Spain Weather in December 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers

Spain's weather is cold to mild in December with relatively damp conditions. When visiting Spain in December, we suggest visiting Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Valencia. Read on to find out more about travel and weather, including temperatures, rainfall, humidity, and tips for December.

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• 1. Weather Overview
• 2. Best Places to Visit
• 3. Crowds and Costs
• 4. What to Wear

Spain Weather in December: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 8–15°C (46–59°F)
• Rainfall: 6 cm (2 inches)
• Rainy days: 7
• Sunshine hours/day: 5
• Humidity: around 73% (damp throughout the country)

Spain's weather is cool to mild on average, with colder weather in Madrid. Given that December is winter, there are possibilities of seeing lower temperatures too, as well as slightly warmer temperatures.

December does not see much sun in Spain, with an average of 5 hours per day. This is slightly higher in the south of the country when compared to the north. Rainfall is low though, around 6 cm (2 inches) throughout the month of December.

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December Climate Comparison (Averages) for Spain's Top Tourism Areas

The Best Places to Visit in Spain in December

December might not be the warmest time of the year to visit Spain, but it is still a great holiday destination for the winter. Particularly if you are living in northern or western Europe, or even north America, you will find that winter in Spain is milder.

For visitors in December, we recommend starting off your trip in Madrid, and then heading to Barcelona, and eventually Valencia and Malaga. Read on to find out more about what sights to see, and what to do in each of these destinations.

If you are looking for a tailor-made itinerary, our Spain experts can help put together your ideal trip to Spain. Taking into account how long you are going, what your requirements are, and what you want to see, we can ensure that your trip to Spain runs smoothly and is an excellent memory-making experience. Contact us to start planning your Spain trip.

1. Explore Madrid as a Starting Point for Your Travels to Spain

Madrid is usually the starting point for tourists coming into Spain, and there is no better way to be introduced to Spanish culture.

If you are interested, Madrid is a good place to take a walking tour through the historical sights and key attractions to see in the city. For more information about this, see our piece about visiting Spain in January. If you want to sample Spanish cuisine, read our piece about visiting Spain in March for more information about traditional Spanish tapas.

For more active travelers, there are hikes to do near Madrid. You can learn more about this in our piece about visiting Spain in November.

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2. Take in the Beautiful Façades at the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

One of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire world can be found in Barcelona: the Sagrada Familia. Construction of this church started 1882, and remains ongoing. Interruptions include the Spanish Civil War, a lack of money, but also the more recent COVID-19 pandemic. Estimates of when the church might be finished are ever-changing, but currently stand at around 2040.

Designed by Gaudí, the famous architect of the church himself, is buried in an underground level of the Sagrada Familia after he passed away due to being hit by a tram. You will be able to visit the underground levels.

Although work has not finished, there are beautiful grand façades to see and the church is still an impressive sight not to be missed while you are in Barcelona. You will be able to see Gaudí's inspiration from nature.

3. Explore the Roman Theatre of Malaga

Malaga, located in the autonomous community of Andalusia, is the sixth biggest city in Spain. Located in the south of the country along the coast, it is a popular summer destination, but also has a lot to offer in the winter, including mild weather with a chance of a higher daytime temperature.

The city was under Carthaginian rule, after which the Romans took over. You'll be able to visit the Roman Theater, parts of which are in ruin today, but most of the structure is still standing. If you are interested in Spain's Roman past, we recommend getting a tour guide to guide you through and give you more background.

Malaga is also home to a beautiful cathedral, the Catedral de la Encarnacion de Malaga, and a fortress known as Alcazba. The fortress there is arguably one of the most beautiful ones in Spain, and we highly recommend a visit.

4. Take a Food Tour of Valencia

Valencia is a buzzing, exciting city, and there is so much to see and do. We recommend getting a food tour through the city as a way of exploring, but also sampling, some of the local foods! What better way to understand a new culture. For adults there are also lots of wine tours, as Spain is known for its wines world-wide.

One of our Spain experts would love to arrange a food tour in Valencia for you, just contact us here.

Walk it all off as you see the sights of the city, including the Valencia Cathedral, and the Church of San Nicolás de Bari and San Pedro Mártir, sometimes referred to as the Valencia Sistine Chapel because of its beautiful decorations and fresco paintings.

The church has been recently renovated, but the original building from 1242 still stands. If you are interested in the stories relating to the life of Saint Nicolás de Bari and Saint Pedro Mártir depicted in the frescos, we recommend getting a guided tour at the church.

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Crowds and Costs for Traveling in December

December is generally low season in Spain, with the exception of the Christmas break when there are more tourists traveling for the festive season.

If you want to visit Spain for Christmas, we recommend booking well ahead to avoid even higher prices for accommodation and transportation. Dates that might see some closures in this period are December 24, December 25, and December 26. You will also likely see festive decorations throughout Spain if you are traveling during Christmas, making for a wonderful sight.

There are a few other dates to bear in mind for festivals in Spain. On December 6, every year, Spain also celebrates Constitution Day, during which you might also find closures in smaller cities, particularly independent restaurants and shops. If you have planned to visit somewhere in particular we recommend checking ahead.

The same goes for December 8 and 9, when the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated throughout Spain.

What to Wear in December

December is cold to mild in Spain, depending on where you are traveling, and depending on the day. We recommend bringing plenty of layers to ensure that you don't get cold, particularly if you are spending lots of time outdoors, or if you'd like to walk around outside in the evenings.

You will need to bring a winter coat, particularly for Madrid, and we also recommend a scarf and hat just in case.

Top Spain Tours for December

While you might want to reach out to us to put together your ideal itinerary for your trip to Spain, we do also have some of our most popular itineraries listed here, all of which are suitable for the month of December:

• 7-Day Spain Essence Tour
• 12-Day Morocco and Spain Highlights Tour
• 7-Day Spain Food Tour around San Sebastián
• 7-Day Madrid and Barcelona Tour for Families