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

July falls in Spain's very hot and arid summer, and we would recommend visiting Madrid, Mallorca, San Sebastián, and Pamplona. Read on to find out more about travel and weather, including temperatures, rainfall, humidity, and tips for July.

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

Spain Weather in July: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: 21–32°C (70–89°F)
• Rainfall: 1 cm (0 inches)
• Rainy days: 2
• Sunshine hours/day: 11
• Humidity: around 49% (arid throughout the country)

July falls in Spain's summer, and the temperatures are some of the hottest of the year, alongside the month of August. This is particularly the case in the south of the country, where July can be extremely hot due to the long, sunny days (Spain sees around 11 hours of sunshine per day on average in July).

There is barely any rain, with approximately 1 cm or half an inch of rain in Spain in July, across a total of 2 days of the month. Humidity levels are also low, with an average of 49% humidity which is dry and very comfortable.

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

The Best Places to Visit in Spain in July

July is peak tourism season in Spain, with summer temperatures and dry weather attracting people from all over the world. For visitors to Spain in July, we would recommend starting off your adventure in Madrid, and then heading over to Mallorca, San Sebastián, and Pamplona.

If you are okay with higher temperatures, we also recommend Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia, but do be prepared for hot to very hot weather. You can read more about these destinations in our article about visiting Spain in March and April.

Our experts can help you put together your ideal itinerary, using both your interests and requirements, and local Spanish festivals and happenings. Do reach out to us for help creating your perfect once-in-a-lifetime trip to Spain. Contact us to start planning your Spain trip.

1. Explore Madrid's History on Foot

Did you know that Madrid as a city has been around since the year 860 AD, and that it has been the Spanish capital since the 17th century? Given this long history, Madrid is definitely worth exploring for a few days or more, depending on your schedule.

We recommend starting off at the Royal Palace of Madrid, a palace with 3,418 rooms, making it the largest royal palace in Europe. It was built in the Baroque and Classical architectural styles, and the outside isn't all there is to see: inside you will find paintings by famous artists, clocks, tapestries, and sparkling royal jewels.

Madrid is also now home to the Temple of Debod, which has an interesting backstory. The temple is an ancient Nubian Temple, which was dismantled and then subsequently moved to Madrid as part of the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia. Its original location near Aswan, in southern Egypt, was no longer safe due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam and the threat posed by its reservoir. Spain played a large role in saving the other temples in the area, and Egypt donated the Temple of Debod to Spain as a result in 1968.

The temple of Debod currently stands in Parque del Oeste, not far from the Royal Palace, and is definitely worth a visit, being one of the few ancient Egyptian temples that can be seen outside of Egypt.

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2. Take a Hot Air Balloon Flight and See Mallorca from Above

Mallorca is a beautiful Mediterranean island, and the largest of the Balearic Islands. Its capital, Palma, is well known for both its beautiful historical sites, having played a key role in the Roman and Byzantine periods, and for its great restaurants and wonderful hotels.

For visitors to Mallorca, we recommend spending some time relaxing on its beautiful beaches, swimming in the ocean, and eating fresh seafood.

After you have recharged your batteries, there are a lot of activities you can do on the island including exploring the caves off the coast, taking a boat ride around the bays, spending time snorkeling, or even driving off-road buggies through the national parks. It is also worth taking a hot air balloon flight in order to take in this beautiful, green island from the sky!

3. Visit a Beach and Eat Pintxo in San Sebastián

San Sebastián, a beautiful resort town in Spain's Basque Country, has something to do for everyone, and summer is the best time to visit due to the sunny weather.

We recommend starting off with some time on one of the city's gorgeous beaches, including Playa de la Concha or Playa de Ondarreta. San Sebastián's beaches have their own promenade with restaurants, bars, and water sports for adrenaline junkies.

In the old town, Party Vieja, you can do some shopping in the boutiques, or you can find a pintxo bar. Pintxos are small regional snacks usually served on a slide of bread alongside a beautiful glass of Spanish wine (if that is your preference, as you can of course also have a non-alcoholic drink with them, or a cocktail).

We suggest foregoing dinner altogether and trying out the many pintxos throughout the city. Due to their size, you will be able to sample lots of different traditional foods this way.

4. Learn about Fiesta de San Fermín and Running of the Bulls in Pamplona

In July, the people of Pamplona celebrate Fiesta de San Fermín, which honors the city's first bishop and patron saint, Saint Fermín. The celebrations begin at noon on July 6, and end at midnight on July 14. Perhaps the best-known part of the celebration is the running of the bulls. During this time, between July 7 and July 14, the bulls used in the bullfights are run through the streets of the town towards the bullring. A bullfight is then held every afternoon.

This is an interesting festival to witness, a true one of a kind. Bullfighting is deeply rooted in Spanish history, but it's worth doing a little research before signing up for watching Fiesta de San Fermín as watching the bulls run through the streets is not without risk.

The area around Pamplona is also well known for its Rioja wines, and we highly recommend going for a wine tour in the region. Global Highlights can help arrange this for you to make sure you have private transport to and from the vineyards. Contact us to start planning your Spain trip.

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Crowds and Costs for Traveling in July

July is peak tourist season in Spain, and you will find crowds at the more-popular tourist destinations. Prices for accommodation and transport (both in Spain and into Spain from abroad) may also be higher, so we would highly suggest booking your trip to Spain in July well in advance.

What to Wear in July

Due to Spain's hot and sunny weather in July, we recommend wearing light-colored clothing made of natural fabrics such as linen or cotton because they are more breathable. We suggest packing shorts, dresses or skirts, and bringing swimwear and beach attire too.

To keep your skin protected, bring lots of sunscreen (although you can always buy this in Spain too), as well as sunglasses and a hat.

Top Spain Tours for July

To enjoy a Spain tour crafted for your time of travel, interests, and requirements, let us know what you would like to do. Or, you may want see our recommended itineraries for a starting point:

• 7-Day Spain Essence Tour
• 7-Day Spain Food Tour around San Sebastian
• 7-Day Madrid and Barcelona Tour for Families