While northern European countries are plunged into a frigid lock-down for much of the winter, Spain benefits from a more diverse climate. Some regions remain temperate during winter with tourism friendly warmth. North of the Cantabrian Mountains, which run from the Pyrenees to Galicia, Decembers tend to be cold and wet, but the south’s Moorish heritage was in no small part nourished by benign, relatively dry winters. Visitors to Spain in December are not restricted to a "lite" version of the country and will have a chance to see many places at their best.
The tough, autonomous culture of northern Spain is partly molded by rugged winters, when the area from the Basque region to Galicia bears the full force of the cold northern air streams off the Bay of Biscay. The Pyrenees mountain range becomes an idyll for recreational skiers, and at the northern coastal ports of La Coruna, Santander and Gijon, all-important commercial fishing doesn't stop for 15 days of rain a month, temperatures as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit or frequent winter storms. For the casual tourist, the windswept north can provide an inspiring spectacle and a good excuse to warm up in a bar over a plate of local pintxo tapas.
The Spanish capital sits on top of the Meseta, a high central plateau with a relatively dry, crisp climate in winter -- a far cry from its sweltering summer temperatures. While it rarely snows in Madrid in December, temperatures can hover around the high 30s, with highs of 50 degrees. However, the skies remain relatively clear, with around 120 hours of sun for the month; rainfall is low, at barely 2 inches. Although the outdoor terrazas are closed and the bullfighting season is long over, visitors can enjoy one of the largest Christmas markets in Europe and tour the city sights without the crowds. Three hours from the capital, skiers can roam the pistes of the Puerto de Navacerrada mountains at 6,000 feet, where snow is guaranteed.
When the worst snowfall in 25 years hit Barcelona in 2010, it came in March. During December, the Catalonian capital is cool in the morning and has a good chance of mild sunny afternoons, with average temperatures in the high 50s. December is an ideal time, therefore, to explore the city’s numerous landmarks without the crowds. Down the Mediterranean coast, the resorts along the Costa Brava, Costa Dorada and Costa del Sol are closed for tourism, but Alicante functions as a winter resort -- it gets160 or so hours of sun and temperatures in the low 70s. Overall, the east coast’s Mediterranean climate is balmy, with light rainfall at most.
South of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada and Seville are almost unrecognizable in December from the shimmering furnaces they become during summer. Winter is one of the best times to explore these historic cities, as many city hotels slash their rates, and tourists are not forced to interrupt their itinerary on a daily basis to find a retreat from the heat. Granada can be crisp in winter, Cordoba dry and sunny, and Seville between 44 and 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Beach havens such as Malaga remain comfortably warm. Even if the sea is too cold, the golf courses are never closed for business.
