Spain
Spain weather: temperature month by month
In January you can have lunch outdoors in Málaga, but you will want a jacket once the sun goes down. Spain has more than one climate: Seville bakes in summer, Alicante and Málaga are the warmest places on the mainland in winter, and the Canary Islands are warmest of all from November to March. Here are the official AEMET averages, place by place and month by month.
12 November 20266 min read
Picolo Editorial
Spain weather in short
Warmest on the mainland in winter: Alicante and Málaga, with an average high of 17.0°C and 16.8°C in January.
Warmest anywhere in winter: the Canary Islands, with 20.8°C in January at Gran Canaria airport.
Hottest in summer: Seville, with 36.0°C in July. That is too hot for many.
Driest on the mainland: Alicante, with 37.5 rain days a year.
Best time for the beach: June and September on the mainland and Majorca, and all year in the Canaries.
Best time for a city break: March to May and October, with 16 to 27°C in Barcelona and Seville.
Best time for walking: March, April and November, with daytime highs of 19 to 21°C in Málaga and Alicante.
Our winter pick: Seaside Palm Beach in Maspalomas on Gran Canaria. See rooms at Seaside Palm Beach
The figures below are AEMET standard climate values for 1981 to 2010, measured at the airports in Málaga, Alicante, Palma de Majorca, Barcelona, Seville and Gran Canaria.
Spain temperature month by month
The table shows the average daily maximum, the daytime high. Nights on the mainland are much cooler in winter. In January the average minimum is 7.4°C in Málaga and 6.3°C in Alicante, against 15.0°C on Gran Canaria.
For the Canaries island by island, see Canary Islands weather. For one island month by month, read the best time to visit Gran Canaria and the best time to visit Tenerife.
Where is warmest in Spain in winter?
The Canary Islands. In January Gran Canaria airport has an average high of 20.8°C, against 17.0°C in Alicante, 16.8°C in Málaga, 16.0°C in Seville, 15.2°C on Majorca and 13.6°C in Barcelona.
On the mainland Alicante and Málaga are close to level from December to February, and both get around 180 hours of sunshine in January. Alicante is drier, with 3.6 rain days in January against 5.8 in Málaga. By February Seville is the warmest of the three, at 18.1°C.
What is the weather like in Spain in March, October and November?
In March Seville is the warmest place on the mainland at 21.9°C, while Málaga and Alicante have 19.6°C. October still feels like summer in the south, with 26.0°C in Seville, 24.9°C in Alicante and 24.1°C in Málaga. In November it is around 20°C in Alicante, Seville and Málaga, while Gran Canaria has 24.2°C.
When is it too hot in Spain?
In July and August in Seville. The average high is 36.0°C in July and 35.5°C in August, and that is an average, so many days are hotter. The coast is milder: Málaga and Alicante reach around 30 to 31°C, Majorca 31.2°C in July and Barcelona 28.0°C.
For a city break in Seville, April, May and October are better, with daytime highs of 23 to 27°C.
Rain days in Spain month by month
Spain sees little rain in summer. In July Málaga and Seville average less than one rain day. The rain arrives in autumn and winter: Seville has 7.5 rain days in December, Málaga 6.6 and Majorca 6.4. Alicante is the driest place on the mainland, with 37.5 rain days a year. Barcelona has the most, 53.3 a year, peaking in October.
Spain weather season by season
Winter, December to February
This is the time for the Canary Islands. On the mainland the days are mild, 17 to 18°C in Málaga and Alicante, but the evenings are cool. Winter suits city breaks, golf and long lunches in the sun rather than a pure beach holiday.
Spring, March to May
The best time to see Spain. Seville goes from 21.9°C in March to 27.2°C in May, and Málaga and Alicante climb from around 20 to 24°C. April can bring some showers, with 6.1 rain days in Seville.
Summer, June to August
Beach season along the whole coast, with 28 to 31°C in Málaga, Alicante and on Majorca. Seville is scorching, so save the city break for another season. Barcelona is around three degrees cooler than Málaga.
Autumn, September to November
September is still summer, with 28 to 29°C on the coast. October is one of the best months for a mix of beach and city in the south. In November the rain returns, and Málaga has 5.6 rain days.
Where to stay
Three hotels chosen by season: one for winter sun in the Canaries, and two for spring and autumn on the mainland.
Our pick
Seaside Palm Beach: winter sun in Maspalomas
Our warmest winter pick in Spain. The hotel sits in a palm garden by the Maspalomas dunes, a couple of minutes on foot from the beach. The rooms measure 33 m², and the hotel has its own spa.
Spring and autumn on the Costa del Sol: Ikos Andalusia
The sand starts just below the pools, and behind the resort the mountains rise towards the interior. Ikos Andalusia in Estepona is all-inclusive with a choice of restaurants rather than a single buffet. It suits families and groups of friends who want an easy week in May, June, September or October. If you would rather have tapas bars and an old town, stay in Málaga instead. Read more in our Ikos Andalusia review.
Spa and pools on the Costa Blanca: Asia Gardens
The towers of Benidorm are just below, but up on the hill there are palms, Asian-style buildings and pools spread across the gardens. Asia Gardens has a large Thai spa and suits families and couples who plan to stay put all week. You reach the sea only by car or the hotel bus. Read more in our Asia Gardens review.
Our verdict
Picolo picks: the Canary Islands from November to March, Málaga or Alicante in April, May and October, and the coast or Majorca for the beach in June and September.
Why: Gran Canaria has 20.8°C in January, against 17.0°C at the warmest place on the mainland. In April and October Málaga and Alicante have 21 to 25°C without the summer heat.
The trade-off: Alicante is driest, Málaga has slightly warmer winter nights, and Seville is best in spring but too hot in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Where is warmest in Spain in December?
The Canary Islands, with an average high of 22.2°C at Gran Canaria airport in December, according to AEMET. On the mainland Alicante and Málaga are almost level at 17.7°C and 17.5°C, ahead of Seville at 16.6°C. December is also the wettest month in both Málaga and Seville.
How warm is Spain in April?
Seville is warmest, with an average high of 23.4°C in April, according to AEMET. Gran Canaria has 22.6°C, Málaga 21.4°C and Alicante 21.3°C, while Majorca has 19.8°C and Barcelona 18.0°C. Easter can bring showers, with 4.5 rain days in Málaga in April.
Where is sunniest in Spain?
Málaga has the most sunshine of the airports where AEMET gives a full year, with 2,905 hours. Alicante has 2,851 and Palma on Majorca 2,756. The sunniest month is July, when Seville gets 354 hours, more than eleven hours of sun a day.
Is Majorca warm in winter?
Not warm enough for a beach holiday. At Palma airport the average high is 15.2°C in January and the low 3.8°C, according to AEMET, with 5.1 days of frost on average in January. In winter Majorca suits cycling, walking and a city break in Palma, and the beach season runs from June to September.
Where in Spain has the least rain?
Alicante is the driest place on the mainland, with 311 mm of rain a year at the airport, according to AEMET. Majorca gets 411 mm, Málaga 534 mm, Seville 539 mm and Barcelona 588 mm. Gran Canaria gets only 151 mm, most of it from October to March.
Sources
Temperatures, rain days and sunshine hours come from AEMET standard climate values for 1981 to 2010 for the airport stations at Málaga, Alicante, Palma de Majorca, Barcelona, Seville and Gran Canaria. 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 12 November 2026.
Enjoy Spain
Picolo Editorial