What is the best time to visit Malaga in Spain? What’s Malaga weather like in the winter?
If you are asking yourself all these questions before booking your trip, you have come to the right place!
I have been living next to Malaga for many years now and have plenty of experience with the weather conditions throughout the years.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet month to explore without crowds or wonder what’s the warmest month to visit, this article will answer all the questions you might have about Malaga weather.
Before we dive into the detailed month-by-month breakdown, below are some of my practical tips to ensure you don’t have any unpleasant surprises on your trip.
Malaga, Spain: Top Local Tips For Booking Your Trip
If you’re planning to explore Malaga, before your book your flights, there are a few things you should consider:
- Apartment vs hotel – if you’re unsure whether to stay in a hotel or apartment, you should know that most properties in Malaga are old with very little insulation, which is an absolute nightmare both in the winter and summer. Owners often limit aircon use or will charge you extra fees for electricity overuse, so check that before you confirm any accommodation booking. In hotels, you usually don’t have any of these issues.
- Car rentals – the best deals for Malaga can rentals are available in the shoulder and off seasons, mostly January to April and November to December. The only issue you can encounter with the car is slippery roads after the rain, so you must be extra careful if you’re planning a day trip from Malaga during the rainy season.
- Keeping warm – if you’re staying in an apartment in the winter, bringing some slippers will come in very handy. The locals don’t really use carpets and the floors are super cold. Warm blankets are also a must-have, but they are usually provided in the apartments.
- Beware of local holidays – certain holidays like Easter (Semana Santa) and local Feria festivities will dramatically increase the accommodation prices in the city. If you want to travel to Malaga to see them, book well in advance to secure the best prices.
- Windy days – as you would expect, it gets windy by the coast. It’s always a good idea to have a scarf or some light clothing with you that you can use in an emergency.
- Off season travel – while it’s pretty windy and cold by the coast, you can make the most out of your time on Costa del Sol by taking a short trip further inland, for example to Seville. The weather tends to be more dry and temperatures are also a bit higher than on the coast.
Malaga Weather: Climate in General
Malaga has a subtropical Mediterranean climate, with very warm winters that get most of the rain, and very hot summers.
In the summer, it can get quite humid, and the occasional summer thunderstorm may also visit the city.
Because of water infiltration from the Atlantic Ocean, this part of the Mediterranean Sea is generally pretty cold for swimming, even after the summer.
Malaga Weather Month by Month
Below is a detailed breakdown of the weather conditions month by month. To give you a quick glance view of the highlights, here is a little recap:
- Best months to visit: April, May, October to November
- Busiest months in the city: June to September
- Cheapest time to visit: December to February
- Worst weather months: January and February
Malaga Weather in January
January in Malaga is one of the coldest months of the year, with the average daily temperatures reaching a maximum of 16C (62F), and the lowest temperatures hovering just under 10C (45F).
While it may seem like a very cold month to visit, it’s still very pleasant in the sun, and still much warmer compared to other places in Europe.
Rain is pretty standard this time of the year; you can expect to see, on average, 6 to 8 rainy days per month.
January is also a big month as the locals celebrate the Orthodox Christmas, so you will get a chance to experience this event if you plan to visit Malaga at the beginning of the month.
Malaga Weather in February
February is one of the most unpredictable months of the year, with quick changes in weather conditions. It’s one of those months when you can experience all four seasons within just one day.
If you’re checking the weather for February, take it with a grain of salt as it can change from day to day – and by that, I mean the forecast will say something completely different in the matter of hours.
February is still a pretty rainy month, with 5 to 7 rainy days on average. The average temperatures in February are just a tiny bit higher compared to January, with highs of 17C (64) and lows of 8C (47F).
Early mornings and late evenings are generally pretty cold. If you’re spending time out in the sunshine, it feels very pleasant and relatively warm. Strong winds are also pretty common this time of the year, so packing a windproof jacket and warm shoes is a good idea.
February is an excellent time to explore the city as there are virtually no crowds, so if you’re willing to take a bit of a gamble with the weather, you will be able have the whole city for yourself.
Malaga Weather in March
March means the slow arrival of spring, with orange trees slowly bursting into blooms and spreading their wonderful fragrance around the whole city.
The end of March also marks the slow start of the tourism season, with most of the holiday resorts opening and sunbed rentals also starting operations.
If you’re considering visiting in March, it offers the perfect mix of low tourism activity, with plenty of sunshine and more stable weather than the previous two months.
In March, you would see only about 3 to 5 rainy days, which may be just quick showers that pass quickly. The average temperatures rise to a pleasant 19C (67F) during the day, but it’s still quite cold in the early mornings and late evenings, with lows of 9C (50F).
March is generally the perfect mix of good enough weather with low tourism activity which makes it perfect for exploring not just the main sites in Malaga, but also venturing outdoors and exploring more of the natural sights around Malaga.
Malaga Weather in April
The first influx of tourists on Costa del Sol usually happens around Eater each year, which draws millions of tourists not just with the promise of early sunshine but also the famous Easter celebrations in Southern Spain (Semana Santa).
Especially in Malaga, the Easter celebrations are known to be one of the best in Southern Spain, so you can expect lots of crowds this time of the year.
April is one of the prettiest months in Malaga, but it’s also a month where the weather can be really unpredictable. Usually, around Easter time, there is a quick change in the weather conditions, with a cold front visiting the coastline of Costa del Sol for a few more days.
After the cold spell passes, it’s pretty much full-on summer mode! The average temperatures in April are around 21C (71F), with the lowest around 11C (52F).
If you were planning on swimming, the beaches are open and services with sunbed rentals, and restaurants and hotels are in full operation.
Malaga Weather in May
Even though May is still not considered a summer month in most places in Europe, in Malaga, it’s the opposite.
May is the first month when the temperatures can climb way over 20C (70F), and one of the best times to visit the city.
There is an occasional rainy day around, but it’s mostly a quick shower or spring thunder that passes the city and clears up rather quickly. Extended periods of rain are pretty much unheard of at this point.
May is still considered a relatively quiet month in terms of tourism activity, which translates to cheaper accommodation and fewer people at the main sights, especially if you’re visiting early in the morning.
Average temperatures in May are between 24C (76F) and 14C (58F). The whole month is full of sunshine, with occasional white clouds scattered in the sky.
Malaga Weather in June
If you want to experience a proper summer in Costa del Sol, June is your month to travel!
While it’s already hot, it’s nowhere near as hot as in July or August, and the crowds are still manageable.
The average temperatures in June are between 28C (83F) and 18C (64), and even the evenings and early mornings are enjoyable.
If you want to experience Malaga this month, I would recommend trying to get to the monuments as early in the morning as possible, not just to avoid the crowds, but also to escape the summer heat. Also, remember that most businesses close for the siesta, usually between 2pm and 5pm.
Beaches are pretty busy this time of the year. If you want to secure a good spot on the rental sunbeds, head to the beach as early as 9am.
June is pretty much guaranteed sunshine all month around, but it comes with a price tag – the flights to the country are starting to peak up to their highest season prices.
Malaga Weather in July
July for most people means the start of school holidays, and a new influx of family holidaymakers to Costa del Sol. While Malaga may not be the number one choice for families (they tend to opt for the other smaller resort towns), you will still see an increased presence of especially local visitors in the city.
The summer cruises around Europe are also in full swing by now, and as the cruise liners stop in Malaga port, you might bump into hundreds of tourists that just came to Malaga for one of their day trips from the cruise.
July is a pretty typical summer weather month, with lots of sunshine, and maximum temperatures peaking around 30C (87F), or much higher during warmer years.
Rain is pretty much unheard of this time of year, and you may only see the sea fog that rolls into the city occasionally.
While July has the perfect weather – hot, but not scorching, with warm enough sea water for swimming, the price of flights and accommodation soars to the top levels for the summer.
Malaga Weather in August
August is the busiest and hottest month of the year, with the highest prices for everything from flights, car rental, accommodation and everything else.
If you plan to visit in August, take plenty of sun lotion with you and arm yourself with a bit of patience, as there are crowds everywhere in the city.
To enjoy the city and survive the heat, visit the beach in the early morning hours and then retire to your hotel to take a siesta in the room, cool off and head out late in the afternoon when the temperatures go down again.
Average temperatures in August are around 31C (87F), but in recent years they have been much higher. Humidity is also at its highest this time of year.
The sea temperature in August is 24C (75F), which is delightful for swimming.
Malaga Weather in September
September is still a hot month and the perfect time to enjoy the sun in Malaga. The sea is warm enough for swimming (for most people!), with an average temperature of 23C (73F).
Most local kids are already back to school in September, which means fewer local Spanish families visiting the area. But that doesn’t mean September is less busy; it’s still considered a high-peak season.
The weather conditions in September are pretty stable, with the occasional quick shower, but mostly sunny with a few scattered cloudy days around.
Average daily temperatures in September are between 28C (83F) and the lowest around 18C (66F).
Malaga Weather in October
October is one of my favorite months in Malaga – the weather is still enjoyable with lots of warm sunny days, and all the tourism activity is slowing down considerably. Many local restaurants, like the chiringuitos, are closing down for the winter season, and some hotels also.
October is one of the first autumn months when you get a chance to get a really good deal on your flights and accommodation while enjoying pretty stable weather conditions with lots of sunny days in the month ahead.
Average temperatures in October are between 24C (75F) and 15C (59F). The nights and mornings are getting quite cold, so prepare for that when you pack for your trip.
Malaga Weather in November
November is the first month when you can expect proper rainy conditions and the arrival of colder weather.
If you’re considering November for your trip, your best bet is to check some last-minute deals so you can check the weather at least a week ahead. If you’re looking at long-term weather forecasts, those are rarely accurate as the weather changes quickly this time of the year.
There are, on average, six rainy days per month, and the temperatures drop to about 16C (61F) during the day. Having said that, some years are warmer than others, and we also had a really warm start to the winter with much warmer temperatures.
November is great month for exploring the outdoors and nature, but prepare to wrap up warm and bring some waterproof clothing with you.
Malaga Weather in December
December is the time of Christmas festivities in Malaga, but if you’re hoping for snow, you will be disappointed.
Quite the opposite, December in Malaga is still pretty sunny for the most part of the month, with a few cloudy days around and some scattered rainy days (on average 6 to 8 per month).
If you’re thinking about visiting in December, you are taking a bit of a gamble with the weather as the conditions can change really quickly, and the weather forecast is accurate mostly for the next day or two.
Average daily temperatures in December hover around 13C (56F), with the mornings and evenings being much colder, so a winter jacket should be on your packing list!
Final Thoughts
I hope you found this detailed guide really useful and that it helped you decide when to visit Malaga.
The weather is something you should be least concerned about when visiting one of the sunniest places in Europe, and no matter which month you choose, I hope you will have a wonderful time!
