If you’re planning to visit Spain in November and want to make the most of it, here are my impressions of popular autumn destinations in Spain, along with the best things to do across the Iberian Peninsula in November.

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Top Destinations to Visit in Spain This November

Is November a good month to visit Spain?

While technically November is a good month to visit Spain, the climate varies significantly from north to south and even to the Canary Islands, meaning some destinations are genuinely more appealing than others during this month.

As someone who has traveled across Spain extensively for 15 years, I’ve compiled my favorite list of places to visit in November. Some destinations are particularly well-suited for this time of year due to favorable weather or fewer crowds, while others aren’t at their best (at least in my opinion) in November.

Here’s my personal take on where to travel in Spain during November and where to avoid and why.

Spain in November: Best Destinations Not to Miss

The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are one of my favorite places to visit in Spain in November. It’s the perfect winter sun destination, but unlike the Mediterranean coast, it offers exotic volcanic landscapes and unique landmarks. In Tenerife, you can explore Spain’s highest peak, Teide, or the stunning cliffs of Los Gigantes. Lanzarote is home to the mind-blowing architecture of César Manrique and the famous Cactus Garden. Gran Canaria offers exotic fruits and fascinating museums, while Fuerteventura is known for its beautiful beaches.

In November, the average temperatures in the Canary Islands range from 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F), with mild evenings around 15°C (59°F). The weather is generally warm and pleasant, with very little rain. Rainfall is rare during this time, with the islands receiving an average of just 3-4 rainy days throughout the month. Overall, for me, this is the perfect weather to explore the Canary islands and enjoy the sunshine while most of Europe is gearing up for winter and Christmas markets.

November isn’t quite peak season for the Canary Islands yet – that usually runs from December to February. So, it’s a great time to visit if you want to avoid the crowds, while still enjoying perfect weather. In fact, this November, I’ll be heading to Fuerteventura myself, so you’ll be able to catch a live glimpse of the atmosphere and things to do on the islands soon via my Instagram or TikTok.

If you’re looking for more tips and itineraries from my past visits to the Canary Islands, check out the hashtag #CanaryIslands.

Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the busiest destinations in Spain, so even if you visit in November, it will still be bustling, though significantly less crowded than during the summer months or the holiday seasons. This is a huge plus when it comes to sightseeing in Barcelona and the Gaudi architecture – fewer crowds mean shorter lines, allowing you to cover more landmarks on your Barcelona itinerary.

The weather in Barcelona in November is also quite pleasant. Average temperatures range from 12°C to 20°C (54°F to 68°F), with mild evenings around 10°C (50°F). While still a great winter sun destination, Barcelona is colder and rainier compared to the Canary Islands. However, if you’re coming from a colder climate, Barcelona is still an excellent choice for a mild winter getaway in Spain.

November is also a great month to plan a road trip from Barcelona. You can check out my full list of road trip ideas in this post. The only road trip I personally wouldn’t recommend in November is to the Spanish Pyrenees. While this mountain range is home to stunning national parks and is one of the best places to enjoy fall foliage in Spain, the weather in the mountains in November can be unpredictable. It might still be good for hiking, or winter could arrive early. Depending on the year, you might find yourself enjoying a hiking trip or even a skiing break in the same month.

Tarragona

Tarragona is another great area to visit in November along the Mediterranean coast, just south of Barcelona. The weather in November is mild and pleasant, making it a perfect time to explore the ancient Roman ruins in the city of Tarragona, visit Reus – the birthplace of Antoni Gaudí – or even plan a road trip across the beautiful Tarragona region (you can find my itinerary in this post).

In November, Tarragona typically enjoys average daytime temperatures of about 16 °C (61 °F). Rain is relatively light, with only about 5–6 rainy days during the month.

Another great addition to a Tarragona trip in November is Spain’s coolest theme park, PortAventura. From late September to early November, the park is fully decorated for Halloween – my kids absolutely love visiting during this time. Even if you miss the exact dates of October 31 (Halloween) and November 1–2 (All Saints’ Day in Spain), you usually still have until about November 10 to enjoy the Halloween decorations and events at the park.

While I’ve visited PortAventura with my kids during other seasons, November is one of my favorite months to go – the weather is pleasantly warm but not hot, and the park is less crowded than in summer.

Valencia

Valencia is one of my favorite destinations to enjoy in Spain in November – as I’ve confessed, I even prefer it to Barcelona. Valencia is located south of Barcelona and Tarragona along the Mediterranean coast, so the climate is slightly warmer and sunnier.

As I live near Valencia, I remember some Novembers when we had sunny days reaching 25–27 °C (77–81 °F), which is warmer than average. Typically, the average daytime temperature in November is around 17–20 °C (63–68 °F). This means that if you’re lucky, visiting Valencia in the beginning of November can feel more pleasant than the peak summer months, when temperatures often soar to 40 °C (104 °F) – which is too hot for my taste.

Sea temperatures, however, usually drop in November to around 18–19 °C (64–66 °F), so even on sunny days you won’t see many locals swimming. That said, I do recall years when summer weather seemed to last until the first week of November, and I even went swimming myself in Benicassim – though this is not typical, and you have to be very lucky with the weather. So, don’t plan a beach holiday, but keep in mind that it’s occasionally possible. Also, rainfall in November is ocasional, so most of the time, you’ll still get plenty of sunshine.

You can find lots of tips and itineraries for Valencia on the blog under the hashtag #Valencia.

Benidorm or Alicante

Another great area to visit in Spain in November is Benidorm and Alicante. Both are extremely popular during the summer months, so autumn – as an off-season – is a wonderful time to explore the region.

For a quieter city break, head to Alicante, while if you prefer a more social and lively vibe, Benidorm is the better choice. Personally, I find Benidorm far too busy in the summer, but unlike many other Mediterranean destinations such as Mallorca or Dénia – which can feel like they go into hibernation from one summer to the next – Benidorm keeps its buzz even in the off-season.

Even with around half the usual visitors, most bars and restaurants in Benidorm stay open throughout autumn and winter. When I last visited in February, I was honestly shocked to find the cocktail bars full – something you don’t usually see on the Mediterranean coast of Spain in the colder months.

Weather-wise, November is very pleasant for sightseeing and road trips in Alicante with around 18 °C (64 °F) during the day, and rare rainfalls. You can find more of my tips and itineraries for the Alicante region under the hashtag #Alicante.

Madrid

While Madrid in November isn’t as sunny or warm as the Canary Islands or Mediterranean cities like Barcelona, Valencia, or Benidorm (around 12 °C / 54 °F during the day), I personally love visiting the city at this time of year.

As I often say, I actually prefer Madrid to Barcelona – mainly because of the large number of fascinating day trips you can take around the Spanish capital. The thing is, most of these day-trip destinations near Madrid – such as Cuenca or Toledo – are set in central Spain, an area with very little shade or greenery. Believe me when I say it feels twice as intense to travel there in the peak summer heat. Even if cities like Barcelona or Valencia can feel hot in summer despite their Mediterranean breeze, central Spain can be exhausting in the heat.

That’s why November is a perfect month not only for a Madrid city break, where you can enjoy hidden museums, temporary exhibitions, and cultural shows, but also to plan a road trip around Madrid (you can check out my full Madrid bucket list in this post), or visit the nearest small towns, or even enjoy a longer road trip across the whole of Spain.

This cooler, mild weather makes walking and sightseeing in Madrid much more comfortable than in the summer heat. However, I also enjoy Madrid in December, during the colder months, for its Christmas decorations. From the second half of November, you can usually find plenty of Christmas-related activities, such as festive parks and events in Torrejón de Ardoz.

Seville

Seville is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. While I personally prefer visiting it in October, November is also a fantastic month to enjoy the city’s landmarks.

Also, November is a great time to plan a road trip across southern Spain, as many nearby destinations – such as Córdoba, Málaga, Granada, Cádiz, and Tarifa – are popular winter-sun getaways. Because November is considered the off-season, you can explore Seville and the rest of Andalusia with fewer crowds and pleasant weather (with average daytime temperaturea of 18 °C / 64 °F). Officially, you can get up to 10 rainy days per month in southern Spain in November, but I couldn’t help but notice that during all of my past visits to the region in November, it was always sunny.

This mild climate makes November ideal for sightseeing In Seville and southern Spain without the intense summer heat or heavy tourist traffic. You can find more of my tips and itineraries for southern Spain under the hashtag #Andalusia.

Rioja and Navarra

While La Rioja and Navarra are known as rainy destinations in Spain, I really enjoyed both regions on our last family trip in November. Both areas offer beautiful fall foliage, particularly in places like Selva de Irati and Sierra de Cebollera. If you’re lucky and avoid heavy rainfall, hiking through these forests can be truly spectacular.

However, I wouldn’t plan a nature-focused trip entirely around November, as rain can be frequent (with an average of 13–15 days per month). As someone who lived in Pamplona for a year, this number even feels short to me, as it was literally cloudy 90% of the year – or at least, that was my impression. Most of the time, I was wearing waterproof boots, which I never put on again after moving to the Valencia region.

Despite this, November felt like a great time to explore the landmarks of Navarra and the wineries of La Rioja. The region has a cozy charm during this month, with fewer visitors at the wineries and a focus on comforting local cuisine.

Extremadura

If you are a frequent traveler in Spain or have a passion for hidden gems, you might enjoy visiting Extremadura in November. It is one of the lesser-known regions of Spain, located right on the border with Portugal, making it easy to combine with a trip to Lisbon or the Algarve.

I personally enjoyed an Extremadura road trip in November – you can find my full itinerary in this post – with Mérida and its Roman ruins being the absolute highlight.

The main reason Extremadura is ideal to visit in November is that summer temperatures can be too hot to enjoy the local landmarks comfortably. In my opinion, the climate here feels like a mix of southern Spain’s heat with the dry landscapes of central Spain, making November, with its 14–18°C (57–64°F) during the day, the perfect time to explore.

Spain in November: Where I wouldn’t go myself

Here are a few “maybe” destinations to visit in Spain in November that I often see other travel blogs recommend. Personally, I wouldn’t choose to go there in November, but I still wanted to mention them here – along with the reasons why – so you can decide for yourself whether they might be worth it in your particular case.

As someone who lives and travels in Spain year-round, I have the flexibility to visit most destinations during their ideal seasons. However, I understand that not everyone can choose their travel dates, and some travelers may still want to experience a popular destination in November even if it’s not the absolute best month to go.

For each of these destinations, I’ll also include their average November temperatures and rainfall to help you make an informed decision.

Bilbao

Bilbao and the whole of northern Spain are known for their rainy climate, which is why I usually recommend visiting during the summer months. However, if you don’t mind the rain and aren’t looking for winter sun, and you’re drawn to futuristic architecture and the iconic Guggenheim Museum, you can still enjoy a trip to Bilbao in November.

That said, in my opinion, November isn’t the best month for northern Spain, but it is still suited for museum visits, café hopping, and indoor cultural activities. In November, temperatures hover around 13°C (55°F) during the day, with an average of 13 rainy days per month. (Again, I feel like this official data is underestimated, as every time I visited Bilbao, even during the warmer seasons, I saw some rain.)

If you do decide to go, you can check out my Bilbao itineraries under the hashtag #BasqueCountry.

San Sebastian

While San Sebastián is one of my favorite destinations in Spain, I personally would not visit in November – for the same reasons I avoid Bilbao at that time of year. It tends to be rainy, cloudy, and quite dark, which means you don’t really get to appreciate the stunning natural beauty of its coastal and mountainous setting that shines during the warmer seasons. The average temperature hovers around 13°C (55°F) during the day, with lots of rain. November is one of the rainiest months, even for a rainy destination like San Sebastián

However, while Bilbao is worth visiting mainly for its cultural landmarks, San Sebastián is one of the top foodie destinations in Spain. So, if November is the only time you can go and you want to focus on tasting local pintxos, then why not? It can still be an amazing culinary experience.

You can explore my San Sebastián itineraries under the hashtag #BasqueCountry.

Asturias

Asturias is home to Spain’s oldest national park, Picos de Europa. However, planning a visit to the region in November can be tricky and often depends on your luck.

On one hand, Asturias offers stunning autumn foliage, such as in Bosque de Muniellos, and you can enjoy a city break in Oviedo or Gijón year-round. Local comfort dishes like fabada or Asturian Stew are especially satisfying in the cooler November months.

On the other hand, Asturias is one of the rainiest regions in Spain. During my last visit in July, which is usually the best month weather-wise, we were unlucky and couldn’t explore the Lakes of Covadonga due to a few days of rain and thick fog. In November, the likelihood of rain is even higher, so you may not be able to see as much as during the drier months. The temperatures are also not the warmest in November, with average highs around 13°C (55°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).

You can find more tips and itineraries for Asturias under the hashtag #Asturias.

Mallorca

Personally, I would not go to Mallorca in November and would instead choose another Mediterranean island, like Malta. Like many Mediterranean destinations, Mallorca comes alive during the summer, with a large number of trendy hotels and restaurants. However, in winter, it often feels empty and humid.

Many blogs recommend Mallorca in November because it’s still sunnier than much of Europe, with an average daytime temperature of 17°C (63°F). However, honestly, with occasional rains and sea storms, the island doesn’t really shine during this month.I will admit, though, that even in summer I’ve started to like it less, because Mallorca can become overcrowded and overpriced, and locals have recently grown frustrated with tourism – even organizing “tourists-go-home” protests. In my opinion, the best times to visit Mallorca are May (just before the summer peak) or September (just after).

That said, Mallorca does make sense if you are looking for solitude and quiet vibes, similar to my visit years ago to Formentera. For more tips and itineraries on Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, check out #BalearicIslands.

The Pyrenees

While the Pyrenees is one of my favorite destinations in Spain and I visit it a few times per year, I’m always a bit reluctant to plan trips here in November. As I’ve mentioned before, the weather can be unpredictable. I once visited in late October and truly enjoyed the fall foliage, but over my 15 years in Spain, there have also been occasional snowfalls at the end of November, so planning a trip can be tricky.

If you are dreaming of a mountain break in November, better options would be:

• Pre-Pyrenees (the region just below the high mountains – you can read more here),
• La Garrotxa (the volcanic area in the Catalan Pyrenees, you can combine it with Costa Brava)
• Andorra (where, no matter the weather, you’ll find plenty of things to do).

In the high Pyrenees Mountains, the average temperature in November is typically between 5–10°C (41–50°F), while in the Pre-Pyrenees and La Garrotxa, it ranges from 10–16°C (50–61°F). For Andorra, the average temperatures are lower, ranging from 6–10°C (43–50°F). If the weather turns bad, however, you can always enjoy shopping in Andorra la Vella, unlike most other towns in the Pyrenees, where, beyond the medieval architecture, there isn’t much else to do.

You can find plenty of tips and itineraries for the Pyrenees under the hashtag #Pyrenees.

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