Sea Temperature In May In Barcelona – Swimming In May 2023
Average sea temperature in Barcelona in may 2023.
In may, according to seasonal norms, the sea temperature in Barcelona is:
Minimum:
14.8°C
Average:
18.2°C
Maximum:
21.4°C
Other useful seasonal weather averages in may:
- Outside temperature: 16.7°C to 21°C
- Most common weather: “Clear/Sunny“
- The wind blows at 17km/h
- It rains a total of 66mm, over 4 day(s).
Should we swim in Barcelona in may?
Yes… and no. The water temperature in Barcelona in may is cool
Swimming in may on the beaches of Barcelona is possible but the sea water is cool. So even though the sea temperature sometimes climbs to 21.4°C, it can also be as low as 14.8°C! Note that the average is 18.2°C.
Note also that in may, the climate is perfect with an average outside temperature of 18. 87°C, 65.02mm of precipitation (over 4 days) and 73.67 % humidity.
Water and normal seasonal temperatures in Barcelona in may
| April | May | June | |||
| Average sea temperature | 15°C | 18.2°C | 21.8°C | ||
| Minimum sea temperature | 12.7°C | 14.8°C | 18.4°C | ||
| Maximum sea temperature | 17.3°C | 21.4°C | 25.7°C | ||
| Average outside temperature | 16°C | 19°C | 24°C | ||
| Maximum outside temperature | 18°C | 22°C | 26°C | ||
| Minimum outside temperature | 13°C | 17°C | 22°C | ||
| Wind speed | 18km/h | 18km/h | 17km/h | ||
| Wind temperature | 13°C | 17°C | 22°C | ||
| Precipitation | 98mm | 66mm | 55mm | ||
| Number of days of rain | 5 jour(s) (18%) |
4 jour(s) (13%) |
3 jour(s) (11%) |
||
| Humidity | 78% | 74% | 71% | ||
| Visibility in kilometers | 9. 59km |
9.75km | 9.82km | ||
| Cloud cover | 32% | 24% | 18% | ||
| Our opinion | cold swimming | cool swimming | pleasant swimming |
Swim elsewhere in Spain in may
Swim in Spain in may: sea temperature by city
Spain in May: Travel Tips, Weather & More
Weather
In most areas of Spain, May means the sun is now officially the rule rather than the exception. This is particularly true in Barcelona, which enjoys delicious averages of 68°F (20°C). You’ll also find pleasant weather in the islands and other coastal resort areas. Average high temperatures in Mallorca (72°F/22°C), Canary Islands (74°F/23°), Ibiza (72°F/22°C), and Marbella (76°F/24°C) can indeed be high, but often they hover in the high 60s (Fahrenheit).
For those arriving and spending time in Madrid, highs are a pleasant 72°F (22°C), with lows occasionally dipping below 50°F (10°C) at night. Spain’s northern Atlantic coast and Basque Country is a bit chillier, with highs around 66°F (18°F) and lows in the low 50s (Fahrenheit). Regardless of where you visit in Spain, though, May is a good month to start enjoying some fun in the sun.
Crowds & Costs
May is the last month to take advantage of lower airfares before the summer prices kick into high gear. Discounts on hotels in the more popular destinations like Barcelona and Madrid will be negligible due to the pleasant weather and the proximity of May to summer. For the reasons stated above, visitors will be starting to arrive in places like Barcelona and Madrid, but the crowds won’t be as thick as you can count on in June to August.
Where to Go
May is a great month to visit Madrid because it’s right before the time when summer heatwaves make a visit to the capital an endurance test rather than a pleasant vacation.
Take advantage of the more moderate weather and plan some outdoor activities, be it a walking/cycling/segway tour of the city, visiting the Prado Museum, strolling the famous El Retiro Park, a “secret” foodie tour of local markets/tapas bars, or perhaps a day trip to the rock formations at Cuenca and the Enchanted City.
Also, if you’re in Madrid during the middle of the month, be sure to attend the Festival of San Isidro (more on this below), which features a dizzying array of events and parties. Aside from that, you can’t go wrong heading for the Mediterranean coast. Everywhere from Barcelona down to Málaga and Cádiz in the Andalusia region will be ripe for fun in the sun due to the pleasant weather.
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What to Do
May might be the month of most controversy, as mid-May officially kicks off bullfighting season.
Whether you view these contests as a cultural touchstone or a relic of barbarism from a bygone age, bullfighting, for the moment, does still exist in this country (although it’s been outlawed in Barcelona). Travelers with an interest in Hemingway’s Spain can attend weekly bullfighting events in Madrid (at the Plaza de Toros) and Andalusia (in the cities of Málaga and Ronda, among others), and Valencia (at the Plaza de Toros).
For a different kind of culture, you could opt for a food tour of the country. Like Italy and France, Spain is a nation that puts a premium on cuisine, and its gastronomy has become the stuff of legend. After enjoying the food in Madrid, you could head to the Mediterranean coast and partake of the tapas culture in the Andalusia region as well as in Barcelona. You should also visit the coastal city of Valencia, which is the birthplace of Spain’s most famous dish, paella.
Then there’s what many view as the Holy Grail of food destinations in Spain: San Sebastián.
This historic city on the northern Atlantic coast is famous for pintxos, which are tapas-like small plates and single bites that you can find in various bars and cafés here. Walk into any of these eateries in San Sebastián’s historic center and simply point at the morsels that strike your fancy, and you’ll be living the gastronomic dream in no time.
Events in May
Festival of San Isidro, Madrid. The 15 of May kicks off this raucous festival celebrating the patron saint of the city of Madrid. Over a week of festivities, local Madrileños don traditional garb and dance the chotis, a 19th-century hybrid ballroom dance popularized in Madrid. Needless to say, there’s copious drinking, dancing, and general merrymaking.
Traveling to Spain in May? Check out these great itineraries
Best of Barcelona & Ibiza – 8 Days. This eight-day itinerary is an ideal Mediterranean holiday that takes advantage of May’s pleasant weather.
Kick off the trip in Barcelona and then jet off to Ibiza for five days of white-sand beaches and sparkling seas.
Highlights of Spain’s Capital & Andalusia – 10 Days. Start in the capital city with a walking tour, then make your way south with a stop in Cordoba, followed by the cultural scene of Seville. Madrid is a great destination if you’re going to be in Spain during the Festival of San Isidro.
More Helpful Information
Spain in April
Spain in June
Best Time of Year to Visit Spain
How Many Days to Spend in Spain
Weather in Barcelona for May 2023 ⋆ Weather forecast for Barcelona for the month of May ⇒ (Spain)
- 30 days
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec to
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
May 1
+20° +12°
May 2
+21° +13°
May 3
+20° +12°
May 4
+20° +12°
May 5
+21° +13°
May 6
+21° +13°
May 7
+21° +14°
May 8
+22° +14°
May 9
+22° +15°
May 10
+23° +15°
May 11
+23° +14°
May 12
+22° +14°
May 13
+21° +14°
May 14
+21° +14°
May 15
+22° +13°
May 16
+21° +14°
May 17
+21° +13°
May 18
+22° +14°
May 19
+21° +15°
May 20
+21° +14°
May 21
+22° +14°
May 22
+24° +14°
May 23
+24° +14°
May 24
+23° +15°
May 25
+24° +15°
May 26
+24° +16°
May 27
+23° +16°
May 28
+23° +16°
May 29
+24° +16°
May 30
+23° +16°
May 31
+25° +16°
June 1st
+25° +17°
June 2
+24° +16°
June 3
+24° +17°
June 4
+24° +17°
* Forecast based on historical data for 70 years
Max.
temperature
+34.3°C
Min. temperature
+5.8°C
Monthly precipitation
48.7mm
Wind speed
25.48m/s
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Max. temp…
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Min. temp…
26 April 19:45
26 April 19:00
26 April 16:00
26 April 15:00
26 April 12:03
26 April 11:23
26 April 10:30
All news
Madrid
+19°
Barcelona
+17°
La Coruna
+14°
Valencia
+16°
Seville
+18°
Zaragoza
+21°
Malaga
+21°
Murcia
+17°
Palma de Mallorca
+16°
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
+22°
Bilbao
+15°
Alicante
+18°
Cordova
+22°
Valladolid
+15°
Vigo
+15°
Gijón
+16°
Hospitalet de Llobrega
+17°
Vitoria
+13°
Granada
+20°
Elche
+18°
All cities
is it possible to swim, how to dress, weather and other
If you decide to go to Barcelona for the May holidays, then you should hurry up with buying tickets and a hotel.
Because this is one of the best times to visit this city of the year.
Weather
Warm, cool weather during the day, light coolness in the evening, lots of sun and rare rains – this weather is the best suited for relaxing on the beach, where there are no crowds of tourists yet and you can already sunbathe, and for exploring the city. The only but significant drawback of the month will be the cool sea, so for those who cannot imagine their vacation without swimming, it is better to wait until the summer.
May is characterized by changeable weather. At the beginning of the month, the daily air temperature is +19˚С, and at the end it is warmed up to +21˚С. Frequent and sharp drops in temperature to +13˚С, as well as increases to +24˚С. Fortunately, such temperature fluctuations do not last long, and after a day or two the thermometer begins to rise again.
The average night temperature does not exceed +14˚С. Compared to the heat of the day, this temperature regime is quite cool, therefore, when preparing your wardrobe for a trip, you should take into account the weather.
The water in the sea off the coast of Barcelona is gradually warming up under the rays of the warm sun, which is more every day. If in the first days of the month the water temperature barely reaches +16˚С, then by the middle it rises by 1-2˚С. People often ask if it is possible to swim in May in Barcelona? But it is difficult to answer this question unambiguously. In a normal spring in early May, the water is still frankly cold, but by the middle of the month it is quite possible to take a dip after sunbathing on the beach. But, if April was abnormally warm, then the locals begin to swim by the middle of the month. Of course, the time spent in water will not be long, but there will be no harm to health from such water. It is believed that at a water temperature of 18 degrees you can swim with restrictions.
This is how the beach in Barcelona looks like at the end of May
How to dress
At the beginning of the month, the weather can still throw unpleasant surprises, but you definitely shouldn’t bring warm clothes with you.
Rather, on the contrary, you need to make sure that you do not look like a pair of polar bears if the sun starts to bake like summer. It will not be superfluous to take a light jacket and a long-sleeved shirt with you. Just in case, put light shorts, breeches and T-shirts in your suitcase.
You can also take your swimsuit and swimming trunks with you, because even at the beginning of the month you will be able to sunbathe on the beach.
Airfare prices
As the tourist season begins, airfare prices begin to rise. So the cost of direct flights has almost doubled (87%), and flights with 2 transfers by 23%, when compared with the prices of the beginning of spring. On the other hand, despite the May holidays, prices will remain the same throughout the month.
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Calendar of events
You definitely won’t go wrong coming here for the May holidays. The calendar of events is usually very intense and interesting.