Autumn in Spain and the clocks going backwards in October

What's your favorite season? (Or favourite 'estación' as we say in Spanish).

Wait a minute? Did you know that the word for season ('estación') in Spanish has two different meanings?

We will explain them to you quickly:

• On one hand, we have 'estación de tren' (train station), 'estación de metro' (metro station), 'estación de autobús' (bus station) and even 'stación espacial' (space station). 😀

• On the other hand, there are the seasons (or estaciones) of the year: invierno (winter), otoño (autumn), primavera (spring) and verano (summer).

Today we are going to talk about autumn, a very special season and one that will surprise you if you decide visit to Spain or if you live here. 

Bring an umbrella because it might rain!

When does autumn start in Spain?

Autumn starts on the 23rd of September and precisely coincides with the start of the school year. 

 Autumn finishes on the 21st of Decemberand lasts 3 monthsjust like any other season.

What is autumn like in Spain?

Have you travelled around Spain before? 

If so, you will have seen that the country is very geographically diverse and has an extremely varied climate. 

For example, ​​Andalusia an area in the south of Spain is very different from areas in the north, such as: the Basque Country, Cantabria, Galicia...

The temperatures during autumn in Spain are usually not as cold as in winter. 

Rain showers are common, especially in October and November.

So, how about the leaves on the trees? 

When we think about autumn, we typically imagine a beautiful forest full of yellow leaves or orange leaves, right?

Well, it's exactly like this in Spain too. 😉

En November the shopping malls become very busy because people start buying Christmas presents.

Some people like to enjoy autumn or fall fashion. Some of the most beautiful and elegant clothes are sold in autumn. 

Something else important that happens during this time of the year is the schedule change. Which we will get to later.

Autumn in Valencia 

Have you decided to come to Valencia to study Spanish? Then you're in luck because autumn in Valencia it's great.

The temperature in September It is usually quite hot, but not as hot as in summer.

People continue to wear short clothes, although at night it starts to cool down a bit and it is probably a good idea to take a jacket with you. 😉

Starting in October the temperature starts to gradually drop and the leaves of the trees take on warm tones until finally, in November and December, all the leaves fall.

There are also a lot of rain showers in Valencia during this season. 

Sometimes the rain in Valencia is very intense.

 Sometimes it can go on for days without stopping! We call this occurrence the “gota fría”.

 But don't worry because these long rainy days are not very common. 

During the “gota fría” you can take the opportunity to stay in, watch Spanish movies , drink a hot coffee and listen to the sound of the rain on your window.

I can’t think of anything better.😊

Autumn foods in Spain

And with the change of season comes a change in menu… Let's talk about something that we all like, food.

Have you got your fork at the ready?  

Let us tell you about some local food that you can try during autumn.

Autumnal fruits and vegetables in Spain

In autumn there are many seasonal fruits and vegetables. 

They are very nutritious foods that will give you a lot of energy on your trip through Spain.

Some typical fruits are apples or figs. 

If you fancy something smaller and easier to peel, try our delicious tangerines.

Nuts like walnuts or almonds go perfectly alongside an aperitif.

And how about pumpkins for Halloween?

You can eat them pureed or if you have a sweet tooth you can make a tasty pumpkin pie.

Is your thing going to the countryside for hikes? 

Well enjoy the autumn harvest and collect various types of mushrooms, such as rebollones. 

There are many areas in Valencia and its surroundings where you can find these mushrooms. This city is full of surprises.

During October and November there are various bank holidays. 

Want to do something classic and traditional during these days?

Well go to a country house that has a fireplace, buy some chestnuts and roast them on the fire.

Sounds very cozy, right?

Travel through Spain in Autumn

Have you ever been away during autumn? 

Usually people wait for the summer to take their holidays. 

However, if you are thinking of doing a tour through Spain during the autumn months , we think it is a very good idea for several reasons:

• There is not too many tourists, so you can calmly visit the cities.
• Gray days, yellow leaves and autumn clothes gives cities a special type of charm.
• Temperatures are not as cold as in winter.
• If you travel before the clocks go backwards, you can still enjoy the many hours of daylight.
• Prices of planes and accommodation are cheaper.

Autumn landscapes in Spain 

Are you a fan of mountain getaways? Do you like to explore new towns and secret hot spots?

Then keep reading because at Hispania, escuela de español, we can help you pick some of the most beautiful places to enjoy your autumn holidays in Spain.

At north of Spain the list of breathtaking places is endless. 

Personally, the autumnal setting in the Irati Forest in Navarra is one of our favorites.

In la Garrotxa, in Catalonia, the volcanic landscape and beautiful medieval towns stand out, especially the Besalú bridge area.

In Huesca , it is essential to make a route on foot through the Valley Ordesa. which is a protected area found in the Pyrenees.  

It's paradise for those of you who love long hikes through the mountains.  

You will see how beautiful it is in photos, but it's not until you see it with your own eyes that you will know just how exhilarating it is.

Do you want to know the most 'Quixotic' thing in Spain? 

Well visit Castilla la Mancha.

This is where Don Quixote rode on his adventures.

Some of the most interesting places to visit in autumn are Sierra del Segura in Albacete and the mountain range Cuenca.

Are you a fan of adventure activities?  

Well take a trip to Hoces del Duratón, in Segovia, where you can go horse-back riding or even canoe down the river.

Flowers in Spain

The places mentioned above are some of the best nature reserves and areas to visit in autumn, , but of course there are many more spots. 

Do you want to see a picture-perfect autumnal scenery, landscapes lined with trees covered in yellow, orange and red leaves? Scenery that looks like it’s been taken straight out of a Disney movie? 

Well, we’ve got good news, we have many forests (or bosques as we say in Spanish) just like that. 😉

The Bosque de Muniellos in asturias, La selva de Irati in Navarra or el Hayedo de Tejera Negra in Guadalajara to name just a few.

Spanish cities to visit during autumn

Honestly, any Spanish city is a brilliant place to visit during in autumn.

If you like the metropolitan lifestyle or you’re a fan of big cities, you will love Madrid or Barcelona.

Do you like medieval architecture?

You can find historical heritage sites such as La Mezquita de Cordova or La Alhambra de Granada here in Spain.

Do you prefer coastal cities?

Although autumn isn’t exactly the time to go swimming in the sea, the coast surrounding Levante usually boasts pleasant temperatures that tourists love.

Are you a bit of a foodie?  

Well head to Asturias “fabada” or a small tapas dish known as a “pincho” in San Sebastián.

Autumn months in Spain

The autumn months in Spain run from mid-September to the 21st December. 

The months that are typically associated with autumn are October and November, during which you will have the opportunity to celebrate to important bank holidays.

The first is, ‘el día de la Comunidad Valenciana’ (Valencian Community Day) celebrated on October the 9th. During the festivities the city is overrun by fireworks and official acts as well as, the celebration of San Donis, in other words "el día de los enamorados" or the day for those in love. 

On San Donis, couples give each other typical, marzipan flavoured sweets which are shaped like vegetables from a vegetable patch. Women typically receive a scarf to keep themselves warm with.

Secondly, we have, ‘el día de la Hispanidad’ (Hispanic Heritage Day), celebrated on the 12th of October. . This day is a bank holiday for the whole of Spain and there are militant parades to celebrate the day throughout the country.

Another holiday that we celebrate during autumn is the traditional 'día de Todos los Santos' (Saints Day) on the 1st of November. On this day we commemorate all the members of the family who are no longer with us. Many beautiful traditions take place on this day.

So, during in autumn you’ll have a bit of free time to take a little mini break at some of those places we spoke about earlier.

Temperatures in autumn autumn

We mentioned previously that the temperature in Spain during autumn is usually quite pleasant.

At the start of the season, temperatures fluctuate from 13 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius..

In October and November the temperatures drop, and fluctuate from 4 degrees to 20 degrees. In some places temperatures can even drop below zero.

Temperatures in autumn in Valencia

Below Zero?! Will it get that cold in Valencia, the city where our school Hispania, escuela de espanol is located?

Not a chance! 

In fact, I’d even dare to say that it’s one of the cities with the best climates during autumn… And in all the other seasons as well!

To give you a better idea, we break down the temperatures in degrees Celsius for you per month:

• September: between 18º and 28º.
• October: between 13º and 24º.
• November: between 8º and 19º.

Well that’s not bad at all? The weather in Valencia during this time of year is very pleasant indeed.

People sit outside bars and take part in lots of outdoor sport.

Change of schedule in October

We’ve come to the time to talk about one of the most interesting parts of the Spanish calendar: the clocks going back in autumn. . 

For many foreigners this quirk is very confusing. We will explain everything you need to know about when the clocks change in Spain so that you don’t get lost and so that you don’t arrive late to class. 😀

When is the next time the clocks will change?

The next change will be on Sunday the 30th of October 2022.

What day do the clocks change?  

The autumn clocks always change on the last Sunday of October.  Some years it falls on the 27th, others on the 29th and others on the 30th… each year is different.

What time do the clocks change?  

The clocks change at 3 in the morning.  

Do the clocks go backwards or forwards?

There is always a lot of confusion about whether the clocks go backwards or forwards because when the clocks change in Spring the opposite thing happens.

In autumn you have to backwards one hour. At 3am the hour goes backwards and is 2am again.

It's like going back in time an hour.

Awesome! You'll get to sleep for an extra hour!

Or better yet, if you're out partying you'll have one more hour on the dance floor. 😀

Autumn schedule

During autumn, Spain falls within the UTC +1 (the Canary Islands are UTC 0).

And this timetable continues throughout the whole of winter.

Starting on the 30th of October days become shorter : sunrise happens between 7:30am and 8am . And the sun sets around 6pm .

Although it gets dark earlier, businesses usually stick to their normal opening hours, so you can buy whatever you need after you leave work or class. ☺

We hope that you’ve found this article helpful. No you know what autumn is like in Spain and specifically in Valencia, what to eat during this period, where to visit and when the clocks go back.

If you want to study Spanish in a city that has great weather and lots to do during autumn, Valencia is the place for you.  

Discover Valencia are dealt with first, followed by Hispania, escuela de español.

¡Hasta pronto!

Article written by Carlos Martinez Gimenez for Hispania, escuela de español