Andalucia in December
 

I'd like to make a trip to Andalucia this year, eight days flying in and out of Malaga. Is there a pretty good chance that the weather will be decent? I'm coming from Chicago, so I'm fine with fairly cool weather; I'm just wondering if it's likely to be rainy and gloomy the whole time. Also, if anyone can suggest a good itinerary I'd be grateful.

For historic climate data, check wunderground.com

With only 8 days, you will need to be selective. Granada's Alhambra and Cordoba's Mezquita are, of course, the gems of the area -- but none of us can say what YOU want to see and do.

I recommend that you consult some good guidebooks to decide what you want to do and then mark up a calendar. Note that many things in Spain are closed all day on Mondays and often part or much of Sundays, and many things will also close for a very long mid-day break.

Good luck!

I have said this oh so many times on here weather is unpredictable. Weather history charts show you the average of what has happened. They cannot give you facts of what is going to happen.
Plus our crystal balls have broken.


Hopefully, the mountains will have snow so that these areas can benefit from the boom in tourism this year too.

Weather statistics for Málaga in December says highs at 60-65F, average 5 hours sun/day and rainfall one in five days. (wetteronline.de). Could even be beach weather.

Málaga city itself is a gem and something special in December. http://www.spainforpleasure.com/2014...ime-in-malaga/
http://www.guidetomalaga.com/5-reaso...mas-in-malaga/

3000 year old Málaga is the major museum city in Andalucía, a fabulous food and bar scene and historic sights right in the city center (the Roman theater, the Moorish Palace fortress, the huge 16th century cathedral etc. etc.). https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga
http://www.malagaturismo.com/en/

This guide to the city is the best and very updated: http://www.guidetomalaga.com/

Málaga is a great base for exploring the region. 90 minutes by ALSA bus to Granada, 50 minutes to Córdoba - once the most advanced city in the Western world - with the high speed AVE train, and less than two hours to Sevilla - the undisputed queen of the cities in Andalucía - by train.

You are also only a short train or bus ride from Antequera, the so called heart of Andalucía. http://wild-about-travel.com/2011/07...ing-antequera/

IN A WORD, YES, THE WEATHER IS LIKELY TO BE DECENT, CERTAINLY BETTER THAN CHICAGO'S.

Cap locks?
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...0247cb9a1a.jpg

I see that you are a new poster, sfdchicago -- welcome to Fodor's!

FWIW, I encourage you to ignore ribeirasacra’s assumption that you don’t know that climate statistics can’t be used for precise predictions. (Unfortunately, he keeps making that ridiculously insulting assumption, even though some of us have tried to educate him.) At least you can see that others of us understand the value of historic information and/or generalizations and are happy to direct you to reasonable sources of relevant information.

What? Anyone who asks about the climate is well educated?
Climate guesses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0wk4qG2mIg

Do you not know the old saying?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lies,_...and_statistics

Of course it's a good question to ask if it's "likely to be rainy and gloomy the whole time" and a good answer in this case to say "no it's not, more likely fairly warm and sunny with the occasional shower" with reference to the relevant statistics. Very uninteresting discussion.

Hope the OP's planning works out fine, Andalucía is a fabulous part of the world! https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/places

Eight days here could even be the start of an adventure for a lifetime ;-)

>> Sevilla - the undisputed queen of the cities in Andalucía <<

Nothing is undisputed on this forum.

Not even the weather ;).

For my taste, Sevilla has been too much corrupted by mass tourism - to many tacky restaurants and souvenir stores in the Jewish Quarter. Cordoba is more authentic and its cathedral is - undisputed - way better than Sevilla's.

I agree that the Alhambra in Granada is Andalusia's best attraction.

And a final word about the weather: It will be much warmer than Chicago, however whether it rains or not, nobody can tell. And in December, the weather will definitly be better than from June to September when Andalusia is unbearably hot.

He-he, agree that the Santa Cruz district in Sevilla is tacky and that Córdoba is a fantastic city, at least outside the eaqually tacky area around the Mezquita/cathedral.

And when it comes to Sevilla in general and all the other Andalucian capitals, I think the poet Manuel Machado got it all perfectly right in his Canto a Andalucía/Song to Andalucía from 1936:

Cádiz, salt-laden brilliance. Granada,
hidden waters that weep.
Roman and Moorish, silent Córdoba.
Málaga, flamenco singer.
Almería, golden.
Jaén, silvery. Huelva, shore
of the three caravels.
And Sevilla...

the original:

Cádiz, salada claridad. Granada,
agua oculta que llora.
Romana y mora, Córdoba callada.
Málaga cantaora.
Almería, dorada.
Plateado, Jaén. Huelva, la orilla
de las tres carabelas.
Y Sevilla...

Thanks to all of you; this is very helpful and reassuring. I'm really looking forward to seeing Andalucia!