Marbella weather by month

When to go to Marbella

For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: June, July, August, September. December is the wettest month (115 mm, about 9 rainy days) and July the driest (1 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 22.4°C and coolest in February at 14.8°C.

Getting there

A direct flight from London Gatwick to Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP, 39 km from Marbella) 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 Marbella between 1991 and 2020 reached 39.8°C on 2 August 2020; the coldest fell to 1.1°C on 10 January 2009. In August one day in ten tops 31.5°C and about 22% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 6.4°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was December 1996 with 441 mm, against a December average of 115 mm.

Winter: mild afternoons, but pack for rain

From November into winter, plan around the warmer part of the day rather than expecting beach weather. November still averages 18°C in the afternoon, but nights at 12°C make a jacket useful. December turns cooler and wetter, so leave room to move outdoor plans around showers. January and February both average 15°C by day and 9°C at night: comfortable enough for a walk with suitable layers, but not reliably warm for sitting outside. February brings slightly more sunshine than January, though the sea remains chilly at 15°C. Bring closed shoes and a waterproof layer, and treat sunny afternoons as an opportunity rather than a certainty.

Spring: better for being outdoors than swimming

Spring is a gradual warm-up, not an immediate switch to summer. March averages 17°C by day, so light layers work better than packing only summer clothes. April reaches 19°C, making daytime walks more comfortable, although rain remains a consideration and evenings still call for a jacket. May is the stronger choice if you want warmth without the hottest afternoons: days average 22°C, with more sunshine and fewer rainy days than earlier in spring. The catch is the sea. Even in May it averages 17°C, so pleasant weather on land does not necessarily mean comfortable swimming. Choose spring for outdoor time rather than dependable beach-and-sea conditions.

Summer into autumn: choose sunshine or warmer water

June offers a useful balance: days average 25°C and rain is scarce, though the sea at 19°C can feel cool on entry. July has the most sunshine and is the driest month, making it the clearest choice for plans built around being outside. July and August both average 28°C by day, so shade and a slower pace make sense at midday. August has the warmest sea at 22°C, alongside warm nights. September eases back to 25°C while retaining sea warmth at 21°C, a good compromise for swimming without the highest daytime temperatures. October stays pleasant at 22°C by day, but rain becomes more frequent and evenings cool down. It suits flexible outdoor plans better than a holiday that depends on uninterrupted sunshine.