The Best Time for Your Spain Vacation
The land of passionate flamenco and the mesmerizing sounds of guitars and castanets, dangerous corrida, refreshing sangria and tender sun, Spain is a truly alluring corner of our planet, embraced by the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Recently, the motherland of Salvador Dali has beckoned thousands of tourists from all over the globe. But what is the best time to discover hot Spanish temperament coupled with a local wine destination? Let’s find out.
Why and when to visit Spain?
The prosperous Kingdom of Spain is an amazing place for a saturated getaway, that makes you fall in love with it from the first sight and yet, it is able to meet the demands of the most discerning travelers. Holidays in Spain leave vivid impressions of the hot sun, tart wine and a dizzying kaleidoscope of colorful events and hospitable people.
No need to mention that Spanish temperament is the all year round thing but still the best seasons to visit this gem of the Iberian peninsula include spring (starting from the beginning of April to the end May) and early fall (the so-called ‘velvet’ season from September to October).
Now at this point you probably have quite a logical question of “why on earth do you exclude summer from the list?!’. Well, fair enough. But let’s consider the most convincing arguments to support this statement.
Say no to the hustle and bustle
Firstly, you’ll get a chance to visit Spain with fewer crowds. If you plan your Spain vacation during the summer months, be ready to face long queues, overbooked hotels, crowded streets and beaches.
Yes, the demand on Spain tours is extremely high in the peak season, especially in the capital of Spain, Madrid as well as Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and other popular Spanish resorts. We bet that spending hours in long lines for buying tickets to the Prado Museum or majestic Sagrada Familia is not what you want your holiday to look like. Of course, the choice is yours. But as they say: forewarned is forearmed, right?
Save money, travel in honey
Secondly, travel Spain avoiding the most obvious and prime touristic period in summertime will provide you with a nice bonus for your wallet such as cheaper accommodation and lower prices. Basically, the most appetizing hotel and transport options can be found around winter months, but the prices in spring and fall are tangibly lower than in the summer. So if you plan to explore more than one city on one trip, be sure that you won’t need to break the bank.
For instance, traveling from Madrid to Barcelona will be almost twice cheaper and more comfortable, taking into consideration affordable prices and great transportation options. These most popular Spanish cities have a developed and fast connection so traveling on Madrid to Barcelona train will be a matter of only 2.5 hours. Great value for the time and money, don’t you think?
Note: Here a small remark needs to be made. Beware of the Holy Week that takes place before Easter as in the run-up to this celebration the prices in shops and hotels can bite.
How to not get burned?
Still not convinced? Fine, here’s the third and main reason. Spring and fall are the seasons when the most comfort weather occurs. Spanish summer can be boiling hot as the usual temperatures reach 30-35°С. Not the best one to explore the highlights of Madrid and Seville, located far away from the seaside in the mainland, huh? On the contrary, you’ll be pleasantly surprised what a great idea it is to hit the beaches of Costa del Sol or Costa Dorada during the ‘velvet’ season. Mild temperatures, still warm sea, no rush or afflux of tourists… just true heaven on earth!
The whole year round Spanish destination
Ok, there’s one location in Spain that, according to statistics, possesses the mildest climate in the country and is considered to be one of the most favorable places for living in the whole world. And the place is…(dramatic drum roll) the Canary Islands!
Having a unique location, tangibly to the south of the rest of Spain near the coasts of Northern Africa, the islands don’t experience extreme temperature changes and enjoy warm weather all year round. Due to this fact, the archipelago is called the land of endless spring and Canary Islands hotels have the opportunity to welcome guests from all over the world regardless the season.
Best time for a Spanish ‘fiesta’
Spain is the country of amazing culture and various masterpieces that would be a serious mistake to miss out on or neglect because of all this tourist fuss. But, if you are interested in becoming a part of some local full-scale Spanish celebrations, here’s a brief overview of the most interesting ones that won’t leave you indifferent.
If you don’t mind crowds and still plan to travel Spain in summer, take part in the largest battle of tomatoes in the world, celebrated on the last Wednesday of August. The Valencian town of Bunol becomes a true battlefield, during which about 140 tons of tomatoes are smashed. Wine lovers also won’t be disappointed as they have a chance to start a battle with red wine! The province of La Rioja holds this wine festival every June 29th. So don’t miss!
As for more traditional Spanish celebrations, you may come to Valencia in March and participate in the famous festivity Las Fallas. The festival lasts 5 days during which costume parades and fire shows take place.
In winter time you may catch such festive events as Christmas and el Dia de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings’ Day)
In conclusion, it’s fair to say that although a Spain trip is a perfect idea in any month of the year, the smartest decision is to set off on your Spanish journey in the spring and fall months. These seasons suit best for a colorful getaway with extensive sightseeing and beach vacation on the Mediterranean coast, so you’ll get more of the hot Spanish temperament without getting burned with the hot sun.
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