Spring is a special time to visit Andalucia – the temperature has yet to hit its peak but the locals are finally ready to shrug off their winter woollies, something they do like clockwork as soon as the clocks go forward in late March.
Spring is the off-peak season for travelling to Andalucia so, for the most part, there’ll be fewer tourists which means you’ll be able to explore the many popular attractions without large crowds. Of course, there are exceptions which I’ll talk about later but, on the whole, you’ll be able to find cheaper air fares and more affordable accommodation throughout the region.
If that sounds tempting, read on to discover the many reasons why you should visit Andalucia in spring.
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The days are longer (and warmer)
Yes, you can go skiing in Andalucia during the spring months (the Sierra Nevada is roughly 125 miles (200 kms) from Malaga and only around 25 miles (40 kms) from Granada) but, elsewhere, the temperature is mild and the longer days mean more time to enjoy walks on the still uncrowded beaches, hike in the hills and mountains, and, of course, eat tapas al fresco without the need for a coat or a patio heater.
That’s not to say it doesn’t rain (at least in early spring) but, for the most part, you’ll be able to leave your umbrella at home.
It’s perfect for hiking
Spring in Andalucia is ideal for walking and hiking. Whether you prefer a gentle stroll along the beach or are looking for something more challenging, Andalucia has many incredible walking and hiking routes including through some stunning Natural Parks, so you’re bound to find something to suit your level of experience. These are some of my favourites.
Senda Litoral de Malaga
Once fully complete the Senda Litoral de Malaga will run the length of the Costa del Sol from Manilva to Nerja – a distance of around 100 miles (160 kms). Although there are still some sections which haven’t been finished, it is still possible to walk most of it along promenades and boardwalks.
Via Serrana
If walking the Camino de Santiago is on your bucket list then you might be interested to know that there’s an official Camino route which starts in Andalucia near the border with Gibraltar, heads inland through to Ronda, and then onwards to Seville where it joins the Via Plata to Santiago de Compostela. To date I’ve walked six stages as far as Ronda – you can read about them in these posts.
As well as the Via Serrana there are several other Camino routes in Andalucia which can be tackled in individual stages or as a whole if you have time.
Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey used to be considered the most dangerous path in Europe which isn’t surprising given that it’s a narrow walkway that clings to the rockface above the Rio Guadalhorce.
Nowadays it’s perfectly safe and is one of the most popular day trips from Malaga. Tickets do sell out quickly though but if you don’t have any luck buying one direct you can book a guided tour.
You can find out everything you need to know about walking the Caminito del Rey in this post.
Wherever you choose to hike you’ll be in for a treat. Winter rainfall means that the valleys are lush and green and during the spring months they come alive with stunning displays of colourful flowers, which leads nicely to my next point.
It’s blooming marvellous
After the winter rains the fields and mountains are greener than ever and the streets near me are lined with the yellow blooms of the mimosa trees and the occasional pop of purple wisteria.
Out in the campo the hedgerows are dappled with Mediterranean buttercups, considered a pest by many but very pretty especially when interspersed with bright red poppies.
For a real riot of colour in Andalucia, Córdoba is the place to be in May when the city holds its annual Fiesta de los Patios. Locals in the city’s oldest neighbourhoods decorate their courtyards ready to welcome visitors and, potentially, win a prize for the prettiest patio.
In Granada the Generalife gardens are at their best and, if you’re visiting any of the regions’ white villages, you can expect bursts of bougainvillea and overflowing pots of colourful geraniums.
A word of warning. Spring is peak pollination season for olive trees so be careful if you have any seasonal allergies particularly if you’re visiting anywhere around Jaén, Córdoba, and Granada where there’s a higher concentration of olive trees.
The scent of orange blossom
You don’t have to venture far to find orange trees in Andalucia. Just about every town and village has tree lined streets and plazas and when the orange blossom starts to appear you’ll certainly know about it as the smell floats on the breeze and lingers in the air. In fact, if I had to name one smell that reminded me of being here in Andalucia this would be it.
The orange trees were originally planted by the Moors in the 10th century and, although the oranges that grow on the streets are too bitter to eat straight from the tree, they do make delicious marmalade.
Known as azahar, the orange blossom has several uses including for perfume, honey, and orange blossom tea.
The spectacle of Semana Santa
Easter celebrations in Andalucia are big news – a chocolate egg just doesn’t cut it!
For a full week there are processions throughout most towns and cities where religious brotherhoods known as cofradías or hermandades carry religious floats bearing effigies of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. These processions are generally accompanied by marching bands. The members of the brotherhoods (costaleros) carry the float (or paso) on their shoulders. Pasos can weigh over a tonne so a team of costaleros is needed for each one. In the bigger cities each procession can last around eight hours and continue into the early hours of the morning.
Accompanying the paso you’ll also see nazarenos. These are members of the brotherhood who wear long robes and cone-shaped pointed hoods with eye-holes – often a shock for first time visitors to holy week in Andalucia.
Easter is also when some of the smaller towns hold the traditional ‘running of the bulls’. We watched it in Gaucín in 2018 and, while not as barbaric as bullfighting, it’s safe to say that it’s not for everyone.
It’s the start of feria season
Andalucians love to party, and the fiesta calendar gets underway in spring with Seville’s Feria de Abril. This is followed in May by the famous Feria del Caballo in Jerez de la Frontera and from this point, and throughout the summer months, almost every town and village has a fiesta with plenty of eating, drinking and general merry making.
My own village has a population of less than 3,000 but it still knows how to party with fairground rides, street food, and artisan markets.
There’s lots of delicious seasonal food
Spring sees the reopening of seasonal chiringuitos along the coast so you can enjoy espetos (sardines) cooked over open coals while enjoying a beer by the beach.
On the Costa de la Luz, the end of spring is marked by the migration of Atlantic bluefin tuna passing through the Strait of Gibraltar. The almadraba is a traditional technique used by fishermen to catch these tuna and has barely changed since it was first used in pre-Roman times.
Using a complex system of nets placed out at sea, the fishermen are able to catch the bluefin tuna in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
The Costa de la Luz towns of Conil de la Frontera, Tarifa, Barbate, and Zahara de los Atunes hold annual tapas routes where you can sample dozens of different dishes where the tuna is the star.
If tuna isn’t your thing, how about snails? There are two types of snail served throughout Andalucia – the small caracoles chicos which are usually served in a spicy broth, or the larger cabrillas which are served in a thick sauce.
They’re usually served in a cup or bowl and you can either eat them with toothpicks or just slurp them straight from the shell. This is one dish I pass on but my partner has tried them – just the once!
It’s nesting time for storks
If you head out into the Campo de Gibraltar at this time of year you won’t be able to miss the storks nesting on telegraph poles, electricity pylons, and church spires.
In my village it can seem that every available space has been taken over by a pair of nesting birds.
It’s also breeding season for Andalucia’s flamingos. You can see them at Fuente de Piedra near Antequera, and in Doñana National Park near Huelva, and spring is also when the swallows return – I love to sit in my garden in the evening and watch them swooping overhead, and they’re good at catching the mosquitoes too!
Spring in Andalucia – month by month
March in Andalucia
Spring officially starts on 20th March and, depending on the year, Easter could fall in March so if you’re visiting during the Easter holidays you’ll get to enjoy Semana Santa.
If you’re hoping to witness the processions you’ll need to book early for your accommodation especially if you want to stay in a hotel that has rooms overlooking the procession routes. The biggest processions are in Seville and Malaga, but Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, Huelva, and Córdoba are also worth seeing.
April in Andalucia
Seville’s Feria de Abril starts two weeks after the end of Semana Santa and is the biggest of the ferias held throughout Andalucia.
Originating in 1847 as a livestock fair, it’s now renowned for some serious partying late into the night, or even all night! Over 1,000 marquees known as casetas are set up for eating, drinking, and dancing and while most are privately owned and invitation only there are some that are open to the public.
May in Andalucia
In May there are two major festivals to look forward to.
Córdoba plays host to the Fiesta de los Patios over the first two weeks of May. During the fiesta over fifty patios are in bloom and open to the public. It does get extremely busy at this time of year though so you may prefer to book a guided tour to visit as many patios as possible.
Also in early May Jerez de la Frontera holds its annual Feria del Caballo. The horse fair began in 1284 as a livestock market but has evolved into a celebration of all things equestrian.
The showground in Gonzalez de Hontoria Park is filled with horses and carriages, there are show-jumping and dressage competitions, livestock auctions, plus marquees where you can drink sherry and sample other local delicacies. There is also music and dancing until the early hours to make for a typical Andalucian fiesta atmosphere.
Unlike the Feria de Abril, all the casetas in Jerez are open to the public.
Final thoughts on spring in Andalucia
If you want to enjoy the beauty of Andalucia when the weather is pleasantly warm, but the summer crowds haven’t yet arrived I can highly recommend spring as the season to visit. At this time of year you’ll get a glimpse of the real Andalucia with warm sunny days, delicious food and fiestas galore.
Happy travels!
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If you’re interested in spending spring in Andalucia you might find these resources useful to help you plan your visit and save you money.
✈️ Get a good deal on flights. I use Flight Centre to check for good deals on flights worldwide.
🛏️ Find the best accommodation. I regularly use Booking.com as they have a huge range of accommodation options in Andalucia as well as an excellent cancellation policy in case you have to change your plans. Another bonus is that the more you book the more loyalty rewards you get – always a win!
🚗 Book a rental car. Andalucia is the ideal destination for a road trip, so hiring a car offers you freedom and flexibility. I always use Discover Cars which lets you compare multiple car hire sites.
🚅 Book your train travel. Travelling by train is a fantastic way to see the Andalucian countryside and can often work out cheaper than hiring a car. The national railway is RENFE.
🚌 Book bus travel. Omio is a handy website if you’re planning to travel by bus but it’s also good for comparing prices for trains, planes and ferries too.
🏝️ Organise trips and tours. It’s worth booking ahead if you intend to visit any of Andalucia’s most popular attractions. I always use Get Your Guide when I’m planning tours or day trips as they have a wide selection to choose from throughout Andalucia.
💰 Take out travel insurance. Travel insurance is vital and it’s really not worth the risk of taking a trip without it. I buy my insurance through Globelink who have policies to suit whatever type of traveller you are.
📚 Get your travel guides. While blogs (like this one!) can help you plan your trip it’s still useful to have a good travel guide to make sure you don’t miss any of the sights. Lonely Planet and Rough Guides are the two best known.
☎️ Keep in touch with an eSim. I use easySim when I travel so I don’t rack up huge data roaming bills. Use my referral code RF36764TL to save £2 on your first order.
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All these blossoms really make me wanna go to Andalucia in spring!
Ohhh this all looks so beautiful! I was giggling when you wrote about how Andalucians love to party. While I didn’t walk through Andalucia on the Camino, I did run into epic parties in all four regions where I did walk! I was like…why don’t I live in Spain again?! Great post!
I love this!!! Andalusia in the spring looks gorgeous. I’d love to see the festival of the patios too!
For me, its been snowing in Scotland. So that’s what spring in Scotland is like hahaha
So pretty! I love seeing the different colours of flowers in bloom there. Makes me wish I could go there right now. Sigh
I didn’t realise there was so much to Andalusia in Spring. It’s beautiful before summer fades the colours. And the festivals. I thought running of the bulls was only in the north. Another place to put down for a spring visit.
What a delightful post. We have actually visited Andalucia in winter and really loved it. The weather was perfect (bearable, we know it can get super-hot in the summer!) and, being off-season, it was easy to visit the attractions without crowds. We haven’t fully explored the region – although we adored Seville, we have yet to visit other cities. We’d really enjoy Córdoba as well as hiking the Caminito del Rey. And the seasonal food would really tempt us as well, so spring looks to be a splendid time to visit.
Oh I would love to come and visit Andalusia this spring before it gets too hot, let’s see if I can fit some time in around May. Having read your Cordoba guide and coming from Emma’s Seville guide, I really want to plan a tour covering Cordoba, Seville and Malaga. The Senda Litoral is intriguing and as a hardcore walker I would want to tackle those 160km at some point in my life. The Camelito is another experience hie that I want to do. In any case, once I booked the trip I’ll let you know!
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
Lovely post! The idea of visiting in Spring is very appealing, less crowds for sure would make it worthwhile. Spring is my favourite time of the year, as everything comes back to life after a winter of hiberanation. The being in the outdoors is always great for the soul. The Senda Litoral de Malaga looks like a good investment by the local goverment! A future post…? The running of the bulls sounds like madness, again another cool tradition to witness. Keep up the good work, you have given me plenty of food for thought.
I enjoy spring and autumn. It’s how one beats the crowd and enjoys a more relaxed atmosphere in visiting places in Andalucia. Lots of photos to take. It is certainly a time when everything blossoms and the streets are full of life. For the people who might suffering from pollen allergy, it is best to prepare.
#𝐟𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞🥖🪽
I absolutely loved my month in Andalucia last spring and wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts! The warmth of the sun, the spectacle of the Santa Semana celebrations, the scent of the orange blossoms, the courtship of the parrots, and the sheer joy of travelling the area in my rented campervan are memories I will hold dear for a lifetime.
I didn’t know you could ski in Andalucia! I’d definitely love to visit in the spring with my camera for all the beautiful flowers and spring colours. Storks would be cool to see too after I fell in love with them in Marrakech. Andalucia in spring sounds delightful.
This looks like the perfect time to visit Andalucia, I’m only sad that I’m a bit too late for planning a trip this year, so I must be better organized one year to take advantage of what seems to be the most colorful time of year. And the fact it’s not too hot is a huge bonus, especially since I’d want to take some of those hikes. Just adoring that beautiful wildflower picture. Personally I’m more inclined to avoid festival times to have places a little quieter, but it’s interesting to read about the local traditions and what they bring.