Spain and Portugal for Visitors

The Costa Blanca's mild climate makes it a year-round destination, but weather apart, be aware that high season, July and August, is not the time to look for peace and quiet on the Costa Blanca: it is not impossible, but it is damn difficult. On the other hand, although tourism in the area has been de-seasonalized to an extent, winter visitors are undeniably older and less likely to be interested in nightlife and good times in general, so many establishments will be closed, sometimes creating a ghost-town effect.

Weather. This is not the tropics, but even in January, the average minimum temperature is unlikely to fall below 6ºC, and the average maximum in December is 12.5ºC. The only climatic counterindication is the recurrent gota fría, sometimes referred to as the "Mediterranean mini-typhoon," a phenonemon which leads to vast amounts of rain falling in a very short period of time (in 1987 in Gandia, 1000 mm of rain fell in 36 hours, 400 mm of that being in 6 hours). It occurs in spring and autumn and can be very destructive, especially when river banks break, but is not likely to do more damage to visitors than make them uncomfortable, if not sodden.

Fiestas. The big one is Alicante's celebration of Saint John 's Eve and Day, June 23rd and 24th, with its characteristic hogueras, bonfires, and fireworks. Moors and Christians parades and similar are held in many places in the area at different times, notably in Alcoy, if you can make the excursion, and Villajoyosa.
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