Although the widespread image of Spain is a land of sun, heat and blue skies, in fact the Spanish climate is as varied as its geography and its people. Most parts of the country enjoy a temperate Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and lower, but not extreme, winter temperatures. Spain sees over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, and some regions have around 300 days of sunshine a year, making it one of the hottest countries in Europe. Due to their unique location off the coast of Africa, the Canary Islands offer a mild climate (average temperatures around 22º C), without significant seasonal differences.

The great physical diversity of Spain produces a great variety of climates. On the Cantabrian coast, in the north, you will find a warm, humid climate, with less extreme summers and mild winters. In the rest of the country the climate is more severe, with hot, dry summers and cold winters. In the south of the peninsula, temperatures are mild during the winter months, and high during the summer, reaching around 40 degrees centigrade.

In Spain, dress varies depending on the season. In the coastal areas, due to the mild climate, warm clothes are not usually necessary. Inland, though, clothes must be chosen according to the season as temperatures tend to vary more and it is usually cold in winter and hot in summer.