Santander enjoys a temperate maritime climate with mild temperatures year-round. Summers are pleasantly warm, rarely exceeding 24°C, while winters are mild, with lows seldom below 6°C. Rain falls frequently, particularly in autumn and winter, but sunshine is most abundant from May to September. The city’s coastal setting brings fresh breezes and moderate humidity.
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.
Santander’s climate is shaped by its location on Spain’s northern coast, facing the Bay of Biscay. The city experiences four distinct seasons, but temperature extremes are rare. Summers (June–August) are mild and comfortable, with average highs of 22–24°C and lows of 15–17°C. July and August are the warmest and sunniest months, offering up to 6 hours of sunshine per day and sea temperatures reaching 20–21°C, making them ideal for beach activities. Rainfall is lower in summer, averaging 40–60 mm per month, but occasional showers can occur.
Winters (December–February) are mild and wet, with average highs of 13–15°C and lows around 6–8°C. Rain is frequent, especially from October to January, with monthly totals often exceeding 110 mm and up to 18 rainy days per month. Snow is rare and typically light, occurring only once or twice a year. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, featuring mild temperatures (13–20°C), moderate rainfall, and variable weather. Humidity remains high year-round (around 80%), and winds are moderate, with the windiest period from October to April. Santander receives about 1,200 mm of rain annually and 1,700–1,800 hours of sunshine, with the longest days and most sun from late spring through early autumn.
| Average climate data for Santander, Spain | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 13 | 22 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 41 | 36 | 28 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 32 | 53 | 26 | 336 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 134 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 73 | 74 | 74 | 76 | 79 | 80 | 79 | 77 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 71 | 75 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 19 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 20 | 18 | 16 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 16 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 49 | 47 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 36 | 35 | 30 | 33 | 45 | 40 | 40 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
The best time to visit Santander is from June to mid-September, when temperatures are warmest (20–24°C), rainfall is lowest, and the city enjoys the most sunshine. This period is perfect for beach activities, outdoor sightseeing, and festivals. Evenings are mild, and the sea is at its warmest, making summer the most popular and comfortable time for travel.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when rain is most frequent, days are shortest, and temperatures are coolest (highs of 13–15°C). While winters are mild, frequent rain and overcast skies can limit outdoor activities. However, this is also the quietest season, with fewer crowds and lower accommodation prices.
Santander has mild, wet winters (highs 13–15°C) and pleasantly warm summers (highs 22–24°C). Rain falls throughout the year, with the wettest months from October to January. Summers are drier and sunnier, ideal for outdoor activities.
Snow is rare in Santander due to mild winter temperatures. When it does occur, it is usually light and melts quickly, with only a dusting once or twice a year.
July and August are the sunniest months, with up to 6 hours of sunshine per day and long daylight hours. Even in winter, Santander enjoys 2.5–3.5 hours of sun daily.
Santander receives about 1,200 mm of rain annually, with the most rainfall from October to January. Summer months are drier, but showers can still occur, so packing a rain jacket is wise.
Sea temperatures reach 20–21°C in July and August, making swimming possible for those who tolerate cooler water. The best beach weather is from late June to early September.
Pack layers, a rain jacket or umbrella, and comfortable shoes. Even in summer, evenings can be cool, and rain is possible year-round. A swimsuit is useful for beach days from June to September.
Santander experiences moderate winds year-round, with the windiest period from October to April. Breezy conditions are common, especially along the coast, and can make temperatures feel cooler.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (21.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (11.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 16.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (18.2 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (8.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 13 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (21.3 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (12.7 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 16.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is November (52.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is July (14.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 335.9 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is January (13.9 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is September (8.4 days). Over the whole year there are 134.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (4 mm). The months with the least snowfall are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 9 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are March, May, June, July, September and November (0 days). Over the whole year there are 1.6 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is June (80.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is December (70.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 75.3 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is November (19.8 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (12.3 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 15.6 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (49 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is September (30.5 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 39.5 %.
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 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 8.9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 5 h). Over the whole year there are 7.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are May, June, July, August, September and October (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, April and November (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.2.
