Your January weather guide
CoolWeather in Marbella in January
Marbella in January suits a break from the UK winter, but not a holiday built around heat or swimming. Average daytime highs are about 15°C, with nights around 9°C and about 9 rainy days during the month. Go for time outdoors when the weather allows, with layers and flexible plans. It is a reasonable choice if mild afternoons matter more than beach weather; less so if you want dependable warmth and dry days.
Long-term climate averages for Marbella, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Marbella, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Marbella.
- Average daytime high
- 14.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 17°C
- Average night-time low
- 9.1°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 6°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +7.3°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sea temperature
- 15.3°C
- year to year: 15°C to 16°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.3h
- 54% of 9.8 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 9
- 83 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 77%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 20.7°C
- 2019-01-25
- Record low 1991-2020
- 1.1°C
- 2009-01-10
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 48 min
- 1669 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 Marbella and ranks 73rd of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Spain it is 46th of 87 (Spain in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Marbella is 7.3°C warmer by day and 6.9°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Marbella peaks at 14.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 17.3°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 9.1°C; one night in ten drops to 6.4°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 20.7°C (2019-01-25) and the coldest night 1.1°C (2009-01-10).
Rain in January
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 9 days with 1 mm or more, 83 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 1996 with 364 mm, the driest 2005 with 6 mm. Humidity averages 77%.
Sea temperature in January
The sea averages 15.3°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.8°C to 15.7°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (22.4°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:31 and sets about 18:26 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 46%.
Is January a good time to visit Marbella?
January is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Marbella on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Milder than London, but still winter
Marbella's average daytime high is 7.3°C above London's January figure, so the difference is meaningful without making it feel like summer. January is Marbella's coldest month, and a warm-weather wardrobe alone will not do. The warmer days reach 17.3°C or more, which can suit sitting outside with a layer handy, but colder nights fall to 6.4°C or below. Pack long trousers, a jumper and a jacket rather than relying on shorts and light tops. Keep evenings in mind when choosing clothes: the daytime high is not a guide to how comfortable you will feel after dark. This suits travellers happy with mild rather than hot conditions.
Plan around sunshine, not guaranteed dry weather
January is wet enough that an outdoor-only itinerary is a gamble. About 9 days bring measurable rain, so carry a waterproof jacket and leave room to move outdoor plans around. That does not mean every day is grey: average sunshine is about 5.3 hours within 9.8 hours of daylight. Use brighter spells for walks and time outside, rather than assuming the whole afternoon will stay dry. The shorter daylight window also makes it sensible to put your main outdoor plans earlier in the day. If rain would spoil the purpose of your trip, January is a less suitable choice than its milder temperatures alone might suggest.
A little perspective
Marbella 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 | 14.7°C | 9.1°C | 15.3°C | 5.3 | 83 | 9 | 0% |
| February | 15.2°C | 9.4°C | 14.8°C | 6.0 | 72 | 8 | 0% |
| March | 16.9°C | 10.8°C | 15.2°C | 6.4 | 78 | 8 | 0% |
| April | 18.6°C | 12.3°C | 15.8°C | 7.4 | 55 | 7 | 0% |
| May | 21.5°C | 14.9°C | 17.1°C | 8.8 | 32 | 5 | 9% |
| Junebest | 25.3°C | 18.3°C | 18.9°C | 11.6 | 8 | 1 | 53% |
| Julybest | 28.2°C | 21.0°C | 21.1°C | 13.0 | 1 | 0 | 94% |
| Augustbest | 28.5°C | 21.6°C | 22.4°C | 11.3 | 4 | 1 | 97% |
| September | 25.4°C | 19.1°C | 21.0°C | 8.4 | 31 | 4 | 58% |
| October | 21.7°C | 16.1°C | 19.2°C | 6.1 | 81 | 8 | 9% |
| November | 17.7°C | 12.4°C | 17.2°C | 5.4 | 94 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 15.4°C | 10.4°C | 15.9°C | 4.6 | 115 | 9 | 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
Marbella in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Marbella hot in January?
Marbella is cool in January: the average daytime high is 14.7°C and nights average 9.1°C. Days over 25°C are rare in January.
Can you swim in the sea in Marbella in January?
The sea around Marbella averages 15.3°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 Marbella in January?
Marbella sees about 9 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 83 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 1996 (364 mm) and the driest was 2005 (6 mm).
How sunny is Marbella in January?
Marbella gets around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 9.8 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Marbella compare with the UK in January?
Marbella is on average 7.3°C warmer than London by day in January (14.7°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Marbella?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Marbella reached 20.7°C on 2019-01-25, and the coldest night dropped to 1.1°C on 2009-01-10.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in January?
The sea averages 15.3°C, which is cold rather than comfortably swimmable. Do not choose January for relaxed sea swimming. If you enjoy a cold dip, that is a different proposition, but mild air does not mean warm water.
When should I go instead for a warmer holiday?
July, August and June are Marbella's strongest months overall for holiday weather. January is its coldest month, so choose those warmer months if heat is central to your plans. January makes more sense when you are content with cool conditions and some rain.
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 Marbella. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.6 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