If you want to visit Spain but don’t want to be stuck in crowds or deal with the intense Mediterranean heat, you should visit during its shoulder seasons. Shoulder season in Spain offers the perfect blend of gorgeous Spanish sun, sand and culture, without the crowds or intense heat. Both early autumn and spring can work, depending on what you’re looking for.
If you are looking to plan a holiday in Europe, you surely already know that Spain is one of Europe’s most traveled to destinations for holidaymakers. While that does recommend it as a good spot, or else why would everyone else be headed there, it does mean that you will have to wade through crowds of other travelers to get anywhere. But not if you play it smart and visit in the shoulder seasons.
The shoulder seasons in Spain run from March to June and September to October, in spring and early autumn respectively. At these times, the temperature in most of Spain is still nicely warm, without being the scorching heat of summer, and there are many fewer other travelers clogging up the hotels, sightseeing locations and restaurants.
But Spain is a pretty big country, where should you go? Thankfully, Spain-Holiday.com have spent time analysing which are the top Spanish cities to visit during the shoulder period, so you don’t have to. All you need to do is a little research and figure out what is more important to you, then pick a destination and book flights and rooms!
What is the Appeal of Visiting Spain in the Shoulder Seasons?
First, we should define what exactly a shoulder season is. It’s simple enough, a shoulder season is between the peak and off-season for a holiday destination. Any prime holiday destination has at least one shoulder season, and Spain happens to have two. Shoulder season in Spain offers the following:
- Perfect temperatures for enjoying the sun without getting cooked by it.
- Low humidity days that won’t leave you feeling like you’ve been dunked in a sweat soup.
- A low UV index that can be easily managed with sunscreen application.
- Lower costs for flights, accommodations and many other things that travelers are likely to book.
- Many fewer other travelers. If waiting in lines or being stuck in crowds isn’t your thing, shoulder season is always the perfect time to travel!
Hopefully, that sells you on the idea of visiting Spain in shoulder season, but we aren’t done yet! We’ll give a quick overview of a couple of the best shoulder season destinations as well.
Visiting Valencia is an Excellent Choice for A Springtime Holiday
Valencia is at the top of many lists for spring visits to Spain, and that is no accident. On the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula, with easy access to the Mediterranean Sea, Valencia has gorgeous weather and stunning beaches. The coastal city sees temperatures of 66°F to 82°F throughout spring, making it perfect for enjoying the outdoors without melting.
There are loads of things to do in Valencia, but if you need a little taster, you can enjoy things like:
- The City of Arts and Sciences. This is a district of Valencia that is full of museums, an aquarium and other interactive exhibits and interesting things to look at.
- The Turia Gardens run through the city. This is one of Spain’s largest urban parks and is built on the bed of an ancient river. It is about five and a half miles long and is a great place to stroll during the spring weather.
- Enjoy local food. Valencia is the birthplace of one of Spain’s national dishes, paella, and they will tell you that nowhere else does it quite right.
- El Miguelete and the Valencia Cathedral. Climbing to the top of this ancient landmark will provide you with a stunning view of the city and the Mediterranean coast spread beneath and around you.
Valencia is an excellent choice to visit anytime, but during the spring shoulder season, the perfect temperatures and lack of other tourists make it just that little bit better.
Murcia in Autumn is Sun Dappled and Temperate
Maybe autumn is more your thing, or that time of the year is just when you can get away? In that case, maybe you want to visit Murcia. Located further south, but also along Spain’s eastern Iberian Peninsula, Murcia is one of the warmest and driest places in Spain throughout autumn. With long days that typically have temperatures of 80°F to 86°F, Murcia is the perfect spot to enjoy the Spanish sun while the rest of Europe rapidly cools.
For some ideas of what to see in Murcia, the following are just the tip of the sunny Spanish iceberg:
- Visit the Plaza Cardenal Belluga. This is the city’s most well-known location, showcasing amazing Spanish architecture on several buildings such as the Cathedral of Murcia and the Bishop’s Palace.
- Take a day trip to Costa Cálida and soak in some Spanish sun on the beach. The name Costa Cálida translates literally as ‘Warm Coast’ and even in early autumn, you can discover why and enjoy sun and sand in ample supply.
- The Santa Clara monastery contains a museum with the remnants of a Moorish palace from the 13th century, which is worth a visit for history buffs.
- If you are a fan of the arts, you should consider checking out the Centro Parraga, Murcia’s contemporary arts centre. It hosts many exhibitions, concerts and performances throughout the year.
Murcia proves that Spain can give you a good dose of sun all year round, and visiting in the autumn shoulder season will let you skip the crowds and rush and enjoy it on a calmer and more personal level.
Shoulder Season in Spain is All Upside
If you have always wanted to enjoy a sun-dappled Spanish holiday but don’t want to melt or get stuck in swarms of other travelers, the shoulder seasons are your ticket to an enjoyable holiday! With pleasant temperate weather, low humidity and very reasonable UV indexes, spring and early autumn are the perfect times to enjoy the Spanish sun.
Depending on the time of year, you can get away and what you’re looking for, be it a romantic getaway, an adventure, or simply relaxing in the sun, different destinations in Spain will recommend themselves. One thing is certain, the shoulder seasons offer better prices, fewer crowds and the same gorgeous Spanish experience.