AI-generatedCartagena at a glance
- Best time
- Mar – Nov
- Warmest month
- Aug · 29°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 25.9°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,980 h
- Rain a year
- 265 mm
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 1 m
Climate in Cartagena
Cartagena has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while January is the coolest at 15 °C. With around 2,980 hours of sunshine a year, Cartagena is sunny; July is the sunniest month with 11.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: March – November
Good forBeach & swimmingSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 19°
- Midday, 13:00: about 22°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 23°
- Evening, 20:00: about 21°
- Night, 23:00: about 20°
08:1119:28
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:55–08:46 · evening 18:53–19:44
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:44–07:55 · evening 19:44–19:55
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Cartagena in October?
In October, Cartagena is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 22.2 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 31 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 17 min08:11 – 19:28
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 6 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 17 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 44 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Europe/Madrid
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %68 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %96 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
Sea temperature in Cartagena
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 20.4 – 23.5 °C
Swimming season: Jun – Oct
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Cartagena ranges from 14.7 °C in February to 25.9 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from June to October.
From November to December the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 25.0 and 27.2 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 15.2° | 14.5° | 15.8° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 14.7° | 14.1° | 15.3° | cold |
| MarchMar | 15.1° | 14.6° | 15.6° | cold |
| AprilApr | 16.4° | 15.7° | 17.0° | cold |
| MayMay | 18.6° | 17.8° | 19.5° | fresh |
| JuneJun | 21.7° | 20.7° | 22.8° | refreshing |
| JulyJul | 24.5° | 23.5° | 26.3° | pleasant |
| AugustAug | 25.9° | 25.0° | 27.2° | pleasant |
| SeptemberSep | 24.6° | 23.5° | 25.8° | pleasant |
| OctoberOct | 22.2° | 20.4° | 23.5° | refreshing |
| NovemberNov | 19.0° | 17.7° | 20.1° | fresh |
| DecemberDec | 16.5° | 15.6° | 17.4° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Cartagena
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 7.1 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Cartagena, 63 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Cartagena
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 10).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 30 min
- Fair skin
- about 35 min
- Light brown skin
- about 50 min
- Olive skin
- about 65 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Cartagena: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Cartagena has about 5 rainy days with 31 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Cartagena
How breezy and how cloudy Cartagena is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Cartagena typically peaks at 17 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Mar – May.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 44 % of the sky over Cartagena: mostly sunny, with about 7.1 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Cartagena
How often the day gets hot in Cartagena (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Cartagena has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 23 °C: some hot or muggy days. Single hot or muggy days are possible; a hat and water bottle are enough.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Cartagena
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
PleasantOctober: nights around 18°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open. Muggy on about 6 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (10°), the warmest in August (24°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from June to September; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in May and in October. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 88 days a year, mostly from July to September.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 77 | 15° | 10° | 15.2° | 6.1 h | 4 | 26 |
| FebruaryFeb | 82 | 16° | 10° | 14.7° | 6.8 h | 4 | 16 |
| MarchMar | 88 | 17° | 12° | 15.1° | 7.2 h | 5 | 35 |
| AprilApr | 98 | 19° | 14° | 16.4° | 8.5 h | 4 | 27 |
| MayMay | 100 | 22° | 16° | 18.6° | 9.8 h | 3 | 23 |
| JuneJun | 100 | 26° | 20° | 21.7° | 11.0 h | 1 | 5 |
| JulyJul | 91 | 28° | 23° | 24.5° | 11.2 h | 0 | 2 |
| AugustAug | 88 | 29° | 24° | 25.9° | 10.1 h | 1 | 6 |
| SeptemberSep | 97 | 27° | 22° | 24.6° | 8.2 h | 4 | 38 |
| OctoberOct | 93 | 23° | 18° | 22.2° | 7.1 h | 5 | 31 |
| NovemberNov | 88 | 19° | 14° | 19.0° | 6.1 h | 5 | 33 |
| DecemberDec | 79 | 16° | 11° | 16.5° | 5.6 h | 4 | 25 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
37.60° N, 0.98° W · 1 m · Europe/Madrid
Best time to visit Cartagena
The best time to visit Cartagena is from March to November. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from June to October. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from September to June. The wettest month is September with 38 mm of precipitation.
Cartagena through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Cartagena in spring
Mar – May
Excellent
- 17–22 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 9 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days in all
Cartagena in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 26–29 °C by day
- Sea 24 °C
- 11 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days in all
Cartagena in autumn
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 19–27 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days in all
Cartagena in winter
Dec – Feb
Good
- 15–16 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Cartagena for you.
Your best months: May – June
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Cartagena
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
May has the better holiday weather in Cartagena: score 100 against 93. In May, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 4 °C cooler in May. May has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 93 | 100better |
| Day high | 23° | 22° |
| Night low | 18° | 16° |
| Sea | 22.2° | 18.6° |
| Sunshine | 7.1 h | 9.8 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 5 | 3better |
| Rainfall | 31 mm | 23 mm |
| Muggy days | 6 | 0better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Jun – Oct
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Sep – Jun
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Cartagena month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
77January15° · Sea 15° · 6 h
In January, Cartagena is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 15.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 26 mm in total. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in January82February16° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In February, Cartagena is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 14.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 16 mm in total. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in February88March17° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In March, Cartagena is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 35 mm. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in March98April19° · Sea 16° · 9 h
In April, Cartagena is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 16.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 27 mm in total. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in April100May22° · Sea 19° · 10 h
In May, Cartagena is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 18.6 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 23 mm in total. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in May100June26° · Sea 22° · 11 h
In June, Cartagena is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 21.7 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in June91July28° · Sea 25° · 11 h
In July, Cartagena is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 24.5 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in July88August29° · Sea 26° · 10 h
In August, Cartagena is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 25.9 °C – pleasant for swimming. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in August97September27° · Sea 25° · 8 h
In September, Cartagena is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 24.6 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 38 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in September93October23° · Sea 22° · 7 h
In October, Cartagena is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 22.2 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 31 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in October88November19° · Sea 19° · 6 h
In November, Cartagena is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 19.0 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 33 mm. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in November79December16° · Sea 17° · 6 h
In December, Cartagena is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 16.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 25 mm in total. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Cartagena.
Cartagena in DecemberCartagena compared
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Cartagena vs. La Manga
In October the holiday weather in Cartagena and La Manga is about equally good (score 93 vs. 91). During the day La Manga is 1 °C warmer than Cartagena. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Cartagena | La Manga |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 93 | 91 |
| Daytime high | 23° | 24° |
| Sea | 22° | 22° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 5 | 5 |
| Best time | Mar – Nov | Jun – Sep |
Through the year
Spain in October: the best places
In October, Cartagena ranks 2 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Alicante24°23°94
- 2CartagenaThis page23°22°93
- 3Elche24°93
- 4Almería23°21°93
- 5Murcia26°92
- 6Castellón de la Plana23°22°90
- 7Córdoba26°90
- 8Granada22°88
Planning a trip to Cartagena
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Cartagena in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Cartagena has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 100) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 78).
- 95
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Excellent
- 19 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 100
May half-term
May – Jun
ExcellentBest holidays
- 23 °C by day
- Sea 19 °C
- 10.0 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 89
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Excellent
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 25 °C
- 10.5 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
- 93
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 23 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 78
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 16 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 2 h 20 min
- Distance
- 1,540 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Cartagena
When is the best time to visit Cartagena?
The best time to visit Cartagena is from March to November. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Cartagena?
The sea temperature in Cartagena ranges from 14.7 °C in February to 25.9 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from June to October.
Can you swim in Cartagena in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 22.2 °C – refreshing for a swim.
What is the warmest month in Cartagena?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 24 °C. January is the coolest month at 15 °C.
When does it rain most in Cartagena?
The wettest month is September with 38 mm of precipitation. The driest month is July with 2 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Cartagena get?
Cartagena gets around 2,980 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 11.2 hours a day; in December there are 5.6 hours a day.
What time zone is Cartagena in?
Cartagena uses the time zone Europe/Madrid: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Cartagena?
A nonstop flight from London to Cartagena takes about 2 h 20 min, for a straight-line distance of about 1,540 km.
Which school holidays are best for Cartagena?
Cartagena has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 100) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 78). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 95, May half-term 100, Summer holidays 89, October half-term 93, Christmas holidays 78.
Near Cartagena
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Cartagena
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Cartagena's – good alternatives.