What's the weather like in Benidorm from November to March?
Dear Brenda
I'm going on my own for a few days and can't choose between early December and late January. Which is better for weather, and which is quieter? Will it be warm enough to sit by the pool in the afternoon? Should I pack summer dresses, jumpers or both? And is it true it can turn windy and wet for days?
Go in early December for the weather: on ten-year averages it's a touch warmer, 17.0°C by day against 15.9°C in January, with a warmer sea too. Late January is the quieter and cheaper of the two: 45% of hotel beds were filled at €78 a room in January 2026, against 51% and €90 in December 2025, though neither will feel busy. Yes, on a sunny afternoon you can sit by the pool, roughly noon to three in a sheltered spot, but it's for sunbathing, not swimming, unless the pool is heated. Pack both: a light dress or T-shirt for midday, and jeans, a jumper and a light waterproof for the evenings, which drop to about 9 to 10°C. And yes, it can turn wet or windy for a few days: both months average about four rain days, and in early 2026 high winds and rain surprised even people who live here.
Who the regulars recommend
- Flamingo Oasis sun terraceA pool and sun terrace on the 25th floor for Club Class guests, the sunniest spot visitors know in winter.
- Old Town end of the beachVisitors' favourite place to sit out in the early afternoon sun.
- Benidorm PalaceAn indoor evening plan for a cold or wet night: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, show only from €40.
- Altea by tramTRAM line 9 gets you there in about 15 minutes for a wet-day wander and lunch.
Watch out for
- Long-range forecasts are no use here; look three or four days before you go.
- Some hotels, bars and restaurants close for the winter; 96 hotels were open in January 2026 against 123 in November 2025.
- The sea is about 15°C in January: paddling, not swimming.
- Evenings turn cold quickly once the sun drops; take a jumper out with you.
Early December or late January?
December for weather, January for peace and price. December averages 17.0°C by day and 10.2°C at night, January 15.9°C and 8.8°C, and both have about four rain days. In January 2026 hotels averaged €78 a room with 45% of beds filled and 96 hotels open; in December 2025, €90 with 51% filled and 106 open. Visitors say neither month is busy, and enough bars and restaurants stay open, though expect some closed.
Which winter month is warmest?
November, by a distance: 19.6°C by day and 12.8°C at night. February averages 16.6°C and March 17.7°C, but March is the wettest month of the year, with about eight wet days and 73 mm of rain. Many visitors say February and March feel coldest; our figures show January is the coolest by day, and February has the coldest sea, at 14.7°C.
Can I sit out by the pool?
Often, yes, in the middle of the day and out of the wind. Visitors describe sitting out from about noon to three, sometimes in short sleeves, then heading in when the shade reaches them. Hotel sun terraces up high catch the most sun: the Flamingo Oasis has one on its 25th floor for its Club Class guests. On the beach, the Old Town end is the favourite for early afternoon. The sea is about 15 to 17°C, so swimming is for the brave.
What should I pack?
Layers. The thing everyone mentions is the drop when the sun goes in: T-shirt afternoons, jumper-and-jeans evenings. Pack something light for midday, a warm top or thin fleece for the evening, a light waterproof, and shoes you can walk in on a wet day. A swimsuit is worth it for the hotel pool or spa.
Does it turn windy and wet for days?
It can. Wind is the usual spoiler rather than cold, and a run of grey days happens most winters. In 2025 visitors had rain on Christmas Day, and in early 2026 high winds and rain caught out even people who live here. Don't trust a forecast more than three or four days out; check two sources close to the date, and have a plan B ready: a long lunch in the Old Town, the tram to Altea, or an evening at Benidorm Palace.
What the regulars say
- Pack layers and a light waterproof; the temperature drops fast when the sun goes in.
- Find a sheltered sunny spot from about noon to three; that's the warm part of the day.
- Don't plan around a forecast more than a few days out; winter weather here turns quickly.
- Want the best odds of sun? November beats January and February.
The numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| December average day / night | 17.0°C / 10.2°C, 4.0 rain days | benidorm.co.uk/weather, 2016–2025 averages |
| January average day / night | 15.9°C / 8.8°C, 4.1 rain days | benidorm.co.uk/weather, 2016–2025 averages |
| Sea, December / January | 16.7°C / 15.2°C | benidorm.co.uk/weather, 2023–2025 averages |
| March rain days (≥1 mm) | 8.3, the wettest month | benidorm.co.uk/weather, 2016–2025 averages |
| December hotel average, per room per night | €90, 51% of beds filled | benidorm.co.uk/benidorm-in-december (INE, Dec 2025), checked 14 Oct 2026 |
| January hotel average, per room per night | €78, 45% of beds filled | benidorm.co.uk/cheapest-time-to-go (INE, Jan 2026), checked 14 Oct 2026 |
Reader figures are what visitors reported in that year. We have not checked them ourselves unless the source says so.
Your other questions, answered
2026What's mid-November like, day and night, and are weekends busy?
About 19.6°C by day and 12.8°C at night on average, the mildest winter month. It's not busy: 63% of hotel beds were filled in November 2025.
2026Early December or late January: which is better?
December is slightly warmer (17.0°C against 15.9°C); January is quieter and cheaper (€78 a room in January 2026).
2026Is February OK in Benidorm?
Yes: about 16.6°C by day, the driest winter month at 19 mm, and a little busier than January. The sea is at its coldest, 14.7°C.
2026Early March: dresses, jumpers or a mixture?
A mixture. Days average 17.7°C, evenings about 11°C, and March is the wettest month, so pack a waterproof.
2025Late March or early November: which is the safer bet?
Early November: about 19.6°C by day and 5.5 wet days, against 17.7°C and 8.3 wet days in March.
2025Which weather forecast is most reliable?
None, more than a few days out. Check two sources three or four days before you go, and use our ten-year averages to choose your dates.
2025Is April warm enough for sunbathing?
Usually in the afternoons: April averages 19.3°C by day, with about seven wet days. The sea is still cool at about 17°C.
2024What clothes should I pack for January?
T-shirt and light layers for midday, and jeans, a jumper and a light waterproof for evenings around 9°C.
Read next
Benidorm weather by month · Benidorm in November · Benidorm in December · Benidorm in January · Cheapest time to go
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