- Let's take a look at the map
- Beach vacation and its features
- In the footsteps of the great Gaudi
- For eternal spring
- Alpine skiing in Spain
- Useful observations
Among all the states of the Old World, Spain stands out especially. Its popularity among Russian tourists is due not only to the pleasant weather and various opportunities for spending a vacation on the seashore. The question of when is the best time to relax in Spain worries both fans of educational tourism, and those who like to wander through the quiet halls of world-class museums, and pilgrims, and admirers of excellent Mediterranean cuisine. You can fly to Spain in winter, because the technical capabilities of its ski resorts are in no way inferior to the alpine tracks of France, Austria and Italy.
Let's take a look at the map
The geographical position of the country on the world map also determines its climatic features. The main advantages of the Spanish weather are a large number of sunny days a year and hot summers, which lasts more than six months on the local beaches.
The predominant type of climate in Spain is Mediterranean, but depending on the region, it has its own characteristics and nuances:
- The Mediterranean maritime climate is characteristic of the coast. In summer, it is warm in the zone of its distribution, but not too hot due to the sea winds. The average daily temperature in July does not exceed + 22 ° С, but in winter the thermometers do not fall below + 10 ° С.
- The central regions of the country are characterized by a Mediterranean continental climate with significantly hotter summers and colder winters. Average daily temperatures are + 25 ° С and + 6 ° С, respectively.
- The steppe Mediterranean climate determines the weather in the southeast of the peninsula. This region has the least rainfall in the country.
The capital of Spain is located in the continental climate zone. Short but very hot summers replace spring, and Madrid winters are long and rainy. In July, thermometers often show + 32 ° С, and in January - only + 9 ° С, and therefore it is best to relax in the capital of Spain in spring and autumn. The off-season offers comfortable weather both for walking around the city and for long bus and car excursions in its surroundings. From April to May and in the second half of October, it is sunny and dry in Madrid, mercury columns rarely cross the + 25 ° C mark during the day, and at night it can be cool, but quite comfortable for sitting in a cafe with a glass of wine with friends.
Beach vacation and its features
Ideal for a beach holiday, the Mediterranean coast south of Barcelona is especially popular with Russian tourists. Choosing when is the best time to relax in Spain, focus on the period from May to October. And if, having arrived for the May holidays, you can catch the not too warm sea, then in the last weeks of spring on the coast in the area of Lloret del Mar or Malaga is already becoming quite busy.
The beaches of the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada resort regions are also filled with tourists at the end of spring. The second half of May and the first half of October are the most favorable time for a beach holiday, if you are not too fond of the heat and active sun. But from the second half of June to the end of September, the air temperature reaches + 30 ° C and even higher. The water in the Mediterranean Sea remains quite comfortable throughout the season and the mercury thermometers almost never cross the + 24 ° C mark.
In the footsteps of the great Gaudi
According to statistics, Barcelona is one of the most visited Spanish cities, and the reason for this is not only a huge number of architectural monuments, museums and the heritage of the great architect Gaudi, but also local beaches. In the capital of Catalonia, you can rest so varied and rich that a few days of vacation will seem like a whole life to you.
If a beach vacation is not an end in itself and you decide when is the best time to relax in Barcelona so that Spain leaves only pleasant memories, fly in the first half of autumn or early May. It is then that Barcelona pleases its guests with warm, but cool weather, sunny days and not too much competition in queues for attractions. But in July and August, there are so many tourists on the streets of the Catalan capital that you will hardly be able to take beautiful photos or drink a glass of cool sangria in relative comfort and solitude.
If you consider yourself an army of blues, jazz or flamenco fans, try to be in Barcelona during the summer holiday season. The concerts, which are decorated with the Bellesguard castle, built by the great Gaudí, take place all summer every week from Wednesday to Saturday. The concert program includes performances by famous musicians and flamenco dancers. The event is called "Gaudi Nights".
For eternal spring
Spain includes the Canary Archipelago, which is romantically called the Islands of Eternal Spring. If you look at the graphs of air temperature changes, then in the Canary Islands they look very flat and almost do not change their trajectory depending on the season. The warmest period on the islands of the Canary archipelago begins in July and lasts until September inclusive. At this time, mercury columns are kept at + 28 ° С during the day and + 24 ° С at night. The water warms up to + 25 ° С and even small tourists can swim comfortably. In April-May and October, the islands are a little cool, but sunbathing on a calm day is quite pleasant.
Winter in the Canary Islands is warm and mild, but only seasoned tourists prefer to sunbathe and swim on New Year's Eve. On land and at sea, thermometers show about + 21 ° C and + 19 ° C, respectively. If you still want to celebrate the New Year on the islands of eternal spring, it is better to choose the southern coast of Tenerife. There is noticeably lower humidity than in the north, precipitation occurs less often, and the temperature can be 5-6 degrees higher.
Alpine skiing in Spain
The unique relief and special geographical position of Spain on the world map allow it to be not only a beach, but also a ski Mecca of the region. Wondering when is the best time to relax in Spain if winter sports are your passion? Focus on the period from December to March, but remember that only snow cannons can guarantee perfect snow cover, and therefore pay attention to the technical equipment of the slopes:
- The Baqueira Beret resort is famous not only for its ideal pistes, but also for its excellent equipment. The season starts here in early December, but the highest quality snow falls towards the end of January. The resort has a large number of sunny days a year. The air temperature during the day fluctuates around zero degrees in January-February.
- On the slopes of the Sierra Nevada, during the daytime, the thermometers show about + 5 ° С, which makes skiing especially comfortable even in the middle of winter. Skiers at the favorite resort of the King of Spain meet even in April.
- Massela's difficult "black" slopes were chosen by professionals. The first swallows fly down from a height of 2600 meters already in early December. The quality of the snow cover is ensured not only by the climate, but also by the most powerful snow cannons.
Useful observations
If you think that vacation is an all-encompassing concept and you are attracted to the Iberian Peninsula not only by sunbathing, go to Tenerife during the carnival season. Every year, on the eve of Lent, a colorful holiday is held on the largest island of the Canary archipelago, second only to the Brazilian one in scope. Carnival in Tenerife is a great reason to combine a beach holiday with an entertaining one.
In the last week of August, the Spanish city of Buñol becomes a coveted target of tens of thousands of tourists. These days, Valencia hosts the La Tomatina festival, known to the rest of the world as the "tomato battle". Everyone who wants to fight in the war, the main weapon of which is ripe tomatoes, takes part in the holiday. If you're looking for an excuse to have some fun, your best bet is to go on holiday to Spain these days. A lot of positive impressions and good mood at the international festival will be provided to you.
For shopaholics, the answer to the question of when is the best time to relax in Spain has long been known. Two periods of grand sales start in the country annually on July 1 and January 6. Within a few weeks, twice a year, prices for branded goods in luxury boutiques and simply shopping centers are halved, and if you're lucky, even by an order of magnitude. By the way, all the same Canary Islands - the place for shopping is especially profitable. The archipelago has the status of a special economic zone and the cost of all goods is much more attractive here than on the mainland, and in the rest of the year.
