As summer fades, Spain settles into a slower rhythm. Our writer Sally shows how cooler evenings, lively food festivals and quieter beaches make September a month to savour local traditions and everyday life at an easier pace.
If you lived in Spain in September, you would notice a gentle shift from the long, hot days of summer to the softer warmth of early autumn. The evenings become cooler, making it pleasant to sit outside with friends, while the mornings often carry a fresh breeze. In many towns and villages, local festivals and fairs bring people together to celebrate traditions, music and food. The beaches are quieter now, yet still inviting for a swim, and the countryside begins to show the first hints of autumn colours. It’s a lovely time to enjoy Spain at a slower pace, with fewer crowds and a touch of seasonal charm.
September is a wonderful month to live in Spain, whether you have dreams of finding a home by the sea or among the vines in the countryside, nestled in the mountains or in a city.
Enjoy Life in a local community
A lot is happening in Spain in the autumn:
- Food festivals all around the country. Three of the best are the Sueca Rice Fiesta in Valencia, featuring the International Paella Competition and the traditional grape harvest festivals in Jerez and Logroño.
- You will find many local food fairs featuring mushrooms, fruit and, of course, wine amongst other edibles. These offer the chance to get to know the specialities of your area and to meet locals in a friendly and sociable environment.
- The Canary Islands hold the Fiesta del Pino in Gran Canaria and the Romería de los Dolores in Lanzarote, both celebrating local traditions and food.
- The Balearic Islands host various festivals with a focus on food, including Mallorca’s Festa des Vermar (grape festival) in Binissalem and the Fira Nocturn Artesà del Meló (melon fair) in Vilafranca de Bonany.
September is the start of European Heritage Days and Spain offers a wealth of things to explore.
You could experience a guided tour of a salt mine at Salì de Priva. You could discover the nature of the Prehistoric Park of the Toll Caves near Moià. Or perhaps you would prefer a historical tour “From the burnt city to the modernist city” at the Church Square, 4, Sant Quintí de Mediona.
All of these and many more take you to places you would never normally see and often with a “behind the scenes” experience. History is everywhere in Spain and you will find evidence just around from where you live – if you look. Maybe an old public laundry, perhaps an ancient fountain. History isn’t just great manor houses and castles but also about the lives of local people.
From outdoors to indoors
While in most of Spain it is still warm enough to spend your days outside in the garden, on the beach or sipping cava on a bar’s terrace, the evenings begin to feel chilly.
- Local markets are brimming with autumn produce: plums, greengages, apples, pomegranates, kiwis, figs and early citrus fruits. Wild mushrooms have a short season and September is when to enjoy them. Cucumbers, aubergine, chard, pumpkins and cauliflowers are at their best at this time of year.
- Beaches are less crowded and the sea is still warm. You can enjoy water sports and other activities as if it were still summer, play tennis until late or play a round of golf – all without the summer crowds.
If you lived in Spain, your Sundays would be spent by the sea or walking a coastal path, hiking in the countryside or just meeting friends in a café and watching the world go by. There is no pressure to rush anywhere.
Enjoy Spain’s City Culture
- Take a trip to Madrid. It is the perfect month to discover and indulge in everything this wonderful capital city has to offer – and it is cooler than in August but still warm enough to spend most of your time outside wandering in the many lovely parks or eating and drinking on a terrace. Most museums are free on Sundays.
- Catch the Festival of La Mercè in Barcelona – a visual feast with fireworks, human towers and street parties.
- Go to Cartagena and experience The Fiestas de Carthagineses y Romanos, which recreates historical events with parades of legionaries and Punic tribes, performances, theatre and markets, all to honour Cartagena’s ancient past.
If you lived in Spain this month, all the fun summer activities are still available, outdoor living is still viable and the summer crowds have dispersed. Of course, there are many tourists in Spain but they are generally older and seek cultural holidays as well as relaxing ones by the sea. You might need a jacket when sitting outside a restaurant but September in Spain is a slow and pleasant wind-down from summer and a gentle step towards colder months.
