Spain in January — Where to Go

The Mediterranean Coast is a great option to visit Spain in January. There are fewer chances of rain compared to most of the country, and you can enjoy the sun near a beautiful beach. The destinations we’ve chosen for January also have plenty of activities for couples and families.

Valencia

Valencia is famous for having over 300 days of sun every year. That means January is a great time to visit and get warm. While it’s not weather for shorts and sundresses, you can get temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) at noon and in the sun. Sometimes even more!

In January, Valencia isn’t usually crowded, which means you can enjoy the sights with some tranquility. There are a lot of activities you can do in Valencia. You can go to the City of Arts and Sciences, the Oceanogràfic, or the Bioparc Zoo. Not to mention taking a boat ride in Albufera, a lake that feeds the rice fields and is the birthplace of the Paella.

Then there’s the fact that Valencia is by the Mediterranean Sea and has a beautiful, wide beach lined with restaurants and bars. A short walk from the beach gets you to the Cabañal neighborhood, previously a fishing village, with beautiful tiled houses and a local vibe.

Book a hotel in Valencia

Alicante

Alicante, Spain. The Explanada’s wave mosaic is one of those things that looks better in person than in photos – walk it end to end in the morning before the heat sets in, then double back along the seafront for the first coffee of the day.

Located a little bit further south to Valencia, Alicante has similar good weather – with sunny days and temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) at noon.

You can get to Alicante by renting a car and then use it to get around the Costa Blanca area. But if you want to avoid driving, you can also take the train or the bus from Valencia. It’s a lovely town with a wide beach and a beautiful hilltop castle – Castillo de San Fernando.

From Alicante, you can drive or take the train to these fantastic villages on the Costa Blanca: Altea, Calpe, Denia, Gandia, Javea, or Benidorm. These are great for a day trip – stop in for a relaxing lunch, or even stay overnight and enjoy the beach.

Book a hotel in Alicante

Malaga

Go even further south and enjoy the Andalusian sun in Malaga. With mostly sunny days, this city has similar temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) at noon, like in Valencia and Alicante.

Malaga is a great destination because of its many beaches and historical places like the Alcazaba, the Gibralfaro Castle, or the Roman theatre. The advantage of going in January is fewer crowds at the Picasso Museum.

If you feel like getting out of the city, you can go to the Colomares Castle, which seems out of this world, or the white villages of Comares, Frigiliana, Casares, and Ronda.

Book a hotel in Malaga

Interior view of a traditional, bustling restaurant or tapas bar with dark wood paneling, ornate ceilings, and patrons seated at tables in Madrid, Spain.

Spain in December

Planning a trip to Spain in December? From Madrid’s Christmas markets to skiing in the Pyrenees and spa breaks in Huesca – here is where to go.

Close-up of an elaborate, colorful carnival hat decorated with bright purple feathers, artificial flowers, and beadwork during the festival in Tenerife, Spain.

Spain in February

We’ve compiled a destination list based on different interests and activities you may like: romantic light shows in Barcelona, a colorful carnival on the islands, and less touristy cities by the Mediterranean.

Madrid skyline at sunset — Almudena Cathedral dome and spire silhouetted against a fiery orange sky, rooftops stretching to the horizon

Spain Itinerary for First-Timers

We built this Spain itinerary for first-timers, organized by how many days you have: whether you have 5 days, 7-8 days, 10 days, 14 days, or even 21 days.

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