Best time to visit Costa del Sol
The best time to visit the Costa del Sol for a beach holiday is during summer, from June to mid-September.
For walking and hiking, the best time is spring, during April and May, so avoiding the summer heat; and the beginning of autumn, from mid-September to mid-October, although you may experience some rainfall.
Costa del Sol weather
The Costa del Sol has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, sunny summers and mild, rainy winters.
The Costa del Sol comprises several towns including Estepona, Puerto Banús, Marbella, Fuengirola, Mijas, Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Málaga, Torre del Mar and Nerja.
The liveliest holiday section of the coast is the 70km (43mi) stretch from Torremolinos (west of Málaga) to Estepona (towards Gibraltar), with Marbella at its centre.
Winter, from December to February, is generally mild and sunny, with occasional wind and rain.
Spring, from March to May, is mild and sunny, with infrequent rain. By May, you can expect hot weather with highs around 30°C (86°F).
Summer, from June to mid-September, is hot and sunny, with temperatures averaging 28°C (82°F) in June and September, rising to 31°C (88°F) in July and August, with the heat tempered by cooling sea breezes.
Autumn, from mid-September to November, is initially warm, becoming cooler, overcast and wet.
Here are the average temperatures for Málaga.
What is the best month to visit the Costa del Sol?
June through September are the best months to visit the Costa del Sol – the climate is perfect with hot, sunny weather and little to no rainfall.
July and August are especially popular, since this is the peak tourist season in the Costa del Sol.
To avoid the crowds, higher prices and extreme heat of summer, the months of May and October are also good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in the Costa del Sol?
The hottest month of the year in the Costa del Sol is normally August, with an average daily high temperature of 31°C (87°F), with high heat and humidity, and a low of 21°C (69°F).
The hot summer season lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 28°C (82°F).
Which is the coldest month in the Costa del Sol?
The coldest month of the year in the Costa del Sol is January, with an average high of 17°C (62°F) and a low of 7°C (44°F).
The cool winter season lasts from mid-November to mid-March, with an average daily high temperature below 19°C (66°F).
Which is the sunniest month in the Costa del Sol?
The sunniest time of year in the Costa del Sol is usually July with an average of 11 hours of sunshine per day; that's on average 78% of daylight hours.
What is the humidity in the Costa del Sol?
The Costa del Sol experiences significant seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 57% – 70% over the course of the year.
The more humid time of year lasts from late-June through September, when you can expect the comfort level to be muggy at least 12% of the time.
The month with the most muggy days in the Costa del Sol is August, with around 14 days that are muggy.
We derive the humidity comfort level from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the air. A higher dew point feels muggy and uncomfortable.
November through May is generally comfortable, with no days in any month that are muggy.
When is the sea warmest in the Costa del Sol?
The sea is usually at its warmest in the Costa del Sol in August when the water temperature averages 23°C (73°F), which is considered barely acceptable for swimming.
The Alboran Sea is never warm to swim in, given the inflow of water from the Atlantic Ocean: August is the only month when it becomes acceptable for swimming.
Which month has the most rain in the Costa del Sol?
December is usually the wettest month in the Costa del Sol with 100mm (4in) of rainfall on average. There are normally seven days in December with some rain.
The rainy period of the year lasts from October to mid-May, with a greater than 11% chance of a given day being a wet day.
The drier season lasts from mid-May through September, with little or no rainfall from early-June through to mid-August. July has the least rainfall.
Which is the windiest month in the Costa del Sol?
The windiest month of the year in the Costa del Sol is February, with an average hourly wind speed of more than 16 kilometres per hour (10 mph; 8.6 knots).
The windy part of the year lasts from November to early-May, with average wind speeds of more than 14 kilometres per hour (8.7 mph; 7.6 knots).
The less-windy time of year lasts from early-May to late-October. The calmest month of the year in the Costa del Sol is August, with an average hourly wind speed of 11 kilometres per hour (7 mph; 6 knots).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in the Costa del Sol.
Costa del Sol Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 24 | 20 | 18 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 9 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 70 | 68 | 68 | 64 | 61 | 57 | 59 | 60 | 64 | 71 | 71 | 73 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 70 | 60 | 50 | 45 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 55 | 100 | 100 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 16 |
| Málaga, Costa del Sol, Spain | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
Peak season: August is the major vacation month for most Europeans, with many hotels booked out and traffic, restaurants and beaches at their most congested.
High season: June and July. Not quite as bad as August for crowds.
Low season: Winter, spring and autumn when prices are competitive with minimal foreign visitors or Spanish tourists.
Source: Meteorological data for the Costa del Sol is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) – Spain's meteorological agency – from the nearest weather station: Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), located 8km (5mi) southwest of Málaga.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Costa del Sol: 12 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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