June - July

High season begins in early June for most of the country except for the northwest and the central parts of the country, which will still be in the shoulder season for a few weeks. The entire country will be in the high season by the beginning of July. Accommodations will become booked far in advance, so be sure to choose your ideal hotel far enough in advance to book it. Prices will increase for accommodations up to 50% in many locations since it is the high season. Lines can be seen at many popular attractions across the country; it is advised to either arrive at the beginning or end of the day if there is a point of interest you really must see.

Dry conditions will be seen across the country, although the south will become more humid as June turns into July. Highs in Bilbao will average in the mid-70s, with lows in the upper 50s to around 60. Barcelona will warm into the mid and upper 80s, with lows in the mid-60s to around 70. Madrid`s average highs will be in the 80s to near 90, with lows in the low to mid 60s. Valencia`s highs average in the low 80s in June and mid-80s in July, with lows in the upper 60s to near 70. Seville`s highs will start out in the 80s and will rise rapidly to the upper 90s by July, with lows in the 60s. Gran Canaria`s highs will be in the upper 60s and low 70s with lows around 60. Temperatures can, and many times do, become hotter than what is outlined, so be prepared for very warm weather in many locales.

Holidays and Festivals:

May or June - Pentecost (Pentecostés) and Whit Monday (Lunes de Pentecostés), expect closures in Barcelona.

June - Corpus Christi (Corpus Cristi), a celebration of the eucharist, is celebrated across the country with processions and other church functions. Coincides with Féria celebrations in Granada and the La Patum de Berga dance and firework celebration in Barcelona. Closures may occur in Madrid and Castile-La Mancha.

Early June - Uva Festival, a contemporary art, music and culture festival held in Ronda with the town`s legendary cliffs serving as a backdrop.

June 9 - Regional Day (Murcia) (Día de la Región de Murcia), commemorating the granting of autonomy to the Region of Murcia on this day in 1982. (Public holiday in the Region of Murcia)

June 9 - Regional Day (La Rioja) (Día de La Rioja), commemorating the granting of autonomy to the La Rioja region on this day in 1982. (Public holiday in La Rioja)

June 13 - St. Anthony`s Day (San Antonio), honoring St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of Ceuta. (Public holiday in Ceuta)

Early to mid-June - El Rocío pilgrimage (Romería de El Rocío) to the Hermitage of El Rocío in Almonte, Huelva, Andalusia, to view the sacred 13th-century likeness of the Virgen del Rocío.

Mid-June - Sónar Festival, a popular electronic music festival held in Barcelona.

Late June - Bonfires of San Juan (Hogueras de San Juan), a festival celebrating Midsummer. The most famous bonfires are set alight in Alicante, Valencian Community.

Late June - Azkena Rock Festival (Azkena Rock jaialdiaren in Basque), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country. Past headliners include Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins, Blondie, and The Who.

Late June - Festival of St. John the Baptist (San Juan el Bautista), considered an unofficial `national day` in Catalonia. The day is celebrated there with fireworks and other celebrations and you will see many closures in this region on this day.

Late June to early July - Granada International Festival of Music and Dance (Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada), with performing arts concerts held in the legendary Alhambra.

Late June to early July - Madrid Orgullo LGBT Pride Festival, the largest such festival in Spain. The parade is held on the final Saturday of the event.

Late June - Battle of Wine (La Batalla del Vino), Haro, La Rioja, where participants throw wine on one another to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Peter.

Early to mid-July - Running of the Bulls (Fiesta de San Fermín), Pamplona. Perhaps Spain`s most famous cultural celebration, it is definitely not for the faint of heart!

Mid-July - Jazz de Vitoria-Gasteiz, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, one of the longest-running jazz festivals in Spain.

Mid-July - Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, a pop, rock and electronic music festival held in Benicàssim, Valencian Community.

July 25 - Galician National Day (Día da Patria Galega in Galician), commemorating the first meeting of Galician nationalists in Santiago de Compostela in 1919. Coincides with the Feast Day of St. James (San Jaime). (Public holiday in Galicia, some closures in the Basque Country and in other locations across Spain as well)

July 28 - Institutions Day (Cantabria), commemorating the creation of the province of Cantabria on this day in 1778. (Día de las Instituciones de Cantabria) (Closures in Cantabria)

July 29 - Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme, As Neves, Galicia. Called the `festival of near-death experiences`, it features a morbid `coffin parade` to honor the people who survived a brush with death in the past year.