Is AC necessary in Bilbao in August?
 

Hello everyone,
we're planning to stay in Bilbao during last week of August.
I already booked a hotel with AC, but then started viewing apartments for rent. A few of them look quite amazing, in interesting historic buildings, fully renovated, with great views. In terms of space and amenities they normally offer more than hotels for the same price with one exception, almost none of them has AC.

So is AC really necessary in the end of August? I know that it depends, but based on historical averages how likely it is that AC will be needed?

Thanks a lot.

I guess it depends on where you will be staying in Bilbao, and what you are used to. I would want it at most locations. And yes, it can be hot in August, but with low humidity, which makes a difference.

Most apartments would not have a/c

If you want it you would pretty much have to stay in a modern hotel. The main issue for me is it doesn't cool down enough at night to sleep comfortably.

I live in Bilbao and I know of nobody with A/C at home, we are lucky that it rarely gets too hot in summer and rarely too cold in winter, it´s what we call continental weather. August is the warmest month of the year, but everybody carries a sweater at night, just in case...

Have been in the area in summer most years since the late 1980's and never even thought of AC, but August can of course be hot, weather statistics for late August says average highs around 80F. (wetteronline.de)

You can easily look up historical statistical weather data if that's what you want to know. You would know whether a certain temp is when you like AC or not. Why ask someone else when this is just a personal preference? Do you think random comments on Fodors are more accurate than actual statistical facts?

http://www.holiday-weather.com/bilbao/averages/

Personally, I don't know why someone would say it is "necessary."

Here's the one key element Christina's averages chart LEAVES OUT: the average HUMIDITY and it is that which is going to make having A/C an issue IMO.

If A/C "isn't necessary" then why do hotels in that city have it? Why don't all of them have it or not have it? If it weren't necessary then every visitor would get there and agree and they obviously don't. Hotels are not in the habit of spending money on things which are not necessary.

Thanks everyone who responded to my question.
So it sounds like there is a rather small but not negligible chance that I'd need an A/C.

Low humidity is certainly a factor, a huge one - I live in NYC and in August an air conditioner is a must, even when the temperature is in low 80's.
Average also just give you a part of the picture, how often and how far above averages the temperature could rise is another unknown.

So if I don't get a top floor, I should probably be ok with an apartment in August. Perhaps, if I absolutely love a listing and the price is right, I'm going to switch to an apartment.

If you're on the top floor, you can always open the window and let the breeze in!

Dukey1, modern hotels offer, in the same conditioning system, cold and warm air. I mean, they adapt the temperature of their rooms to the external climatic conditions. And if they want to be recognized under a certain category, they do have to offer this air conditioning system. I live in Bilbao. Probably less than 1% of the population in Bilbao has an air conditioning system at home (and maybe less than 0,5%), but everyone has some kind of heating system. Why? Because temperatures may be very high a maximum of one or two weeks per year, and because most houses (apartments) have a central heating system or an individual gas heating system. But the investment in an air conditioning system is seen as a waste of money, for just one or two weeks per year. August is normally the hottest month of the year, but it also may be chilly and rainy (weather is highly unpredictable over here and it rains 50% of the days of the year). We´ve been in the 90s in December and in March and in the 60s in July and August...So, answering the question, would I need AC in an apartment in Bilbao? No, as a general, non scientific answer.