Granada weather

Are you planning to visit the beautiful city of Granada soon? Then please keep on reading.

Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, this Andalusian town is not only home to the Alhambra but to many other cultural attractions that make this destination one of the preferred ones by tourists around the world.

This is not a seasonal destination, the city is alive all year round, but to make an informed decision on when to plan your visit, we are going to provide you with detailed information about the weather in Granada.

The area has a slightly continental climate, which means relatively cold winters and hot, dry and sunny summers. The daily temperature range is often significant. This is because though the city is located in southern Spain, it is also about 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level, and a short distance from the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

Rainfall shouldn’t be a major issue, since it does not reach 400 millimeters (16 inches) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, which means more abundant from November to April, while in summer it virtually never rains.

Winter

Don’t be fooled by its proximity to the Mediterranean, it can get quite cold in Granada during winter. The average temperature in January is 7 °C (44.5 °F). The rains, brought by Atlantic depressions, are relatively frequent (it usually rains for 6/7 days per month) but generally not abundant. The days can be mild, with periods of good weather also during the season, and maximums reaching 15/17 °C (59/63 °F), but the nights remain still cold, with lows close to freezing (0 °C or 32 °F). Snow in town is rare though, rarer than in Madrid for example. Every so often there can be cold waves, with snow and frost.

To give you an idea, here are some temperatures recorded in the recent decades at the airport Federico García Lorca: January 1985: -11 °C (12 °F); January 1987: -13 °C (9 °F); January 2005: -11 °C (12 °F), February 2012: -9 °C (16 °F).

Summer

Summer months, especially from June to August, are hot and sunny; the average temperature in July and August is 25.5 °C (78 °F). The heat is often scorching during the day, in fact, the maximum temperature can easily reach 35/36 °C (95/97 °F), with peaks of 42 °C (108 °F), although the air is dry.

However, bear in mind that at night the temperature remains relatively cool, ranging typically from 15 °C to 20 °C (59 °F to 68 °F), but they could drop to 12/13 °C (54/55 °F) even in midsummer.

Spring and Autumn

Spring and autumn are mild and variable, so there are periods of good weather alternating with Atlantic fronts, which bring clouds and rain. Wind is quite frequent, and the temperature range between night and day is remarkable.

When is the best time to visit, then?

Well, it depends. On your tolerance to heat and cold, mainly. The amount of sunshine in Granada is great in summer when clear skies prevail. In July there are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. But sunny days can happen throughout the year, even in December and January there are no less than 5 hours of sunshine per day. 

If you want to avoid the summer heat, the best times to visit Granada are spring and autumn, especially from mid-April to mid-May, and from mid-September to mid-October. Given the temperature range, it can get cold at night and hot during the day, so it’s useful to dress in layers.

Those with good heat tolerance could also choose summer but must be prepared to stroll around the city in hot weather. However, even in summer, it can be useful to bring a sweatshirt for the evening.

And those who want to take the chance to pay a visit to the close slopes of Sierra Nevada would find winter the most suitable time.

And remember, to make the most of your stay, forget about hotels and choose better a luxury apartment in Granada.