Expert: Víctor Díaz - 9/21/2005

Question
Hi,

Will the last 2 weeks of the year (Dec) be a okay time to travel to Spain and Portugal?  We are planning our honeymoon but heard that it will be cold/raining and Europeans normally go on vacations then.  It would be our first time, do you recommend traveling at that time?  Thanks!

Answer
Hello Jenova

December is ok for Spain and Portugal, it use to be cold but with not too many rains, but can snow in some parts and for sure in the mountains. Cold but not as much as in other countries in europe, the more to  the south the warmer it will be. Its ok for the south of Spain.

Being in your honeymoon i recommend places like Granada, Seville and Cordoba, in andalucia in the south (beware that granada is in the foot of Sierra Nevada peaks and it's high, colder than other places in the south).

Spaniards don't use to have vacations on december, only some people on the christmas week.

I recommend spain and portugal in autumm and spring, with more chances of rains but temperatures are fine. Summer can be too warm and in winter you'll have cold days, but i prefer december to august for the south of spain.
So it's not a recommendation to travel at that time, but it's ok, it will be colder probably in january and frebuary.

Avoid north of Spain, it's much more colder and rainy. Focus on places from Madrid/lisbon to the south.

i hope this helps