Spain is beautiful, but I really don't recommend going in September–October. Take my advice and don't just rush into it!!
Spain is beautiful, but I really don't recommend going in September–October❗❗ Take my advice and don't just rush into it!!
Don't be fooled by the curated photo grids of "Gaudí curves + flamenco red dresses + Sagrada Família light and shadow + Andalusian white walls at sunset + La Rioja grape harvest." Spain isn't just "one Spain." It's a patchwork of southern inland ovens, Mediterranean coastal breezes, green and rainy northern regions, and central plateaus that freeze at night. September–October is a transitional period where "the south still feels like midsummer in September, the north starts getting rainy in October, pickpockets are most active after the National Day holiday, and you still have to fight for popular tickets."
🚫 Why I advise you not to rush into visiting in September–October
1️⃣ Southern Andalusia hasn't left summer behind in September
Seville, Córdoba, and Granada often hit 30°C+ during the day in early September. Walking through the Alhambra, the Royal Palace, or the old Jewish quarter at noon means no shade, harsh UV rays, and sweat running into your eyes.
You plan to "visit the Royal Palace in the morning, explore the old town for food at noon, and take panoramic photos in Albaicín in the afternoon," but in reality: it's too hot at noon so you hide in a café, the afternoon has backlighting + you get sunburned, and it only cools down at night when attractions are about to close.
If you really want to visit Andalusia, mid-June to September is for "heat-tolerant travelers only."
2️⃣ The north and west start changing their tune in October
Barcelona, Santiago, Bilbao, and Galicia see more rainy days in October. Overcast skies, sudden showers, and sea breezes make it feel several degrees colder.
If you want to capture "Mediterranean blue that looks unreal + clean lines of Gaudí's facades," you'll get gray, unedited photos on cloudy days. If you want to walk the Camino de Santiago, having wet shoes and socks for 3 days is standard.
3️⃣ September isn't the low season; it's "tail-end of summer pricing"
Many people think that by September, the crowds are gone and prices are lower—wrong.
The first 2 weeks of September are the end of European family vacations + La Mercè Festival in Barcelona (late September) + students returning to school. You still have to queue for the Sagrada Família, Casa Milà, the Alhambra, and the Prado.
Hotels are slightly softer than in August, but nowhere near "low season prices." High-speed rail, flights, and accommodation along the Camino are still expensive.
4️⃣ The siesta culture + dinner culture cut the day in half
Small towns and ancient villages close from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM; churches, markets, and craft shops all shut down.
Your planned "day of exploring the ancient city" actually looks like this: intense sightseeing from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, nowhere to go from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, heading out again at 5:00 PM, many small restaurants aren't open for dinner at 7:00 PM, and you don't get to eat a full meal until 10:00 PM.
For those who can't adapt: sitting outside attractions in the afternoon, looking for open restaurants in alleys in the middle of the night.
5️⃣ The beach vibe starts winding down after mid-October
You can still swim in the Mediterranean in September, but the water temperature drops in October. By late October, many seaside chiringuitos, island-hopping speedboats, and coastal promenade cafés start shortening their hours.
If you want to photograph the "jelly-like waters of Ibiza/Mallorca/Costa Brava," don't schedule it after October 20. If you want to see the "La Rioja grape harvest," that's fine, but don't force a beach route into the same trip.
6️⃣ Pickpockets and fake police specifically target periods when tourists are mixed in
On La Rambla in Barcelona, Puerta del Sol in Madrid, at subway turnstiles, and in the Sagrada Família queue area, the mix of tourists + students + festival crowds in September–October brings out the rosemary bracelet scammers, fake police checking passports, and distraction thieves.
For first-time visitors to Europe, keeping your phone in your back pocket, wearing a backpack on your back, or accepting a "free red string" on the street = standard procedure for being targeted.
📅 When is the right time?
✅ April–May: Andalusia isn't roasting, Barcelona is clear, orange blossoms are still in bloom in Seville. The sweet spot for a first trip to Spain.
✅ September (only if you don't fear the heat/know how to avoid the midday sun/only visit the Mediterranean and Madrid): More comfortable than July–August, but not a "no-brainer."
✅ October 8–end of October: City routes (Madrid + Barcelona + Seville) are okay, don't be greedy with the beach.
✅ La Rioja/Ribera del Duero grape harvest: Late September–October is truly great, but don't turn it into a "visit everywhere" trip.
❌ Early September for Andalusia: You'll be so hot you'll question your life choices.
❌ After October 20 for a big loop of "islands + pilgrimage + southern ancient cities": The sea is cold, the north is rainy, and the ancient cities are half-closed.
🚨 Survival guide if you insist on going in September–October
· For your first trip, don't plan a full loop of "Barcelona + Madrid + Seville + Granada + Santiago + Mallorca." Choose either the "Mediterranean city route" or "Andalusia + Madrid."
· Visiting the south in September: Leave before 8:30 AM, go into museums/markets/indoor venues from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and take photos of the old town after 6:00 PM.
· Visiting in October: Bring a windbreaker + a light down jacket. Don't plan heavy outdoor routes in the north and west.
· Book the Sagrada Família, Alhambra, Royal Palace of Madrid, and Prado/Reina Sofía Museum on the official websites in advance. Don't trust the "tickets available today" touts at the entrance.
· In Barcelona/Madrid, wear your backpack on your chest. Don't accept bracelets, don't follow fake police, and don't take out your wallet near subway turnstiles.
· Eat lunch before 2:00 PM, and don't wait until 10:00 PM to find a restaurant for dinner. Don't plan to visit attractions in small towns in the afternoon; having a glass of Sherry/Rioja + eating tapas is a better fit.
· Don't plan beach trips after October 25. If you want to see the sea, go to Costa del Sol/Gran Canaria; it's more reliable than the Costa Brava.
It's not that Spain isn't good; it's that if you come in September–October, you're gambling on southern residual heat, northern autumn rain, tail-end summer prices, siestas cutting your itinerary into pieces, and pickpockets picking the perfect time.
Wait until the orange blossoms bloom in April, or until you learn to "hide during the day and come out at night" in late September. Only then will Gaudí's curves feel like they're speaking to you, and Seville's flamenco will truly get under your skin💃🍷
matthia*soliverdante suij