Spain Travel News and Advice
Spain is an amazing country. The biggest thing to be aware of before your visit to Spain is the different schedule. While the Spanish tend to begin their days in the morning like everyone else, the rest of the day is a bit different. Lunch usually occurs a bit later, around 2 or 3 in the afternoon and lasts up to 3 hours. This is when most shops, markets and even banks are closed. Dinner doesn’t begin until much later either, around 10 or 11. This is usually a lighter meal than lunch. On weekends the Spanish people really like to let it all hang out and it is common to see people out on the streets and 5 or 6 in the morning when they are just ending their long night out. But, year round there are also amazing events and festivals in Spain to plan your trip around!
January: It is cold in most of Spain in January but you still might be able to find some fun in the sun along the southern coast. But January is a fun month to come when all over the country people celebrate St. Antony’s Day eve (January 16). People will dress up in costumes and there will be great fireworks displays.
February: The month of Carnival is a great time to come to Spain. All over the country there will be loads of festivals and parties. Cádiz is especially fun during Carnival.
March really starts to warm up in the warmer regions of the country. Plus, it is the home of the Latin American film festival in Lleida in Catalonia toward the end of the month.
April is a big deal in Spain as it is the month of Easter. This is a great time to visit Seville where there are amazing festivals.
May is a glorious time to visit Spain. The weather is amazing and there are usually less people visiting because it isn’t quite the summer holiday yet. This is a great time to visit those popular destinations like Barcelona and Seville where the weather is hot and sunny.
June: Summer starts to get hot, hot, hot in Spain, so if you are ready for a tan this is a great time to come. Barcelona is nice in June, while it is still hot you have the beach to cool you down. Plus, all over the country there are loads of music festivals going on.
July-August: Talk about hot weather! This might be a good time to go visit the more moderate climate of northern Spain. There are amazing music festivals and La Semana Negra in Gijón (Asturias) is really fun!
September: No matter where you are in Spain there are loads of things to do, especially in the bigger cities of Barcelona and Madrid. Just ask you hotel reception of local news. Or during late September join in the festivities of Santa Tecla in Tarragona.
October: If you love film, October is the month to be in Spain. There are close to a dozen different film festivals all over the country during this month. Plus, the weather starts to become a bit erratic so it could be a good time to be inside!
November stays sunny but a bit cold in Spain (in the south). Madrid hosts a fabulous jazz festival during this month, which is really fun and entertaining!
December: This is a great but cold month all over Spain. The Spanish love their Christmas festivities plus there are more film festivals to enjoy, especially in Gijón.