Is Northern Spain a bit chilly in July?

[PrincessOfPreschool]

Need to go Spanish speaking as DS going to do Spanish A level. Didn't fancy South so thought north would be great. Planned whole holiday flying into Bilbao, travelling to Santander, staying round there. Now looked up weather and it seems quite chilly in July (for Spain!). I just assumed it would be S of France temps and didn't take into account the Atlantic.

Anyone been? What's it like? DD's only stipulation was 'needs to be hot' but looks like average highs of 22 and lows of 14. DH and DSes need 'stuff to do' (I would be happy with a simple beach hol).

Any other Spanish speaking suggestions? Not looking to hire car so good public transport required.

Alicante?

Where exactly in northern Spain were you intending to go to? If it's for someone learning Spanish, Madrid is a good call, will be vvv hot and public transport is good.

Have a look at the map attached, the places you want to go to are purple for Castilian Spanish, although the accent is very tricky in Andalusia!

Madrid will be hot! (but no beach obv)

There are a few beaches nearby! Madrid Rio for example!

www.citylifemadrid.com/unique-beaches-near-madrid/

I would do Seville/Grenada/Cordoba. You can see all three in a week or so. Loads to do and it will be in the language your daughter is studying (Basque will be difficult for her unless she’s studied it). It will be very hot though! Such a beautiful area, lots of amazing history and amazing food!

I mean, it's still warm. I spent one summer in Zaragoza where it was 40 degrees. Probably less touristy than the south.

It was warm when we went but rained a bit

Ps. Would be good for language practice as no English spoken really at all.

Basque
Spanish
Then french

We went to Tossa de Mar in July and it was boiling hot and we didn't hear any other Brits there at all during our week - everyone was Spanish.

I wouldn't want to go to Seville in July personally if there are alternatives. Far too hot. Average 35-36 degrees. Sevilla July Weather, Average Temperature (Spain) - Weather Spark

We've been to Bilbao in the winter and still loved it. But we went as a couple and mainly spent our time in bars eating pintxos and drinking wine! 🤣

Going to San Sebastián later this year for more of the same.

It will be perfect many Spanish holiday in Northern Spain to escape the blistering heat elsewhere. Saville is know as the frying pan of Spain mid summer.

Thank you all. It's really tricky balancing the needs of family. Eldest DS doesn't like looking round cities. I was going to subject him to Bilbao for a couple of days but I don't think we can be mostly city-based. He enjoys walking in nature, DD and I like the beach, DS2 and DH anything active (there's surfing and walking on the Northern coast).

We'd be between Santander and Bilbao so I think Basque in terms of language. I speak some Mexican Spanish and DS2 is quite fluent now but obviously Castilian. Would menus etc be in both languages?

It was the ideal holiday....

Just the weather 😭 and now language.

You’ll prob get a mix of sunny and warm and overcast which is ideal for galleries, exploring etc Just got to be flexible with your days

santander has fantastic beaches and town - really liked it

I've been there in March and it was around 18, in summer it will be at least mid twenties.

40 degreed in Julu! Too hot to want to move 😂

Only 1hr 40 to Valencia on the train!

The one time I went to Bilbao in July it was in the 30s. There was a heatwave, tbf, but it was just as hot as the rest of Spain.

The lows of 14C will be overnight and with global warming it could well be warmer than average.

I love northern Spain, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque country. Although road signs etc are in Basque i think the main language is still Spanish. I never had any problems making myself understood anyway.

I think it's warm to hot in the summer (been twice in September and the weather was very good although the hotel outdoor pool was a bit chilly. ) Can be a bit rainy sometimes.
Bilbao is a really great city, the Guggenheim is a wonderful museum and Santander has good beaches, as does San Sebastián. The food is utterly fantastic.
There probably is a local accent but I don't think it's as thick as in Andalucía. DS spent a year at university in Grenada and said he picked up the local accent which is considered 'dirty' , whatever that means. Sloppy? Gutteral?

The north is very picturesque, green and hilly, even mountainous in the Picos de Europa region and altogether different from southern Spain. I hope you have a wonderful time.

We went to Bilbao and San Sebastián in the summer school holidays- can't remember if July or august- and it was 40 degrees 😳.

Way too hot! It dropped to the 20s with drizzly rain on the day we flew home though 🤦🏻‍♀️

Few places will be exclusively in Basque (or Euskera as it's known there), especially when catering to tourists. (I used to live nearby).

Santander is not in a Basque-speaking area.

The difference between Mexican and European Spanish (or any other varieties) is kind of like the difference between US and UK English - the same but different vocab, accents, grammatical conventions etc 🙂You'll get by fine.

It will be warm enough mid to high 20s. Not 35-40 as in Sevilla. If you want to do cities and also nature and surfing, look at Galicia.
Amazing seafood. Santiago de Compostella. Surf central. Very green. magical islands https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/oct/06/ilha-cies-islands-galicia-spain-camping-francis-drake

But Tossa is in Catalunya where everyone speaks Catalan

Thanks guys. That's more positive updates on the weather. Might just have to risk it. If we go for 2 weeks, we surely will get some decent weather.

Will Castilian Spanish be OK? Is it a strong accent?