We know how important the weather is to you so we've created these Spain weather guides to help you choose the best region for the life you'd like to live.
You aren't alone either in valuing the weather, in a recent International buyer survey we carried out, 82% of the respondents said they were buying in Spain for better weather. 78% of buyers said they were buying in Spain for a better lifestyle. You're in good company!
Located off the coast of West Africa, Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands and home to a dormant volcano called Mount Teide. Tenerife is tough to top with year-round warm weather, the island’s famous pre-Lent Carnaval de Santa Cruz, and white sand beaches.
Tenerife has two main seasons: a short summer season from early July through early October and a long, cool season beginning mid-December and running through mid-April. Consider late April through June a shoulder season, although you’ll still experience warm, pleasant weather. Summers bring higher temperatures and more hours of daylight (peaks at 14 hours on June 21), with clear skies, although not without humidity. Winters boast comfortable temperatures, clear skies and some wind. At 10 hours of daylight in December, you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy your favourite daytime activities.
Season aside, Tenerife weather also depends on what part of the island you visit. Discover more about Tenerife in our destination guide. For example, it’s going to be warmer and sunnier in the south of the island, and the weather becomes more changeable the closer you get to Mount Teide National Park in the Southwestern part of the island. Overall, the minimum average Tenerife temperature hovers around 24ºC (75.2°F) in summer and drops to 15ºC (59°F) during winter.
Tenerife is beautiful, rain or shine. December tends to be the wettest month of the year, with an average of 56mm of rain. If you’re big on water sports, many travellers prefer swimming during September because this is when the average sea temperature is most pleasant, at around 24°C (75°F).
Lanzarote is another Canary Island located off the coast of West Africa. In addition to pleasant year-round weather, Lanzarote is home to stunning beaches and volcanic landscapes. Volcanic eruptions in the 1730s created a rocky terrain. You’ll also see the island's mountain ranges, deserts, craters, forests, and valleys.
The two most defined seasons in Lanzarote are ‘warm’ and ‘cool’. The warm season begins in July and runs through the beginning of October, lasting for just under three months. During this time, you’ll see high temperatures of 25°C (77°F). August is the hottest month, with close to 14 hours of daylight. December kicks off the cool season and lasts through mid-March, with a minimum of ten hours of light. An average daily Lanzarote temperature hovers around 17°C (63°F), with January being the coldest month of the year. Rain is heaviest in December, with about 30mm of rainfall. That said, it never rains too much in Lanzarote; maybe just one or two days per month.
Typically, July is the most popular month to visit or enjoy the island at its best if you're living there. In July, you’ll experience clear skies almost daily, very little rain—although, with little rain, it can get very dry—and warm swimming temperatures, too. One downside is that Lanzarote weather can be muggy and humid between June and November.
Fuerteventura is the second largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, after Tenerife. It sits on the Atlantic Ocean, just off the north coast of Africa. Find out more about Fuerteventura in our destination guide. Thanks to its picturesque white-sand beaches, cooling winds, year-round warm weather and contrasting landscapes, it’s a top destination for those planning to buy a holiday home.
The warm season kicks off in late June and runs through mid-October. August is the hottest month in line with what is considered an average Spain climate. Fuerteventura temperatures average 25°C (77°F), and the sun is intense. August is also the best time to swim in the sea, as the water is bathwater at 22°C (72°F). Generally, prepare for summers to be warm, muggy, and arid. The longest day of the year varies from year to year, but it’s usually around June 21, peaking at around 14 hours of daylight.
Winter lasts for about three months, beginning mid-December and ending mid-March. Expect weather that is cool, dry, a little windy, and with mostly clear skies. Keep in mind that January is the coldest month at 18°C (64°F) and that, just before that, it can rain a lot in December. On average, you’re looking at about 26mm of rainfall that month.
As much sun as Fuerteventura gets, clouds are always a consideration. Near the end of May, you’ll start getting clearer days, which usually lasts through mid-September. Another reason July is such a popular month to visit is that it has the clearest skies, and it’s primarily clear (or, at the very least, partly cloudy) 98% of the time.
Ibiza, perhaps best known for its party scene and major European nightclubs, is one of the Balearic Islands on an archipelago of Spain. Similar to Tenerife in the Canary Islands, summers in Ibiza are short, dry and mostly clear, while winters are long, colder and with some wind. Throughout the year, you’ll see that the daily Ibiza temperature can drop as low as 12°C (54°F) in January (the coldest month) and reach upwards of 26°C (79°F) in August (the hottest month).
Ibiza weather comes with extended daylight hours during summer, which starts in May and ends in September. Daylight lasts 14 hours, with sunrise at 6:40 am and sunset at 9:17 pm. In winter, there are 10-11 hours of sunlight daily, and the weather is mostly mild. In terms of rain, October tends to be the wettest month, with an average of 59mm of rain. For those on the island, expect some restaurant closures during January and February.
While there’s never a ‘wrong’ time to visit Ibiza, many travellers and vacation homeowners consider May through October as the most enjoyable months. That said, November through April is considered low season, which accounts for fewer tourists, lower temperatures, and less of a party scene. It’s worth noting that October is the rainiest month on the island and also the cloudiest. On average, you’ll get cloudy skies about 44% of the time, whereas, during the warmest months, the weather is most glorious for beach days and sailing charters.
Alicante, a city on the southeastern coast of Spain, features charming, narrow streets, colourful houses and a lively nightlife scene. Explore more about Alicante in our destination guide. The climate is Mediterranean, meaning winters are fairly mild and can bring rain, while summers are sweltering. Alicante's weather is mild, arid, and sunny.
Average temperatures depend on when you visit. The average Alicante temperature in January is 11.8 °C (53.2 °F), while in August, you’re looking at temperatures closer to 26.4 °C (79.5 °F). The sun almost always shines in Alicante. Expect an average of ten hours of daylight in January and just over 14 hours in peak summer. With such a hot and humid climate, the occasional heatwave is not unheard of; in recent years, temperatures have peaked at or close to 40 °C (104 °F).
Seasonally, you can still define Alicante as having four seasons, although temperatures rarely dip below 1 °C (34 °F) on the coldest nights of the year. December through February is considered the winter season, March through May is spring, June through mid-September is summer, and mid-September through November is autumn.
If you’re saving that museum visit for a rainy day, think again. It rarely rains in Alicante, with only about 285 mm per year. Compared with other cities with Mediterranean climates, winters in Alicante are drier than most. In summer, you’ll be hard-pressed to see rain at all. Hence the arid landscape.
Menorca—not to be confused with the larger Mallorca—is one of Spain’s Balearic Islands along the Mediterranean Sea. As much as there is to see and do here, it’s much more low-key than the other Balearic Islands: Mallorca and Ibiza. July is the hottest month, while January is the coldest; the average Menorca temperature during this time is 11°C (52°F).
Rain combined with colder temperatures can sometimes make Menorca feel colder than it actually is, so invest in a warm, waterproof coat and bundle up. Menorca is the most northern of the Balearic Islands, located south of the Gulf of Lion, find out more about Menorca in our destination guide. Thanks to the north wind ("Tramontana”), Menorca is windier than Mallorca and Ibiza. This wind blows from France, the strongest winds between October and April. November is the wettest month, with about 88mm of rain.
Menorca weather starts getting warmer in March, but the temperature increase is gradual. Things really start picking up by June; there are close to 15 hours of daylight, very little rainfall, and a nice breeze. July reaches an average temperature of 25°C (77°F) and is a popular time among tourists. In terms of swimming, August water temperatures are at their warmest, and it’s a great time to partake in your favourite water-based activities. As warm as the water gets, it still feels like a much-needed reprieve from the hot summer sun.
