Your January weather guide
MildWeather in Malaga in January
Yes, Malaga in January makes sense for a mild city break, but not for a beach holiday. Daytime highs average 15.1°C, nights fall to around 9.5°C, and the sea is a cold 15°C. It suits travellers who want to spend time outdoors without summer heat and are happy to carry a jacket. The catch is that sunshine is not guaranteed, and evenings need warmer clothes rather than just an extra shirt.
Long-term climate averages for Málaga, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Malaga, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Málaga.
- Average daytime high
- 15.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 18°C
- Average night-time low
- 9.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 7°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +7.7°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sea temperature
- 15.0°C
- year to year: 15°C to 16°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.0h
- 51% of 9.8 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 57 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 76%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 23.0°C
- 2018-01-03
- Record low 1991-2020
- 2.5°C
- 2005-01-27
- 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 January compares
January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Malaga and ranks 69th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Spain it is 37th of 87 (Spain in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Malaga is 7.7°C warmer by day and 7.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Malaga peaks at 15.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 17.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 9.5°C; one night in ten drops to 7.0°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 23.0°C (2018-01-03) and the coldest night 2.5°C (2005-01-27).
Rain in January
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 57 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 1996 with 262 mm, the driest 2005 with 4 mm. Humidity averages 76%.
Sea temperature in January
The sea averages 15.0°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.5°C to 15.5°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (23.4°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:30 and sets about 18:24 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 49%.
Is January a good time to visit Malaga?
January is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Malaga on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Milder than London, but still winter
Malaga's average daytime high is 7.7°C above London's January average of 7.4°C, so the difference should feel useful rather than tropical. January is Malaga's coolest month, and even the warmer days are more suited to walking than lounging in swimwear. The warmest 10% of days reach 17.9°C or more, while the coldest 10% of nights drop to 7°C or below. Pack layers you can remove during the day, plus a jumper and jacket for evenings. There is no need to plan around intense midday heat; instead, use the warmer part of the day for longer stretches outdoors and keep extra clothing handy after sunset.
Plan for sunshine with interruptions
Expect about 5 hours of sunshine within 9.8 hours of daylight, leaving a useful window for outdoor plans without the long evenings of summer. Rain occurs on about 8 days during January, so a waterproof jacket is a sensible addition rather than a sign that the trip will be a washout. Keep your plans flexible enough to move a walk to a brighter spell instead of relying on every afternoon being dry. For time by the sea, think walking or sitting out when it feels comfortable, not a conventional swimming holiday. The water is cold, and mild air temperatures do not make it warm enough for a relaxed dip.
A little perspective
Malaga through the year
January 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+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuarySelected | 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.
Keep exploring
Similar in January
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Malaga in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Malaga hot in January?
Malaga is mild in January: the average daytime high is 15.1°C and nights average 9.5°C. Days over 25°C are rare in January.
Can you swim in the sea in Malaga in January?
The sea around Malaga averages 15.0°C in January, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 16°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Malaga in January?
Malaga sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 57 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 1996 (262 mm) and the driest was 2005 (4 mm).
How sunny is Malaga in January?
Malaga gets around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 9.8 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Malaga compare with the UK in January?
Malaga is on average 7.7°C warmer than London by day in January (15.1°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Malaga?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Malaga reached 23.0°C on 2018-01-03, and the coldest night dropped to 2.5°C on 2005-01-27.
Is Malaga warm enough for a beach holiday in January?
Not if your priority is sunbathing and comfortable swimming. The sea averages 15°C, with a year-to-year range of 14°C to 16°C, all classed as cold. January is better suited to spending time beside the water in layers than spending long periods in it.
Is January a good choice for a short break from the UK?
It can be, especially if mild weather matters more than heat. The flight from London takes about 2 h 48 min, making it a short-haul option. Go expecting outdoor time mixed with rain breaks, rather than guaranteed sunshine.
When should I go instead if I want warmer weather?
June, July and August are better choices for a warmer-weather trip and are Malaga's best-rated months overall. January suits travellers who prefer mild conditions, but it is the city's coolest month, so it is not the choice for dependable heat.
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