Question of the Month: What's the best time of year to travel in Spain and Portugal?
Europe is wonderful in the summer — with bright sunny days and long balmy evenings but summer can be quite hot in certain areas, especially in the south. For these areas, "shoulder season" (April through June, and October through early December) offers the best mix of peak-season weather and off-season crowds. In shoulder season you'll enjoy milder weather, fewer crowds, and cheaper airfare. With appropriate clothing and an umbrella, even the occasional shower won't slow you down. Check out the chart below for daily lows, highs and the number of sunny days in Spain and Portugal.
Spain • Barcelona |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dev |
average daily low |
43 |
45 |
48 |
52 |
57 |
65 |
69 |
69 |
66 |
58 |
51 |
46 |
average daily high |
55 |
57 |
60 |
65 |
71 |
78 |
82 |
82 |
77 |
69 |
62 |
56 |
days of no rain |
26 |
23 |
23 |
21 |
23 |
24 |
27 |
25 |
23 |
22 |
24 |
25 |
Spain • Madrid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
average daily low |
35 |
36 |
41 |
45 |
50 |
58 |
63 |
63 |
57 |
49 |
42 |
36 |
average daily high |
47 |
52 |
59 |
65 |
70 |
80 |
87 |
85 |
77 |
65 |
55 |
48 |
days of no rain |
23 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
25 |
29 |
28 |
24 |
23 |
21 |
21 |
Spain • San Sebastián |
||||||||||||
average daily low |
43 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
54 |
59 |
63 |
63 |
60 |
54 |
48 |
44 |
average daily high |
53 |
56 |
58 |
60 |
66 |
71 |
75 |
76 |
74 |
67 |
60 |
55 |
days of no rain |
16 |
15 |
17 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
18 |
17 |
18 |
Portugal • Lisbon |
||||||||||||
average daily low |
46 |
47 |
50 |
53 |
55 |
60 |
63 |
63 |
62 |
58 |
52 |
47 |
average daily high |
57 |
59 |
63 |
67 |
71 |
77 |
81 |
82 |
79 |
72 |
63 |
58 |
days of no rain |
16 |
16 |
17 |
20 |
21 |
25 |
29 |
29 |
24 |
22 |
17 |
16 |