Andalusia and the Heat: Choosing the Right Month

March to May

The best window overall. Daytime temperatures between 20 and 29 C, orange blossom in Seville in March and April, and courtyards open in Cordoba in May for the patio festival.

The exception is Semana Santa and the Feria in Seville, when the city is spectacular and almost fully booked, with prices two to three times higher than normal.

June to early September

Hot enough to reshape your day. Locals handle it by going out early, sleeping or staying indoors from 14:00 to 18:00, and eating at 22:00. You should do the same.

The upside is availability and price. Inland Andalusian hotels discount heavily in July and August because Spanish holidaymakers head to the coast. If you have air conditioning and patience, it can be good value.

• Sightsee between 08:00 and 12:00 only
• Book accommodation with a pool or a genuinely cool room
• Carry more water than seems reasonable
• Treat the Alhambra as a morning visit, the gardens offer little shade

Late September to November

Our other recommendation. The heat breaks in late September, the light gets warmer, and prices drop after the summer peak. October is reliably pleasant, with highs around 25 C.

November brings the first rain but also the quietest cities of the year, and the Alhambra is easier to book at short notice.

December to February

Mild by northern European standards, 15 to 18 C in the day, but genuinely cold in the evening and in old buildings with poor heating.

Granada is the exception worth knowing: you can ski in the Sierra Nevada in the morning and walk the Albaicin in the afternoon, which is an odd and enjoyable combination.