Travel
The best time to swim in Spain
Mediterranean, Atlantic and Canary Island water temperatures through the year.
5 min read
Spain has three swimmable coastlines, and they behave very differently. The Mediterranean warms fast and stays warm into October; the Atlantic is cooler and more surf-driven; the Canaries are the closest thing to year-round swimming in Europe.
Month-by-month
- May: Mediterranean starts at 18–20°C; Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca are first to turn pleasant.
- June–September: 22–26°C across most of the Med and Balearics; August is peak.
- October: still 22–24°C in the south and east; ideal for quiet beaches.
- November–April: Atlantic coast drops to 13–16°C; Mediterranean cools to 14–17°C; Canary Islands stay at 19–22°C.