Best time to visit Gibraltar
The best time to visit Gibraltar for a beach holiday is during summer, from June to mid-September.
For walking and general outdoor activity in Gibraltar, anytime from late-May to mid-September is good.
Gibraltar weather
Gibraltar has a Mediterranean climate, with warm, sunny summers and mild, rainy winters.
Summer, from mid-June to mid-September, is warm and sunny, but much less than southern Spain. Temperatures usually remain below 29°C (84°F). Occasionally, the wind from Africa brings hot days, with highs reaching 35°C (95°F).
Autumn, from mid-September to November, is mild, and rainfall gradually increases. In September, there are still warm and sunny days. By November, the weather is mild, but also often overcast and rainy.
Winter, from December to February, is generally mild and sunny, with occasional wind and heavy rain.
Spring, from March to mid-June, is mild and sunny, with gradually less rainfall. By May and June, clouds often form above the Rock, and the weather remains cool and moist.
Note: Gibraltar has a peculiar microclimate that lacks the intense heat of Spain's neighbouring Costa del Sol, and it is also wet and windy, due to its location on the Strait of Gibraltar and the presence of the Rock, a promontory overlooking the city, that sits 426 meters (1,398 feet) high.
What is the best month to visit Gibraltar?
July and August are the best months to visit Gibraltar – the climate is perfect with hot, sunny weather and little or no rainfall.
However, the months of May through October are all good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in Gibraltar?
The hottest month of the year in Gibraltar is normally August, with an average daily high temperature of 28°C (82°F), with high heat and humidity, and a low of 21°C (69°F).
However, on the warmest days of the month, the temperature may reach 34°C (93°F).
The warm summer season lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 26°C (78°F).
Which is the coldest month in Gibraltar?
The coldest month of the year in Gibraltar is January, with an average high of 16°C (60°F) and a low of 11°C (51°F).
The cool winter season lasts from mid-November to mid-March, with an average daily high temperature below 18°C (64°F).
Which is the sunniest month in Gibraltar?
The sunniest time of year in Gibraltar is usually August with an average of 10 hours of sunshine per day; that's on average 75% of daylight hours.
When is the sea warmest in Gibraltar?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Gibraltar in August when the water temperature reaches 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 Gibraltar?
December is usually the wettest month in Gibraltar with 175mm (6.8in) of rainfall on average. There are normally 10 days in December with some rain.
The rainy period of the year lasts from late-September to mid-May, with a greater than 13% 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 August. July has the least rainfall.
Which is the windiest month in Gibraltar?
The windiest month of the year in Gibraltar is February, with an average hourly wind speed of more than 18 kilometres per hour (9 knots; 11 mph).
The windy part of the year lasts from November to early-May, with average wind speeds of more than 16 kilometres per hour (8 knots; 10 mph).
The less-windy time of year lasts from early-May to late-October. The calmest month of the year in Gibraltar is August, with an average hourly wind speed of 14.8 kilometres per hour (8 knots; 10 mph).
The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Gibraltar.
Gibraltar Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 19 | 17 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 74 | 73 | 73 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 71 | 75 | 78 | 75 | 76 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 105 | 100 | 75 | 65 | 35 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 80 | 120 | 175 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 |
| Gibraltar, UK | |||||||||||
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 Gibraltar is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by the UK Met Office from the nearest weather station: Gibraltar International Airport (GIB), located 2km (1.2mi) north of Gibraltar town.
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 Gibraltar: 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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