Visiting Spain in September
September makes for a great time to visit Spain as the summer crowds are starting to wane and the weather is still warm all throughout the country. With fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures, it’s the perfect time of year for sightseeing, road-tripping, lazy beach days, and getting out into nature.
While September is technically shoulder season, it’s really a little more complicated than that. In early September most countries in Europe have not yet started the academic school year, which means that European tourists are still out in force. By mid-September this changes.
Beginning in the second half of September, you should start to see the crowds thin out and prices to drop as family travelers have packed up and returned home. It will still be plenty warm for swimming in the south of the country, though the north starts to become a bit more dicey. However, it’s perfect hiking weather everywhere!
Another positive of traveling to Spain in September is that there are a host of local festivals and holidays on the calendar.
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Weather
Spain is a big country and the weather varies significantly by region. Andalusia and southern Spain can still be downright hot in September, while places like the Costa Brava, Basque Country, Cantabria, and Galicia in the north of the country start to cool off.
In northern Spain you’ll have warm days with the occasional chilly evening. Southern Spain will be hot day and night, but not uncomfortably so. With only a couple of days of rain in a typical September, you also don’t need to worry too much about packing a raincoat!
Spain's weather in September is generally warm and pleasant, with countrywide temperatures averaging around 77-82°F (25-28°C) during the day and dropping to around 68-72°F (20-22°C) at night.
In the north of the country you should expect temperature ranges of 60-80°F, while the south will be hotter, around 70-90°F. Skies everywhere are clear and sunny with usually just 2-3 rainy days in the month.
Events
Spain is famous for its countless lively festivals all throughout the year, and September is no exception. I’ve included a few of our favorites below.
La Tomatina - One of the more famous September events, La Tomatina is held in the the small town of Buñol near to Valencia. Participants engage in a “battle” of tomato throwing and thousands of visitors descend on the town to watch the charming and raucous spectacle.
La Mercè - La Mercè is the most important festivity on the calendar for the city of Barcelona and it’s a celebration of the city’s patron saint, the Virgin of Mercy. It’s one of Spain’s most enjoyable parties and it goes on for about 5 days, usually starting in mid-to-late September.
There are cultural events all around the city and a host of parades, processions, human tower building, dance performances, fireworks, art exhibitions, and more. It’s a fascinating and really fun time to be in Barcelona.
San Sebastian Film Festival - The San Sebastian Film Festival, one of Europe’s most important, typically occurs in the last week of September. While prices in the city can get pretty extreme and it’ll certainly be busier than usual, if you book in advance and can find a good deal on accommodation, there’s no better time for people watching in this cosmopolitan Basque city.
Rioja Wine Harvest - La Rioja, a small region to the south of the Basque Country, is one of Spain’s major producers of wine. The region’s eponymous wine, Rioja, is appreciated all over the world. In mid-September, during the wine harvest, the region is in full on festival mode.
The real name of the festivities is Fiesta de San Mateo (Festival of Saint Matthew) and the main town for them is in the city of Logroño. La Rioja is gorgeous all throughout the fall, but coming in time for the harvest is a special treat.
Fiestas de Santa Tecla - Not to be outdone by their larger neighbor to the north, the Catalonian city of Tarragona brings out all the stops for their patron saint Santa Tecla’s fiesta. Though Tarragona with 130,000 residents is less than 1/10th the size of Barcelona, you wouldn’t know it from the party.
The festivities typically last about 10 days and start around September 14th. As Tarragona is just an hour from Barcelona and easily reachable with public transit, anyone in Barcelona around this time of year should absolutely plan on at least a day trop to Tarragona to enjoy the show.
Where to visit in September
Realistically, pretty much everywhere in Spain is lovely to visit in September. The main distinction is that early September is still high season in southern Spain while it’s starting to shift to shoulder season in the North. Remember that, in order to avoid the crowds, waiting until the second half of the month is ideal.
While you really can’t go wrong in September, I’ve highlighted a few regions that are particularly pleasant this month.
Barcelona - With the weather still good enough for swimming on the Costa Brava, hiking in the Pyrenees, and urban exploring, September is the perfect month for a visit to Barcelona and the Catalunya region.
The Balearic Islands - Made up of the islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, the Balearic Islands are a beach lover’s paradise. But there’s more to them than that! Mallorca, for example, has high peaks and rugged mountains that are great for hikers and in-shape cyclists.
Menorca is calmer and sleepier; an idyllic place for a few days of beach lounging. Ibiza, of course, is heaven for partiers and nightlife enthusiasts. And Formentera, a favorite among Italians, has calm, crystal clear waters that are perfect for families.
Early September is still high season in the Balearic Islands, but by mid September you’ll get to enjoy all they offer without the crowds.
Basque Country and northern Spain - The Basque Country is a semi-independent region in Spain’s mountainous northeast. September weather, with cooler temperatures but little rain, is very good for the region’s main attractions of hiking and biking.
For the same reason, September is also a great time to walk the famous Camino de Santiago trek that stretches across most of northern Spain.
Rioja wine country - Rioja is a tiny region that packs a major punch. One of Spain’s main wine-producing areas, it’s filled with vineyards, olive groves, and rolling hills. Much less visited than neighboring regions, it can often feel like you have towns all to yourself.
However, this is less true in September when people from all over Spain and the world come to celebrate the vendimia (wine harvest). For wine lovers who are ok with a little more traffic than usual, you can’t beat September in Rioja.
Madrid - Madrid is insufferably hot in July and August, but quite nice by mid-September. With lower prices and pleasant strolling weather, it’s an excellent time to explore the Spanish capital’s lovely neighborhoods and fabulous museums.
The Costa del Sol - Known for its beautiful beaches and warm weather year round, the Costa del Sol is a perennially popular destination. In September, the temperatures are still warm enough to enjoy the beaches, but cruise ships dockings are less frequent, the package holidays are ending, and the legions of partying teens and 20-somethings are headed back to school.
While beaches are the obvious attraction, September is also a good time for golfers, hikers, cyclists, and road trippers. Note that early September is still high season.
What to do in September
Outdoor Activities - With hiking, biking, and rock climbing in the northern Pyrenees, camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the south, and water sports like kayaking, rafting, and windsurfing in Andalusia, September is fabulous for outdoor enthusiasts.
Wine Tasting - While less prestigious than the vaunted elixirs from nearby Italy and France, Spanish wine is no less delicious. September is the perfect month for wine touring and tasting as its the grape harvest season. You have your pick of regions, but La Rioja is especially pleasant this time of year.
Road trips - The long days of September and sunny skies make for great road-tripping weather. Accommodations usually have ample availability, meaning that you have the freedom to wing it and change your plans on the fly without risking sleeping in the car.
Festivals and Fiestas - With local events and festivals on calendars all throughout Spain, September is a great time for anyone wanting to experience local life and authentic culture.
Camino de Santiago - The cooler temperatures in northern Spain, coupled with little threat of rain and open hostel beds, makes this an ideal period of the year to walk the famous Camino de Santiago.
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