Best Time to Visit San Sebastián: Month by Month
Updated October 20, 2026 · 5 min read
For most visitors, June or September is the best compromise: rainfall has dropped and the city is less full than in August. San Sebastián has an oceanic climate with rain in every month, so no month is guaranteed dry. The figures below are the 1981 to 2010 averages for the city, and they show the pattern rather than a forecast.
The weather by month
| Month | Mean °C | Rain (mm) | Rainy days | Sunshine (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.9 | 157 | 13 | 88 |
| February | 9.4 | 135 | 12 | 108 |
| March | 11.6 | 124 | 12 | 141 |
| April | 13.0 | 156 | 14 | 159 |
| May | 16.2 | 120 | 12 | 182 |
| June | 19.0 | 95 | 10 | 188 |
| July | 21.0 | 85 | 9 | 198 |
| August | 21.5 | 117 | 10 | 197 |
| September | 19.4 | 132 | 10 | 170 |
| October | 16.4 | 167 | 12 | 134 |
| November | 12.0 | 188 | 13 | 96 |
| December | 9.6 | 174 | 12 | 81 |
The year brings about 1,650 mm of rain on 138 days. July is the driest month and still has about nine rainy days, so bring a light jacket in any season. Highs in August average about 26 °C, which is warm but not hot.
Summer: the best weather and the most people
July and August are the sunniest months, with around 200 hours of sunshine each. The beach is at its best then. The island shuttle to Santa Clara (the red line) runs from 1 June to 30 September, according to its operator, while the bay tour runs on beyond summer; read more in our boat guide. The boat tour with a stop at Santa Clara is €8; the two bays cruise with cava, listed for morning, afternoon or sunset, is €79.
The cost of summer is crowds. Semana Grande, the city’s main festival, falls in mid-August, so book accommodation early if you want that week. The festival is lively, and not the time for a quiet trip.
Spring and September: our pick
May is mild at 16 °C on average with about 180 hours of sunshine, and June is close to summer with fewer rainy days than spring. September still has 170 hours of sunshine and 19 °C, and the Film Festival takes place in September, so book ahead. Rain climbs from September onwards: 132 mm, then 167 mm in October.
Winter: cold, wet and good for food
From November to January it rains on 12 or 13 days a month and there are only 81 to 96 hours of sun, so plan around that. The food does not care about the weather: the pintxo bars and the cooking classes work in any season. The cider season, when the barrels are opened in the cider houses, runs from mid-January to late April according to guides, so it is a winter and spring reason to visit; see the cider house guide. The Tamborrada drum festival is on 20 January. The aquarium is closed on Mondays from October to March, except on long weekends.
Which month for which plan
| If you want | Go in |
|---|---|
| Beach days and the island boat | June to September |
| Fewer people and mild weather | May, June, September |
| Cider houses | Mid-January to April |
| The big festival atmosphere | Mid-August, or September for film |
| Food and indoor plans only | Any month |
When it is a bad idea
A beach trip from November to March. It rains on 12 or 13 days a month and the mean temperature is 9 to 13 °C, which does not suit a beach day.
August without a booking. The beach and the restaurants are full; plan well ahead.
Hilltop views on a grey day. If the clouds are low, the view from Monte Igueldo is a lot less than the postcard. Our guide to the two hills compares the views. If the forecast is bad, the pintxo tours are the best plan, and the whole offer is under things to do in San Sebastián.
