The short answer: the best time to visit Valencia is from October to early December and from late February to May. The weather is mild and bright, the city belongs to Valencians rather than visitors, and the region’s tables are at their best. Summer is hot and busy; winter is quieter and softer than most people expect.
Valencia’s climate in brief
Valencia has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, humid summers. It is one of the sunniest cities in mainland Spain, with around 300 days of sunshine a year. Rain is rare and tends to arrive in short, heavy bursts, most often in autumn.
| Month | Average high | Sea | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16 °C / 61 °F | 14 °C | Crisp mornings, bright warm middays |
| February | 17 °C / 63 °F | 14 °C | Almond blossom inland, longer days |
| March | 19 °C / 66 °F | 14 °C | The Fallas, the first lunches outdoors |
| April | 21 °C / 70 °F | 16 °C | Spring at its fullest |
| May | 24 °C / 75 °F | 18 °C | Warm, bright, the sea starts to tempt |
| June | 27 °C / 81 °F | 22 °C | Summer begins; Sant Joan on the beach |
| July | 30 °C / 86 °F | 25 °C | Hot and humid |
| August | 31 °C / 88 °F | 26 °C | The hottest and busiest month |
| September | 28 °C / 83 °F | 25 °C | Harvest inland, warm sea |
| October | 24 °C / 75 °F | 22 °C | Golden light, swimming still possible |
| November | 20 °C / 68 °F | 18 °C | Quiet, soft, the citrus season begins |
| December | 17 °C / 63 °F | 15 °C | Mild, festive, almost no visitors |
Autumn: September to November
For many locals this is the finest season. The heat breaks in September, the sea stays warm into October, and the light turns golden. Inland, the grape harvest in Utiel-Requena usually runs from September into October, and the cellars are at their liveliest. In the Albufera the rice has been cut, and the fields are flooded again for the winter, drawing migrating birds.
Autumn is ideal for a private wine tour in Utiel-Requena and for a four-day journey that moves between the city, the rice fields, the vineyards and the sea.
Winter: December to February
Winter in Valencia is the region’s best-kept secret. Days are often clear and warm enough to eat outdoors at midday, while northern Europe is grey. It is the season of oranges and mandarins, of hearty rice dishes and stews, and of restaurants full of Valencians. Hotels are quieter, and so is the old town.
Evenings are cool, so bring a coat, but expect sunglasses at lunch.
Spring: March to May
Spring opens with the Fallas (15 to 19 March), Valencia’s great festival, inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. For five days the city is filled with monumental sculptures, fireworks and music, and every afternoon at 2 pm the mascletà shakes the main square. It is extraordinary and very crowded; the best way to enjoy it is from a private balcony above the square.
After the Fallas, April and May are calm, bright and green: perfect for walking, sailing and long lunches.
Summer: June to August
Summer is the season of the beach, late dinners and festivals, but also of heat, humidity and crowds. If you travel in summer, we plan the days around the heat: mornings out, long lunches, a rest, and evenings by the sea or on a boat.
Our recommendation
If you can choose, come between October and May. You will find Valencia at its most generous: sun for most of the day, tables full of locals, and cellars and kitchens with time to open their doors for you.
