Summer in Spain: All You Need to Know
Boasting a mild, temperate Mediterranean climate staying dry almost year-round, Spain is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the summer. Running from June through August, summers in Spain can be hot, particularly in the south, and the beach towns along the coast are packed with Europeans flocking south to the sun. The northern parts of Spain tend to be slightly cooler in the summer months if you prefer to avoid the heat.
Best time to visit Spain
The best time to visit Spain is in the shoulder season or late spring before the crowds from Europe arrive for the summer (April to May) or early autumn after the summer crowds have left (September to October).
June is a wonderful time to visit Spain as the weather is ideal for both exploring the cities and hitting the beaches. The country is well into summer by July and the heat is setting in with temperatures pushing 30°C. Summer is in full swing by August and hotspots like Barcelona and Ibiza are packed to the hilt. The further south you go, the hotter it gets and inland cities like Seville and Córdoba often exceed temperatures of 37°C.
September sees summer waning and the crowds beginning to thin out, so this is a fantastic time to holiday in Spain. Temperatures are still warm enough for spending time on the beach or you can enjoy outdoor activities like exploring cities or hiking without overheating.
More information:
Spain in April
Spain in May
Spain in July
Spain in August
Thinking of heading to Spain for a summer vacation? Here are some of the top places to visit in Spain during the summer.
1. Hidden beaches of Costa Brava
Stretching from the French border all the way south to Barcelona, the Costa Brava is a wild, rugged landscape of tiny inlets, enchanting coves, secluded bays, and quaint fishing villages. Boasting endless miles of pristine shoreline, the Costa Brava is home to hundreds of beautiful little beaches where you can escape the summer crowds for a peaceful retreat.
2. Explore Barcelona
This enchanting seaside city requires more than a few days to explore its many faces from the 2000-year-old architecture and sculptural masterpieces of Modernisme spread across the city to the myriad bars and restaurants serving a smorgasbord of Catalan, Basque, and Galician cuisine. Not to mention hitting the many beautiful beaches or enjoying sunset cruises on the deep blue Mediterranean Sea.
3. Tenerife, Canary Islands
Nestled off the coast of Morocco, Santa Cruz Tenerife, or simply Tenerife, is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands and a major tourist destination. Dominated by the dormant volcano of Mount Teide, which is also Spain's tallest peak, Tenerife boasts beautiful black and golden beaches, charming cliffside towns with glorious ocean views, and diverse landscapes that are home to a vast array of unique fauna and flora.
4. San Sebastian, Basque Country
Embraced by lush green hillsides and golden sandy beaches on the Bay of Biscay in the hilly Basque Country, San Sebastián is a picturesque resort town that is known for its beautiful bayfront, quaint cobblestoned old town, and world-renowned restaurants. The alluring seaside town boasts elegant art nouveau buildings, exquisitely manicured parks, and plazas, stunning beaches, and a charming old town (Parte Vieja) with award-winning restaurants, and buzzing pintxos bars.
5. Sierra Nevada National Park
The Sierra Nevada National Park is a 90-square-kilometer reserve in eastern Andalusia that is home to the highest peaks in continental Spain. Boasting breathtaking natural scenery made up of rugged mountains, rushing rivers, and meandering streams, the park has brought abundant life to the region for more than two centuries and shouldn’t be missed if you love hiking and being surrounded by the beauty of nature.
For more information, check out Places to Visit in Spain.
Summertime in Spain calls for getting out and about and enjoying the beautiful weather. Here are a few things to do in Spain in summer that shouldn’t be missed.
1. Participate in La Tomatina Festival
The last Wednesday in August sees Spain’s messiest festival take place. The Spanish festival La Tomatina, or Battle of the Tomato, is a tomato-throwing spectacle that draws more than 20,000 revelers each year. Billed as the world’s biggest food fight, thousands of revelers hit the streets of Buñol, a small town 40km west of Valencia, with 140 tons of ripe tomatoes for an hour-long food fight frenzy.
2. Scuba diving in the Mediterranean
Spain offers some of the best diving experiences in Europe. While not a traditional tropical diving destination, the Mediterranean Sea has a few gems of its own such as L’estartit. The gateway to the magical Medes islands, L’estartit has been protected since 1990 and has some stunning dive sites teeming with an array of marine fauna and flora.
3. Join the party crowd in Ibiza
If you love a good party and dancing the night away, then head to the island of Ibiza for a few nights of wild, unadulterated fun. Spain's most alluringly hedonistic island, Ibiza is home to super-clubs that play host to the world’s hottest DJs that pump out tunes to thousands of party-goers from all over the world every night. Head to the iconic Café del Mar to catch a breathtaking Balearic sunset while sipping a cocktail before hitting the clubs.
4. Enjoy the August Fair in Malaga
Together with the Feria de Sevilla, the Feria de Malaga (August Fair) is the biggest fair in Andalusia and shouldn’t be missed! The festival takes place in two areas of Malaga – the Day Fair is located in the downtown area of Malaga and the night fair takes place at Cortijo de Torres and sees the city’s downtown streets decorated with local artworks and folk music and dancing abound.
5. Spanish Wine Tours
Spain has fast become the largest wine-growing country in the world and what better way to explore this spectacular landscape than on a wine tour? Home to almost a million hectares of vineyards spread across a multitude of diverse landscapes, Spain is famous for producing a wide variety of cultivars from the robust Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Bierzo to the lightly sparkling cava.
Basking in the Mediterranean sun, Spain is laid-back, relaxed, and oozes culture and history. It is home to myriad diverse landscapes from snow-capped mountain ranges to golden sandy beaches, has a deep-rooted history that dates back centuries, boasts some of the world’s most beautiful art and architecture, and is one of the culinary gems of Europe. Spain will touch your heart and leave you wanting more.
