This post is all about the 5 top reasons that you should visit Spain in the winter.
I just got back from Barcelona this October and it was beautiful!
You would love exploring the city all day, walking down winding medieval streets and past Dr. Seuss-looking Gaudi houses. Stop into a bustling Mercado to grab some cheese and sausage for lunch and fresh fruit smoothie for dessert. Or head to a local park to watch bight green parrots fly from tree to tree and locals play soccer.
Although Spain would be a great destination any time of year, the late fall and winter are especially great for these reasons:
1 - The weather is perfect!
Summer in Spain (particularly southern Spain) can be miserably hot.
Your hair sticks to the back of your neck, sweat rolls down your sides and stepping down into the Metro means getting blasted in the face with muggy humidity. And differently than in the US, many places do not have air conditioning. Seriously. (We must be wimps in America because I can’t even stand some summer afternoons in Denver without AC!)
This is actually the reason that many Mediterranean countries have siesta. Because it’s too hot to be working! They head home for the hottest part of the day for a family meal and a quick nap. Then they head back to work when it’s a little cooler.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the heat is also one of the reasons that the Spanish stay out so late (they eat dinner around 9 pm). It’s finally cool enough to spend time outside!
Alternatively, the late fall and winter are GORGEOUS!! Ocean breezes float through the air and everyone is outside enjoying the weather. You can choose to spend all day outside or inside depending on what you want to do, not because you’re chasing AC.
You can sit outside to enjoy paella and the views!
Southern Spain in particular has such beautiful winter weather. Stretch out on a beach near the magically blue Mediterranean water. Hike through picturesque mountains. Bike down cobblestone streets to grab a gelato.
Northern Spain also has beautiful (slightly colder) weather in the winter, but has the added bonus of getting cold enough in the highest mountains for skiing!
2 - You miss the tourist crowds
When you visit Spain in the winter you get to enjoy the beautiful cities without fighting for elbow room.
The busiest and most popular time to visit Spain is in the summer (early fall is second most popular).
This means that these are the times you should NOT go!
Crowds mean that tickets will sell out, you will always be waiting in line and you will never get a selfie without a tour group in your shot!
For example, the famous Barcelona church by architect Gaudi, Sagrada Familia, can have a line with hundreds of people in the melting summer sun. Often times, people can wait for hours to find that tickets are sold out before they have a chance to buy them!
Although we still bought advanced tickets to Sagrada, we were able to walk right up to buy tickets to a boat tour and walked right into several museums!!
This line for Casa Batlló only took 20 minutes to go through!
Another benefit of missing the crowds is missing out on pickpockets.
Crowds make it easy for a thief to slip their hand into your bag or accidently “bump” into you in the chaos. The major tourist areas are always the ones that have the highest rates of these kind of crimes. (But even in the winter be careful, even if there are less there are still going to be pickpockets.)
Avoid the squashed Metros where you are standing by someone’s armpit, the crowded restaurants and sold out tickets! Visit Spain in the winter where it’s less crowded.
3 - More things are open
When summer hits in the Mediterranean, even the locals like to get out of town to escape the heat!
As a result, many shops and restaurants are closed for the season which means that you have a lot less choices when it comes to activities. In the hottest months, even in big towns can look like ghost towns.
On the flip side, fall and winter mean school is back in session so the locals are around and everything is open for you to experience. This is a great reason to visit Spain during the winter because there will be much more for you to do.
Enjoying crepes at a shop usually closed in the summer.
4 - You'll save money!
Since winter vacations in Spain are less crowded, you’ll find that prices are lower for almost everything!
You might have already known that businesses like flights and hotels charge more the less room they have available. But did you also know that businesses in the travel industry charge more for things in “peak season”?
When you travel in the winter you get to avoid both of these up-charges and save lots of money on your vacation.
Planes will be less full and seats will be cheaper. (We got tickets for $400 roundtrip by using a flight finding website! Learn more about free ones you can sign up for.)
You’ll have a better pick of hotels and apartments and lower prices for both. It will be easier for you to find tickets to all the things that you want to do and won’t be charge a peak season premium. Even restaurants are sometimes cheaper!
Don’t forget that time is also money! If you think about it, your time is actually even more valuable because that is what you paid all the money to get, time in a new and interesting place! When there are less crowds you get to do more things because you’ll spending less time waiting in line. Therefore, more bang for your buck.
Only 1€ !
The Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món was completely empty when we visited!
5 - Christmas in Spain! Duh!
No, I haven’t been in Christmas in Spain. But I really want to!!
I love Europe during the holidays because of all the beautiful decorations in the cities and foods that only come out for holidays.
Spanish street decorated for the holidays
Spain is largely a Catholic country and because of that there are beautiful local traditions that happen around Christmas.
Elaborate and gorgeous nativities are set up around the cities to tell the story of the birth of Christ. Many people gather to attend Christmas mass in the impressive gothic cathedrals.
As you walk the streets, you will find that the city is dressed up for the holidays also. Lights are strung across streets to magically glitter at nights. Store fronts have elaborate displays set up showcase children’s toys, colorful candies, jewelry and clothes (the Spanish are VERY fashionable).
Seasonal foods and treats are put onto the menus and sold in bakeries to celebrate the holidays and New Year. Christmas markets spring up with exciting holiday wares.
Read more about Christmas in Spain.
After this fall trip, a Spanish Christmas is now officially on our bucket list!
Spanish Christmas market and a very crowded cathedral waiting for the service to begin
Visit Spain in the winter and enjoy a totally different vacation from visiting it in the summer. Not only will you save money (always a major plus) but you’ll have more of a “local” experience by avoiding the crowds and enjoying the beautiful weather.
Have you ever visited Spain in the fall or winter? What were some of the best (or worst) things about it?
