Things to Do in Spain in October
October weather, activities, events & insider tips
October Weather in Spain
Is October Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing drops accommodation costs by 20-35% compared to summer peaks, while most attractions stay open with full services. Hotels in Barcelona and Madrid that run €200+ in August drop to €130-160 in October.
- Temperature sweet spot for walking cities - 22°C (72°F) highs mean you can comfortably explore Toledo's hills or Granada's Alhambra without the exhausting 35°C+ (95°F+) heat that makes midday sightseeing miserable in summer. Mornings start cool at 11°C (52°F), perfect for hiking.
- Harvest season brings wine regions to life with vendimia festivals, fresh olive oil pressing, and mushroom foraging season in northern regions. La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Priorat wineries offer harvest experiences you cannot get any other time of year.
- Beach towns empty out after mid-October but weather stays warm enough for swimming on southern coasts - Málaga and Alicante still hit 24°C (75°F) water temperature while crowds disappear. You'll actually get a table at beachfront restaurants without reservations.
Considerations
- Atlantic coast gets genuinely rainy - San Sebastian and Galicia see 100-120 mm (4-5 inches) of rainfall with grey skies that can last days. If your trip centers on northern Spain, October brings the kind of persistent drizzle that ruins outdoor plans.
- Daylight shrinks fast throughout the month - sunset moves from 8pm early October to 6:30pm by month's end. This cuts into evening sightseeing time and means you're eating dinner in darkness, which changes the vibe considerably compared to long summer evenings.
- Unpredictable temperature swings between regions - you might need a winter coat in the Pyrenees (5°C/41°F mornings) and shorts in Seville (26°C/79°F) on the same trip. Packing becomes complicated if you're covering multiple regions.
Best Activities in October
Rioja and Ribera del Duero Wine Harvest Experiences
October is vendimia season when wineries actually harvest grapes, and many open their doors for grape-stomping, barrel tastings of new vintage, and harvest meals. The weather in La Rioja sits at perfect 18-20°C (64-68°F) - warm enough to walk vineyard rows comfortably but cool enough that you're not sweating through wine cellar tours. Mid-October is peak harvest for Tempranillo grapes. The landscape turns golden and rust-colored, completely different from the green summer vines.
Alhambra and Andalusian Palace Tours
Granada in October means exploring the Alhambra complex without the brutal heat that makes the exposed Generalife gardens miserable in summer. Morning temperatures around 12°C (54°F) climb to comfortable 21°C (70°F) by midday - ideal for the 3-4 hours you need to properly see Nasrid Palaces and grounds. Afternoon light at this time of year hits the palace walls at angles that make the tile work absolutely glow. Crowds thin out after mid-October when school groups disappear.
Camino de Santiago Hiking Routes
October is actually the best month for walking the Camino - summer heat breaks, pilgrims thin out after September rush, and northern Spain gets those crisp clear days between rain systems. The final 100 km (62 miles) from Sarria to Santiago takes 5-6 days and October temperatures of 15-18°C (59-64°F) are perfect for 20-25 km (12-16 mile) daily walks. Autumn colors hit the Galician forests. Yes, you will get rain - pack for it - but albergues are less crowded and you can actually find beds without booking ahead.
Madrid and Barcelona Food Market Tours
October brings autumn produce to Spanish markets - wild mushrooms from Catalonia, chestnuts, first truffles, and game meats appear at stalls in Mercado de San Miguel and La Boqueria. The weather makes walking food tours actually pleasant - you're not melting between stops. Morning market tours 9-11am catch vendors at peak activity and temperatures still cool at 14°C (57°F). This is when locals shop, not the tourist-only afternoon hours.
Picos de Europa Mountain Hiking
The Picos de Europa in northern Spain offer spectacular hiking when October weather cooperates - and you're gambling a bit with Atlantic weather systems. But when you get those clear days between storms, the mountains are stunning with autumn colors and snow dusting peaks above 2,000 m (6,562 ft). The Cares Gorge trail (12 km/7.5 miles) is the most accessible route and October temperatures of 10-16°C (50-61°F) are perfect for this moderate hike. Summer crowds completely disappear.
Seville and Córdoba Cultural Walking
Southern Andalusia in October finally becomes walkable after months of heat that makes midday exploration genuinely unpleasant. Seville's temperature drops from summer's 38°C (100°F) to manageable 24°C (75°F), meaning you can actually enjoy walking the Barrio Santa Cruz labyrinth or climbing the Giralda tower without feeling like you might pass out. Córdoba's Mezquita and Jewish Quarter are the same story - October makes these cities accessible. Late afternoon light 5-7pm is magical on the whitewashed walls.
October Events & Festivals
Fiesta Nacional de España
Spain's national day on October 12 features military parades in Madrid and closures across the country. Not a tourist-focused event, but worth knowing everything shuts down - banks, shops, many restaurants. Locals treat it as a long weekend if it falls mid-week, so expect domestic travel crowds around this date.
Festa da Filloa in Galicia
Throughout October, various Galician towns celebrate chestnut and filloa (thin crepe) festivals tied to autumn harvest. These are genuinely local events, not tourist productions - expect roasted chestnuts, local wine, and traditional music in town squares. Dates vary by municipality but concentrate mid to late October.
Autumn Wine Harvest Festivals
Multiple wine regions hold harvest celebrations throughout October - La Rioja's Haro wine festival, Jerez sherry harvest events, and smaller bodega celebrations. These vary year to year and by harvest timing, but if you're visiting wine country in October, ask locally about vendimia celebrations happening during your dates.