Climate and Weather
Possibly the most aptly-named of all the Spanish coastal regions, the Costa Del Sol is world famous for enjoying more than 300 days of un-spoilt sunshine every year.
People living in this part of the world enjoy year-round sunny weather, with winter temperatures staying up around 9 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit), so it is easy to see why thousands upon thousands of people flock to Southern Spain all year round.
As the temperature chart below shows, even the minimum daily temperatures in mid-winter compare favourably with mild spring and autumn days in Northern Europe .
It is particularly for this reason that the area is so popular with golfers and adventure sports fanatics, as the climate allows enthusiasts to enjoy their sport in ideal conditions, while back in their home country less fortunate participants struggle against wind and cold.
Even the sea temperature stays at a level where a dip in the ocean can be enjoyed throughout the winter months.
The high temperatures can be attributed not only to the number of days of sunshine each year, but also to the high percentage of daylight hours that the sun shines brightly.
The chart below shows the average number of hours that the sun shines per day, not the number of daylight hours.
It also shows the average number of days of bright sunshine per month, and just for the pessimists out there you can see the average rainfall per month throughout the year.
It is worth bearing in mind though, that as there are such a high number of bright and therefore cloudless days throughout winter, it can get a bit chilly at night so please remember to bring some warm clothing to guard against that, although we're not exactly talking Arctic conditions.
Also, it can get a bit windy so it is also advisable to make sure you carry a coat or jacket with you during the winter months.
The sun can be extremely powerful in high summer (the figures shown are average, and it has been known for the temperature to reach above 40 degrees Celsius on occasion) so sun block or sun cream is an absolute necessity.
