Destination guide
Malaga weather by month
June, July and August are Malaga's strongest months for warm, dry holiday weather, but September is a good alternative if you prefer less heat. July and August average 29°C by day, while September eases to 26°C and keeps the sea at 22°C. The catch is that summer afternoons can feel too hot for prolonged walking. Spring suits time outdoors without peak summer heat, while winter is better for exploring than swimming.
The climate here is within a degree of Costa del Sol, so if you are choosing between the two, the weather will not decide it for you.
- Hottest month
- 28.9°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 15.1°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 23.4°CAugust
- Flight from London
- 2 h 48 minShort-haul (up to 4.5 h) · estimated
Malaga, month by month
A little perspective
Malaga through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.1°C | 9.5°C | 15.0°C | 5.0 | 57 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 15.6°C | 9.8°C | 14.7°C | 5.8 | 48 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 17.4°C | 11.2°C | 15.1°C | 6.1 | 54 | 7 | 1% |
| April | 19.1°C | 12.8°C | 15.8°C | 7.3 | 40 | 7 | 1% |
| May | 22.1°C | 15.5°C | 17.2°C | 8.6 | 25 | 4 | 15% |
| Junebest | 25.9°C | 19.0°C | 19.5°C | 11.3 | 9 | 1 | 62% |
| Julybest | 28.7°C | 21.8°C | 22.0°C | 12.6 | 1 | 0 | 94% |
| Augustbest | 28.9°C | 22.3°C | 23.4°C | 10.9 | 5 | 1 | 98% |
| September | 25.6°C | 19.6°C | 21.7°C | 8.1 | 25 | 3 | 60% |
| October | 22.0°C | 16.4°C | 19.4°C | 5.9 | 57 | 7 | 13% |
| November | 18.1°C | 12.8°C | 17.1°C | 5.2 | 73 | 7 | 1% |
| December | 15.8°C | 10.7°C | 15.8°C | 4.5 | 69 | 7 | 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.
When to go to Malaga
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: June, July, August, September. November is the wettest month (73 mm, about 7 rainy days) and July the driest (1 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 23.4°C and coolest in February at 14.7°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP, 9 km from Málaga) takes roughly 2 h 48 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Madrid.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Malaga between 1991 and 2020 reached 41.7°C on 2 August 2020; the coldest fell to 2.5°C on 27 January 2005. In August one day in ten tops 32.2°C and about 28% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 7.0°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was January 1996 with 262 mm, against a January average of 57 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Malaga
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:30 | 18:24 | 9.9 h | 5.0 h |
| February | 08:07 | 18:57 | 10.8 h | 5.8 h |
| March | 07:29 | 19:25 | 11.9 h | 6.1 h |
| April | 07:44 | 20:52 | 13.1 h | 7.3 h |
| May | 07:10 | 21:18 | 14.1 h | 8.6 h |
| June | 06:58 | 21:38 | 14.7 h | 11.3 h |
| July | 07:11 | 21:37 | 14.4 h | 12.6 h |
| August | 07:35 | 21:09 | 13.6 h | 10.9 h |
| September | 08:00 | 20:26 | 12.4 h | 8.1 h |
| October | 08:25 | 19:42 | 11.3 h | 5.9 h |
| November | 07:56 | 18:09 | 10.2 h | 5.2 h |
| December | 08:23 | 18:03 | 9.7 h | 4.5 h |
Winter into spring: mild afternoons, cool evenings
December, January and February suit travellers who prefer walking to lying by the sea. January is the coolest month, averaging 15°C by day; December and February reach 16°C. Nights call for a jacket, and rain needs a place in your plans rather than being treated as unlikely. March brings only a modest lift to 17°C, so do not pack as though summer has arrived. April's 19°C makes outdoor time more comfortable, though showers remain a consideration. May is the stronger choice for warmth without summer heat: days average 22°C, with fewer rainy days than earlier in spring. Pack light layers throughout this period. Even in May, the sea averages 17°C, so warmer air does not yet mean comfortable swimming for everyone.
Summer: the best chance of dry, hot weather
June offers a useful middle ground: daytime averages of 26°C, very little rain and cooler nights than later in summer. It suits travellers who want warmth but would rather avoid the hottest conditions. July and August both average 29°C by day and 22°C at night, so light clothing matters after dark as well as during the afternoon. Plan longer walks for the morning and leave room for shade around midday. July has the most sunshine, averaging 13 hours daily, while August has the warmest sea at 23°C. Summer is the clearest choice for swimming and reliably dry plans, though the averages cannot guarantee a rain-free stay.
Autumn: warm September, more changeable later
September is a strong choice if swimming matters but peak summer heat does not appeal. Days average 26°C and the sea stays at 22°C, although rain becomes more likely than in summer. October shifts the balance towards walking and outdoor meals: 22°C afternoons can be pleasant, but 16°C nights make an extra layer useful. Its 19°C sea will feel cool to some swimmers, and flexible plans become more important. By November, daytime temperatures ease to 18°C and the sea to 17°C. This is also the wettest month, so choose it for mild conditions rather than dependable sunshine, and pack a waterproof alongside your lighter clothes.
A little more detail
Malaga weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Malaga?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Malaga are July, August and June. August is the hottest month (average high 28.9°C) and January the coolest (15.1°C).
How many months a year is Malaga over 25°C?
4 months in Malaga average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 6 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Malaga?
November is the wettest month in Malaga (73 mm on average) and July the driest (1 mm). Annual rainfall averages 463 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Malaga?
The hottest day recorded in Malaga between 1991 and 2020 reached 41.7°C on 2 August 2020; the coldest fell to 2.5°C on 27 January 2005. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
When is the sea warmest in Malaga?
August has the warmest sea, averaging 23°C. July and September both average 22°C, making them good alternatives for swimming. June is warmer on land than in the water: its sea average is 20°C, so it may still feel cool when you first get in.
Will I need a jacket in the evening?
A jacket is useful in winter, when average nights sit around 10°C to 11°C, and layers still make sense in spring and autumn. July and August nights average 22°C, so heavy evening clothing is unlikely to be useful for the typical conditions.
Which months are best for avoiding rain?
July is the driest choice, with an average of 0 rain days, while June and August each average 1. That makes summer the easiest period for outdoor plans with little rain disruption. May and September offer a compromise if you also want lower daytime temperatures.
See also: Spain weather by month · where else is hot in August
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. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 5 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