Visiting Spain in November
November is one of the most interesting months of the year to visit Spain. Temperatures are still mostly mild, particularly at the start of the month when the country often experiences “St. Martin’s summer”, which is a late burst of unseasonal summer heat.
Better yet, by November even the last of shoulder season visitors have usually departed, and you’ll see prices fall off the face of a cliff (in a good way!).
With fall leaves embellishing landscapes with autumnal reds, golds, and browns, prices at their lowest, scant a visitor around, and all of Spain back in familiar rhythms, a November visit is a surprisingly lovely choice.
Nature certainly steals the show in the fall with brightly colored deciduous forests in the mountains, fiery red and orange fields of grapes, and striking contrasts of greens and brown in the olive groves. However, many cities also look especially beautiful, with leafy avenues and soft, golden light falling over stone architectural masterpieces.
The north of Spain provides the best contrasts and colors, but it will also be colder and rain will be unavoidable. The south, more muted in its fall display, will stay warmer and give you fewer rainy days and chilly nights.
And remember, while November air temperatures might make the thought of swimming unappealing, in Andalusia water temperatures are actually at their hottest of the year.
Hikers especially can enjoy November as the cooler temperatures mean even midday hikes are comfortable, and the scenery is simply divine. Up in the mountains of the Pyrenees, medieval villages look their most atmospheric of any season.
And of course, as in almost every month of the year in Spain, November offers a host of festivals and local events to enjoy.
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Weather
Although not a huge country, Spain has great climate variability. Northern Spain in November is bound to be chilly and rainy, especially in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, and Basque Country.
Meanwhile, Andalusia and other Southern regions usually have cool early mornings that rise to pleasant temperatures by mid morning and “ditch that sweater” temperatures by midday.
Spain’s weather in November varies tremendously from one region to another. While November is a rainy month overall, it can be warm and dry or cold and wet depending on where you are.
The countrywide average temperature is about 60°F by day and 45°F at night. However, there’s little point discussing average countrywide temperatures as it’s too variable by region.
In the north, in Basque Country for example, the average daytime temperature for November is 55ºF (13ºC), and you can expect at least 13 days of rain. It’s not a season in which forgetting your raincoat will be a happy mistake…
In Madrid, the average temperature hovers around 53ºF (12º C), but nighttime temperatures often fall below 40ºF. A normal November in the Spanish capital sees 6-8 days of rain.
In Barcelona and Catalonia, daytime temperatures are almost 5-10 degrees warmer than in Madrid, but the even bigger difference is that temperatures barely drop overnight. As such, your days will warm and you won’t find yourself shivering during your post-dinner stroll.
In Andalusia and the Valencian coast things stay much more civilized and you can expect an average daily temperature of about 62ºF with nights dropping into the high 40s. Daily ranges are about 47 – 67ºF (8-19ºC).
In early November, it’s not unheard of to get the occasional break above 80ºF and days are sunny and clear with an average of just 3 days of rain in the month. If you’re headed to Andalusia, you’re better off packing a bathing suit than an umbrella!
Events
As with most months of the year, November offers you the chance to enjoy all kinds of events and gastronomic festivals in Spain. I’ve selected a few of the many to give you some starters on November fiestas.
Gijón International Film Festival - The Gijón International Film Festival, one of the most important in Spain, usually takes place in November. Over the years, it has gained more and more international prestige and is now a well-respected event.
Aside from the film productions included in the competition and their associated showings and events, Gijón is a gorgeous northern city to visit and there are many cultural activities such as exhibitions, concerts, and book presentations that occur alongside the film festival.
Olive & olive oil celebration in Baena (Cordoba) - During the month of November, the village of Baena, in the southern province of Córdoba, celebrates their chief product (olive oil) during 3 days in the annual Las Jornadas del Olivar y el Aceite festival.
During the event, there are sessions dedicated to locally produced olive oil, which is regarded as one of the best in the world. There are tasting sessions and a host of activities - from classes and workshops to music and folklore - which attract visitors from all over Spain and other countries.
While not related to the festival, if you wind up here, don’t forget that the best Iberian ham is produced in Andalusia, and makes for the perfect combination with a piece of toast drizzled with Baena olive oil.
All Saint’s Fair at Cocentaina (Region of Valencia) - The small town of Cocentaina, in the Levante region (near Valencia & Alicante), has hosted this agricultural fair for more than 600 years. Every year it takes place at the same time as Dia de Todos los Santos (All Saint’s Day in English or Fira de Tot Sants in Catalan/Valencian) in the first week of November.
Although it started as a simple regional cattle fair (and that is still a major component of it), it has since transformed into a major attraction and you can find a wide range of cultural activities including horseback riding, traditional medieval dress and armor displays, crafts workshops, choral competitions, and more.
The festival has a definitive medieval bent that accompanies the agricultural focus. This is no longer just a small regional fair though and attendance has steadily climbed to now routinely hit over 350,000 spectators/visitors - it’s a pretty good party.
The Humanitarians Festival in Asturias - Asturias, a small coastal region in the north of Spain, combines charming villages with possibly the best cuisine in Spain. Every year, on November 11, the village of Aller celebrates a popular autumn festival known as the Humanitarians Festival (Fiesta de los Humanitarios) which is organized by the San Martín Humanitarian Association.
A religious festival, the event starts with a Catholic mass that is sung and accompanied by traditional Asturian bagpipes. After, there’s an auction where faithful bid on a special type of bread that is blessed during the mass. Later in the day, a large procession passes through town with locals in traditional regional dress and lots more bagpipe playing.
At the end of the day, visitors and participants are rewarded with a feast whose primary dish is fabada, a white bean stew typical of Asturias.
Madrid Jazz Festival - JazzMadrid brings together Spain’s best Jazz musicians with artists and acts from all over the world. The event lasts for almost all of November (2-27) and there are performances and shows throughout the city. Although Jazz is obviously the focus, you can also find Blues, Swing, and other genres too.
Madrid Horse Week - Not typically of interest to the average visitor (or Spaniard), it’s still worth noting that from the 24th to 26th of November Madrid hosts the country’s biggest equestrian festival. There are competitions in showjumping, vaulting, reining, and lots of other horse-related sports and activities as well as exhibitions and plenty of activities for kids.
It probably won’t be something most visitors plan their stay in Madrid around, but if you happen to be in the capital and have even a passing interest, it’s a neat event.
Where to visit in November
November is one of my favorite months to visit Spain and there’s nowhere that is outright bad to visit. However, certain regions offer a bit more than others in autumn.
The Pyrenees in Catalunya and Aragon are absolutely stunning with their fall colors, and you don’t typically yet have snowfall impeding anything. The coastline between Barcelona and Alicante is also warm and sunny.
And Madrid, Spain’s exceedingly elegant capital, takes on a rarefied air in November (especially without all the crowds). Seville and Granada, and the Alhambra in particular, are also lovely spots for a fall visit.
The only area that I think requires a good bit of thought before visiting is the Northern coast which can be both rainier and colder than most visitors may enjoy.
Girona - The November weather is perfect for a visit to the Catalunya region, including cosmopolitan Barcelona, charming little towns in Costa Brava or the Pyrenees. However, if there’s a city that looks specially beautiful in November it’s Girona, one of the most fascinating towns in Spain.
Its picturesque houses on the Onyà River, which have been compared to Firenze’s Ponte Vecchio, and its medieval and Renaissance architecture look really gorgeous, decorated in all shades of brown by fall leaves.
Madrid - The capital city is always worth visiting, but in November, with Retiro Park exploding in color and pleasant weather ideal for strolling the city’s graceful avenues, it’s simply exceptional. Nearby Toledo is equally beautiful.
Catalan and Aragonese Pyrenees - Visiting the charming little villages and towns of the Pyrenees, both in the region of Aragón and Catalunya, is a must all year round. However, if you choose November to hike and discover these hidden gems, you get the extra beauty of fall landscapes with astonishing nuances of brown, yellow and red.
Bellver de Cerdanya, in Catalunya, and Ainsa, in Aragón, are just two of examples of towns that exhibit the beauty of the Pyrenees in breathtaking style in November.
Salamanca - Included in Unesco’s World Heritage for its well-preserved baroque architecture, Salamanca is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, and worth visiting no matter when you come.
But in November you can unrivaled views of the leafy banks of the meandering Tormes River to the already fabulous appeal of cultural heritage and gastronomy. Salamanca in November provides photographers with the most beautiful photo opportunities of anywhere in the country.
The coast of Levante - The weather is always sunny and pleasant in Valencia, Alicante, and practically all the other beautiful towns of the Levante (Spain’s Eastern coast). In November, you can still enjoy strolling along the long promenades along with even the occasional swim.
Many cyclists also choose to visit the region in this time due to the excellent stretches of road and ideal biking weather.
Andalusia - If you’ve already seen our September and October guides, it should come as no surprise that Andalusia has yet again made the list. Fall and Spring are simply the perfect times to visit southern Spain.
The oppressive heat is gone, but the region remains warm and dry, allowing for both comfortable sightseeing and ideal conditions for outdoor activities. And with few crowds and low prices, it’s all just an obviously winning combination.
What to do in November
Hiking and outdoor activities - With mild temperatures and dry weather in most part of the country (exception made of the North: Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias), and with the beauty of deciduous forests at its peak, November makes a great month for hiking, mountain-biking and outdoor activities lovers.
Visit mountain villages - Extreme winter temperatures are not usually present in November yet, so it’s one of the best times of the year to visit the charming villages in the Pyrenees. Savory cuisine, Romanesque churches and picture-perfect landscapes make it an unforgettable trip.
Train trips - Spain has good high-speed and regular train connections in most part of the country. In November, without tourist crowds, you will be able to enjoy this way of travelling at your ease. Accommodations will have availability and prices will be the cheapest in the year, so you won’t have to plan ahead, just sit and enjoy the view of bucolic fall landscapes.
Eat calçotada (green onions) in Catalunya - Although these typical Catalan green onions, known as calçots, are at their absolute best in the winter months, November is the first month when you can taste them. Calçots have been cultivated around the town of Valls, in Catalonia, for over a century, and they have a delicious sweet taste that is accompanied by a traditional Romesco sauce.
Served on a tile after being grilled on a hot fire, you have to peel them by hand, dip them into the sauce, cooked with lots of secret ingredients, and eat them in a casual way that will make you remember childhood.
The main course is grilled typical Catalan sausage or lamb, making the whole experience of the calçotada one you would certainly like to repeat.
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