Spain in spring: Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol by month

Spain in spring runs from March to May, with mild days, cool nights and far more sun than the UK. Average highs in Alicante and Málaga are about 20°C in March, 21°C in April and 24°C in May. May is the best all-round month, April suits walking and March suits quiet viewing trips.

When is spring in Spain?

Weather records count March, April and May as spring. The astronomical season starts later: in 2027 it begins on 20 March and runs to 21 June.

On the Mediterranean coast it arrives early, although the sea takes much longer to catch up. Alicante gets about 2,850 hours of sunshine a year according to AEMET, and 751 of them fall in these three months.

What is the weather like in Spain in spring?

These are average daytime highs, rainfall and sunshine from AEMET, the state weather agency, for 1981 to 2010. London Heathrow covers the same 30 years, from Met Office data. They are long-run averages, not a forecast, so a single week can be cooler or wetter.

For a British reader:

• A March afternoon in Alicante beats a May afternoon at Heathrow. The average high is 19.6°C against 17.9°C.
• The south warms first. In March, Alicante and Málaga are more than 3°C warmer by day than Madrid and Barcelona.
• Northern Spain in spring is another climate. San Sebastián gets 371 mm of rain, more than four times Alicante's total.

Is the Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol better in spring?

Temperatures are almost identical, so rain and sunshine decide it. In the table, each cell shows Alicante first and Málaga second.

Rainy days have at least 1 mm of rain. Sea temperatures are rounded monthly averages from seatemperature.info and seatemperature.org, which differ slightly.

• March and April: the Costa Blanca. Alicante gets 52 mm of rain over the two months, against 96 mm at Málaga.
• May: the Costa del Sol, narrowly. The order flips, with more sun and less rain at Málaga, though the sea off Alicante is still a little warmer.

For prices, flights and way of life, read our full comparison of the Costa Blanca vs Costa del Sol.

Spain in March: is it warm enough?

Warm by British standards, and cool after dark. Alicante averages 19.6°C by day, about seven hours of sun and 8.9°C at night. The sea is about 15°C on both coasts, so most people will stay out of it.

Almond blossom is often sold as a spring sight, but the regional tourist board puts it in February and March in the Vall de Pop, inland from Calpe. So go early in the month.

Easter is early in 2027, with Holy Week from 21 to 28 March. The clocks are due to go forward on Easter Sunday, and sunset in Alicante moves from about 18:55 on 1 March to 20:24 on 31 March.

Spain in April: is it warm enough for the beach?

For a walk along it, yes. For sunbathing, only on a good day. The Costa Blanca in April has an average high of 21.3°C and about eight hours of sun a day, but the sea is only about 16°C.

It is a good month for walking, and also Alicante's wettest month of spring, though that means just 29 mm on about four days. Inland, Seville averages 23.4°C in April, the month of its fair, but this is its wettest spring month too, with 54 mm on about six days.

Spain in May: is it the best month of spring?

For most people, yes. The Costa Blanca in May averages 24.1°C by day and 14.1°C at night, with about nine hours of sun. Evenings start to feel warm enough to eat outside, and sunset comes after 21:00 for most of the month.

The sea is improving but not warm, at about 19°C off Alicante and 18°C off Málaga. Beach services can be part time too. In Calp in 2026, lifeguards worked in May only at weekends and over the 1 May holiday, with daily cover from 1 June.

Inland, Seville is already hot at 27.2°C, and May is Madrid's wettest spring month, with rain on about seven days.

What is worth seeing on a spring viewing trip?

Spring is full of fixed dates, so a viewing trip can take in one of these.

Dates can change, so check before you book. For the rest of the year, see our guide to the best Spanish festivals.

For a free half day between viewings:

• Peñón de Ifach, Calpe. The 332 metre rock is a good spring walk. You must make an appointment to visit.
• La Mata lagoon, near Torrevieja. It has waymarked trails and viewpoints, with flamingos, avocets and black-winged stilts. The visitor centre opens from 9am to 2pm.
• Caminito del Rey, Málaga province. The reception centre is 57.7 km from Málaga and a general ticket costs €10. Children under 8 are not admitted.

What should you check on a spring viewing?

Spring shows a home at its most flattering, with long light, green hills and open windows. So test what it hides.

• Summer heat. A mild April afternoon tells you nothing about August, when Alicante's average high is 30.8°C. Ask which way the home faces, and where the sun falls after 3pm. Run the air conditioning.
• Cold nights. A March night of about 9°C shows quickly how well a home holds warmth. Ask how it is heated.
• Shared areas. Ask when the pool opens and what the community pays for. Our guide to checking a property lists the rest.
• The town itself. Is the street lively in March, or shuttered until June? Our guide to where to live compares the main areas, and you can browse homes in Torrevieja before you fly.
• Office days. On the Costa Blanca, 19, 26 and 29 March 2027 are public holidays. In Málaga it is 1, 25 and 26 March. Everywhere, 1 May is a holiday, a Saturday in 2027. Each town adds up to two local days, so plan bank or notary visits around them.

March is the quiet option. Alicante-Elche Airport handled 1,609,368 passengers in March 2026, 31 per cent below August's 2,337,378. The UK was the largest foreign market each month, with 536,966 passengers in March.

If a viewing turns serious, our buying guide sets out the steps, and our guide to purchase costs covers the bill.

What do UK and Irish visitors need to know?

Ryanair alone listed 26 UK and Irish airports on its Alicante route map and 24 on its Málaga one on 31 October 2026, though not all fly every month.

British visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area, and a viewing trip counts. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on arrival and valid for at least 3 months after you leave. The EU's Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, so your fingerprints and photo may be recorded at your first crossing. ETIAS has not started, and the EU says it will announce a date several months ahead. Irish citizens are not bound by these limits.

What should you pack for Spain in spring?

Layers. On the coast, the gap between day and night is about 10°C all season.

• March: a proper jacket for the evenings, a jumper and closed shoes.
• April: a light jacket, a thin waterproof and walking shoes.
• May: summer clothes, a cardigan for after dark and swimwear.
• Inland: add a warmer layer for Madrid, where March nights average 6.2°C.

What are the downsides of spring in Spain?

• Fewer perfect days than you expect. AEMET counts only about five to seven cloudless days a month at Alicante in spring.
• Storms. Days with thunder at Alicante rise from 0.4 in March to 2.3 in May, the highest of the three.
• Saharan dust. Calima can turn the sky orange and coat cars. On 14 to 16 March 2022 it came in through Alicante, Murcia, Almería and Granada, at an intensity AEMET said had not been seen this century. That was exceptional.

For the other mild season, with very different rain, compare autumn in Spain.

Frequently asked questions

Is Spain warm in March? The south is mild rather than hot. Alicante and Málaga both average 19.6°C by day in March, Seville reaches 21.9°C and Tenerife South 23.1°C, while Madrid stays at 16.3°C. Nights on the mainland coast fall to 9 or 10°C, so bring a coat, and do not plan on swimming in a 15°C sea.

Is April or May better for visiting Spain? May is warmer and better for the beach, with highs of 24°C on the south coast, nearly nine hours of sun a day and a sea close to 19°C off Alicante. April is cooler, at about 21°C, which suits walking and city breaks. Both are quieter than August at Alicante airport.

Can you swim in Spain in May? You can, but it is cool. The sea averages about 19°C off Alicante and 18°C off Málaga in May, so many people will want a short dip or a wetsuit. Lifeguards may be part time too: in Calp in 2026, daily cover began only on 1 June, with weekends during May.

Where is the warmest place in Spain in spring? Of the places we compared, Tenerife South is warmest in March, at 23.1°C. From April, Seville takes over, reaching 23.4°C and then 27.2°C in May. On the mainland coast, Málaga and Alicante are level, at about 20°C in March and 24°C in May, and far drier than San Sebastián.

Does it rain much in Spain in spring? Not on the southeast coast. Alicante averages 80 mm from March to May, on about 12 rainy days, against 135 mm at Heathrow. Málaga gets 116 mm, mostly in March and April. The north is far wetter: San Sebastián averages 371 mm, with rain on more than 12 days in each spring month.

Is the Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol better in spring? Temperatures are almost the same, so it depends on the month. The Costa Blanca is drier in March and April, with 52 mm of rain against 96 mm at Málaga. In May the Costa del Sol gets more sun and less rain, though the sea off Alicante is a little warmer.

Planning a spring trip?

Tell us your dates and which coast you prefer, and we will help you plan your viewings. Tripinvest ES (TripInvest UK Limited) is a licensed agency, RAICV 4221, with offices in Calpe and Torrevieja. We work with lawyers and banks, keep an eye on your deadlines and guide you in English from the first call to the notary. Our clients don't pay us commission. Call us on +44 20 3888 0008, or call in at our London office at 8 Royal Parade, which receives visitors without an appointment, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Sources

Last checked: October 2026

1. AEMET, standard climate values 1981 to 2010: Alicante, Málaga Airport, San Javier, Seville, Valencia, Palma, Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastián, Tenerife South (official)
2. AEMET, report on the Saharan dust episode of 14 to 16 March 2022: aemetblog.es (official)
3. Met Office, Heathrow historic station data, our 1981 to 2010 averages: metoffice.gov.uk (official)
4. Aena, Alicante-Elche traffic releases 2026: March, April, May, August (official)
5. Instituto Geográfico Nacional, astronomical agenda 2027: ign.es (official)
6. BOE, Resolution of 8 October 2026, public holidays for 2027: boe.es (official)
7. GOV.UK: Spain entry requirements, clock changes (official)
8. European Commission, smart borders, EES and ETIAS status: europa.eu (official)
9. Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, Vall de Pop: comunitatvalenciana.com (official)
10. Festival sites: Visit Valencia, Las Fallas and the Cremà, Córdoba City Council, Festival of the Patios, Associació de Sant Jordi, Alcoy festival, Ayuntamiento de Fuengirola, home page, fair market closures (official)
11. Visit Sevilla, Feria de Abril 2027 guide, updated September 2026: visitasevilla.es (official)
12. Alicante City Council tourism, Santa Faz: alicanteturismo.com (official)
13. Dénia tourism, Fallas: denia.net (official)
14. Ajuntament de Calp, the Peñón de Ifach: calpe.es (official)
15. Turismo de Torrevieja: festivals and traditions, La Mata and Torrevieja lagoons (official)
16. Caminito del Rey, official site: caminitodelrey.info (official)
17. El Periòdic, Calp lifeguard service 2026, 27 March 2026: elperiodic.com
18. In Spain News, Fuengirola International Fair 2026: inspain.news. Wikipedia in Spanish, Alcoy festival dates: es.wikipedia.org. COPE Alcoy, 16 July 2026, council vote on the 2027 dates: copealcoy.es
19. seatemperature.info, sea temperature by month: Alicante March, April, May, Málaga March, April, May. seatemperature.org, monthly averages: Alicante, Málaga
20. Sunrise-Sunset.org, Alicante and Málaga sunset times for March to May 2027: sunrise-sunset.org
21. Ryanair, routes from Alicante and Málaga, read 31 October 2026