December on the beach

I see you're posting this in a couple country forums, so I'll suggest you're looking the wrong way. Spain and Portugal can get cold, they're at the same latitude as Virginia and the Carolinas. And they are influenced more by the current coming out of the Arctic as by the (shallow) Med. Walking a beach with a 20 mph wind in 50 degree weather is pretty bracing.

If you want beaches that are warmer in December you should look further South. Hawaii, Belize, Costa Rica, those would be better choices. My recommendation would be Kauai; quiet, good beaches for walking, and great scenery.

We're doing a European trip to cities and want a short beach break. Have been to Hawaii and the Caribbean, etc and although they are wonderful places, this is not supposed to be a beach trip. It's a European culture trip, and we are starting in Paris (with family) and ending in Madrid. Hope this clarifies why I'm looking at Spain and Portugal. Just a break from the more extreme cold of Paris and Madrid. Have been to Nice and enjoyed it, but looking for somewhere new. Again--no swimming and hanging out on lounges in the sun. Thanks.

Oh...and I've been to all of the major Hawaiian islands, and Kauai (even Poipu and Waimea) are much better in the warmer months. Kona on the Big Island and Wailea on Maui are more reliably warm and sunny in December. Mahalo!

Ahhh, that does change things. I'd look around Valencia. Warmer inside the straits than on the Atlantic. And Valencia is pretty country.

Thanks! I was thinking about Valencia, especially because we love Paella!
Better choice than Malaga?

How much time do you really have? I think that "beach" experiences in Iberia could easily disappoint in December.

People who actually live in Iberia tend to go further south for a beach experience in December. Morocco or the Canary islands come to mind as typical beachy (and popular) destinations. You would consume a day each way even for the relative short flights, but you would get an actual, sunny, warm destination rather than the "fleece weather" which you might find on a beach in Spain or Portugal.

I don't know Malaga well enough to comment. Valencia reminds me of Southern California weather wise. If you're a bird watcher the wetlands south of the city should be good in the winter.

Actually have 3 full days. Flying from Paris to beach. Then, if it's in Spain, taking the train to Madrid.
Here is itinerary:
Sun, Dec. 23 Paris--arrive 7:30 AM. Meet family who are already here.
Note: ONLY reason we are going to Paris is to meet up with family for a very short time. Don't love Paris, but do love family members. Niece is studying in Paris, and this part is set in stone.
Tues, Dec. 25 travel to beach place. Family is leaving for Bruges then (been there twice, don't need to go back) and since we don't celebrate Christmas and everything is closed anyway, figure Dec. 25th is a good travel day.

Wed through Friday at beach location--so 3 full days at beach

Sat, Dec. 29 Madrid
Sun, Dec. 30 Madrid
Mon, Dec. 31 Madrid, New Year's Eve sounds fun there.
Tues., Jan 1--fly home from Madrid

I think this gives us enough time in each place.

Have you thought about the San Sebastian area. Easy to get to from Paris and well connected to Madrid.
I have been in Hondarriba for New Years and had nice weather. Last year, the days after Christmas were well in to the 50's and even hit 67F.

If it rains is a bit more chancy but you have a good chance to have sun. If you look on Wunderground you can see last few Decembers in San Sebastain.

San Sebastian area also sounds intriguing. Good area for food and wine, correct? Oh, wish I had a month! Was concerned about rain but will check underground. Thanks for suggestion!

Almost all, if not all, beaches in Spain will be deserted in December. If the beach is by a tourist town, then most of the town itself will be shut down. I used to live on the Bay of Cadiz at it was cold in December, not to mention windy. To me, Valencia is just a port town that had no sights of interest to me.

If you really want beach + warm (actually hot), and reliably so - as opposed to someplace that could easily be wet, windy and downright cold -, then you might want to investigate flights to Morocco (fly to Essaouira for the beach) or the Canary Islands (any island other than Gran Canaria). You would end up with two full days on an nice, fine-sand beach with warm (swimmable) water and abundant sunshine - and you would get a "vacation within your vacation" that's unlike being in Europe. The downside is you are looking at the days between Christmas and New Years, of course a very popular time in any holiday resort - but that's going to be true wherever you pick.

San Sebastian looks good to me. I've never been there, but just put it on my list of possibles for next fall. I enjoy Basque cuisine.

I had to smile when I saw the post about Valencia being a port; I work all the West Coast ports and never have trouble finding something to interest me in seaport towns.

Actually, that's no so @jaimeelsabio... in many coastal places here in the South of Europe (ie. in Barcelona), on a sunny non-windy Winter weekend day (we have plenty of those, with up to 60F) the beach will be frequented by many people strolling or just sitting down for a bit of sun. This is not to say you will neither sunbath or swim -probably too cold for that- but for those coming from colder shores, this is a bit like heaven on earth. This is not to say, of course, everyday in Winter in Barcelona is sunny, non-windy and 60F, huh!... :))

The idea of flying to one of the Canaries is probably the best, especially over the holidays when there are lots of tourists so there'll be more places open. I've been along the Costa del Sol in February and there's nothing attractive about walking on the beach, even on a sunny day. San Sebastian is on the Atlantic, I'd expect it to be quite wintry with possible stiff cold moist winds. Many of the coastal towns close down for the winter. Malaga is a fair-sized town, so you'd find restaurants as well as several interesting 2nd-tier museums, but not much in the way of scenery.

I enjoyed Valencia's sights. As I recall the center with its attractions (great architecture, good museums, indoor market) are somewhat away from the seashore. I was in the center and never got as far as the sea.

anything in Spain in December is a treat weatherwise for a Midwesterner.
I went to St Malo and Normandy beach in January 2015 strolling drinking a beer and it was pretty nice and busy on New years day

I've been to San Sebastian I imagine that would be fine in January for someone from Midwest weather

go to Ibiza

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/mar/11/ibiza-in-winter-off-season-breaks-neil-forsyth

what happened to your thread about Portugal?