Tarragona, located on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate with hot, sunny summers and mild, relatively dry winters. The city boasts over 2,500 hours of sunshine each year, moderate rainfall, and a long swimming season, making it an attractive destination for beachgoers, history enthusiasts, and outdoor adventurers alike.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Tarragona’s Mediterranean climate features distinct seasons, though temperature swings are less dramatic than inland Spain. Summers (June to August) are hot and sunny, with average highs of 28–30°C and lows around 19°C. Rainfall is scarce in summer, and the sea breeze helps moderate the heat, though nights can feel muggy. The sea reaches its warmest (24–26°C) in July and August, perfect for swimming and water sports. Sunshine is abundant, with up to 10 hours per day in July, and daylight lasts over 15 hours at the summer peak.
Winters (December to February) are mild, with daytime highs of 14–15°C and nighttime lows of 5–6°C. Rain is relatively rare in winter compared to other Mediterranean cities, and snow is very unusual, though a cold snap may bring brief frosty nights. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are transitional, with pleasant temperatures (17–25°C), moderate rainfall, and fewer tourists. Rain peaks in October but is generally moderate, with annual precipitation around 500–570 mm. Winds are generally gentle, but April can see breezier days with gusts up to 26 km/h. Tarragona’s climate supports a long outdoor season, lush gardens, and vibrant city life throughout the year.
| Average climate data for Tarragona, Spain | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 16 | 13 | 27 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 30 | 13 | 32 | 39 | 26 | 25 | 17 | 28 | 39 | 50 | 34 | 20 | 353 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 7 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 115 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 69 | 67 | 70 | 72 | 69 | 68 | 70 | 70 | 68 | 70 | 69 | 69 | 69 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 18 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 14 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 19 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 25 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 21 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 22 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
The best time to visit Tarragona is from late May to September, when the weather is hot, dry, and sunny, and the sea is warmest for swimming. Early autumn (September) is especially pleasant, offering fewer crowds, comfortable temperatures, and a lively atmosphere for festivals and outdoor activities.
The least favourable time to visit Tarragona is from December to February, when temperatures are at their coolest and days are shortest. While winters are mild and rain is infrequent, outdoor and beach activities are limited, and the city is quieter than during the lively summer months.
Tarragona has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, relatively dry winters. The city enjoys over 2,500 hours of sunshine annually, with moderate rainfall mostly in autumn and spring.
The best beach weather in Tarragona is from July to September, when sea temperatures reach 24–26°C and days are hot and sunny. June and early autumn are also pleasant for swimming with fewer crowds.
Snow is very rare in Tarragona. Winters are mild, with occasional cold snaps that may bring brief frosty nights, but snowfall is exceptional and usually melts quickly if it occurs.
Tarragona receives around 500–570 mm of rain annually, with rainfall peaking in October. Summer is the driest season, while winter and spring see occasional showers. Rainfall is moderate compared to other Mediterranean cities.
Tarragona generally experiences gentle breezes, with April being the windiest month (average 15 km/h, gusts up to 26 km/h). Sea breezes help moderate the summer heat, and winds are rarely disruptive.
Bring light, breathable clothing and sun protection for summer. In spring and autumn, pack layers and a light jacket for cooler evenings. For winter, a jumper and windproof jacket are useful for mild but breezy days.
Tarragona enjoys about 2,500–2,700 hours of sunshine per year, with the sunniest months being June to August. Even in winter, expect 4–5 hours of sunshine per day on average.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (27.4 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (12.6 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 19.3 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (22.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (7.8 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 14.4 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (24.8 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (13.1 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 18.6 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is October (50.4 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (13.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 353.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is September (13.2 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is December (5.5 days). Over the whole year there are 115 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (4 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 8 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (0.4 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are January, April, August and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 1.1 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is April (71.6 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is February (67.1 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 69.2 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (17.5 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (10.7 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 13.9 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is April (30.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (13.4 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 22.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 11.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 6.2 h). Over the whole year there are 8.7 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are May, June, July, August and September (UV index: 6). The month with the lowest average UV index is January (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.8.
