What's the weather like in Palma in January?
Temperature
Holiday-makers wanting to escape the freezing winter temperatures in the UK may well find some welcome respite in Palma, the capital of the island of Majorca in Spain's Balearic Islands. The average temperature in January is 10°C, but be warned, it can drop down as low as 4°C, so you'll need to pack plenty of warm clothing. The average nighttime low temperature is 5°C, while during the day, the mercury climbs to a comfortable average of 15°C, an excellent temperature for outdoor pursuits. Both the average low and average high temperatures stay almost perfectly constant throughout the month. This is the coldest month of the yearanuary 12 is historically the coldest day of the entire year with a nighttime low of 4°C and a daytime high of 15°C.
Sea Temperature
The sea temperature in Palma in January is exactly the same as the air temperature, averaging 15°C. This is almost as cold as the Mediterranean Sea ever gets in these parts; only February has colder water (14°C).
Rainfall
In terms of rainfall, January is among the wettest months of the year, with a total amount of rainfall of 50mm and 11 days with precipitation. Only October receives more wetness; November and April have the same total. The chance that precipitation occurs on any given day in January ranges around 36% and doesn't change very much in the course of the month. The most common type of rainfall is moderate rain, occurring on 50% of the days with rainfall. Drizzle, light rain and thunderstorms are observed as well, respectively on 22%, 13% and 10% of the rainy days.
Sunshine Hours
January is not only one of the wettest months; it is also one of the darkest. The days in January are the second shortest in the yearnly December has shorter days. On the plus side, though, the length of the days gradually increases in the course of the month. January 1 has 9.25 hours of daylight while January 31 has 10.08 daylight hours. Cloud cover is almost at its annual high this month, ranging around 44%. The annual maximum percentage of cloud cover is 45% and is reached in the first week of February.
These short days with (partly) cloudy skies result in some of the least sunny days in the year. A typical day in January has 7 sunshine hours, only one hour more than the annual low of 6 hours in December. November and February receive the same amount of sunshine. 7 hours of sunshine is, however, much more than what you can expect from a typical January day in the UK.
Hotels in Palma in January
Mirador
Although the Mirador is a 4-star hotel, it does not charge 4-star prices. The hotel looks out across the bay and is surrounded by bars and restaurants. Its central location makes it a very affordable option for those wanting a budget break after the expensive festive season. The Mirador also stands out from the other accommodations in Palma because of its personal decoration, marble-floor rooms and its wonderful art gallery.
Costa Azul
The Costa Azul hotel is another popular choice with British holidaymakers. This hotel also looks out over the harbour and is in an ideal location for shopping and nightlife. There are no less than nine different room types and plenty of facilities, including a gym, wellness centre, solarium and swimming pool, coffee bar, restaurant, pool bar, and meeting rooms.
Bars and Restaurants
Gastro-Gourmet Restaurant
The Gastro-Gourmet Restaurant is a part of the Boutique Hotel Calatrava and boasts amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea. The menu consists of Mediterranean cuisine with local Majorcan and Spanish touches. The restaurant is made up of a beautiful indoor seating area and a pleasant outdoor terrace.
Rialto Cafe
The Rialto Café at Rialto Living, a designer store focused on relaxed and stylish living, is a great place for both shopping and eating. The café serves breakfasts, lunches, snacks and beverages.
Things to do in Palma in January
Fiesta Season
If you enjoy parties, you'll love Palma in January! It is fiesta season and everybody is invited to join in the fun. The entertainment kicks off in the evening of the 16th when the locals sit singing traditional songs around small bonfires. The following day, a colourful parade made up of horseback riders, floats and animals makes its way through the city.
Fiesta of Sant Sebastia
Just three days later, you can witness the biggest cultural event on Palma's calendar- the Fiesta of Sant Sebastia. Several of the city's squares are transformed into stages for live music. Each stage specialises in its own genre, be it traditional flamenco, classical, jazz or rock music.
Passeig des Born
Of course, there's more to Palma than just parties. Those who enjoy shopping will love the up-market boutiques in the Passeig des Born and the small specialist shops of the Placa Major. Palma is not a large city, so it should be possible to visit most of the main shopping areas in a single day. As an added bonus, the winter sales start during the second week of January, so you may be able to grab some bargains to take back home!
