytime highs are 17°C.
More hotels in where to stay in Málaga.
Our verdict
Picolo picks: April, May and October for a city break, June and September for the beach, and December to February for sun and 17 degrees without the crowds.
Why: May has 24.3°C and 3.1 rain days, June 28.1°C and 0.8 rain days, and January 16.8°C and 180 hours of sunshine.
The trade-off: winter is mild but not warm enough for the beach. If you want to swim in January, the Canary Islands are a better bet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Malaga in February?
Around 18°C by day and 8°C at night. AEMET gives an average high of 17.7°C and a low of 8.2°C at the airport in February, with 4.8 rain days and 180 hours of sunshine. It is warm enough to sit outside at midday, but bring a jacket for the evening.
What is the weather like in Malaga in March?
Around 20°C by day and 10°C at night. The average high is 19.6°C and the low 9.8°C in March, according to AEMET, with 4.0 rain days and 222 hours of sunshine. March suits a city break and walks in the hills behind the coast.
How warm is Malaga in April and at Easter?
Around 21°C by day and 11°C at night. AEMET gives 21.4°C and 11.1°C for April, with 4.5 rain days and 244 hours of sunshine. Easter can bring a few showers, but most days are sunny. Evenings are cool, so pack a light jacket.
What is the weather like in Malaga in October?
Around 24°C by day and 15°C at night. The average high is 24.1°C and the low 15.0°C in October, according to AEMET, with 4.4 rain days and 215 hours of sunshine. Evenings are still warm enough to eat outside, and the rain only returns in earnest in November.
What is the weather like in Malaga in November?
Around 20°C by day and 11°C at night. AEMET gives 20.1°C and 11.3°C for November, with 5.6 rain days and 100 mm of rain. November is one of the wettest months, so pack a rain jacket. There are still 172 hours of sunshine in the month.
Sources
Temperatures, rain days, rainfall and sunshine are AEMET standard climate values for 1981 to 2010 from Málaga airport. The figures for Seville and Gran Canaria are AEMET standard values from the airports 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 Málaga
Picolo Editorial