Best time to visit Andalusia: heat, rain and quiet months
6 min read5 destinations
Andalusia · Spain
Go to the cities in spring and October, and to the coast from July to September, when the sea off Málaga reaches 22–24 °C. The mountain trail to Aguas Negras is best in spring and autumn. Winter suits you if you would rather avoid the crowds and don't mind frequent rain. In July, afternoons in Seville average 36 °C; in January, 16 °C. Holy Week falls on 21–28 March in 2027.
In short
- Cities: March to May and October, with 22–27 °C by day in Seville in spring.
- Sea: July to September, when the water off Málaga is 22–24 °C.
- Mountain trail to Aguas Negras: spring and autumn; in winter snow falls on the high ground.
- Fewer tourists: December to February, the mild, wet season.
- Snow and skiing: the Sierra Nevada, with Europe's southernmost ski slopes.
Weather by month
Average afternoon highs in Seville and Málaga, and the average sea temperature off Málaga:
- January: Seville 16 °C, Málaga 17 °C, sea 15 °C.
- February: Seville 18 °C, Málaga 18 °C, sea 15 °C.
- March: Seville 22 °C, Málaga 20 °C, sea 15 °C.
- April: Seville 23 °C, Málaga 21 °C, sea 16 °C.
- May: Seville 27 °C, Málaga 24 °C, sea 18 °C.
- June: Seville 32 °C, Málaga 28 °C, sea 20 °C.
- July: Seville 36 °C, Málaga 31 °C, sea 22 °C.
- August: Seville 36 °C, Málaga 31 °C, sea 24 °C.
- September: Seville 32 °C, Málaga 28 °C, sea 22 °C.
- October: Seville 26 °C, Málaga 24 °C, sea 20 °C.
- November: Seville 20 °C, Málaga 20 °C, sea 17 °C.
- December: Seville 17 °C, Málaga 18 °C, sea 16 °C.
Seville, in the Guadalquivir valley, is the hotter of the two in summer; Málaga, on the coast, is a little milder in winter, especially at night.
Spring (March to May): cities and wildflowers
Weather: 22–27 °C by day in Seville, 20–24 °C in Málaga, sea 15–18 °C.
It warms up gradually in spring, wildflowers come out across the countryside, and from May it is warm enough to sunbathe. The rains aren't over yet: Seville still averages about six rainy days in April. Holy Week in 2027 runs from Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Sunday, 28 March. The dates of Seville's April Fair in 2027 had not been announced by October 2026.
Alhambra
The palace and fortress of the Nasrid emirs on the Sabika hill in Granada. Book well in advance: entry to the Nasrid Palaces is timed. Bring your passport or ID, as it is checked against your ticket. A morning slot keeps you out of the midday heat. Allow anywhere from two to six hours.
Summer (June to September): heat inland, sea on the coast
Weather: 32–36 °C by day in Seville, 28–31 °C in Málaga, sea 20–24 °C.
Summer is hot and dry, with long days. Inland, afternoon temperatures often top 35 °C: in Seville the average high stays above 30 °C from June to September. The beaches and coastal towns are at their busiest, and between May and September Ronda fills with day-trippers from the Costa del Sol.
Los Bolos Waterfall
A walk in Dúrcal, Granada province, that has you wading upstream for more than an hour, first along a Mozarabic irrigation channel and then up the river itself, to pools and a large waterfall. Even in mid-July the channel carries plenty of water. Go on a hot summer day, on a weekday if you can, wear shoes that can get wet, and turn back if the water is running high or muddy.
Things to do in Andalusia
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October and November: milder and quieter
Weather: by day, Seville 26 °C in October and 20 °C in November, Málaga 24 and 20 °C; sea 20 and 17 °C.
In October the sea off Málaga is still about 20 °C, warm enough for a swim; by November it has dropped to 17 °C. The rain comes back with the cooler weather: November and December are the wettest months, with around 90–100 mm of rain a month in Seville and Málaga.
Ronda
From October to April Ronda is quieter, with fewer day-trippers. The town is small and best explored on foot, and parts of the old quarter are closed to non-residents' cars. For the white villages inland, see Pueblos blancos of Andalusia.
Aguas Negras Reservoir
A mountain reservoir in the municipality of Cazorla, Jaén province, at the end of a 12 km hike up the Borosa River trail: about 25 km there and back, 700 m of ascent and six hours of walking. Spring and autumn are the best times; in autumn the woods around the water turn colour. Carry a torch for the dark tunnel on the final stretch.
Winter (December to February): mild, wet and snowy in the mountains
Weather: 16–18 °C by day in Seville and 17–18 °C in Málaga, sea 15–16 °C; in Granada, temperatures drop to around 0–2 °C at night.
Winters are mild with frequent rain. Few tourists come, though some smaller sites may keep shorter hours. Snow falls on the high ground: the upper section of the trail to the Aguas Negras reservoir can be under snow and ice. The Sierra Nevada, above Granada, has Europe's southernmost ski slopes. The 2025–26 season opened on 29 November 2025; the opening date for 2026–27 had not been announced as of October 2026.
Zujar Thermal Baths
Hot springs at the foot of Cerro Jabalcón, above the turquoise Negratín reservoir in Granada province. On a cold morning steam rises off the water. People have bathed here since Roman times; the old spa building was flooded when the reservoir was filled, and bathing moved to pools above the waterline. No bus serves the baths, so you need your own transport.
If you can go only once, October gives warm afternoons in Seville, a sea that is still about 20 °C and a quieter Ronda; if you are coming for the Holy Week processions or the wildflowers, go in spring. Air temperatures and rainfall are 1981–2010 AEMET averages for the Seville, Málaga and Granada airports; sea temperatures are seasonal norms for Málaga (temperaturadomar.pt), so treat them as a guide.
FAQ
How many days do you need?
Seven to ten days for a full circuit: Granada, Córdoba, the Sierra Nevada, the beaches and the smaller hill towns. Four or five days cover one or two provinces thoroughly, though you will have to choose between the coast and the interior.When is Holy Week in 2027?
From Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Sunday, 28 March 2027. The procession timetables for 2027 had not been published at the time of writing.Can you swim in November?
The sea off Málaga averages about 17 °C in November, too cool for most swimmers. October is the better bet, at about 20 °C.Does it snow in Andalusia?
In the mountains, yes: the Sierra Nevada has ski slopes, and in winter snow and ice can cover the upper part of the trail to the Aguas Negras reservoir. Granada airport averages about one snowy day a year. In Seville and Málaga it practically never snows.
