When October rolls around, you can no longer pretend it’s still summer, we have to accept that autumn has officially arrived. But in Spain, that is far from being a bad thing! In fact, October is arguably one of the best months for a holiday to Spain.
Autumn still brings plenty of hours of sunshine, and temperatures are pleasant for both city breaks and hiking while still being hot enough to sunbathe in some parts of the country. The summer crowds have well and truly departed, leaving the beaches and popular attractions much quieter. The countryside has begun showing off the vibrant reds and oranges of its autumnal foliage and harvest season takes over the wine regions. And if all that wasn’t enough, the fall festival calendar is, if anything, busier than the summer one!
So, if you’re worried that you might struggle to entertain yourself on an autumn holiday, fear not. Here’s our action-packed list of the best things to do in Spain in October.
- Urban cool
- Fall festivities
- Howl at the moon
- A stomping good time
- Midnight runners
- Bring your binoculars
- Eat, drink, repeat
- The high life
- Leaf peeping
- A load of bull
First things first: What’s the weather doing?
As always, this question depends on which part of the country you’re talking about and also which part of the month. The weather in Spain in October is changeable and can feel quite summery at the beginning, cooling down as the month progresses.
In general, you can expect temperatures still suited to beach holidays in the Canary Islands and Balearics, with highs up to 26°C and an average of seven hours of sunshine per day. The beaches of Andalucía are still suitable for sunbathing, with highs of around 24°C, while the scorching temperatures that kept people out of the region’s cities have dropped to a more comfortable 25°C. This is also true in Madrid, where temperatures sit at an average high of 21°C with around 5 hours of sunshine per day. Up north, you’re looking at cooler climes, with temperatures in San Sebastian reaching the low to mid-20s occasionally but more often sitting around 19°C.
In terms of rainfall, Spain averages around seven wet days each October, but this will change depending on where you are. Expect that number to be higher in the north (in Galicia especially) and mountain regions but lower in the south and along the Mediterranean coast, where you’re guaranteed plenty of dry days.
Urban cool
October is the perfect time for a city break in Spain, specifically a trip to those cities that are too hot to explore during the sizzling summer months. Cities such as Madrid, Seville, Granada, Salamanca, Cordoba, Zaragoza, and Malaga, all of which enjoy high temperatures over 30°C in the peak summer months.
Each of these cities offers numerous highlights, from amazing architectural, historical and cultural sights to fabulous shopping, dining and drinking opportunities. The best way to explore these cities is on foot, strolling through old towns and diverse districts, wandering historic palaces and gardens, and taking walking tours. However, in the burning heat of summer, these activities are not pleasant, nor recommended.
In October, you’ll find ample sunshine and temperatures ideal for leisurely strolls without the risk of overheating or sunstroke. Evenings are still mild enough for outdoor dining, and while there’s a slight chance of rain in some areas, it’s usually brief. In short, October provides the perfect conditions for urban exploration.
As an added benefit, there are far fewer tourists, so you won’t be stuck in long queues or packed crowds while visiting popular attractions like Granada’s Alhambra, Zaragoza’s Basílica del Pilar, or Seville’s Alcazar.
Fancy a European city break in Spain in October? Check out accommodation in the country’s hottest cities and start planning your trip.
Fall festivities
Did you think Spain’s festival calendar would calm down once the summer came to an end? Not a chance! If anything, there’s even more going on in Spain in October than there was in August. Here are some of the best festivals to look out for:
- One of the biggest celebrations in October is the Fiesta Nacional de España. This is a national holiday on 12th October, a day deeply rooted in Spain’s history, achievements, and international ties. The biggest celebrations are in Madrid, where there is a military parade attended by Spanish royalty, and huge celebrations are held across the city.
- Many towns and cities celebrate their Saints Days in October with parades, fireworks, and street parties. The biggest one of the month is Zaragoza’s Fiestas del Pilar, a week-long high-energy celebration attended by thousands of people. The Crystal Rosary Parade, a procession of stunningly beautiful floats made of crystal and glass interspersed with candles and lanterns, should not be missed.
- Film buffs are spoilt for choice in October with the Marbella Film Festival showcasing international independent films, the Valladolid Film Festival for European creations, the Horror and Fantasy Film Festival in San Sebastian, and the Sitges Film Festival spanning genres of fantasy, animation, documentary, and horror.
- Music and dance lovers can head to Barcelona for the famous Jazz Festival, catch the end of the month-long Bienal de Flamenco in Seville, and then stick around for the city’s Guitar Festival.
- Literature fans should visit Alcalá de Henares near Madrid for Cervantes Week, which celebrates the author of the Spanish literary classic Don Quixote. The festival includes concerts, readings, lectures, exhibitions, and book fairs.
- Lastly, the Human Tower Competition in Tarragona is an event not to miss. This two-day event sees thousands of people competing to build the highest Castell or Human Tower, which can be up to ten people high. It’s a uniquely Catalonian tradition and a thrilling event to watch.
Fancy catching one of these festivals on your holiday? Accommodation can fill up quickly around big events, so book early to avoid disappointment.
Howl at the moon
Is seeing a wolf in the wild on your bucket list? Well, you’re in luck. October is a great month for wolf-watching in Spain. It’s the last good month for it, in fact, as wolves are most active and easy to spot through the summer and autumn months before becoming trickier to track as they roam further afield during the winter.
Spain was once home to many thousands of Iberian wolves, but they were driven out and hunted to near extinction. Thanks to conservation efforts and a very recent ban on wolf hunting, their numbers are now increasing, and around 2,500 wolves currently live in Northern Spain. So, if you want to see wolves on your trip to Spain, head north to the Cantabrian Mountains.
Once there, you’ll want to join an organised wolf-watching trip, as the chances of seeing these stealthy creatures are greatly increased if you have an expert with you. The local guides have spent many hours tracking and sighting wolves, they know the location of dens and feeding grounds, what signs to look for, and what times of day are best for wolf spotting.
October in the Cantabrian mountains is also a great time to see some of Spain’s fantastic birdlife, including eagles and vultures, as well as wild boar and red deer. There’s even a rare chance of spotting an elusive Iberian Lynx or Cantabrian Brown Bear, although bears are more often seen in spring.
Want to guarantee that you’ll see a wolf without the hiking and waiting? Head to one of Spain’s wolf sanctuaries. At Casa de Lobo in Asturias, you can learn all about the wolves in the interpretive centre before visiting the enclosure where injured and orphaned Iberian wolves are given sanctuary. If you’re holidaying further south, head to Lobo Park in Andalucía. It’s a 100-acre nature and wildlife sanctuary for the protection and study of wolves in their natural environment. Visit on a full moon from May to October to catch the Howl Nights and hear the eerie sound of wolves howling on the moon.
Want to do a little wolf tracking? Search for accommodation in the Cantabrian hills and start planning your wolf-watching trip to Spain.
A stomping good time
In September, we listed several harvest festivals that included demonstrations of old-fashioned grape stomping. But don’t worry if you missed them because many vineyards will let you do some grape stomping of your own during October harvest time!
Grape stomping – or treading – involves piling the harvested grapes into a wooden barrel, then kicking off your shoes and climbing in to crush the fruit with your feet, releasing the juices and beginning the fermentation process.
Of course, this process is generally done with machinery these days, but the stomping technique dates back to the Roman era and is celebrated during harvest season as a traditional part of the wine-making process. Often, traditional music plays, and you might be offered the traditional garb to wear as you climb into the vats and get to work, leading to fantastic photo opportunities!
Most grape stomping experiences also include a winery tour and, of course, a tasting session so you can enjoy the results of your labour. It’s a fantastic, messy, unique day out, and one you’re guaranteed to remember every time you enjoy a glass of wine in the future.
Fancy trying grape treading? Search now for accommodation in Spain’s best wine-making regions, and get ready to put your best foot forward!
Midnight runners
Sports tourists, listen up; October is the month of the Night Marathon in Bilbao, Northern Spain.
This fun and friendly race attracts over 10,000 runners annually – almost a quarter of whom are from outside Spain, and the route is a beautiful tour through the streets of the Basque Country capital.
There are three distances: 10km, half marathon (21km), or full marathon (42km). Whichever one you choose, you all start together at the San Mamés Stadium, home to the Athletic Bilbao football team. There, you’ll be sent on your way, accompanied by live music, fireworks, and thousands of cheering supporters.
Once you get going, you’ll run through the skyscraper-filled city centre, the historic streets of the old town, and peaceful residential districts. Entertainment stations are set up along the route to keep your motivation and spirits high, and the supportive crowd is never far away.
The different distances split off at designated points, but everyone finishes at the same place: Bilbao’s architectural wonder, the Guggenheim Museum.
There, you’ll find another party in full swing with concerts, more fireworks, drinks, food and crowds ready to celebrate your achievement!
Fancy pushing yourself to your limits and racing through the nighttime streets of this beautiful town? Check out accommodation in Bilbao now.
Bring your binoculars
If October has you thinking about the oncoming winter, you’re not alone. This is the month when many bird species start thinking about where they will spend the winter months, and for many – around 500,000, that is – that place is the Doñana National Park in Spain.
Doñana National Park is a must-visit for nature and bird lovers visiting Spain. This natural wonder covers 543 km² and holds incredible biodiversity amongst its wetland lagoons, forests, and shifting sand dunes. It has been named a UNESCO heritage site for its importance to many thousands of species.
The park is a stunning place to visit any time of the year, but in October, you’ll see flocks of waterfowl making their way south in their thousands to spend the winter in these protected wetlands. Plus, you’ll spot many other species of birds treating Doñana as a rest stop on their way to spend winter in Africa.
In addition to geese, cranes, herons, spoonbills, and flamingos, the start of the wet season draws wild boar, deer, badgers, and mongoose to the water pools, as well as the semi-wild horses or marsh mares that live in Doñana. And keep your eyes on the sky for sightings of the Spanish Imperial Eagle, which are common in October!
Want to stay in the best place for birdwatching in Doñana National Park? Check out accommodation in El Rocío, where you can birdwatch right from your doorstep. You definitely won’t be the only twitcher in town!
Eat, drink, repeat
Did we mention there are a lot of events happening in Spain in October? So many in fact, we had to make a separate section for food and wine festivals! Foodies, check out these must-do events:
- Many of the wine harvest festivals we mentioned in September are still going strong in October, plus several more have joined the party! The Sitges Grape Harvest Festival is great for visitors to Barcelona as the coastal town is just a short drive or train ride from the city. It offers a chance to celebrate the wines of the Catalonian region in this laid-back and tourist-friendly event packed with displays, performances, and entertainment beside the sea.
- The port town of O Grove in Galicia is a hub of seafood delights at all times of the year, but during its Seafood Festival in October, it really kicks things up a notch. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to O Grove to sample the delicious, freshly harvested shellfish on offer. Expect menus full of clams, muscles, barnacles, crab, lobster and that Galician staple, octopus! You’ll soon see why the town has earned its nickname of paraíso del marisco, Seafood Paradise!
- The San Lucas Festival is not technically a food festival but a Saint’s Day celebration. However, since it is held in Jaen, the country’s olive-growing capital, you can be sure to find plenty of olives, olive oils, and olive-filled delicacies to sample alongside the traditional festivities of fireworks, parades, drinking, flamenco dancing, and sporting events.
- Another Saint’s Day with a foodie element is The Fiestas de San Froilan in Lugo, Galicia. Here, the traditional celebrations include an octopus fair! Much like the O Carballiño festival in August, this involves huge amounts of freshly caught octopus cooked in open copper pots and served with olive oil and paprika.
- Cavatast Cava Festival: This three-day event is held in historic Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, the Spanish capital of Cava. The festival draws together producers and buyers of the speciality wine as well as those locals and tourists who enjoy drinking a chilled glass or two of the bubbly wine. Expect wine tastings, talks, tours, exhibitions, live music, and delicious food expertly paired with the Cava.
- The Fiesta de la Rosa del Azafran is a celebration of the world’s most expensive spice, saffron. Since the 1960s, Consuegra in La Mancha has hosted this festival at the end of October. It celebrates the saffron harvest season, the region’s unique culture and traditions, and its excellence in producing the world’s best-quality saffron. It’s a colourful event characterised by the distinctive orange of the spice and the purple hues of the crocus flowers from which it comes. The locals dress in traditional attire, and there is much music, dancing, and revelry. The highlight of the event is the harvesting competition, where people strive to remove the saffron from the flowers as quickly as possible.
If these events have got your taste buds tingling, take a look at accommodation near the festival towns to ensure you’re there when it’s time for the action.
The high life
Andalucía might be most famous for its stunning beaches and fascinating cities, but there’s another wonder to explore: The Andalusian hill towns. And October is the perfect time to do so!
The Pueblos Blancos are white towns and villages built high up in the hills and mountains of the Andalucían coast and interior. They are picture-perfect places filled with traditional whitewashed houses, flower-decked balconies, narrow cobbled streets, quaint taverns, picturesque plazas, and breathtaking views.
There are plenty of towns to choose from, some easier to reach than others. Frigiliana and Mijas are two of the most popular as they are located on the coast and easily reached from the holiday resorts of the Costa del Sol. They also offer stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, some 1,500 feet below.
Further inland, you’ll find the chain of towns tucked into the Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra de las Nieves mountains. There’s pretty Olvera surrounded by olive groves, Zahara de la Sierra, named for its hilltop castle and Arcos de la Frontera, with its impressive architecture. But the most famous of these inland hill towns is Ronda, known for its dramatic clifftop location on the edge of the Tajo River Gorge. It’s a breathtaking sight.
Hire a car to explore these mountain villages under your own steam, or join an organised tour from Seville, Cadiz or Malaga. Once you get to the villages, they are best discovered on foot. Wander the narrow streets, admiring the beautiful houses and spectacular views, stop for coffee or a glass of wine in the picturesque pavement cafes. And don’t forget to shop for souvenirs of locally made olive oil, artisanal cheeses and hand-painted crafts in the many art galleries, boutiques and workshops.
Fancy exploring the beautiful mountain towns? Book accommodation in Andalucía so you can explore them all and pick your favourite.
Leaf peeping
It’s incredible that in the same month and even on the same holiday in Spain, you can spend one day soaking up the sun on the beach and the next wandering amidst the russet and gold autumnal colours of the parks and forests.
You might not think of Spain for fall foliage, but trust us when we say it’s spectacular. And since this country is home to no less than 16 national parks, a natural beauty spot is never far away.
In the north, head to the Saja-Besaya Natural Park in Cantabria to admire the foliage of beech, hazelnut and oak trees as you wander between the twin rivers. The Muniellos Forest in Asturias is home to a huge preservation of oak trees, while the Otzarreta Forest in Basque Country is simply stunning.
The Monte Perdido National Park and the Irati Forest sit on the Spanish-French border and are stunning places to explore the autumnal Pyrenean landscape while keeping an eye out for alpine wildlife.
In Extremadura, wander amidst the chestnut and oak trees of Caceres or head to the Valle del Jerte, where chestnut, oak, and cherry trees display every hue of the autumnal spectrum from scarlet to gold.
Montseny Natural Park is conveniently located just an hour north of Barcelona. As the oldest natural park in Catalonia, it is home to many ancient trees showing off their autumn colours.
Further south, explore the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park. This is the largest national park in the country, and though the forests of autumnal foliage feel like northern Spain, it’s actually located in Jaen, Andalucía, so it makes for a great day trip from the coast.
Not a big fan of hiking? Don’t worry; autumn happens in the cities too! Madrid’s famous Retiro Park is stunning in the fall, as is Turia Gardens in Valencia. Autumn also alters the already colourful palette of Park Güell in Barcelona, making it a special time to visit.
Fancy being a leaf peeper? Book accommodation in or near one of Spain’s most beautiful forests in October and get your camera ready.
A load of bull
October brings the end of bullfighting season in Spain.
Bullfighting is a controversial topic; it is a violent sport that almost always results in the death of the bull and often in the injury of the fighters. But there is no denying that it is a huge part of Spanish heritage and one that will probably not be around forever since activists are successfully fighting to get it banned. In fact, many Latin countries, including Cuba and Argentina have banned it already.
If you’d like to catch a display of this traditional sport-cum-artform while it still happens, October is a good month to do so. It is the last month of the fighting season, which starts in May, and the atmosphere at the last few events is often even more charged than usual. Madrid is the best place to watch a fight since it’s home to the biggest bullfighting ring in Spain (and third in the world), Las Ventas Bullring. This enormous venue can accommodate 23,798 spectators!
If you don’t want to watch a fight, you can still take a tour of the bullring and visit Madrid’s Bullfighting Museum, which is free to enter and well worth a visit whether you approve of the fights or not. The museum explains the lengthy history of the sport in Spain, starting with prehistoric times when bull worship and sacrifice took place, moving through the public fights in Roman times, to the red-cape-and-sword format we recognise today.
The museum showcases artwork depicting bullfighting through the ages, including works by Goya and Picasso and poetry by Lorca. It also highlights the many elements that make up the bullfighting culture beyond the fight – such as the flamboyant costumes the roles of the different team members, the trainers, and bull breeders.
Fancy seeing a bullfight? Or just getting a little education at the museum? Book accommodation in Madrid now. Olé!
Top tips for travelling in Spain in October
Not sure what to pack or how to plan for an autumn trip? We’ve got you covered with these top tips for a holiday in Spain in October:
- October 12th is a national holiday in Spain for Fiesta Nacional de España. Because of this, a lot of small businesses and shops will be closed and some tours and activities might not be running. Check schedules ahead of time to avoid confusion.
- October is a transitional month in Spain with changeable weather. So, if you’re craving some autumn sunshine, we suggest booking earlier in the month rather than later.
- Similarly, while it can still be hot enough for sunbathing in some areas and mild enough for outdoor dining, the evenings will be cooler than summer, so pack some warm layers to compensate for the temperature drop.
- Many European countries have a half-term holiday in October, so if you’re looking at flights and see a bump in prices, that may be the reason. It won’t be anywhere near the prices of the summer holidays but if you can be flexible on dates, you can grab a cheaper deal.
- Don’t forget your travel insurance! Spain can feel like a very safe country to travel to, and while that is true, accidents and unforeseen events can always derail a holiday. Make sure you’ve purchased insurance and check the policy so you know what coverage you have for things like gadgets, flight delay / cancellation, illness and repatriation. And if you plan on doing any adventure sports, ensure they’re covered in your policy.
So what do you think of our top 10 things to do in Spain in October?
Do you fancy taking an autumn trip to Spain? Are you fantasising about eating octopus, shellfish, and saffron rice accompanied by a glass of sparkling cava? Do you fancy wandering under a canopy of autumnal leaves, keeping an eye out for wolves, or scanning the skies for Spanish Eagles? Or do you want to experience the sensation of grapes bursting beneath your toes?
If any of these activities appeal to you, start looking for your dream accommodation now and plan your perfect holiday to Spain in October.
What about next month? Here’s our guide to the top 10 things to do in Spain in November.
I am a huge fan of Spain and knew I would be before I’d ever set foot there. Any country where meals last for hours and afternoon naps are part of the culture is always going to be right up my street! And it did not disappoint. From beach holidays in the Canaries to working in the Balearics to road-tripping through the mainland and city breaks in the country’s urban hubs, I have returned again and again to Spain and will continue to do so for years to come.