Following the Sun: The Hottest Places in Spain

Spain is well known for its sun, sea, and sand, but even for a country of eternal sunshine, the weather is unseasonably hot right now. Summer has arrived early, with temperatures in Seville currently hovering around the mid-30s and temperatures in Madrid also hitting 30 degrees this week.

The fact that Spain gets hot in the summer is hardly breaking news. It’s one of the reasons so many thousands of Brits choose to visit the country every year. But if you’re looking for the places where temperatures really soar in the summer, or the regions that stay hot in the winter, then these comprehensive lists will help you to find your perfect spot. Here are the hottest places in Spain:

The Cities with the Highest Average Summer Temperatures in Spain

Much of Spain is hot during the summer, and whilst coastal regions like Andalusia and Extremadura are most famous for their sweltering summers, interior cities such as Madrid, Zaragoza, and Toledo can also really feel the heat during the summer months. To top this list, in a country full of heat, temperatures have to be consistently high for an extended period of time. Here are the five cities in Spain with the highest average August temperatures:

• The highest average summer temperature in Spain is in the Andalusian city of Cordoba, where August averages are 36.5°C throughout the month of August.
• The second highest average temperature in Spain is also found in Andalusia: average August temperatures in Seville hit 35.5 degrees.
• The town of Badajoz, which is in the Extremadura region, takes third place with average August temperatures of 34.5°C.
• In Murcia, August average temperatures reach 34.2 degrees.
• Finally, the third Andalusian city to make this top five list is Granada. Temperatures here match Murcia, with average August temperatures hitting 34.2 degrees.

The Cities with the Highest Average Winter Temperatures in Spain

Winter temperatures in Spain vary wildly depending on the part of the country you choose to visit. In some parts of the country visitors will be sunbathing, whilst in others, visitors will be skiing! If you’re looking to feel the sun on your skin, then these are the cities with the highest average winter temperatures in Spain:

• The Canary Islands. Their location just off the coast of North Africa, and the trade winds that flow across the islands mean that winter temperatures are always warm in the Canary Islands and the sun is almost aways shining. The average winter temperature in Gran Canaris is 22°C.
• Seville. Seville is the capital of the region of Andalusia, and whilst you may occasionally need a jacket in the region during the winter months, with average December temperatures of 15°C, it is an ideal location for a warm winter city break.
• Valencia. Temperatures in Valencia are very similar to those in Seville, and this eastern city also boasts average December temperatures of 15 degrees.
• Mallorca. The Balearics aren’t famed for their winter sun in the same way that the Canary Islands are, but with average December temperatures of 14 degrees, you can certainly enjoy spending some time on the beach, even if it’s a little too chilly to get in the water!

How Hot Could It Get in Spain?

Whilst the figures outlined above look at average temperatures, temperatures in Spain often far exceed these averages, particularly during the summer months. If we look through the Spanish record books then single day temperatures have exceeded an incredibly sweltering 45 degrees Celsius on several occasions. For example:

• In July 2017, temperatures reached 47.3 degrees in the small town of Montoro, which is in Cordoba. This is officially the highest temperature ever recorded in Spain.
• In August 2011, temperatures reached 47.1 degrees in Mengibar, which is a town in the Jaen province
• The city of Badajoz received two entries in the record books, reaching 47 degrees in both June 1864 and August 1964.
• Seville is famed for its high temperatures during the summer months, so it should come as no surprise that temperatures here also reached 47 degrees in 1946.

Whilst these figures are taken from the official record books, there are unofficial records of temperatures reaching incredible temperatures of 51 °C and 50 °C in Seville in July 1876 and August 1881 respectively. Unfortunately, these recordings were not made accurately, and therefore are not included in the record books: but if you’ve ever spent summer in Seville then you’ll know that these sweltering temperatures feel incredibly achievable!

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