Last year parts of the south of Spain sweltered in unprecedented levels of heat for unprecedented periods of time, making a trip to the country earlier or later in the season a little more appealing
The best time of year to go to Spain and the best regions to go to maximise sunshine have been highlighted in new research.
Spain has long been a favourite holiday hotspot, with Brits having flocked to the Mediterranean country for 75 years. The recent record-breaking temperatures have been causing travellers to reconsider which months they visit, however.
Last year parts of the south of Spain sweltered in unprecedented levels of heat for unprecedented periods of time. Wildfires broke out and holidays were ruined by sunshine so punishing being outside was a danger for much of the day.
While the miserable weather that the UK has been swamped by in recent months may make any holiday in Spain seem appealing right now, avoiding the hottest parts of the country during centre months – while maximising the rays during the shoulder seasons – is a smart way to get the most out of your holiday, while avoiding high season prices.
Spain-Holiday.com has worked out which Spanish destinations are best to visit for those looking for a last-minute ‘early shoulder season’ getaway when temperatures are still balmy but not at their highest.
The Spanish holiday home provider has analysed the average daytime temperatures, average UV rating and a ‘humidity discomfort’ level (how uncomfortable it actually feels) for all of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations in the months of March, April, May and June.
Ranking in the top spot for early shoulder season travel is Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city. Situated along the Iberian Peninsula, it has a long stretch of beach to entice holidaymakers along with a thriving cultural, eating and nightlife scene. During the early shoulder season, you can expect warm temperatures of between 19 and 26 degrees. The UV rating is fairly high throughout though, meaning that it’s important to wear sunscreen, peaking at ‘very high’ during June.
Just up the coast, and in second place for early shoulder season travel, is Castellon de la Plana. The medieval city boasts beautiful churches, ornate houses, landscaped gardens and many squares to explore. It has a wider range of temperatures throughout the early shoulder season, spanning from around 18 degrees in April to a toasty 27 degrees in June, although you might start to feel slight discomfort with humidity the closer you get to summer.
Rounding up the top three is the Andalusian port city of Huelva, which is situated close to the Portuguese border. It offers delicate natural landscapes as a result of its location in the foothills of Sierra Morena and is also full of history and charm. Huelva offers the beauty of Spain without the hordes of tourists. And, as for its temperatures during early shoulder season, they range from 21 degrees in April to 28 degrees in June.
Sunny Spanish destinations:
(City, high average temperatures in degrees Celsius March, April, May and June)
- Valencia: 19, 20, 23, 26
- Castellon de la Plana: 18, 20, 23, 27
- Huelva: 20, 21, 25, 28
- Javea: 18, 20, 23, 26
- Moraira: 18, 20, 23, 26
- Alicante: 19, 20, 23, 27
- Denia: 19, 20, 23, 27
- el Campello: 19, 20, 23, 27
- Cadiz: 19, 20, 23, 26
- Guardamar del Segura: 19, 21, 23, 27
The full study can be found on the Spain-Holiday website.
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