Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Benalmadena in December
Benalmadena in December suits a cool-weather break rather than a holiday built around swimming and sunbathing. Daytime highs average 14°C, nights fall to around 9°C, and there are about 4.4 hours of sunshine a day. That gives you scope for comfortable walks and time outdoors, provided you bring layers and allow for rain. Go for milder weather than London, but not if dependable warmth is the main reason for travelling.
Long-term climate averages for Benalmádena, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Benalmadena, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Benalmádena.
- Average daytime high
- 14.3°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 17°C
- Average night-time low
- 8.6°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 6°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.6°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 15.9°C
- year to year: 15°C to 17°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.4h
- 46% of 9.5 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 69 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 77%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 21.1°C
- 2018-12-03
- Record low 1991-2020
- 1.6°C
- 1994-12-26
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 48 min
- 1655 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How December compares
December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Benalmadena. Within Spain it is 76th of 87 (Spain in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Benalmadena is 6.6°C warmer by day and 5.9°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Benalmadena peaks at 14.3°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 17.2°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 8.6°C; one night in ten drops to 5.6°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 21.1°C (2018-12-03) and the coldest night 1.6°C (1994-12-26).
Rain in December
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 69 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 1996 with 243 mm, the driest 1994 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 77%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 15.9°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 15.3°C to 16.5°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (23.1°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.5 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:23 and sets about 18:04 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 53%.
Is December a good time to visit Benalmadena?
December is not the strongest month here: cool days. The best months for Benalmadena on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.
Mild afternoons, but pack for chilly evenings
The daytime temperature is comfortable for being active, but sitting outside can call for an extra layer. Warmer December days reach around 17°C or more, so make the most of those spells without packing as though summer weather is guaranteed. Evenings are a different proposition: average lows are around 9°C, while the coldest nights fall to about 6°C or below. Bring a jumper, long trousers and a jacket rather than relying on light holiday clothes. December sits towards the cooler end of the year here, so it suits travellers who prefer walking without heat more than those hoping to spend their days sunbathing.
Keep outdoor plans flexible
Rain is a meaningful part of the December picture, with about 8 rainy days during the month. A waterproof jacket and shoes you can comfortably wear in wet weather are sensible additions to your bag. Leave room to move outdoor plans around rather than relying on dry weather throughout your stay. There are about 9.5 hours of daylight, but sunshine fills only part of that window, so do not expect clear skies all day. Plan your longer walks for daylight hours and use brighter spells when they arrive. If your holiday depends on spending nearly all your time outside, the weather brings a real compromise.
A little perspective
Benalmadena through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.6°C | 7.4°C | 15.1°C | 5.0 | 57 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 14.1°C | 7.6°C | 14.8°C | 5.8 | 48 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 15.9°C | 9.0°C | 15.1°C | 6.1 | 52 | 7 | 0% |
| April | 17.6°C | 10.6°C | 15.8°C | 7.3 | 43 | 7 | 0% |
| May | 20.6°C | 13.2°C | 17.2°C | 8.6 | 25 | 4 | 6% |
| Junebest | 24.5°C | 16.6°C | 19.3°C | 11.3 | 9 | 1 | 43% |
| Julybest | 27.4°C | 19.2°C | 21.7°C | 12.6 | 1 | 0 | 86% |
| Augustbest | 27.5°C | 19.8°C | 23.1°C | 10.9 | 5 | 1 | 91% |
| September | 24.4°C | 17.3°C | 21.5°C | 8.1 | 25 | 4 | 38% |
| October | 20.7°C | 14.3°C | 19.3°C | 5.8 | 58 | 7 | 5% |
| November | 16.7°C | 10.7°C | 17.2°C | 5.1 | 72 | 7 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 14.3°C | 8.6°C | 15.9°C | 4.4 | 69 | 8 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Benalmadena in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Benalmadena hot in December?
Benalmadena is cool in December: the average daytime high is 14.3°C and nights average 8.6°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Benalmadena in December?
The sea around Benalmadena averages 15.9°C in December, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 17°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Benalmadena in December?
Benalmadena sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 69 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 1996 (243 mm) and the driest was 1994 (1 mm).
How sunny is Benalmadena in December?
Benalmadena gets around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.5 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Benalmadena compare with the UK in December?
Benalmadena is on average 6.6°C warmer than London by day in December (14.3°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Benalmadena?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Benalmadena reached 21.1°C on 2018-12-03, and the coldest night dropped to 1.6°C on 1994-12-26.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in December?
The sea averages 15.9°C, which is cold rather than comfortably swimmable. It is a poor fit if relaxed sea swimming is central to your holiday. Treat time by the water as an outdoor activity to dress for, rather than expecting a warm-water beach break.
How much warmer is Benalmadena than London in December?
Average daytime highs are 14.3°C in Benalmadena compared with 7.7°C in London, a difference of 6.6°C. That is a noticeable improvement for daytime walks, but it still means cool weather rather than summer warmth, particularly once evening arrives.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Benalmádena. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.4 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C