Things to Do in Spain in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Spain
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak festival season across Spain - August brings massive celebrations like La Tomatina in Buñol (last Wednesday), Feria de Málaga (mid-month), and countless local fiestas patronales. You'll experience Spain at its most celebratory, with street parties, fireworks, and processions happening almost daily somewhere in the country.
- Extended daylight hours until 21:30-22:00 (9:30-10:00 PM) means you can pack more into each day. Museums stay open later, evening paseos stretch well into twilight, and you can actually finish a proper Spanish dinner and still catch sunset from a rooftop bar.
- Northern Spain becomes genuinely pleasant - while everyone obsesses over Barcelona and Madrid, the Basque Country, Asturias, and Galicia hit their sweet spot with temperatures around 24-26°C (75-79°F), minimal crowds compared to the south, and local festivals celebrating cider, seafood, and wine harvests.
- Beach culture is in full swing with chiringuitos (beach bars) operating at peak capacity, water temperatures reaching 24-26°C (75-79°F) in the Mediterranean, and that distinctly Spanish beach vibe where families set up for the entire day with coolers, umbrellas, and portable radios playing reggaeton.
Considerations
- Most of Spain essentially closes for vacation - locals take their annual holidays in August, which means many family-run restaurants, shops, and businesses shut down for 2-4 weeks. Madrid particularly empties out, and you'll find shuttered storefronts with handwritten signs saying 'cerrado por vacaciones' throughout the month.
- Extreme heat in central and southern Spain makes midday exploration genuinely uncomfortable. Seville, Córdoba, and Granada regularly hit 38-42°C (100-108°F), and the sun is relentless. Air conditioning in older buildings struggles to keep up, and you'll find yourself planning your entire day around siesta hours.
- Accommodation prices spike 40-60% compared to shoulder seasons, and coastal destinations get packed with European families on summer holiday. Expect crowds at major attractions, beaches elbow-to-elbow by 11:00 AM, and restaurants requiring reservations even for lunch in popular areas.
Best Activities in August
Northern Coast Beach Town Exploration
August is actually ideal for the Costa Vasca and Asturian coastline where temperatures stay comfortable at 24-26°C (75-79°F) while the south bakes. The water is finally warm enough for proper swimming, and the famous pintxos bars in San Sebastián are less crowded than spring when food tourists descend. You'll catch local surf competitions and the tail end of bonito tuna season, which means incredibly fresh seafood.
Early Morning or Evening Alhambra and Andalusian Monument Visits
The Alhambra opens at 08:30, and booking the first slot means you'll tour the Nasrid Palaces before the heat becomes oppressive and before tour groups arrive around 10:00. Evening visits (available in August) let you experience the gardens as temperatures drop to 28-30°C (82-86°F) with incredible golden-hour lighting. The same strategy works for Seville's Real Alcázar and Córdoba's Mezquita.
Pyrenees Mountain Hiking and Village Exploration
August is prime hiking season in the Spanish Pyrenees when higher elevation trails at 1,800-2,500 m (5,900-8,200 ft) are finally snow-free and wildflowers peak. Temperatures at elevation stay around 18-22°C (64-72°F) even when valleys swelter. The GR11 trail sections near Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park offer spectacular day hikes, and mountain refugios operate full services with meals.
Late-Night Tapas and Wine Bar Crawls
Spanish dining culture peaks in August when dinner doesn't even start until 22:00-23:00 (10:00-11:00 PM) and bars stay packed until 02:00-03:00. The heat makes this schedule actually make sense - you'll understand why locals wait until the air cools to eat. Wine regions like La Rioja celebrate harvest preparation with wine festivals, and cities like Madrid and Barcelona have outdoor terrace scenes in full swing.
Island Beach Hopping in the Balearics
August brings the warmest Mediterranean water temperatures at 25-27°C (77-81°F), and the Balearic Islands hit their groove with beach clubs, boat parties, and cala (cove) exploration in full operation. Menorca's southern beaches offer turquoise water and white sand that rivals the Caribbean, while Formentera becomes the Spanish version of Ibiza but with 70% fewer people.
Festival and Fiesta Patronal Attendance
Nearly every Spanish town celebrates its patron saint in August with multi-day festivals featuring processions, concerts, bullfights, fireworks, and street parties. La Tomatina in Buñol (last Wednesday) is the famous one, but local fiestas like Feria de Málaga or the Semana Grande in Bilbao and San Sebastián offer more authentic experiences with free concerts, traditional dancing, and the whole town participating.
August Events & Festivals
La Tomatina
The world's biggest food fight happens in Buñol (30 km or 19 miles from Valencia) on the last Wednesday of August. Around 20,000 people hurl 150,000 kg (330,000 lbs) of overripe tomatoes at each other for exactly one hour starting at 11:00. It's chaotic, messy, and you'll be finding tomato seeds in your ears for days, but it's genuinely one of Spain's most unique experiences. Arrive the night before as trains from Valencia get packed.
Semana Grande (Aste Nagusia) in Bilbao and San Sebastián
Both Basque cities celebrate their biggest festivals of the year in August with nine days of concerts, fireworks competitions, traditional Basque sports like stone lifting and wood chopping, and all-night street parties. San Sebastián's version features the International Fireworks Competition where countries compete with 20-minute pyrotechnic shows over La Concha Bay. Completely free and the entire city participates.
Feria de Málaga
Andalusia's biggest summer fair transforms Málaga for nine days with two distinct zones - daytime festivities in the historic center with free flamenco, and nighttime at the fairground with casetas (marquee tents), rides, and dancing until dawn. Unlike Seville's April Fair, Málaga's casetas are open to everyone, not private. You'll see locals in traditional flamenco dresses, drink rebujito (sherry and lemonade), and eat pescaíto frito (fried fish) until you can't move.