Tossa de Mar is a popular beach resort on the Costa Brava. The Costa Brava lies in Catalonia in north-eastern Spain and covers the stretch of coast from Blanes, just north of Barcelona, to the border with France. This stretch of coastline was identified in the 50s as ideal for tourism and its popularity has grown ever since. Tossa de Mar lies roughly halfway between Barcelona and the French border, around 100km from each.
The region enjoys an excellent Mediterranean climate with long hot summers and relatively mild winters. The warm sea ensures that winters are mild and temperatures donât get nearly as cold as they do inland. Tossa de Mar is famous for its great summer weather and fantastic beaches. Hot temperatures and plentiful sunshine make it a perfect beach holiday destination. Good weather can be enjoyed either side of the main summer months too. Annual rainfall isnât high at around 600mm but it can happen at any time of year, although summer is certainly the driest time and late spring/late autumn the wettest.
Summer
Summer is the most popular season for Tossa de Mar. People come from far and wide to enjoy the sunshine and great beaches. Summer weather first appears in May and lasts right through to mid October. Average high temperatures are above 20°C for the whole period. July and August see the hottest weather with daily highs at an average of 29°C. It often gets into the mid 30s. Temperatures remain in the high teens even at night during summer months. Summer heat waves often occur and can see temperatures rise up into the 40s.
Thankfully, Tossa de Mar benefits from cooling sea breezes in summer. There are also the Tramonata Winds which bring cool air down from the Pyrenees Mountains in the north.
Rainfall is moderate in summer; July averages 40mm of rainfall and is the driest month of the year. This may not sound particularly dry but showers only occur on around 8 days per month. They are heavy but brief and provide a relief from the heat. The rainclouds quickly clear to make way for the sun. Summer days enjoy an excellent 8-9hrs of sunshine per day.
Winter
Winter is generally mild in Tossa de Mar thanks to its coastal location; away from the coast temperatures can often drop below 0°C in this part of Spain. The winter months of December to February have average temperatures of about 8°C, varying between highs of 13°C or 14°C to lows of 2°C. Temperatures below freezing are rare on the coast but they do occur some years. It can occasionally get very cold in winter when the Tramonata Winds bring cold weather down from the Pyrenees.
Rainfall averages around 50-60mm a month in winter. Although not particularly high, you are sure to get some wet and windy weather. Still, there is plenty of sunshine: about 4-5 hrs per day.
Spring/Autumn
These are both good times to visit as they are outside the main tourist season but the weather is still good, especially in late spring and early autumn. May and September are great months that enjoy virtually as good weather as the main summer months, albeit with a little more rainfall. Daily highs are frequently in the low to mid 20s and there is plenty of sunshine.
October enjoys good temperatures with daily highs often in the 20s and lows remaining in double figures. By November it starts to cool down noticeably and temperatures can drop to around 5°C at night. Conversely, things warm up rapidly throughout spring with average temperatures going from around 11°C in early March to almost 20°C by late May. Rainfall is at its highest in spring and autumn, especially at the latter end of each season. May is the wettest month, closely followed by October and November. Even in these months though, you can find plenty of sunshine: up to 6 or 7 hours a day.