Costa del Sol Weather

Are you planning to visit the beautiful Costa del Sol soon? Then please keep on reading.

It is not by chance that this is one of the most popular beach destinations all over the world among all kind of tourists. There are many reasons, but the main one might be the amazing Costa del Sol weather, with more than 320 sunny days per year, mild winters, perfect autumns and springs and warm but bearable summers.

Thanks to these exceptional temperatures the area is lively all year round, but we are going to provide you with detailed information about the weather in Costa del Sol to make an informed decision on when you should plan your visit. And remember, to fully enjoy the experience, a luxury apartment is always a better option than a hotel.

Winter

Winters are usually mild in the Costa. During these months, sunny periods alternate with periods of not so great weather, with wind and rain included. When the skies are clear, temperatures can go below 5 °C (41 °F) at night, while the days are normally mild, with temperatures above 15 °C (59 °F). Really cold days are rare and exceptional: only in the coldest nights the temperature can go down to freezing, but even in these cases, usually during the day it rises above 10 °C (50 °F).

Sunshine hours are also at their lowest levels all year as well. During this season, Costa Del Sol will only see about 5-6 hours of sunshine per day.

Summer

Summers are always hot and sunny. Normally, temperatures rise up to 27/28 °C (81/82 °F) in June and September, and up to more than 30 °C (86 °F) in July and August. The weather can be hot and muggy, but the sea breeze always provides some relief, like in any other typical Mediterranean summer. However, when the wind blows from the interior of Andalusia, the heat can be intense, in fact the temperatures can reach 35/37 °C (95/99 °F) and sometimes up to 40 °C (104 °F); luckily, in this case, there’s a moderate wind and the air becomes dry. This phenomenon is known as ‘terral’. We advise drinking often during those days to avoid dehydration.  

Regarding the sea temperatures, they are never very warm to swim in because of the infiltration of water from the Atlantic Ocean. It is in fact still pretty cool in June, when the water temperature is about 20 °C (68 °F), then it rises to 22 °C (72 °F) in July and September, and reaches 23 °C (73 °F) in August. So basically it is only swimmable during the summer months. 

Spring and autumn

Springs are usually mild and sunny. Rainy days (spring showers) are possible, especially during March, but after that, they are not very frequent. Starting from May, and sometimes already in April, the first hot summer days can happen, with maximums around 30 °C (86 °F). 

Autumn tends to start warm and then becomes gradually milder, while the Atlantic fronts become frequent. In October, there are still many warm and summery days, especially in the first half. By November the weather starts to change. It is mild, but also often cloudy and rainy. Sometimes the rains are concentrated in a short time and can be heavy, particularly in the western part. Rainfall begins to increase in October at a level around 50mm over an average of nine days. November will see the highest rainfall level over 110 mm occurring over an 11-day average.

When is the best time to visit then?

Well, it basically depends on how you want to spend your holidays. If your plan is visiting cities and villages of the Costa del Sol, or go for walks and hikes, it is better to do it during the months of April, May and October, especially if you are including the interior of Andalusia to the itinerary, which in summer is often scorchingly hot. If you are looking for bargain prices, then winter is your season.

For a proper beach holiday, the best period is obviously the summer. In the westernmost part, it’s better to bring a sweatshirt for cool and windy evenings, especially in June and September, but for safety also in July and August.