August - September

August is the final month of the high season for most of the country, except for Andalusia, where the warmer temperatures will extend the high season into September. By the middle of September, children across Spain will be back in school, meaning most Spanish families will not be vacationing and adding to queues at sights across the country. By the end of September you should notice fewer crowds at many attractions. Some coastal destinations in the north of the country may wind down operations for the season at the end of September. By the end of September, the entire country transitions to the shoulder season, and prices on hotels and other accommodations will begin to retreat from their summer peaks.

Bilbao`s highs will average in the mid to upper 70s with lows in the upper 50s to around 60. Barcelona`s temperatures will rise to the 80s during the day and fall into the 60s to near 70 at night. Madrid`s highs will be close to 90 in early August, but will retreat to the upper 70s by late September. Lows will be in the low to mid 60s. Valencia`s highs will be in the mid-80s and lows will be in the upper 60s to around 70. Highs in Seville will still be in the low to mid 90s, and low temperatures will fall to the mid-60s. Gran Canaria`s weather should stay constant with highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 60s.

Holidays and Festivals:

August 6 - Santa Maria of Africa (Santa María de África), honored at the church of the same name, is a religious celebration observed in Ceuta since the 15th century. (Public holiday in Ceuta)

August 15 - Assumption (Asunción). Parades are held across the country, with the largest in Madrid, where Assumption coincides with the Fiestas de la Paloma. (Public holiday in all regions of Spain)

Mid-August - Gràcia Festival, one of the largest street festivals in the country, held in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. Twenty-one side streets are decorated and locals celebrate with food, drink and dancing.

Mid-August - Festival O Marisquiño, Vigo, a festival dedicated to sports and extreme music which brings tens of thousands to Galicia each year.

August 22 - Feast of the Sacrifice (or Eid al-Adha) (Celebración del Sacrificio) (Public holiday in Ceuta and Melilla)

Third weekend in August - Festival of St. Bartholomew, Sitges, honoring the town`s patron saint, known in Catalan as Sant Bartolmeu.

Late August - Tomatina Festival, Buñol, near Valencia. Another one of Spain`s most famous festivals, it is marked by a crazy tomato-throwing fight in the town center.

September 1 - Autumn Sherry Harvest Festival (Las Fiestas de la Vendimia y Otoño), Jerez de la Frontera, celebrated with flamenco, bullfights and horse shows.

September 8 - Regional Days in Asturias and Extremadura (Días Regionales de Asturias y Extremadura), commemorating the Nativity of Mary (Natividad de María). (Public holiday in Asturias and Extremadura)

September 11 - Catalonian National Day (Diada de Catalunya in Catalan), commemorating the fall of Barcelona in the War of Spanish Succession in the year 1714. (Public holiday in Catalonia)

September 15 - Regional Day (Cantabria) (Día de Cantabria) (Closures in Cantabria)

September 17 - Municipal Day (Melilla) (Día de Melilla), commemorating the day soldiers of the Duke of Medina Sidonia stormed the city of Melilla in 1497. (Public holiday in Melilla)

September 21 - Feast Day of St. Matthew (San Mateo). Festivals are held across Spain, with the most noteworthy party occurring in Villamartín, Cádiz, Andalusia.

Late September - La Mercè, Barcelona. Barcelona`s annual festival causes public businesses to operate on shorter hours, if at all, as the city celebrates with music, parades, dances, fireworks, fine arts performances and light shows.

September 23 - Festival of St. Tecla, Sitges`s town festival dedicated to the local patron saint.

Late September - Little San Fermín, Pamplona, celebrated with concerts and parades.

Late September - Feria de San Miguel, Seville, featuring a mini-`running of the bulls` and bullfights.