Your July weather guide
HotWeather in Costa del Sol in July
July is a good choice for the Costa del Sol if you want hot, dry weather and can work around the midday heat. Daytime highs average 29°C, with nights around 21°C, so this is not the month for cool evenings. The catch is the sea: at 21.6°C on average, it can feel bracing rather than warm. It suits relaxed days with shade breaks better than long spells of activity in the sun.
Long-term climate averages for Malaga, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Costa del Sol, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Malaga.
- Average daytime high
- 28.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 32°C
- Average night-time low
- 20.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 19°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.9°C
- London averages 21.8°C in July
- Sea temperature
- 21.6°C
- year to year: 21°C to 23°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 12.8h
- 90% of 14.3 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 0
- 1 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 62%
- Days over 25°C
- 93%
- 31% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 40.0°C
- 1994-07-05
- Record low 1991-2020
- 13.2°C
- 1997-07-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 48 min
- 1639 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 July compares
July is the 2nd warmest month of the year in Costa del Sol. Within Spain it is 38th of 87 (Spain in July). Against London's average high of 21.8°C in July, Costa del Sol is 6.9°C warmer by day and 7.4°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in July
The typical July day in Costa del Sol peaks at 28.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 32.0°C or more. About 93% of days top 25°C and 1 in 3 pass 30°C. Nights average 20.9°C; one night in ten drops to 18.7°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest July day here reached 40.0°C (1994-07-05) and the coldest night 13.2°C (1997-07-01).
Rain in July
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 0 days with 1 mm or more, 1 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest July was 1997 with 19 mm, the driest 1991 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 62%.
Sea temperature in July
The sea averages 21.6°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 20.5°C to 23.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (23.0°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 12.8 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:11 and sets about 21:37 local time in mid-July. Average cloud cover is 10%.
Is July a good time to visit Costa del Sol?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, little rain and long sunny days. The best months for Costa del Sol on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Expect heat, not just comfortable warmth
Highs reach 30°C on 30% of July days, while the hottest days reach 32°C or more. That makes early starts and a quieter middle of the day sensible if you want to stay active. Loose, light clothing will be more useful than heavy layers, and accommodation with cooling is worth prioritising given the warm nights. July is among the warmest months here, so choose it because you enjoy heat, not because you expect gentle warmth throughout the day. If high temperatures leave you tired, keep your plans flexible and leave time to sit in the shade rather than filling every daylight hour.
Very little rain, long sunshine and a cooler sea
Rain is unlikely to shape your holiday: July averages about 0 rainy days, though that is not a promise of completely dry weather. Sunshine averages 12.8 hours within 14.3 hours of daylight, leaving plenty of room to move outdoor plans away from midday. Pack sun protection and something to cover your shoulders rather than making waterproofs the priority. Swimming offers a contrast to the hot air, but do not assume the water will feel equally warm. The sea averages 21.6°C, with a year-to-year range of 20°C to 23°C. That suits travellers who like a refreshing dip better than those who want reliably warm water.
A little perspective
Costa del Sol through the year
July 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 | 14.7°C | 8.7°C | 15.1°C | 5.2 | 61 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 15.3°C | 9.0°C | 14.8°C | 6.0 | 52 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 17.0°C | 10.4°C | 15.1°C | 6.4 | 58 | 7 | 1% |
| April | 18.7°C | 12.0°C | 15.8°C | 7.4 | 44 | 7 | 1% |
| May | 21.8°C | 14.7°C | 17.2°C | 8.8 | 26 | 5 | 14% |
| Junebest | 25.7°C | 18.2°C | 19.3°C | 11.5 | 8 | 1 | 60% |
| JulySelectedbest | 28.7°C | 20.9°C | 21.6°C | 12.8 | 1 | 0 | 93% |
| Augustbest | 28.9°C | 21.5°C | 23.0°C | 11.1 | 4 | 1 | 95% |
| September | 25.6°C | 18.9°C | 21.4°C | 8.3 | 27 | 4 | 60% |
| October | 21.9°C | 15.7°C | 19.3°C | 6.1 | 62 | 7 | 12% |
| November | 17.8°C | 12.1°C | 17.2°C | 5.4 | 75 | 7 | 1% |
| December | 15.5°C | 10.0°C | 15.9°C | 4.7 | 77 | 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 July
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Costa del Sol in July FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Costa del Sol hot in July?
Costa del Sol is hot in July: the average daytime high is 28.7°C and nights average 20.9°C. About 93% of July days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Costa del Sol in July?
The sea around Costa del Sol averages 21.6°C in July, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 21°C to 23°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Costa del Sol in July?
Costa del Sol sees about 0 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 1 mm of rain in a typical July. The wettest July between 1991 and 2020 was 1997 (19 mm) and the driest was 1991 (0 mm).
How sunny is Costa del Sol in July?
Costa del Sol gets around 12.8 hours of sunshine a day in July out of 14.3 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Costa del Sol compare with the UK in July?
Costa del Sol is on average 6.9°C warmer than London by day in July (28.7°C against 21.8°C).
What is the hottest July on record in Costa del Sol?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest July day in Costa del Sol reached 40.0°C on 1994-07-05, and the coldest night dropped to 13.2°C on 1997-07-01.
How much hotter is it than London in July?
The average daytime high is 28.7°C, compared with 21.8°C in London, a difference of 6.9°C. Expect a clear step up in heat rather than a similar summer day, and allow more time for shade and breaks.
Will I need a jacket in the evenings?
With average night lows of 20.9°C, light clothing is a sensible starting point. A light layer gives you flexibility: the coolest 10% of nights fall to 18.7°C or below. Heavy evening layers are unlikely to be your priority.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
It depends on your tolerance for cool water. July's average sea temperature is 21.6°C, which is bracing rather than reliably warm. If you enjoy refreshing swims, that may suit you; if you feel the cold easily, expect an initial chill.
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 Málaga (Malaga). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3 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