The 6 best places to visit in Spain this Autumn

09.09.2024 - 15:25 / lonelyplanet.com

Sep 8, 2024 • 5 min read

After a hot summer, Autumn's cool breezes are a welcome change of pace in Spain. Without having to dodge the sun during the hottest part of the day, travelers are afforded more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in fall, including the many beautiful beaches that are typically – depending on where you go – still warm enough to swim in until mid-October.

In addition to the pleasant weather, you’ve also got a host of exciting events you can add to your itinerary and if you prefer to be out on the trail, say on the Camino or in a national park, there are some great options to see the best fall foliage.

These are the top destinations that make a trip to Spain in Autumn a tradition worth making.

Best region for wine

There’s no bad time of year for a wine tasting, but there is no better time than Autumn to visit Spain’s most famous wine-producing region – La Rioja. Across the hundreds of vineyards that fill this small northern province, grapes are harvested, pressed and bottled. The city of Logroño celebrates this flurry of activity with the Fiesta de San Mateo in mid-September. During these days, the plazas and streets fill with people keen to enjoy the grape-stomping demonstrations, free concerts and lots of wine.

Planning tip: Some wineries let visitors participate in harvest activities like grape-picking and stomping, so look carefully for these special offers when booking your visits and tastings.

Best region for shoulder season beach days

The heat has broken, the summer vacation crowds have gone home and Andalucia’s beaches are looking more appetizing than ever in the Spanish Autumn. Hole up for a belated summer vacation at a comfortable resort in Marbella or venture to the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata-Níjar for even more spacious beaches with natural surroundings. Generally, water temperatures don’t drop to 18°C (64°F) until November – which is still just warm enough for swimming (or at least a quick dip).

If you like the sun but prefer to keep dry, the shoulder season is a good time to tick off some of the top sights that are usually swamped with crowds in summer, such as the Alhambra in Granada or the Museo Picasso in the artist’s birth town of Málaga.

Local tip: The beaches are certainly a highlight of this southern region, but don’t miss out on unique cultural opportunities by going inland to visit historic towns like Ronda, famous for its bullfighting traditions.

Best place for the olive harvest

Grapes aren’t the only thing getting picked this time of year. Olive trees will get their annual shakedown all over Spain, but the inland Andalusian province of Jaén does it best. During the process known as “verdeo,” green olives are harvested from September to November and then