For anyone contemplating a visit to Spain, one of the first things they will have heard about the country is that it is very sunny.
There can be no doubt that one of Spain’s major attractions is its climate. This is a country in southern Europe, located on a peninsula that is bordered by the Mediterranean to the south and east and by the Atlantic to the north; barely 15 kilometres from the coast of Africa at its southernmost tip and not overly far from the Tropic of Cancer.
All this makes for a climate that is generally warm and dry, but one would need to take a closer look in order to gain a better idea of what to expect during a visit to Spain.
Spain boasts four distinct climate types: Mediterranean, continental (in the centre of the country), alpine (in the country’s various mountainous areas, some of whose peaks rise to over 3,400 metres), and the Atlantic climate, to the north and north-east of the peninsula.
The seasons are:
Spring April – June
The climate during this period is milder than in the summer, but it is not unusual for temperatures to reach 30 degrees centigrade. A good time to visit cities such as Seville, Granada or Cordoba, which are excessively hot during the summer and where we can enjoy the major local festivals taking place at this time.
Summer July – September ** The period that sees more visitors
This is the period that sees more visitors than at any other time of the year. The main attraction is the vast coastline that almost totally surrounds the country, offering a tremendous variety of beaches (sandy, rocky coves, …) and very high temperatures that can easily exceed 30° C. This is also the time to visit the major cities (Madrid, Barcelona, … with fewer local residents and plenty of tourists at this time of year).
Autumn October – December
This is when the climate is at its mildest, neither too hot nor too cold. Spain is not an excessively rainy country, especially in the southern region, so you can enjoy a plethora of excursions in the mountains, perhaps in search of mushrooms or exploring the Spanish scenery.
Winter January – March
Although temperatures in the coastal areas don’t fall much below 10° C, they can easily drop to freezing point or even lower in the central region. This is an ideal time to make the most of the ski resorts in the Pyrennees, the central region, or the Sierra Nevada in the south.
As we can see, there is a wide choice of activities to suit all tastes, for visitors to enjoy throughout the year and throughout the country.