Weather

Springtime usually emerges with comfortably balmy temperatures. Starting in April, it triggers Mother Nature's sense of mischief. In a rush of colors, the sub-tropical and tropical flora along the coastline begins to bloom and come to life.

This may very well be the most magnificent time to drive through the countryside, when the meadows and mountain slopes present a virtual cornucopia of colors in the month of May.

Spending the summer on the Costa will definitely remain an unforgettable experience for everyone lucky enough to enjoy it. It is the time of the year when the heat of the day is made bearable by a breeze coming off the Mediterranean.

The warm evenings will beckon you to come outdoors and explore the streets and plazas, which are converted into a single open air restaurant. You'll want to be a part of the endless parties that take place in the extravagant beach clubs.

Fireworks will turn the nights into spectacles of light; the scent of jasmine will float through peaceful tropical gardens and enchant you. You’ll be there to celebrate summer with the entire Costa – a summer unlike any other in Europe; or in the whole world, for that matter. By the way: in the vicinity of Marbella temperatures rarely climb above 35 degrees C in the shade even during the hottest month of the year, which is August. The coast gets quite a bit hotter, especially in the Málaga region.

A spirit of serenity and calm returns in the autumn, when locals and guests enjoy the laid back lifestyle of the south. Frequently, the afternoon temperatures still hover around the 25-degree-Celcius in the shade mark as late as November.

November is also the month that brings with it this special, luminous light and crystal clear air that offers fantastic views of the opposite shore of the Mediterranean. In the evenings, one can spot the lights of Morocco glowing across the water. At the end of the day, there is frequently an aromatic scent of wood smoke in the air, exuded by the chimneys when people retreat to the coziness of their homes and put another crackling log on the fire.

Winter on the Costa del Sol has nothing in common with the same season in Germany, Austria, Holland or Great Britain. For the locals, it is the time of the olive harvest. Frost is an unknown entity on the coast, although the interior of Spain gets chilled to the bones quite often this time of the year.

Costa residents enjoy the pleasure of admiring snow from a distance on those rare occasions when the peaks of the Cordilleras wear a sprinkling of new snow or after they have embarked on the close to two-hour trek to the Sierra Nevada to wind their way down the slopes from elevations of over 3.000 meters on their skis.

At the same time, locals and tourists are working on their tans in the midday sun, enjoying the quiet season. Even in December, January or February, having lunch outdoors is frequently an option. Some observers will always be lingering in a beach restaurant, better known as a Chiringuito, watching the extremely pale yet bold folks from up north dip into the Mediterranean for quick refreshment.

In this region, winter does primarily bring a lot of rain, which may turn into tropical downpours and continue for several days. Nonetheless, the season has its very special charms. The splendid luminous light is overwhelming; the sunsets seem to be particularly fiery and can be very spectacular.

The bougainvilleas agleam in blossom colors such as pink, red and orange embellish the symphony of this wintry landscape and the blooming almond trees turn the land into a heady-scented magical place in subtle white and rose. The nights may be rather cool; however, all in all, winter is quite a pleasant experience in this part of the world. Visitors from the northern parts of Europe flock here in droves to take advantage of the perfect weather and spend the entire winter on the Costa del Sol.