Spanish Travel Blog

Let’s get one thing clear from the start: it’s never exactly a bad time to visit southern Spain, as on any given day of any given week all year round, there’s something going on. However from full-on fiestas to solemn religious ceremonies, via annual harvests and music festivals, we’ve picked out a few of the very best times to visit.

Planning a Visit around the Weather

Weather-wise, when’s the best time of year to visit Andalucia? It’s a question that gets put to us a lot here at the Luxury Villa Collection. And the answer we always have to give is… it very much depends.

Andalucia’s a big region – four times as large as that default indicator of size, Wales – plus, it’s also an area of huge geographical diversity. So while you may have lovely winter sunshine and 20 degrees down on the coast, the snow might well be falling on the mountains inland.

Let’s focus on the positives, though, and the average temperatures in the region’s most sun-soaked province, Malaga:

Traditional & Religious Events

Los Reyes Magos – Various towns and Cities; 5th January 2020: The epiphany on 6th January, is celebrated in Spain with a national holiday and gifts are said to be left by The Three Kings for children. The night before, The Three Kings visit most towns and cities in the form of a parade, festivities usually begin around 17.00hrs. Children collect sweets that are thrown by the kings and their helpers.

Carnival – Cadiz; 20th February to 1st March 2020: The weekend before Lent is a massive party weekend in southern Spain and nowhere does it bigger than the city of Cadiz. It’s a noisy, messy affair where everyone takes to the streets in fancy dress and parties until sunrise.

Semana Santa – Seville; 5th April to 12st April 2020: With the sound of brass and the scent of incense on the night air, every Easter the streets of Seville are filled with the processions of Semana Santa (or Holy Week). While Seville undoubtedly puts on the biggest and grandest display of devotion, other places of note include all the big cities – Granada, Malaga and Cordoba especially – while the small town of Velez-Malaga is a spectacular and lesser-known alternative.

Las Cruces de Mayo – Granada; 3nd May 2020: Another city, another full-scale party dressed up as a religious occasion. While the crosses which are displayed in squares throughout the city are undoubtedly lovely, Granada’s Las Cruces is, in reality, just a great excuse for a party. And why not?

Patios de Cordoba; 4th to 17th May 2020: North, south, east or west, spring is one of the best times to visit Spain, wherever in the country you might be thinking of heading. Nowhere is that more the case than in Cordoba. In May, some of the oldest and most beautiful patios of the town’s historic centre are decked out in their full floral finery and opened up to the public. Unmissable.

El Rocio Pilgrimage – Huelva; Pentecost/depending on Easter: One of the region’s most impressive devotional displays, up to a million people have been known to make the journey to this remote church to see the Virgin make her spectacular appearance in the early hours of Pentecost Monday. With El Rocio sitting right in the heart of the Doñana National Park, it makes for a great excuse to explore one of Spain’s great natural wildernesses, too.

Music & Nightlife Events 

Beach club opening parties, Marbella and Puerto Banus; mid-late April: Something of a curtain-raiser for summer on the Costa, the beach clubs throw everything they’ve got into their annual opening parties. Nikki Beach, perhaps the best of the bunch, gets their season underway in 2020 on 29th April with most of the others falling either side of it.

Granada international festival of music and dance; TBC usually during June: While the flamenco on display during Granada’s annual festival is fantastic (headliners include Eva Yerbabuena), it’s undoubtedly the setting that steals the show. Sitting under the stars in the gardens of the Generalife accompanied by some top-class dance and exquisite views of historic Granada is an unforgettable experience.

Starlite Marbella; from 11th July – 28th August: Marbella‘s music festival is now a firm fixture on the Andalucia events calendar. 2020’s big international names include Lionel Richie and Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson while Estrella Morente, Diego El Cigala and Estopa top the line-up of Spanish performers.

Flamenco festivals; June-September: while Andalucia’s greatest art form is very definitely a year-round affair (check out our guide to Flamenco), it really heats up every year along with the summer temperatures. Malaga’s summer alone is studded with superb flamenco events from Alhaurin de la Torre (June) and Alora (July) to Antequera and Ronda (both August) before, finally, the main event of the Malaga Bienal Festival takes place in early to mid-September.

Ferias

Spain as a whole celebrates more local virgins’ and saints’ day than you can shake a stick at. But if there’s a capital of the religious holiday, it has to be Andalucia. Aside from the religious elements, they mean one thing: letting your hair down and partying in a colourful blur of flamenco dresses, fairgrounds, dancing and drinking under the stars.

Ferias are held from April until September and are one of Andalucia’s greatest spectacles. In terms of city ferias, a few of the main ones of note are:

• Seville’s Feria de Abril: 26th to 2nd May 2020
• Feria de Caballo in Jerez de la Frontera; 9th to 16th May 2020
• Feria de Nuestra Señora de la Salud, Cordoba; 23rd May to 30th May 2020
• Feria de San Bernabé, Marbella; 8th to 14th June 2020
• Feria de Malaga; 15th to 22th August 2020

Gastronomy, Food & Wine Events

Down in Andalucia, the seasons – and the harvesting of the fruit of land and sea – still have a huge impact on people’s everyday lives. Spring sees olives, oranges, avocados, asparagus and the Almadraba fishing of bluefin tuna in Cadiz. By the late summer the region is exploding into wine harvests, while come the autumn the almonds and figs are bursting.

There are simply too many food and wine festivals in the region to name them all, but here are a couple that come with the LVC seal of approval:

Las Fiestas de la Vendimia y Otoño, Jerez de la Frontera; date TBC: One of the oldest ferias in Spain, Jerez’s annual Sherry shindig is a blur of wine crushing, bodega visits and tastings, flamenco, horses and general festivities.

Axarquia food festivals; August to September: this mountainous region to the east of Malaga has been getting something of a name for itself in recent years for its cluster of food-related festivals – and all the singing, dancing and general celebrations that comes with them.

• Dia de Morcilla (blood sausage), Canillas de Aceituno; 25th April 2020
• Dia de la Cereza (cherry), Alfarnate; TBC around 22nd June 2020
• Fiesta del Gazpacho; Alfarnatejo; 1st August 2020
• Noche del Vino (sweet wine), Competa; 15th August 2020
• Fiesta del Ajoblanco (cold almond soup), Almachar; 5th September 2020
• Dia de la Pasa (raisin), El Borge; 13th September 2020

Sporting Events 

Moto Grand Prix – Jerez Motor Racing Circuit – 1st to 3rd May : one of the biggest events on the Spanish motorsports calendar roars into Jerez every year. The second race of the Moto GP season is a big deal in Spain, and the atmosphere track-side over the course of a long weekend in May is one of the liveliest around. You can also watch the teams testing out the cars, earlier in February: Testing- 19th to 21st February 2020

Golf on the Costa del Sol: while the region’s +300 days of sunshine mean that golf is very much a year-round sport in Andalucia, the best times of year to book a golf holiday are probably spring and autumn, when you get the sunshine without the searing summer temperatures. (Have a look at our pick of the best golf courses on the Costa del Sol.)

International Polo Tournament – Sotogrande; dates TBC: Sotogrande’s Santa Maria Polo Club hosts one of the highlights of the polo calendar every summer. One of the most prestigious events in Andalucia, it’s an occasion in which to see and be seen – obligatory glass of bubbly in hand – as much as it is to watch what’s going on out on the field. Have a look at our guide for more details.

Sanlucar Horse Racing, Sanlucar de Barrameda; 9th, 10th, 11th, 25th, 26th and 27th August: This hell-for-leather horseback sprint along the Sanlucar sands goes all the way back to 1845. The setting’s superb and the atmosphere’s lively (with more than a drop or two of Manzanilla being supped). Best of all, though, you get right up close to the action and feel the thundering of hooves underfoot.

Ski season in the Sierra Nevada: Europe’s most southerly ski resort opens for business every year with the first snows in December, before closing up again in late April (or even on occasions in late May). Which means that you can literally spend a morning on the slopes before dropping down to the coast and hitting the beach in the afternoon.

Nature & the Great Outdoors

Flamingo migration at Fuente de Piedra; late February: For many of us bird-watching is not exactly the stuff of riveting holidays. However, seeing the flamingos at Fuente de Piedra is a little different. To catch a glimpse of them, as a vivid flash of pink against the blue sky, before they descend on the salt lakes of is one of the most beautiful natural spectacles in Europe.

Arrival of the cherry blossom, Axarquia; March (depending on the weather): Andalucia’s cherry blossom season may not be quite as well-known as Japan’s, but it’s still pretty spectacular. Alfarnate’s Ruta de las Pilas, a 12km round trip through the orchard-lined countryside, is one of the very best ways to experience it.

Beach weather; May onwards: While you can obviously stretch out on the sand at any time when the sun’s shining in southern Spain, locals tend not to venture onto them until summer has really kicked in. May and October can regularly touch on 30 degrees Celsius – more than warm enough for most of us to get the beach bag out, in other words.

Cork oak harvest – Los Alcornocales Natural Park; June-August: The serious business of the cork harvest is still carried out by hand and mule every summer in the cork forests of Los Alcornocales. A morning winding your way through the sun-dappled trees, stopping off to watch the trees being painstakingly stripped of their bark along the way, can be neatly finished up with a long, leisurely lunch in a stunning mountain town like Gaucin, Jimena de la Frontera, Ubrique or Zahara de la Sierra.

Our guide to when to visit Andalucia is far from definitive. There’s simply SO much more to see and do in this fabulous region of Spain – to the extent, in fact, that we’ve missed out, not just one but two, entire provinces in Almeria and Jaen.

So what’s stopping you? See the best of southern Spain from one of our luxury villas.

---

Lindsay Gregory

Lindsay is the Co-founder and Collection Curator of The Luxury Villa Collection. She's constantly in search of the most authentic and original travel experiences, coupled with the best villas, to help you see Spain in style.

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            [post_date] => 2021-06-14 14:08:24
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            [post_content] => Of all Marbella's many assets, one probably stands out above all others: the weather. This enclave of the Costa del Sol originally attracted the world's jet set because of its year-round good temperatures.

During the off-season months it's got its own little microclimate of warm weather. When it’s at its hottest - during July and August - there’s often a light breeze from the Mediterranean to take the edge off… perfect.

So, month by month what should you do - and wear - on a trip to Marbella?
January


Temperatures: The deepest darkest winter and perma-grey is what northern Europeans are used to during January. But bright blue skies and moderate temperatures of 17°C highs are the norm down in Marbella. January is the coldest of the months and has an average of 5 days of rainfall, but it definitely beats dark winter days up in northern Europe.
What to pack: It’s still winter, so either side of midday there’s a chill. If you’re visiting in January you might be wanting to take in some of the incredible historic sights southern Spain has to offer. Make sure you pack comfortable shoes as a whole day strolling round a fort complex like the Alcazaba in Malaga or the Albaycin area of Granada is punishing on the soles of your feet. Layers are key and a coat is necessary for January visits.
Great for… Golfers and culture vultures.
February


Temperatures: Average temperate highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C February can feel cold, certainly during the evening and early morning. When the sun rises, the sheer amount of light and largely blue skies is a tonic in itself.
What to pack: Much the same as January. Worth packing waterproof shoes as when it rains it really does rain. Rarely, though, does it rain for days and days in a row. But you might be unlucky enough to experience some rain during a stay in February.
Great for... Active travellers. Wind surfing, kite surfing, cyclists, hikers, cavers and even canyoning for those brave enough.
March


Temperatures: March in Marbella starts to touch on 20°C and high teens are reliable. Spring is in the air with flowers blooming.
What to pack: The big blue sky is there and lunch al fresco is possible. But you’re still in trousers and a coat.
Great for... Winter sun and those who want to get active. The coast is quieter but doesn't have an out-of-season vibe at all. If you want to hike the many mountainous routes, November to March is a great time to challenge yourself.
April
Temperatures: There are days in April where it feels almost warm enough to sunbathe. Temperatures can reach 21°C and drop to an average of 11°C. Often April showers do put in an appearance.
What to pack: Still pack layers and a mac is ideal for the chillier nights or the occasional rain shower. You'll find yourself pealing off the layers while sitting in the sun during lunch.
Great for… Culture. April sees Easter celebrations all around Spain; these huge processions are particularly famous in southern Spain. It's one of the 'Andalucian' experiences.
May


Temperatures: The temperatures certainly reach sunbathing heat, but the sea is still a little chilly – although that doesn’t stop many going for a swim. The mountains haven’t been scorched by the summer sun yet, so they’re lush and green. May is very much like October with temperatures hovering around 24°C.
What to pack: Time to wear summer dresses and shorts, but take a cover-up for the evenings.
Great for… Culture vultures, early summer birders and botanists. May in Marbella is a riot of colour and a wonderful month to explore Malaga province as a whole. The beaches are quiet and the sights are still not at capacity. May marks the start of the summer season for the beach clubs as their opening parties are held during this month.
June
Temperatures: Summer is here: June can see temperatures reach above 30°C and hit an average of 28°C.
What to pack: Your best beach attire, swimwear and cooler than cool evening dress. It’s summer clothes from now on until October.
Great for… Young families and empty-nesters. It’s hot but not too hot, so you’ll still have enough energy to do fun things, too. Pools and the sea can be enjoyed but earlier in the month they'll be chilly. San Juan is celebrated at the end of June with the longest day of the year. Coastal towns such as Marbella have parties on the beach and it’s the official start to the summer.
July & August


Temperatures: When July and August hits it’s easy to see why the siesta exists. The heat can be punishing and the best place for anyone is in a pool or on the beach.
Great for… Total rest and relaxation. If you’re wanting to flop and drop the height of summer is fabulous plus there’s nothing better than the feel of a Spanish town when the sun goes down in the summertime.
If FOMO gets the better of you and you want to sight-see or be active, very early mornings are an absolute must.
September


Temperatures: Average highs of 28°C mean that it's still beach and pool weather. The schools in Marbella tend to go back between the first and second week of September, so water parks close around this time but other theme parks stay open into the autumn.
What to pack: Summer threads still. It’s hot.
Great for… Families with preschool children. After the height of summer the residual heat flows into September and beach days, late nights and general summertime vibes still reign supreme.
October


Temperatures: Much like May the temperature drops in October to around 24°C. October often sees a bit of rain - not a lot, but there is rainfall. October is a great month for active tourism. You’d definitely want a villa with a heated pool from now until June.
What to pack: Clothes-wise you’re likely to be out of the height of summer attire. Pack shorts and light trousers, as well as layers and a light jacket as the evenings can start to become chilly.
Great for… Multi-gen families, golfers, hikers and culture vultures.
November & December
Temperatures: November sees average temperatures of 20°C, and December a little lower at 17°C.
What to pack: Winter clothes and an umbrella. The sky will likely be blue but until midday it can feel cool. A light-weight jumper can be worn during the day especially if you’re lunching in the sun. The umbrella is just in case.
Great for… Golfers, sightseers and northern Europeans who are wanting to escape the perma-grey.

Still can't decide which month is perfect for you? Check out our When to Visit Andalucia post for more tips on what to do during each month. If you'd like to look for availability, our Marbella villa pages can help you.
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            [post_content] => Looking to get off the beaten track in Andalucia? We’ve scratched beneath the surface of this exciting, historic area of Spain, asked local experts and come up with a list of little-known things to see and do for our guide to hidden Andalucia...
Malaga Province

 	

Visit Malaga Cathedral's Roof




If the bird's eye view of the inside of the cathedral looks spectacular, then to cap it off you emerge outside with 360-degree rooftop views of Malaga.

[email protected]

 

 	

RELAX IN A HAMMAM




The top tip of Lindsay Gregory, Director of The Luxury Villa Collection: “Stroll around Malaga historic centre, take a hammam at Mammam Al Andalus and finish with cocktails at a rooftop bar.”

https://malaga.hammamalandalus.com/en/

 	

Meander in Antequera




A rather lovely town with a Moorish fortress complex and no fewer than 30 churches. Don’t miss having tapas in the impressive Plaza de los Escribanos.

 

 	

Visit Three 5000-year-old Dolmens




Just outside Antequera, these are some of the largest and most complete megalithic structures in Europe.

Museosdeandalucia.es

 	

Wonder at a 9TH Century Church – Bobastro




The ruins of a 9th-century church carved out of rock are the highlights of a larger fortified town complex. Anything 9th century and still standing is incredible in our books.

 
Granada Province

 	

Nose Around the Carmens of Granada's Albayzin




A house with a garden in the Albayzin (the oldest part of Granada city) is known as a Carmen. These Carmens look out towards the Alhambra Palace, often have wooden balconies, plant-filled patios, babbling water features and decorative tiles.

 

 	

Visit the Abbey of Sacromonte, Granada




This 17th-century abbey and college comes complete with holy caves/ancient catacombs. The view of Granada alone is worth the walk.

 

 	

Take a day trip to Alhama de Granada and its Natural Hot Springs


This village has stately houses gripping onto the edge of a gorge, cobbled streets and spa credentials. Our top tip is to escape the summer heat in Granada and visit Alhama – it has a unique microclimate where summer nights cool to a comfortable level.

 
Cadiz Province

 	

Find Out the Mysteries of the Island of Sancti Petri, San Fernando, Cadiz




Once part of several fortifications, the castle that sits on this tiny island dates back to the 13th century.

 

 	

Experience the Beautiful Light in Vejer de la Frontera




This pristine white village, sitting high on a rocky hilltop, really comes into its own at sunrise and dusk. Aside from the dramatic light, there are lovely boutique shops, great restaurants and, during the summer, look out for their candlelight festival.

 

 	

Surf and Sip in El Palmar




While it's got a great beach with some decent Atlantic surf, it’s the laidback-hip bar vibe in El Palmar that makes it stand out from other stretches of southern Spain's coast.

 

 	

HIRE A Private Chef




David, chef at De Tako's top tip is, “One of the best ways to experience a country is through its food and an even better way is to enjoy perfectly cooked food is in an incredible setting surrounded by friends".  We entirely agree – hire a private chef at your villa for the ultimate in convenience.

 

 	

Taste Riotinto Beef


One of our top hidden foodie treats in Andalucia is delicious Retinto beef from Cadiz. Much is spoken about fried fish, olives and olive oil, jamón ibérico and Sherry but this meaty option is also a real gastro-standout.

 

 	

Take to the Sea – Dolphin Watch


Hire a boat and hit the sea - you’ll almost inevitably come across a pod of dolphins in the Mediterranean.

 
Seville Province

 	

Puerta de Macarena/Walls of Seville




This forgotten about 12th-century arched gateway and wall was the main entrance into Seville, and is certainly off the beaten path.

 

 	

Drink at a Bar Dedicated to Easter in Sevilla


You'll never have experienced a bar like Garlochí, a homage to Easter in Spain. All year round there's incense burning and procession music playing – they call it the cathedral of bars. Don’t miss their signature cocktail: Grenadine, whisky and Cava.

 

 	

Wild Swimming at Cascadas de Hueznar in Seville Province


There’s a succession of beautiful waterfalls running over some interesting limestone formations in Sierra Norte de Sevilla Nature Park.

 

 	

SEE LIVE MUSIC IN THE ALCAZAR PALACE




Fiona Flores Watson, Telegraph Travel Writer and Seville resident recommends: “The summer outdoor concerts held in the Alcazar Palace… a magical setting for live jazz, flamenco or classical music by moonlight.”

Alcazarsevilla.org
Cordoba Province

 	

Visit Highgarden, the Tyrell’s House in Game of Thrones




The castle of Castillo de Almodovar del Rio was built in 740. You can join theatrical tours, do some medieval combat training or spooky storytelling.

Castillodealmodovar.com

 

 	

TRAVEL TO EAT AT TRES CULTURAS




Manni Coe of Toma & Coe Tours' top tip is: “One of the most consistently excellent restaurants I know in Andalucia is located on a little-known street, in the little-known town of Lucena. It's called Tres Culturas and it's also a handy stop off en-route to Cordoba."

Tresculturasrestaurante.com

 
Jaen Province

 	

Marvel at the Castle of Iruela, Jaen


In the Sierra de Cazorla natural park this castle was built at the start of the 16th century. A beautiful monument in an even more beautiful part of the world.

 
Huelva Province

 	

Reconnect with Nature and See Autumn in Aracena




The colours of autumn over the vast landscape of rural Huelva is the perfect way to disconnect. Local people flock here to experience the change of the season.

 
Almeria Province

 	

Genoveses beacH in Cabo de Gata, Almeria




This breath-taking beach near the charming village of San Jose feels like another world.

 
A bit of a cheat but do a tour…

 	

See Andalucia through its Bullrings




Our top 5 are: Most unusual is in Segura de la Sierra in Jaen province: this square bullring is the old courtyard of a castle and was built in the 18th century. Ronda bullring is the second oldest and the biggest. Seville bullring is the oldest; Antequera's is famed for appearing in Madonna’s Take a Bow video; Mijas has spectacular views and is simply charming. Archidona usually erects a bullring inside its eight-sided main square during the summer season.

Like this and want to know more about visiting southern Spain? Check out our 50 things to do in Andalucia and our guide to the five best cities to visit in Andalucia
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