Fall or Spring is the best time to visit Spain for the Mediterranean or central Spain to beat the heat, and during the summer months if traveling to the northern region of the country. There are also lighter crowds, as the Summer is the high season.
Spring
The coastal cities of Spain including
Andalucia’s Málaga, Marbella, and Cadiz, Costa Blanca’s Alicante, València, and Barcelona in Catalonia. April and May are times when the weather is warming up for swimming and beach days, and the major cities aren’t as crowded as the summer months. The southern cities of Cádiz and Malaga have great weather during the spring months, as opposed to the extreme heat that hits the region from mid-June until August. Madrid is also affected by the summer winds and spring offers a calm before the storm to take in the sights and sounds of the country’s capital.
Summer
From the end of June through August is Spain’s high season. On the coast and inland, expect warm sunny days, a festive ambiance with lots of people, and festivals in the different regions of the country. These months also mark the hottest days in the country. Winds from Africa heat things up in the southern regions and Madrid. The northern mountainous regions offer respite from the heat.
Costa Brava and the
Basque Country have cooler temperatures and tend to be less crowded. One highlight of the region is the city of Bilbao, home to Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum.
Spain cruises during the summer months are a popular way to beat the heat. Different itineraries visit the must-see port cities including Valencia, Barcelona, Alicante, and Cadiz while retreating to the cooler waters of the Mediterranean Sea during travel. For more information about planning a Spain cruise during the summer months,
contact one of our experts. The Fiesta de San Fermín and the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, inland from Bilbao, take place from July 6th to the 14th. More than 20,000 people take place in the event and an estimated 1 million people attend the 9-day festival. Other festivals during the high season include Alicante’s
Bonfires of San Juan in late June. Bonfires, the burning of effigies, fireworks, music, and food take over the city’s streets, marking a tradition that dates back to when the locals would hold gatherings to celebrate the beginning of summer.
Fall
Toward the end of August through October, the heat of the summer recedes and cooler temperatures take its place. The southern regions are less crowded, the fall colors are at their peak, and the country moves at a slower pace as autumn comes into bloom. September is harvest time in the country’s wine regions. Spain’s Duro River and valley are home to over 50,000 acres of wineries. The river is shared with neighboring Portugal, and
wine cruises of both countries give you the best of the area's vineyards.
The La Mercè Street Festival takes place in late September in Barcelona. The annual 5-day fiesta honors the patron saint of the city, Mare de Deu de la Mercè, and marks the end of summer. Night parades, fireworks, human pyramids, a music festival, wine tastings, and a circus in the city’s castle bring people of all ages from far and wide to the streets to celebrate.
For more information about planning a Spain cruise during specific times of the year,
reach out to a member of our team for options and activities around the country.
