Málaga weather by month: temperatures, sea and the best time to go

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The short answer

Málaga is mild all year: about 17 °C by day in January and 31–32 °C in July and August, with around 42 days of rain a year. The sea is warm enough for most swimmers from June to October.

• Best time to visit, in our view: April to June and September to October, with warm days (22–29 °C), sunny skies and fewer people than in August
• Beach holiday: June to September, when the sea is 20–24 °C
• Warmest winter city break: December to February, 17–18 °C at midday but cool nights
• Wettest months: November, December and January, each with 5–6 rain days on average
• Busiest: Semana Santa (21–28 March 2027) and the Feria in mid-August

Málaga weather month by month

Averages from AEMET for Málaga airport (1991–2020); sea temperatures are 10-year averages. Single days can be much warmer or cooler.

Two things the averages hide. In summer, the terral, a hot, dry wind from inland, can push the city above 40 °C for a day or two, several times a season. And winter rain in Málaga tends to come in short, heavy spells, followed by days of clear sky.

January

The coolest month, but still around 17 °C at midday and about 183 hours of sun. Nights drop to 8 °C, and many flats and older hotels have little heating, so we’d ask about it when you book. The Three Kings parade (Cabalgata de Reyes) runs on the evening of 5 January, and the Christmas lights stay up until the 6th. After that the city is quiet and hotels are at their cheapest. Good for museums like the Picasso Museum, long lunches and walking the Caminito del Rey without the heat.

February

Slightly warmer (18 / 8 °C) and often very sunny, with almond blossom in the hills. Carnival fills the old town in February, ending with the Entierro del Boquerón, the mock funeral of an anchovy on the beach. The Málaga Film Festival starts in late February: the 2027 edition runs from 26 February to 7 March, with premieres and red carpets around the Teatro Cervantes. The sea (15 °C) is only for the brave.

March

Spring arrives: 20 °C by day, 10 °C at night, and about 223 hours of sun. In 2027, Semana Santa falls from 21 to 28 March. Málaga’s Holy Week is one of the biggest in Spain, with huge tronos (floats) carried through the centre by hundreds of bearers, and the Spanish Legion escorting the Cristo de Mena on Maundy Thursday. Hotels in the centre fill up and prices rise sharply that week, so we’d book months ahead. The clocks go forward on 28 March 2027, giving long, light evenings.

April

One of the best months: 22 / 12 °C, four rain days on average, and green countryside for day trips to Ronda, Antequera and El Torcal. It is warm enough for terraces and beach walks, but the sea (16 °C) is still cold. Bring a light jacket for the evenings.

May

Warm (25 / 15 °C) and very sunny, with around 301 hours of sunshine. Beach bars open fully and some people start swimming at the end of the month, though the sea is only about 18 °C. The Noche en Blanco, a free night of museums, concerts and light projections, is usually held on a Saturday in mid-May (16 May in 2026). We think it is a great month for sightseeing and hiking before the heat.

June

Summer starts: 29 / 19 °C, almost no rain and the longest days of the year. The sea reaches about 20 °C, and schools are still in session in most of Europe, so the beaches are busy but not packed. On the night of 23 June, the Noche de San Juan, locals gather on the city beaches for bonfires and a midnight dip. In our view, June is one of the best months for a beach-and-city trip.

July

Hot, dry and bright: 31 / 21 °C on average, zero rain days and 353 hours of sun, the most of the year. The sea is around 22 °C. Hotels on the coast are full and prices high. On 16 July, the fishing districts of El Palo and Pedregalejo take the Virgen del Carmen out to sea in traditional boats. Sightsee in the morning, and head for the beach or a shady terrace in the afternoon.

August

The hottest month (32 / 22 °C) and the warmest sea (about 24 °C). Nights stay warm and humid, and a terral day can be fierce. The Feria de Málaga takes over the second half of the month: in 2026 it ran from 15 to 22 August, opening with fireworks over La Malagueta. By day the party is in the old town, on Calle Larios and the surrounding streets; at night it moves to the fairground at Cortijo de Torres. The 2027 dates are not yet announced. We’d book early, and choose a hotel with air conditioning.

September

Still summer: 28 / 19 °C and a 22 °C sea, but without the August crowds once the Spanish holidays end. The first rain usually appears late in the month. We think this is the best month of the year for a beach holiday on the Costa del Sol.

October

Warm and golden: 24 / 15 °C, about 220 hours of sun and a sea that is still around 20 °C, so a swim is possible, especially early in the month. Rain returns (five rain days on average), often as a single heavy downpour. We think it is a good month for the city, food and day trips. The clocks go back on the last Sunday of October, so evenings get dark earlier.

November

Mild (20 / 11 °C) but less settled: about 177 hours of sun and five rain days. Prices drop and the city feels local again. It is good for museums, tapas and walking, with t-shirt afternoons on sunny days. The Christmas lights on Calle Larios are switched on in late November (28 November in 2025), with the light-and-music shows that draw big crowds each evening.

December

The wettest month on paper (six rain days) and the least sunny (161 hours), but still about 18 °C at midday, among the mildest Decembers in mainland Europe. The Calle Larios lights and shows, nativity scenes and Christmas markets fill the centre, and on 28 December the Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales brings Málaga’s folk music bands to Puerto de la Torre. From December, the Sierra Nevada above Granada usually has snow for skiing.

When is the best time to visit Málaga?

• Sightseeing and city breaks: April, May, October and November. Warm but not hot, and the things to do in Málaga are comfortable to walk between.
• Beach holidays: June and September, with a warm sea and fewer crowds than July and August.
• Winter sun: December to February. Not beach weather for most people, but sunny days of 17–18 °C when northern Europe is grey.
• Festivals: Semana Santa, the Feria in August, Christmas on Calle Larios.
• Budget: January, February and November, outside holidays and the Film Festival.
• Hiking and day trips: March to May and October to November. Caminito del Rey tours run all year, for example this Caminito del Rey tour from Málaga, but the path can close in strong wind or heavy rain.

For the resorts from Nerja to Estepona, see Costa del Sol weather by month. For Seville, Granada and the rest of the region, see the best time to visit Andalusia.

Where to stay by season

In winter and spring, we’d stay in the old town, close to the museums and tapas bars: compare hotels in the old town. In summer, a hotel by the sea in La Malagueta or Pedregalejo puts the beach at your door, and we’d want a pool on terral days. Our guide to where to stay in Málaga explains each area, and the best hotels in Málaga lists specific picks.

What to pack

• December to February: layers, a warm jacket or jumper for the evenings, a light rain jacket or umbrella, and warm clothes for inside if your room has little heating.
• March to May and October to November: t-shirts, a light jacket and trousers for the evenings, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses.
• June to September: light clothes, a sun hat, high-factor sun cream, swimwear and sandals. A cover-up for churches and the cathedral.
• All year: sunglasses and sun cream. Even in January the sun is strong at midday.

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