Have you ever thought about traveling to Spain in the winter? There are so many advantages to exploring Spain at this time of year! Let us tell you all about the Spain winter months, what weather to expect, and some of our favorite places to visit during the off-season.
Spain Travel Inspiration
- Planning a Trip to Spain: 10 Step Easy to Follow Vacation Guide
- 40 Popular Spanish Foods & Drinks: Best Tapas, Seafood, and Much More
- 10 Most Enchanting and Beautiful Cities in the South of Spain
- The Plato del Dia: How to Order Spain’s Delicious 3 Course Budget Lunch
- 22 Fun & Interesting Facts About Spain That Might Surprise You
Why Visit Spain in the Winter?
You may be wondering why you would visit Spain in the winter in the first place? Well, between the months of December and March is actually one of the best times to explore this beautiful country.
Specifically in the South of Spain, you’ll find sunny skies, beautiful beaches, and all the delicious seafood your heart desires. Here are some of our favorite reasons why winter in Spain can be so much fun!
Spain in Winter has Fewer Tourists
The first reason is fairly obvious, but still needs to be said! The summer months bring the most tourists to Spain and it is far less traveled during winter.
While the cities may still be bustling with locals, the beach towns and tourist hot spots like Granada, Nerja, and Mijas are less crowded. This alone makes winter in Spain more enjoyable!
In popular destinations like Nerja Spain, some days you will have the beaches all to yourself! We love the peace and quiet of winter in Spain.
Lower Prices Visiting Spain in Winter
Another great thing about visiting Spain in winter is the prices. During the off-season, you can find some absolutely crazy deals!
Over the years we’ve spent a lot of time in the South of Spain in the winter. In doing so we’ve paid less than half the price we would’ve normally for hotels, renting a car on the islands, and long-term apartments.
Food and drink prices mostly remain the same as they are already great value compared to other European countries. However, tours and other fun excursions are typically cheaper than the summer time. No complaints here!
Spain in Winter Weather
So what about the winter weather in Spain? Is it warm? Well, that depends on where you go. The Southern Coast of Spain stays warm enough all year round, with winter temperatures even getting to the mid-70’s Fahrenheit. Yes, that’s still warm enough to swim!
While the water may not be as amazing as the summer, it’s still more than tolerable. Also, there are plenty of fun winter activities to enjoy in other parts of Spain which we will get into soon!
Tropical Islands
Before we go too much further into ACTUAL cold Winter in Spain you should know about island life! Believe it or not, there are actually more than 60 islands that call themselves a part of Spain.
Some of our favorites to spend the Spain winter months in are the Canary Islands, Ibiza, and Majorca. So even if you’re straying from the mainland, know that there are so many incredible islands to visit during the winter in Spain!
Christmas Time & Markets
Now that you know about Spain’s tropical islands, there is some more seasonal stuff to enjoy in Spain in the winter. One of the best reasons to visit Spain’s cities during the month of December is the Christmas markets and beautiful light displays.
Cities like Madrid and Barcelona hold magnificent markets that will surely get you in the holiday spirit. Plan your trip to Spain in the winter around these gorgeous markets for a fun-filled Christmas!
Spain in Winter Activities
There is an abundance of other winter-themed activities to enjoy in Spain. As an extremely mountainous country, you can find great skiing in the Sierra Nevada and Pyrenees.
Spain is also home to some of Europe’s best museums and art galleries. This makes for a fun way to warm up if the Spain winter weather is not to your liking!
Have any questions about visiting Spain in winter? How about sharing some of your own experiences or favorite places to visit? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Explore Spain
Best of Spain: Costa Del Sol – 13 Best Drinks – Vueling Airlines Tips
Granada: Best Tapas – Alhambra de Granada
Nerja: Best Tapas – Playa Burriana – Nerja Caves
Small Towns: Frigiliana – Rupit – Cadiz – Ronda
Gran Canaria: 13 Food & Drinks – Agaete Natural Pools – Route of the Tapas – Volcano Hike
Fuerteventura: Travel Guide – Aguas Verdes Natural Pool – Krabbenfelsen Natural Pool – Popcorn Beach
Tenerife: 7 Best Beaches – Playa Amarilla – Mount Teide Volcano Drive – Boat Tour
Spain Travel Planning
Flights: We always find the best flights using Skyscanner. Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly between cities in Spain than driving or taking the train!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars to explore when traveling. Consider renting a car in one city and dropping it off in another for an epic Spain road trip!
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for thousands of activities around Spain. You can book a tour of the Madrid Royal Palace, skip the line and explore the Alhambra de Granada, or even jump on a Tenerife Dolphin cruise!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection! We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
We are visiting Andalusia in mid December. We come from Singapore where its summer all year long.
Do we need winter jacket or a hoodie is sufficient even at night for Andalusia?
Hi Brigitte & Jake:
Your travels adventures sound amazing.
We are Canadians & live in Ottawa. In the past 25 yrs, have been spending three months in the winter months in Florida.
It’s become very expensive. So, we are looking at other places & Spain sounds very interesting.
I don’t use Instagram but will include my email address.
Author
Spain is a great place to live year round. Definitely take a visit there soon and check it out for yourself. We have a ton of information and guides that should be helpful. Feel free to email us or comment with any questions (-: