Hi guys. We are in the final stages of planning 10 days to see Seville/Granada/Cadiz and 4 days in Munich. We can not decide if we do it in May or September. Weather is the primary issue. Like everyone else, we would like to get great weather but too much sun wears us out as well.

We simply love to fly into Europe every year with no real agenda except to walk around, do a convenient day trip if any, eat, and wonder each day aimlessly.

All opinions appreciated.

I should think that what would determine your time to go would be whether you wanted to attend Octoberfest or not since it begins in Sept. I'm not a kraut lover so I wouldn't go there at all, not any place at any time. And, I'd go to Spain in May. Lots going on there at that time, and the weather is good.

May - Sep- little difference I think except longer days in May and flowers are fresher.

September in Munich? As in Oktoberfest or before that starts?

from what I read, the weather is at its best in sept and October with lesser tourist presence
. sorry fellow tourist.

May is serious festival time in Andalucía, spring is here and the summer heat is normally some weeks away. September is also a great time of year to go, but expect higher temperatures. http://www.andalucia.com/festival/monthlyguide-may.htm

And Córdoba in May is something very special: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/festivals.htm

Munich is nice in Sept or May and has much more to offer than sauerkraut Bedar. Oktoberfest is a consideration for flights and room rates. Saturday, September 16 is the opening day for 2017.
Cooler temps in May for Spain. I love May for the longer days.

thanks everyone for your thoughts

Oktoberfest 2017 runs from Sept. 16 to Oct. 3. Although I like sauerkraut and sausage, I'm not into swilling beer or crowds.

September is late summer (until 21st) and tends to be a bunch warmer than May.
I'd vote for May - new blooms, new green, smaller crowds, nice long days already - Sevilla in mid-May sunrise 07:15 sunset 21:30 (which is odd since Spain should really be in the Western time zone but isn't, thanks (?) to Franco), in Munich it's 05:30 to 20:45 or so.

Personally, I'd give serious consideration to May -- more flowers; longer daylight hours; better average temperatures (by my standards); and at the start of / early in the season, so those in the tourism industry are happy to see you, rather than ready to end their time with tourists.

But check for special events and other relevant considerations before deciding.

Sept in Andalucia can still be toasty hot at times.

I love Oktoberfest, everyone needs to go once or twice or three times.