Best Time to Visit
Sierra Nevada

Expect 8°C (47°F) in January. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.

At just 14 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 4 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.7 hours of daylight.

That is 1.3/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 1.7/10 for the best month here.

Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.

Expect 9°C (48°F) in February. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.

With around 16 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.6 hours of daylight fill the rest.

That is 1.4/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 1.7/10 for the best month here.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.

March averages 11°C (52°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 62 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 15 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.7 hours of daylight.

It scores 1.6/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 1.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

May averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Expect 30 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14 daylight hours.

It scores 1.7/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 1.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

At 23°C (73°F), skiing in June is a morning proposition: groomers hold up early, while lower runs soften through the afternoon.

At just 10 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.5 hours of daylight.

That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 3rd of 12 months, versus 1.7/10 for the best month here.

Budget for peak pricing, and crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.

Days in July average 27°C (81°F) — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.

At just 1 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.3 hours of daylight.

That is 1.7/10 on the same scale — 4th of 12 months, versus 1.7/10 for the best month here.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.

August averages 27°C (80°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Rain is a non-issue at 2 mm for the month, with about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.4 hours of daylight to work with.

It scores 1.7/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 1.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.

September averages 21°C (70°F) — warm by ski standards, so expect soft afternoon snow low on the mountain and firmer, better riding early.

Expect 16 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.2 daylight hours.

It scores 1.7/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 1.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection.

Temperatures hover around 18°C (64°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

With around 26 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 11 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11 hours of daylight fill the rest.

That is 1.5/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 1.7/10 for the best month here.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

Temperatures hover around 13°C (55°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

At just 14 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 5 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10 hours of daylight.

That is 1.3/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 1.7/10 for the best month here.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

December averages 10°C (49°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Expect 31 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 2 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.5 daylight hours.

It scores 1.2/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 1.7/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.