The air is different today. Here on the Costa Blanca, the ferocious, incandescent heat of August has finally broken, leaving behind a sky of impossible clarity and a gentler, more golden light. The sea is still warm for swimming, but there’s a new crispness to the pre-dawn air.

This is the magic of the Spanish autumn. And today, Monday, September 22nd, 2025, at precisely 14:19 Central European Summer Time (CEST), it becomes official. The astronomical autumn in Spain, or otoño, begins in the Northern Hemisphere.

This moment, known as the autumnal equinox in Spain, is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a precise celestial balancing act that has dictated the rhythm of life, harvest, and celebration for millennia. For us here, it marks the beginning of one of the most beautiful and beloved seasons—a time of bountiful harvests, rich colours, vibrant local fiestas, and a collective, contented sigh as the land and its people prepare for the quieter months ahead.

But what does the arrival of autumn truly mean in a country as diverse as Spain? This is your deep dive into the Spanish otoño—a journey through its science, its traditions, its flavours, and its changing soul.

The Science of Balance: Understanding the Autumnal Equinox

The start of autumn is not an arbitrary date; it is a specific moment in Earth’s cosmic dance. The word "equinox" comes from the Latin aequinoctium, meaning "equal night." On this day, the Earth’s axis is tilted neither towards nor away from the sun, but is perfectly perpendicular to the sun's rays.

At 14:19 today, the sun will be shining directly over the Earth’s equator. For this brief moment, day and night are of almost exactly equal length all over the world. From this point forward, the Northern Hemisphere will begin its slow tilt away from the sun, our days will become progressively shorter, and the nights longer, until we reach the winter solstice in December.

According to Spain's National Astronomical Observatory, the autumn of 2025 will last for exactly 89 days and 21 hours, concluding on December 21st with the arrival of winter. One other important change: on the last Sunday of October, the clocks will go back one hour, marking the end of daylight saving time.

Alt Text: An astronomical diagram showing the Earth's orbit around the sun, highlighting the autumnal equinox when the axis is neither tilted towards nor away from the sun.

Meteorological vs. Astronomical Autumn: Two Ways to See a Season

You might hear meteorologists talk about autumn starting on September 1st. This is because they use a different system:

• Meteorological Autumn (September 1 - November 30): Based on annual temperature cycles, simplifying record-keeping and forecasting.
• Astronomical Autumn (September 22 - December 21, 2025): Based on the Earth's position relative to the sun. This is the "true" scientific start and the traditional marker for the harvest.

A Symphony of Colours: Best Places for Autumn in Spain

While the Costa Blanca retains much of its green and sun-kissed character, to experience the classic, cinematic autumn of vibrant reds, oranges, and golds, you must travel to Spain's magnificent forests and mountains.

• The Beech Forests (Hayedos): Spain is home to some of Europe's most beautiful beech forests, which become cathedrals of colour in October and November.
• • Selva de Irati, Navarre: One of the largest and best-preserved beech and fir forests in Europe, a quintessential autumn destination in the Pyrenees.
  • Parque Natural del Montseny, Catalonia: A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve offering stunning beech groves just a short drive from Barcelona.
  • Hayedo de Tejera Negra, Guadalajara: A remote and protected forest, rewarding visitors with a pure vision of autumnal beauty.
• The Vineyards of La Rioja: Autumn is the season of the vendimia (grape harvest). A trip to the La Rioja wine region in October is a feast for the senses, with vineyards turning into a rolling tapestry of crimson, orange, and deep red. It’s the perfect time to tour the bodegas and sample new wines.
• The National Parks of the North: In the Picos de Europa and the Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido, autumn brings dramatic beauty. Golden forests contrast with stark, grey limestone peaks, often dusted with the first snows.

The Flavours of Otoño: A Celebration of the Harvest

For many Spaniards, autumn is the most exciting culinary season. It's a time of rich, earthy flavours and a return to heartier, more comforting dishes. The Spanish kitchen in autumn is a celebration of the harvest.

• Setas (Wild Mushrooms): After the first rains, forests come alive with wild mushrooms. Markets fill with prized boletus and chanterelles, and restaurants offer special seasonal menus dedicated to setas.
• The Vendimia (Grape Harvest): This season is synonymous with wine. It’s a time of hard work and celebration in wine regions across the country, producing the first young wines (vino joven).
• La Matanza (The Pig Slaughter): A deeply traditional, rural ritual, la matanza is the age-old practice of producing enough cured meats—chorizo, jamón, morcilla — to last the winter.
• Seasonal Produce: Market stalls shift to the warm, earthy tones of autumn.
• • Calabaza (Pumpkin) and Boniato (Sweet Potato): Staples for roasting, soups, and desserts.
  • Castañas (Chestnuts): From late October, the smoky aroma of roasted chestnuts fills Spanish streets, sold in paper cones from braziers.
  • Granadas (Pomegranates) and Higos (Figs): Signature fruits of the season, adding flavour to salads and desserts.
• Platos de Cuchara (Spoon Dishes): As the Spanish autumn weather cools, there is a collective return to hearty stews and bean casseroles, like lentejas con chorizo or fabada asturiana.

Spain's August 2025 heatwave was unprecedented. Learn more about its impact in our report on the Spain Heatwave of August 2025.

The Changing Character of a Season: Autumn in the Age of Climate Change

While the astronomical clockwork of the equinox remains unchanged, the on-the-ground experience of otoño in Spain is being undeniably altered by climate change. The season is not disappearing, but its character is shifting.

1. The Veroño: The "Summer-Autumn"

Spaniards have coined a new term, veroño (a portmanteau of verano [summer] and otoño [autumn]). This refers to the increasingly common phenomenon of summer-like heat extending deep into what should be autumn. September and even October now frequently see prolonged periods of high temperatures, delaying the arrival of traditional autumn weather. The record-breaking heatwave of August 2025 is a prime example of these extreme conditions bleeding into the autumn months.

2. A Delayed and Altered Harvest

This climatic shift directly impacts the natural rhythms of the land:

• The Vendimia: The grape harvest is starting earlier in many regions, altering the balance of sugar and acidity in the grapes.
• The Olive Harvest: Prolonged heat and drought stress olive trees, affecting oil quantity and quality.
• Mushroom Season: The mushroom season is becoming more erratic, depending heavily on rainfall after the summer heat.

3. The "Second Summer" on the Coasts

For coastal tourism, the veroño has created a "second summer." The sea remains warm enough for swimming well into October, extending the tourist season. This provides an economic boost but also maintains pressure on local infrastructure for longer.

For precise sunrise and sunset times in Spain during autumn, consult the National Astronomical Observatory of Spain (in Spanish).

Conclusion: A Season of Beautiful Contradictions

The arrival of the autumnal equinox in Spain is a moment of perfect, fleeting balance. Otoño is a time of both harvest and retreat, of vibrant celebration and quiet contemplation. It’s the season of fiery forests in the north and gentle, golden sunshine in the south.

It is also a season in transition, its familiar character being reshaped by a changing climate. The Spanish autumn of the 21st century is a more complex, less predictable season.

But its soul remains the same. It is a time to slow down, to gather in, to savour the bounty of the land, and to appreciate the profound beauty of a world in graceful transition. The golden hour has arrived. Welcome to the Spanish otoño.