Spring has shown up on the calendar in March in Sotogrande and the temperatures are slowly inching up, with an average daily temperature of 15°C (about 58°F). You can expect the lows to drop down to 11°C (around 52°F), but typically you'll only see those temperatures during the evening, overnight, and early morning hours. With highs that get up to 18°C (about 64°F), you'll be more than comfortable when outside exploring all the resort has to offer.
As you're packing, you'll want to throw in a coat or jacket for those nighttime hours and you might want it during the day too, especially if you'll be close to the shore. For the daytime hours, a lighter jacket or coat is good for the inland areas near the foothills. It's windy this time of the year in this part of Southern Europe, with an 80% chance of a windy day. You'll feel the wind more on the shore and near the ocean.
During this month, the area gets around 7 hours of sunshine each day, so take advantage of the longer days to see the beautiful landscapes that make the resort famous. The chance of a sunny day is 20%, as is the chance of a cloudy day. The average rainfall for this month is 73 mm, falling over 10 days. With a 60% chance of rain each day, have the umbrella handy when you're out and about.
The ocean temperature for this month is 16°C (about 61°F), getting warmer but still cold for swimming unless you've got the proper wet or dry suit. Though rare, the resort has seen some extreme high and low temperatures. The highest temperature ever recorded at this time was a balmy 27°C, while the lowest temperature went all the way down to almost freezing, at 2°C (around 36°F).
Where to Stay
The complex of the Apartamentos en Alcaidesa consists of two buildings overlooking the sparkling swimming pools and Mediterranean Sea. Each of the rooms has air conditioning, separate bedroom, private bathroom, fully-equipped kitchen, free Wi-Fi, television, and safe. Lounge in the chairs next to the two pools in the March weather, one for kids and one for adults, or spend your time in the beautiful gardens.
Sophisticated and classy, the Hotel Monasterio offers 21 guest rooms housed in a traditional Spanish mansion. All of the rooms come with en-suite bathrooms, four-poster beds, air conditioning, televisions, and safe deposit boxes. The ground floor rooms also have private terraces and kids' beds and cots are available for families. As a guest, you'll enjoy a large swimming pool, covered terrace next to the pool, guest lounge, and on-site bar.
Villa Esmeralda is a beautiful four-bedroom and three-bathroom private residence near Sotogrande's best golf courses. The modern kitchen has everything you'll need to prepare meals in house or you can head into town to the numerous restaurants and bars. Spend your day in the sun loungers around the pool or seek some shade under the covered terrace. You can also walk through the property's beautiful gardens.
Things to Do
For a look at the bullfighting culture of Spain, check out the San Roque Bullfighting Museum. It's housed in the Plaza de Toros and includes a replica bronze bull, numerous photographs, and lots of bullfighting posters that advertised the various fights. You can't miss the museum's collection of costumes and props. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and is free to visit.
One of the most famous rocks in the world, the Rock of Gibraltar rises over the Mediterranean Sea at the southern point of Spain. The rock is actually part of the British territory of Gibraltar. It's about an hour drive from Sotogrande if you want to visit it up close on a March afternoon. You can also get a good view of it from several of Sotogrande's highest points and several of the beaches.
Get your shopping on at the Blue Sotogrande Marina Shopping Centre. The centre includes high-end retailers, as well as local stores, and enjoys a prime location right at the Sotogrande Marina. Here, you'll find clothing, shoes, handbags, and lingerie, as well as accessories, perfumes, and jewellery. If you need a break, duck into one of the cafes and restaurants for a bite to eat and drink.
Eating and Drinking Out
A change of pace from Spanish cuisine, Mytilus serves up Belgian dishes to its guests in a beautiful outdoor setting. It's only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for dinner through late night. Belgian specialties include meatballs with tomato sauce, creamy chicken stew with mushrooms, Flemish beef stew, and steak tartare. You can also find other beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and pasta dishes.
Consistently ranking as one of Sotogrande's best restaurants, PuraTapa has a menu of over 80 tapas. The small plates range from the traditional to the creative and incorporate Spanish and Mediterranean cuisines. You'll also find numerous sweet tapas to finish off your night. To complement your meal, the extensive wine list includes reds and whites with several local varieties.
One of Sotogrande's best restaurants, Cancha II features a beautiful outdoor dining room under a thatched roof. The restaurant is near the polo club, so you can dine while enjoying views of the horses and polo fields. Here, you'll get one of the best steaks in the area, cooked to perfection and available in several different cuts. The menu also has seafood and pasta dishes and you can't miss the extensive wine list.
