Bilbao vs San Sebastián: which is sunnier?
🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇪🇸 Spain · 91 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
San Sebastián is the sunnier overall: about 2,077 hours of sunshine a year to Bilbao's 1,988. Month by month it's balanced: each has the higher Sunshine Score in 1 month, with 10 within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Bilbao | San Sebastián | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,988 | 2,077 |
| Sunniest month | July (84/100) | July (82/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 28/100 | 27/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 83/100 | 81/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,003 mm | 1,070 mm |
| Warmest sea | 22°C / 72°F | 23°C / 73°F |
| Peak midday UV | 7 (high) | 7 (high) |
Bilbao vs San Sebastián month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilbao | San Sebastián | Bilbao | San Sebastián | Bilbao | San Sebastián | Bilbao | San Sebastián | |
| January | 22 | 23 | 12° | 12° | 126 | 126 | 14° | 14° |
| February | 24 | 24 | 12° | 12° | 98 | 95 | 14° | 14° |
| March | 37 | 37 | 14° | 14° | 94 | 90 | 14° | 14° |
| April | 44 | 50 | 15° | 16° | 80 | 86 | 15° | 15° |
| May | 65 | 63 | 18° | 18° | 64 | 82 | 16° | 17° |
| June | 80 | 78 | 21° | 22° | 56 | 68 | 19° | 20° |
| July | 84 | 82 | 23° | 23° | 35 | 48 | 21° | 22° |
| August | 84 | 82 | 24° | 24° | 36 | 51 | 22° | 23° |
| September | 81 | 79 | 22° | 22° | 53 | 64 | 21° | 21° |
| October | 73 | 74 | 20° | 20° | 95 | 94 | 19° | 19° |
| November | 37 | 37 | 15° | 15° | 146 | 149 | 17° | 17° |
| December | 28 | 23 | 13° | 12° | 120 | 117 | 15° | 15° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr San Sebastián · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec Bilbao.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Bilbao averages 28/100, San Sebastián 27/100. Daytime highs are similar (13°C vs 13°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Bilbao averages 49/100, San Sebastián 50/100. Daytime highs are similar (16°C vs 16°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Bilbao averages 83/100, San Sebastián 81/100. Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 23°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Bilbao averages 77/100, San Sebastián 77/100. Daytime highs are similar (21°C vs 21°C).
Sea temperature
San Sebastián's sea gets warmer: 23°C / 73°F at its peak vs 22°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Bilbao about 3 months a year, San Sebastián about 3 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Bilbao weather by month · San Sebastián weather by month · Best time to visit Spain.
More comparisons: Bilbao vs Vitoria-Gasteiz · Bilbao vs Santander · Bilbao vs Biarritz · San Sebastián vs Vitoria-Gasteiz · San Sebastián vs Santander · San Sebastián vs Pau/Pyrénées (Uzein) · all head-to-heads