If you’ve just moved to Alicante, autumn is a good time to arrive. The summer crowds have gone, the sea is still inviting on sunny days and the city settles into its everyday rhythm. It’s also the season when a few practical things change, from the clocks to the weather warnings on your phone.
This guide covers what to expect in October and November 2026, with links to the official sources so you can check the details yourself.
What the weather is really like
Alicante’s autumn is mild by northern European standards. AEMET, Spain’s state meteorological agency, publishes long-term averages for the Alicante-Elche Airport station. For the 1981 to 2010 reference period, its climate normals show:
| Month | Average temperature | Average high | Average low | Average rainfall | Hours of sunshine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 19.8 °C | 24.7 °C | 14.9 °C | 46 mm | 218 |
| November | 15.4 °C | 20.3 °C | 10.6 °C | 34 mm | 174 |
In practice, that means warm afternoons and cooler evenings. A light jacket for the evenings is usually enough in October, and by late November you’ll want a proper jumper. Many flats in Alicante are built for the heat rather than the cold, so it’s worth checking how your home is heated before the first chilly night.
October is, on average, one of the wettest months of the year at the airport station. Rain tends to come in short, heavy bursts rather than long grey spells, which brings us to an important point.
Heavy rain and how warnings reach you
Autumn on Spain’s Mediterranean coast can bring intense storms. Two official tools help you stay informed:
- AEMET weather warnings. AEMET publishes weather warnings by area, using yellow, orange and red levels. It’s worth checking them when heavy rain is forecast.
- ES-Alert. Spain’s public warning system sends emergency alerts straight to mobile phones in an affected area. According to Protección Civil, the alert appears on screen with a loud tone and vibration, even if your phone is on silent. You don’t need to sign up.
If you receive an alert, read it carefully and follow the instructions. In an emergency, call 112, the EU-wide emergency number.
The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October
Spain ends summer time on Sunday 25 October 2026. At 03:00 the clocks go back to 02:00, so you get an extra hour that night. This is set out in the Orden PCM/186/2022 published in the BOE. Most phones update automatically, but check any appointments booked for that morning.
After the change, it gets dark noticeably earlier in the evening, which is worth knowing if you like a walk along the seafront after work.
Public holidays this autumn
Public holidays in Spain are set nationally, regionally and locally. For the Valencian Community, the 2026 calendar was fixed by the Generalitat (Decreto 100/2025), and you can check the official list on the Generalitat’s calendar of non-working days. For the rest of this year it includes:
- Tuesday 8 December, Immaculate Conception
- Friday 25 December, Christmas Day
All Saints’ Day (1 November) falls on a Sunday in 2026, and the regional calendar doesn’t move it to Monday 2 November, so that Monday is a normal working day in the Valencian Community. Each town also sets two local holidays of its own, so check your town hall’s calendar too.
Holidays matter for admin: public offices close, and some appointments shift around them.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccination
The regional health ministry, the Conselleria de Sanitat, runs its autumn and winter vaccination campaign against respiratory viruses each year. For 2026 to 2027, the official vaccination portal says the campaign started on 28 September in care homes and schools, widened from 5 October to the other recommended groups, starting with the people most at risk of complications, and opens to the general population during November.
If you’re registered with the regional public health system, your health centre is the place to ask about your turn. If you’re not registered yet, that’s one more reason to sort out your paperwork early.
Use the quiet season to finish your admin
Autumn is a sensible time to get your paperwork in order before the Christmas break, when offices are busier and some close for holidays.
- NIE. If you don’t have your foreigner identity number yet, our guide on how to get an NIE number in Spain in 2026 walks you through the steps.
- Padrón. Registering at the town hall is the step that unlocks many others. Read our guide to the padrón in Alicante.
Rules and appointment availability change, so always check the official pages before you go. Activities International isn’t a law firm or an immigration adviser, and we can’t guarantee appointments or outcomes. What we can do is help with the practical side: we offer an NIE appointment booking service and help with padrón registration.
Make the most of the season
With the beaches quieter and the temperatures comfortable, autumn is a lovely time to explore. A few ideas that cost little or nothing:
- Walk the seafront along the Explanada de España and the port in the late afternoon light.
- Climb up to Santa Bárbara Castle on Mount Benacantil for views over the city and the bay.
- Try a language exchange. It’s one of the quickest ways to improve your Spanish and meet people at the same time.
- Join a community activity. Settling in is easier when you know a few faces.
Moving somewhere new is as much about people as paperwork. Our Relocate and Reconnect programme and our communities are designed to help newcomers meet others and feel at home faster.
Quick checklist for autumn in Alicante
- Check your home’s heating before the first cold night.
- Keep an eye on AEMET warnings when heavy rain is forecast, and know that ES-Alert messages arrive automatically.
- Remember the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October.
- Note that 2 November is a working day this year, and plan around 8 December.
- Ask your health centre about vaccination if you’re in a recommended group.
- Finish your NIE and padrón steps before the Christmas break.
Last checked: October 2026. Sources: AEMET, Protección Civil, BOE (Orden PCM/186/2022), Generalitat Valenciana (Decreto 100/2025), Conselleria de Sanitat. This article is general information, not legal or medical advice.
