Written by Stephanie Mutsaerts
Photos by Jesus Caso and Stephanie Mutsaerts
The best time to visit northern Spain depends on your passions and your timing options and, of course, the weather. If you are looking for warm days and blue skies the best time to visit northern Spain is the months of June through to late November. But there are other options and Northern Spain Travel offers a series of travel ideas, some of which work well at other times of the year. The “best time of the year” could be any time!
You will be pleasantly surprised by how great the weather is in the high season even though the variations in altitude and overall topographical differences of the region give rise to several mini- or micro-climates. Many travellers select Spain as their travel destination because of its reputation as a good weather destination where the sun shines all year round but this reputation does not always hold true, especially in the north where weather can be a little more unpredictable. It is recommended that you research the regional weather predictions before taking your travel decisions.
If what you are looking for is a high season travel destination that is not overly crowded, the north of Spain should be your choice. While in July and August, tourist-tangled destinations like Barcelona or Valencia are experiencing high humidity, and provinces in southern Spain are suffering from high temperatures, the north of Spain offers temperate weather conditions….so your best choice for both city and country destinations which are not overcrowded must surely be Northern Spain.
You want a high season destination but want to avoid a sunburn? Then the north of Spain is a great option. Of course, wherever you choose to travel, applying sun block and avoiding the direct sunlight at peak hours is important, but the north of Spain offers destinations that keep sun intensity to a more comfortable level.
As already stated, the north of Spain has a variable climate depending on the specific destination that you have in mind and the time of year you wish to be there. This article briefly describes different places to visit and events that you may wish to participate in – so possibly the best reason to come to northern Spain.
Parts of northern Spain, such as some sections of Aragon and Navarra which are in the Pyrenees, form one of the most mountainous regions of Europe. Some areas offer warm days and cool evenings. Temperatures in the heart of the Pyrenees can reach highs of 38C and lows of 10C degrees, but in general you can expect an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius/centigrade.
You wish to go cycling and hiking? Take a look at this biking trip in North of Spain
For more information on what you can do in northern Spain, check out Northern Spain Travel.
The climate of the Atlantic and Cantabrian (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country) is predominantly a maritime climate, where you can expect warm summers and mild winters. The humidity level is lower than on the Mediterranean coast, but there may be more cloudy days. The best time of the year to visit the coastal region is between June and November when the weather is generally unbeatable. But then, of course, the weather can be unpredictable even in the summertime.
The weather in the wine regions of Navarra and la Rioja during the months of June to late November typically ensures the optimal months for visiting the area. In autumn these regions are paradise for wine lovers. The autumn weather is mild and the wineries are at their peak activities of harvesting the grapes. The vineyards turn from green to spectacular orange, ochre, and red, thus making the wine regions ideal for wine exploration in the months of October to mid-November. Expect to enjoy the comings and goings of tractors loaded with ripe grapes, and a sweet scent of wine on the breeze.
In conclusion, the best time of the year to visit the northern region of Spain is from June through to late November, these being the warmest months of the year, but within this wider time frame you may narrow your selected months depending on the specific regions of the north you would like to explore and the activities you wish to engage in.
The north of Spain, within its diversity of landscapes, offers some excellent golf courses making this a true paradise for golfers – there are many jewels in the rough (yes, pun intended!) that are not widely known and are pleasant surprises to those who have come to this region with their putters and golf clubs.
Just a one hour flight out of Madrid, Barcelona or Frankfurt, the airports of Bilbao, Pamplona, Vitoria or Biarritz will bring you to the golf courses along the Cantabria Coast, in the wine region of la Rioja, or the medieval landscapes of Navarra.
While some months are better than others for golfing in The north of Spain, as all true golfers know, any time of the year is a good time to be out on the course! During the summer months from June to November, the temperatures can range from 20 degrees Celsius to 40oC depending on the region you choose to visit for your golfing pleasure. In the months of July and August, the wine regions of Navarra and La Rioja can easily reach upward of 40 degrees which for most is a little too hot, however, golf in these regions in the months of June, September, October and November is considered ideal. Perhaps choose the months of July and August for golfing in the coastal Basque lands and the Baztan region of Navarra which remain cooler and where the sunshine is your happy companion.
In conclusion, the best time of the year to visit the northern region of Spain is from June through to late November, which are the warmest months of the year, but this will depend on the specific regions of the north you would like to explore. For more information on customized travel in northern Spain, check out Northern Spain Travel.
