December to February
Spain in winter: where to go
Mild sunshine in the south and the Canary Islands, snow in the Sierra Nevada and the Pyrenees, cities with Christmas lights and museums without queues, and stone villages that are even better in the cold. Outside the Canaries and the ski resorts, winter is low season, and that is an advantage too.
Updated 20 October 2026 · How we make our guides
Winter sun
The south of the mainland and the Canary Islands have some of the mildest winters in Europe.
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SpainTenerife
Beaches in the south, Mount Teide sometimes snow-capped above and spring-like temperatures all winter.
What to see in Tenerife -
SpainGran Canaria
The Maspalomas dunes, Las Canteras beach right in the city and mountain villages: a continent in miniature.
What to see in Gran Canaria -
SpainMálaga
Museums, the historic centre and seafront walks with the mildest days on the mainland.
What to see in Málaga -
SpainSeville
Orange trees in the streets, the Alcázar and the cathedral with fewer people than in spring, and very pleasant sunny days.
What to see in Seville -
SpainCabo de Gata
Almost empty volcanic coves and coastal paths in one of the sunniest parts of Spain.
What to see in Cabo de Gata
Snow
Ski resorts and mountain villages for the winter season.
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SpainSierra Nevada
The southernmost resort in Europe, less than an hour from the Alhambra: skiing in the morning and Granada at night.
December to April
What to see in Sierra Nevada -
SpainJaca
The gateway to the Aragonese Pyrenees, with Astún, Candanchú and Formigal nearby.
December to April
What to see in Jaca -
SpainBenasque
A high mountain valley among the highest peaks of the Pyrenees, with the Cerler ski resort next door.
December to April
What to see in Benasque -
SpainAran Valley
Baqueira-Beret, one of the largest ski resorts in Spain, and villages of stone and slate.
December to April
What to see in Aran Valley
Cities in winter
Christmas lights, quiet museums and hearty stews.
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SpainMadrid
The Christmas lights, the Prado and the Reina Sofía, the New Year’s Eve chimes at the Puerta del Sol and chocolate with churros against the cold.
What to see in Madrid -
SpainVigo
Spain’s most famous Christmas lights, with a Ferris wheel and a giant tree in the centre.
Mid-November to early January
What to see in Vigo -
SpainGranada
The Alhambra with the snowy Sierra Nevada behind, one of the most beautiful sights of winter in Spain.
What to see in Granada -
SpainBarcelona
The Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter and the Santa Llúcia Christmas fair, with mild days by the sea.
What to see in Barcelona
Villages and getaways for cold days
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SpainSegovia
The aqueduct and the Alcázar, sometimes with snow on the Guadarrama mountains, and roast suckling pig to warm up.
What to see in Segovia -
SpainAlbarracín
A medieval village of reddish houses that looks like another age under frost or snow.
What to see in Albarracín -
SpainOurense
Open-air hot springs by the Miño, for a warm bath in the middle of winter.
What to see in Ourense -
SpainToledo
Lit-up medieval streets, marzipan in every bakery and viewpoints over the Tagus.
What to see in Toledo
Frequently asked questions
Where is the weather good in Spain in winter?
In the Canary Islands, with spring-like temperatures all year round, and on the Andalusian coast: Málaga, the Costa del Sol and Almería have the mildest winters on the mainland.
Where can you see snow in Spain?
In the Sierra Nevada (Granada), in the Aragonese Pyrenees (Jaca, Benasque) and the Catalan Pyrenees (Aran Valley, with Baqueira-Beret), and in ranges such as the Guadarrama, near Madrid, when it snows.
Is it worth travelling to Spain in winter?
Yes: it is low season in most of Spain, there are shorter queues at monuments and museums, the south and the Canaries have good weather, and in December the cities fill with Christmas lights.
Which Spanish cities should you visit in winter?
Madrid, Seville, Málaga, Granada and Barcelona, for their climate or their atmosphere; and Toledo and Segovia for a day trip from Madrid.
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More travel ideas
- The Canary Islands in winter: which island to choose
- Snow destinations in Spain and Europe
- Christmas in Spain: lights, nativity scenes and markets
- Where to travel at Christmas
- All ideas
Reviewed 20 October 2026. Dates and seasonal warnings: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.
Cover photo: Jebulon (Public domain), Wikimedia Commons.