What's the weather like in Benalmadena in January
January is the coolest month of the year in Benalmadena, a popular resort town just south of Malaga on the sun-soaked and appropriately named Costa del Sol in southern Spain. As such, it is very quiet this time of year. However, the resort's Mediterranean climate makes sure that it never really gets cold.
Temperature
The average monthly temperature never drops below 11°C throughout the yearhis is the average temperature for January, the lowest in the whole year.
At night, the mercury drops to a chilly average low of 4°C, but the afternoons are quite enjoyable with their average high temperature of 16°C. Even in the heart of winter, you might be able to go for afternoon walks wearing just a T-shirt. Those low and high temperatures are both as low as they get in the year. They remain basically constant throughout the month of January.
Average Sea Temperature
The sea temperature is exactly as high as the afternoon high temperature6°Chich is definitely not warm enough to go swimming. This water temperature will remain the same in February and through March, before it starts rising once again.
Rain and Cloud Cover
Although the temperatures tend to be rather enjoyable in the afternoon, it is also very likely that you will experience some rain during your stay as there is usually 9 days' worth of rainfall during January.
The total amount of precipitation that falls down on Benalmadena in January is 52mm, which makes it the fifth wettest month of the year, after the three previous months and April. During January, there is a 29% chance that you will experience some type of rainfall on any given dayhis is a percentage that's recorded from November through February, the wet part of the year.
The most common type of rainfall this time of year is moderate rain, which occurs on 45% of the days with rainfall. Other possible types are light rain, thunderstorms and drizzle, which respectively occur on 21%, 14% and 13% of those days. Snowfall is extremely unlikely in these southern parts of Europe, if not non-existent.
As rainfall is at its highest in the winter season, so is cloud cover. January is characterised by 42% of cloud cover, a percentage that is recorded from November all the way through March. It doesn't vary at all in that period of time. This doesn't mean that it's cloudy, though. In contrary even, the sky is overcast only 19% of the time in January and (mostly) clear no less than 49% of the time.
Average Sunshine Hours
Therefore, you can expect plenty of sunshine during your stay; up to 7 hours a day. This number of daily sunshine hours is incredibly high, particular when compared with the United Kingdom in winter. It's also important to note that this is the lowest amount of sunshine hours of the year in Benalmadenahe same number is also observed in December and Februaryhich indicates how sunny a destination this actually is.
Daylight Hours
January sees the days gradually become longer. January 1 is the shortest day of the month with 9.42 daylight hours, while January 31 is the longest day with 10.20 hours of daylight.
Benalmadena Hotels in January
Compact and charming, Pueblo is a fine Spanish themed boutique hotel that focuses on quality over quantity. The hotel is located in the beautiful centre of Benalmadena's old town and maintains only 10 rooms for its guests.
The MS Alay Apartments offer affordable accommodation with great service. The guest house operates a small number of apartments along Alay Avenue with friendly owners and very decent furniture. The prices are fairly low and all rooms are clean and well maintained.
Located just next to Benalmadena's centre and on one of the best spots by the beach, Hotel & Spa Benalmadena Palace is an ultra-popular hotel and spa resort. The Benalmadena Palace is luxurious and sports one of the best equipped spas in the area, with numerous treatments and dozens of professionals ready to assist in your pampering.
Bars and Restaurants
The Dolce Vita Gourmet is one of the most popular local bakeries and confectioneries in Benalmadena. Popular for its delicious sweet pastry and hearty breakfasts, the Dolce Vita serves mostly Spanish and Italian pastry along with British delicacies and fresh ice cream. The menu is particularly child friendly and the prices are palatable enough to say yes to seconds.
The Last Resort Bar is a British pub/restaurant owned and operated by British expatriates. The atmosphere here recreates a "home away from home" feel, with good beer from back home and tasty British snacks. This is a place you can go to all-day longhey serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The pub has an outdoor terrace to enjoy the January sun, but if the weather doesn't cooperate, you can head inside to the heated enclosed terrace.
With sci-fi décor and lots of post-modern references, Alien Bar is a techno nightclub that caters to lovers of good electronic and dubstep music. The bar attracts an eclectic crowd and countless die-hard fans come here to party throughout the night, throughout the year.
Things to do in Benalmadena in January
As it is much quieter at this time of year you can explore the area at your own pace. Though you may not be able to lie on the beach, the stunning coast line is well worth a pleasant stroll on a clear day. The Torre Quebrada watchtower and Colomares Castle are two beautiful historical sites that are well worth a visit.
The municipal Archaeological Museum of Benalmadena is home to numerous rare artefacts from antiquity that were found along Costa del Sol and in Iron Age settlements in southern Spain. The museum is small but interesting enough to get you lost among its exhibits for at least a few hours.
Dates for the diary
The Three Kings Parade takes place on 6th January every year. The event features colourful floats, traditional dress, and sweets thrown to kids in the street. Children also put their shoes out the night before to receive gifts from the three kings.
