I would like to plan a vacation for 4, including two teens (15 and 18), in Spain for 2026. Looking to avoid summer crowds and heat, but also minimize school days missed, so will need to be during one of the school breaks - either mid-February or last week of March/first week of April. We would probably leave home a few days prior to the break starting, so about a 10-day trip and will likely limit it to Barcelona and Madrid. Thoughts on weather or other concerns such as closures or shortened hours in February vs. early April? Also should note that the April break week in 2026 is during Holy Week, so I know that would likely result in some complications. February would be better for us, schedule-wise, but I'm wondering how the weather will be. Not necessarily looking for beach weather, just something a bit warmer and sunnier than home, which is Upstate NY so that's not hard to achieve in mid-February!
Posted by
Cloud
354 posts
Go in February less tourists and there are no shorten hours at the tourist main sites. The winter is mild compared to what you experience at home.
Posted by
Chicago
1534 posts
I don't necessarily disagree with February for the trip - especially if Holy Week is the alternative.
However, just mentioning that I was in a snow and ice storm on the roadway between Granada and Madrid in mid-March 2024. And, I had several days of temps less than 20 F in Madrid. I had thought things would be warmer in March than at home in Chicago, but in those instances, it was not. I was very glad I had packed for layering and definitely wore more layers than I expected!
Oh - and to add insult to injury, those Madrid temps were not on the last minute forecast I checked the day before leaving!
Posted by
123 posts
We were in Madrid mid March and evening lows in the 40s. Day time highs fluctuated between 50s and 60s. Also we experienced cloudy rainy days with some sunny days as well. Wore layers. Only thing I wished I had packed were water proof shoes.
Posted by
Surrey, UK
314 posts
Depends where you want to go. Even the south is not really warm during February, and you may get rain.
Madrid and the north can be very cold, with snow.
Posted by
la rioja
673 posts
The 18th of February is Ash Wednesday, so in the days before you will probably run into different carnival fiesta. Probably more interesting for teenagers that Holy Week.
Here is the program for Carnival 2025 in Madrid, next year it will be the 14th to the 18th.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
This is all good info, thank you. It would be the Carnaval week in February that we'd be going, so that is good to keep in mind. I don't mind 50s and 60s during the day, but was not thinking there would be snow! We'll think on it some more.
Posted by
123 posts
We were in Malaga and Granada during Holy Week and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The processions usually started around 3 or 4 pm and only tied up part of the city. From what I read Holy Week is really big in Andalusia. I have no idea what extent it is celebrated in Madrid or Barcelona.
As an aside we did a day trip to Segovia from Madrid (mid March) and when we arrived it was a snowy wintery mix that cleared by noon was cloudy till 5 pm and then back to rain as we left. Just be prepared for any type of weather even in April
Posted by
North Italy
500 posts
We spent a week in Madrid from 10th to 17th January and the weather was great (I live in the Alps). That is yes, cold first thing but as soon as the sun came out it was fine and very pleasant afternoon and into the evening. Pleasant for strolling with a winter jacket yes, not t-shirt weather but not all wrapped up either....... People were enjoying the sun sitting on the grass in El retiro park. I too read that it could snow but that doesn't mean that snow is the norm. By mid-February the days are also longer, Then the weather you will actually get on a particular is day is anyone's guess nowadays, just luck....
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2025/02/madrid-in-january-trip-report.html
Posted by
8881 posts
Been to Spain in the Spring, Summer and Fall, I recommend the late March/April, unless you like cold weather.
Do not miss Toledo and Seville. Barcelona is good, but Seville is special. You can do day trips from Madrid to Toledo and Segovia.
Posted by
Washington DC
28998 posts
Madrid is not really warm in the winter. Its elevation is over 2000 feet. Weather varies considerably from year to year, but this was the Madrid experience in February 2024:
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/spain/madrid/historic?month=2&year=2024
Use the pull-down box to check other months and years. Note how spiky the graph is; the daily high temperature probably won't stick around for long. Also note the high temperature for the second quarter of the day, because that's what it was probably like just before noon.
Although you might be more or less lucky with the temperature, it is an ironclad fact that the days will be a lot longer in April than in Feb/Mar.