As the winter draws closer and the weather turns miserable it’s hard to not dream of blue skies and sunnier climates. If you dread the thought of a cold, wet, miserable, winter. Or its so grey outside that you think the sun might never some back. Don’t let it get you down, it’s just a short flight to Spain and there are so many places here that offer a bit of sunshine in the wintertime.
Why not treat yourself to a sunny city-break or beach holiday in Spain?
Europe is not renowned for its winter sun options but if you choose wisely you can head to one of the warmest parts of Spain and enjoy the great weather. This guide will show the 5 best winter sun places in Spain, the best areas to visit during December to pretty much guarantee some sun.
Here’s some inspiration to get you thinking about where you could go to get a dose of winter sun and my 5 favourite destinations in Spain to visit during winter, in no particular order…
- Marbella
- Tenerife
- Fuerteventura
- Costa Tropical
- Seville
Keep reading to see what kind of weather you can expect in December and learn a little about each of these Spanish winter sun destinations.
*RELATED article: For more info on what Spain can offer during winter read – Why Spain is great for winter sun
Where to go for the best Winter sun in Spain
1. Marbella
Marbella is a town on the Southern coast of Spain known as the Costa del Sol. Its South west of Malaga and takes about 45 minutes to drive to from Malaga airport. Its famous for attracting glamorous celebrities and has well-known areas like Puerto Banus. Where you can spot the super yachts and sports cars by day and go to the glitzy bars and clubs by night.
The beaches are lovely long, stretches of golden sand. All along the coastline here you can walk the beautiful palm tree lined promenade and enjoy the beach views. Some of the smaller Churinguitos (little beach bars) will close during the winter months but the town of Marbella is still very much alive with a wide choice of cafés and restaurants.
*RELATED guide – My trip south to the Costa del Sol
The old town of Marbella has cute, narrow, cobbled streets. Perfect for wandering and admiring the pretty balcony flowers displays and traditional Spanish mosaic entrances. The average temperature for December is 12°c and you can expect a good 6 hours of sunshine.
2. Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, which are situated to the West of North Africa. There are two airports on Tenerife and you can get some great flight & holiday packages.
It’s a very popular choice for winter family holidays as it offers a great all-year round climate. There is a varied and interesting terrain on the island, which means there is lots of things see and do.
*RELATED guide – A wonderful winter holiday in North Tenerife
You can hike the amazing volcanic, lunar landscape of the Mount Teide National Park or head to the Aqualand waterpark. Spend the afternoon on one of the many golf courses or enjoy lunch at the stunning blue flag Playa Fanabe. Choose from a wide range of restaurants for dinner or party the night away in Playa de los Americas.
The local seafood dishes are delicious and lots of the traditional charm can be found around the old fishing ports. The average temperature for December is 17°c and the sea temperature is 21°c, perfect for swimming!
3. Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is one of the lesser known Canary Islands but it has some of the most gorgeous beaches. The huge sand dunes lead on soft white flat beaches and crystal clear turquoise water.
There are more than 150 beaches on the island and the widest stretch can reach up to 30km across! Fuerteventura is popular for surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing and every year a windsurfing speed event is held here. You can take a boat trip to the nearby Lanzarote and spot geothermal activity on the volcanic rocks and watch lava come through the craters. Take a wild dune buggy ride or visit the local zoo, Oasis Park.
*RELATED guide – The essential guide to Fuerteventura
Towns are little far apart but there are some lovely hotels where you can get dinner or you can hire a car to explore the Island and try more local food. The average temperature in December is a high 19°c and you can expect just 3 days of rain all month!
4. Costa Tropical
The Costa Tropical is the coast of Southern Spain between Costa del Sol and Costa Almeria. It’s in the province of Granada and is only 1-hour drive from Granada airport.
The Costa tropical is much quieter than its neighboring Costa’s. As such, its far less crowded and touristy. It’s mostly a collection of small towns and villages surrounded by agricultural land. It’s known for its high number of farms producing exotic tropical fruits like mangos, avocados, bananas and guava!
There are a number of pretty coastal towns here that many would pass by on the drive to Granada but it’s well worth a visit to sample the local fruits, explore the history of this area and relax on the beach. Here the beaches are divided into small unspoilt sheltered coves. It’s mostly black sand or pebble with little oasis of grassland, shrubs and trees dotted around.
*RELATED guide – The essential guide to the Costa Tropical
You are also within easy reach of the Sierra Nevada, a rugged mountain range. It’s the highest in Europe after the Alps and is perfect for skiing, snowboarding, hiking and mountain biking. The proximity to the mountains gives this area its own micro climate and the average December temperature here is 13°c.
5. Seville
Seville is the capital of the Andalucía area of Spain. It’s a city crammed full of history with its churches, monuments and Moorish buildings. It’s also known for a buzzing nightlife of flamenco and tapas bars.
You will find one of Europe’s biggest Cathedrals here, which has great views over the city when you climb the tower. Other famous sights are the wonderful Alazar Palace and Plaza de España and the oldest and most important bull ring, the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza. You can tour the bullring to learn about the history of the tradition.
*RELATED guide – The sights and sounds of Seville
You can spend the days exploring the old city and admiring the architecture. Then the evening soaking up the lively atmosphere bar hopping and sampling the local delicacies of sherry & tapas. The average temperature in December is 12°c. It gets unbearably hot during the summer months so I think winter is a great time to visit Seville.
All weather info on this post was provided by holiday-weather.com
I hope this has given you some winter sun inspiration 🙂 and reading this blog helped to beat those winter blues! Have you spent a winter in Spain? Where did you go? Tell me about it in the comments box below↓↓
If you are visiting Spain you might also be interested in my blogs covering Spanish food & drink…
If you’re looking for more ideas on where to go in Spain, check out these articles…
The 10 most beautiful beaches in Spain
The best cities to visit in Spain
A quick guide to the different regions of Spain
For Seeking the Spanish Sun travel tips read…
How to keep your valuables safe when traveling
Tips for packing only hand luggage
How to survive a low cost airline flight
Hi I want to go away next month to the hot sun and the quickest travel journey… Also from Cardiff Airport Please… 2 Adults..
Author
I believe that Vueling airline fly from Cardiff airport to Malaga airport. The weather along the Costa del Sol & Costa Tropical is lovely at the moment. Try searching on Skyscanner to get info on flights times and prices. Enjoy your winter sun break Jan!
I would love to hit any of these to beat the winter here in Toronto! Tenerife however would be my ultimate choice from the option you have described 🙂
Thanks Janine, I bet it’s cold now in Toronto! Tenerife is a great choice, so many beautiful beaches and the Teide national park is amazing.
The Andalucia region is probably my favorite out of the areas I’ve been to in Spain, and I’m not at all surprised to see a few cities from Andalucia on your list! When I go back to Spain, I would love to go back to the Andalucia region and check out the Canary Islands as well, so definitely bookmarking your list for my next trip there!
Andalucia is a lovely area, there is so much to see and explore. The climate down there is very mild so it’s perfect for a winter holiday. The Canary Islands are also definitely worth visiting on your next trip!
Great list, I was just thinking about places that are not far away from me but much wormer than my country. 🙂
Thanks Unta. Spain is the perfect option for a winter break if you only want a short flight from Europe but still get some sunshine. Enjoy!
Sevilla was going to be my pick! So lovely no matter the time of year you visit. And Fuerteventura…WOW! Why have I never known to go there before? Looks positively stunning!
Ah yes Sevilla is gorgeous. The beaches is Fuerteventura are absolutely stunning. I’m flying there next week and I cant wait for some beach action 🙂
The high temperatures of each town is the lowest we have in western India in entire winter! Haha.. Spain looks like an incredible destination for all seasons and each town seems to different with a unique flavour.
Haha yes, I spent a Christmas in Goa and it was very hot! Spain has the best we can get in Europe for winter sun.
This article is a very good idea! I will send it to my always-warm-weather-seeking Nordic family 😀 They are always looking for ways to escape the cold weather in the north.
Thanks, I hope it gives them some holiday inspiration. It must be freezing up there!
Spain seems to be a great destination for winter beating the cold. Thanks for sharing some great options. And I never knew that Spain has avocado cultivation also. Would have to add Spain to my travel list.
Thank you! Southern Spain and the Canary Islands are great options for visiting in winter. Yes, they grow most kinds of fruit and veg across Spain. You should come and visit!