Alicante, on Spain’s southeastern coast, enjoys a hot semi-arid Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, sunny winters. The city is one of Europe’s sunniest, with over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, low rainfall, and warm sea temperatures in summer. These conditions make Alicante a year-round destination, especially popular for beach holidays.
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.
Alicante’s climate is defined by its coastal location and unique microclimate, resulting in mild winters and hot, sunny summers. Summer (June–September) brings average highs of 28–31°C, with July and August often reaching 30–32°C. Nights remain warm, and humidity can be high, especially in August, making the heat feel more intense. Rainfall is scarce in summer, with July and August seeing just 2–4 mm on average, and sunshine is abundant – up to 11 hours per day. The sea is warmest from July to September, reaching 25–26°C, ideal for swimming and water sports. Occasional heatwaves can push temperatures above 40°C, but sea breezes moderate the heat.
Winters (December–February) are very mild by European standards, with average highs of 16–18°C and lows of 6–8°C. Frost and snow are extremely rare, and sunny days are frequent, with 6–7 hours of sunshine daily. Rain is infrequent, with most winter months seeing less than 25 mm. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with pleasant temperatures (20–26°C), longer daylight, and moderate rainfall. Autumn, especially October, is the wettest period, occasionally bringing brief but heavy downpours. Annual rainfall is very low, averaging 285 mm, and the city averages just 35–40 rainy days per year. Winds are generally light to moderate, with stronger gusts during storms or autumn fronts. Alicante’s climate supports outdoor living, al fresco dining, and year-round leisure activities.
| Average climate data for Alicante, Spain | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 28 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 27 | 7 | 29 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 189 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 5 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 67 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 67 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 63 | 61 | 63 | 66 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 68 | 66 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 20 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 28 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 27 | 25 | 21 |
| Average UV index | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
The best time to visit Alicante is from May to mid-October, when temperatures are warm (23–31°C), rainfall is low, and the sea is ideal for swimming. May, June, September, and early October are especially pleasant, with fewer crowds and perfect conditions for both beach and city exploration.
The least favourable time is from late October to February, when Alicante is coolest and sees more rainfall, especially in October. While winters remain mild and sunny, occasional heavy rain and shorter days can limit outdoor activities, though the city is still attractive for off-season travellers.
Alicante has a hot semi-arid Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers (28–32°C), mild winters (16–18°C), and very low rainfall. The city enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually and rarely experiences frost or snow.
The best time to visit is from May to mid-October, when the weather is warm, dry, and sunny. These months are ideal for beach holidays, swimming, and exploring the city’s outdoor attractions.
Alicante is one of Europe’s driest cities, with just 285 mm of rain annually. Most rain falls in autumn, especially October, but rain is generally brief and followed by sunshine.
The sea temperature in Alicante is warmest from July to September, reaching 25–26°C. Swimming is comfortable from June to October, though the water is cooler in May and November.
Yes, Alicante enjoys some of the sunniest and mildest winters in mainland Europe, with daytime highs of 16–18°C and frequent sunny days. It’s a popular destination for winter escapes.
Snow is extremely rare in Alicante—the last recorded snowfall was in 1926. Frost is also very uncommon, thanks to the moderating influence of the Mediterranean Sea.
Pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection for summer. In spring and autumn, bring layers and a light rain jacket. For winter, a jumper or light jacket is useful for cooler evenings.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (28.4 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is February (14 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 20.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (22.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (8.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 14.7 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (26.3 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (14.1 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 19.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is March (29.2 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is July (4 mm). Over the whole year there are 188.5 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is April (9.5 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is July (3 days). Over the whole year there are 67.1 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (1 mm). The months with the least snowfall are February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 1 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (0.2 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are March, April, May, June, August, September and December (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.4 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is September (67.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is June (61 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 65.5 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (15.3 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is October (10 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 12.4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is April (28.1 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (9.3 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 20.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14.1 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: 11.9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 6 h). Over the whole year there are 8.8 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 7). The month with the lowest average UV index is December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.9.
