Bilbao vs Santander: which is sunnier?
🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇪🇸 Spain · 75 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Bilbao and Santander are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,988 vs 1,954 hours a year. Santander has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months; the other 8 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Bilbao | Santander | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,988 | 1,954 |
| Sunniest month | July (84/100) | July (84/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 28/100 | 32/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 83/100 | 83/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,003 mm | 994 mm |
| Warmest sea | 22°C / 72°F | 23°C / 73°F |
| Peak midday UV | 7 (high) | 7 (high) |
Bilbao vs Santander month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilbao | Santander | Bilbao | Santander | Bilbao | Santander | Bilbao | Santander | |
| January | 22 | 28 | 12° | 13° | 126 | 125 | 14° | 14° |
| February | 24 | 30 | 12° | 13° | 98 | 100 | 14° | 14° |
| March | 37 | 36 | 14° | 14° | 94 | 95 | 14° | 14° |
| April | 44 | 51 | 15° | 16° | 80 | 78 | 15° | 14° |
| May | 65 | 66 | 18° | 18° | 64 | 62 | 16° | 16° |
| June | 80 | 80 | 21° | 22° | 56 | 54 | 19° | 19° |
| July | 84 | 84 | 23° | 24° | 35 | 33 | 21° | 21° |
| August | 84 | 84 | 24° | 24° | 36 | 34 | 22° | 23° |
| September | 81 | 81 | 22° | 23° | 53 | 51 | 21° | 21° |
| October | 73 | 72 | 20° | 20° | 95 | 100 | 19° | 18° |
| November | 37 | 43 | 15° | 16° | 146 | 141 | 17° | 17° |
| December | 28 | 28 | 13° | 13° | 120 | 121 | 15° | 15° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Santander · Feb Santander · Mar even · Apr Santander · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Santander · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: Santander (average score 32/100 vs 28). Daytime highs are similar (13°C vs 14°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Bilbao averages 49/100, Santander 51/100. Daytime highs are similar (16°C vs 16°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Bilbao averages 83/100, Santander 83/100. Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 23°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Bilbao averages 77/100, Santander 77/100. Daytime highs are similar (21°C vs 22°C).
Sea temperature
Santander's sea gets warmer: 23°C / 73°F at its peak vs 22°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Bilbao about 3 months a year, Santander about 3 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Bilbao weather by month · Santander weather by month · Best time to visit Spain.
More comparisons: Bilbao vs San Sebastián · Bilbao vs Vitoria-Gasteiz · Bilbao vs Biarritz · Santander vs Asturias · Santander vs San Sebastián · Santander vs Vitoria-Gasteiz · all head-to-heads