Why are Spanish houses so cold in Winter?

You step inside your Spanish property on a January afternoon and reach for a jumper. Outside, the sun is shining, and the temperature is perfectly pleasant. Inside, the cold seems to have settled in and made itself at home. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone — and there is a very logical reason for it.

Understanding why can help you make smarter decisions when choosing a property in Spain — and help you prepare for a genuinely comfortable year-round living experience.

How centuries of architecture shaped the way Spanish homes feel today

For most of Spain's history, the challenge was not keeping warm — it was surviving the heat. The Mediterranean summer is long, intense, and unforgiving, and traditional Spanish building techniques evolved specifically to manage it. Thick stone and brick walls absorb heat slowly during the day and release it at night. Small, shaded windows limit the amount of direct sunlight that enters. North-facing rooms, internal courtyards, and tiled floors all work together to create a naturally cool interior environment.

These are genuinely clever, time-tested solutions. In July and August, they work beautifully. But in January, those same features — the thermal mass, the hard floors, the modest window sizes — mean that warmth, once lost, is difficult to recover.

Thick walls: great for keeping heat out, not so great for keeping it in

The dense walls typical of older Spanish construction absorb and store heat, but in winter this works against you. When outdoor temperatures drop overnight, those walls can turn cold and take a long time to warm back up, even when the heating is running. The result is that rooms can feel chilly even when the air temperature is technically acceptable.

Tiled floors: a summer favourite that amplifies the winter chill

Ceramic and stone tiles are found throughout Spanish homes and are one of the most effective ways of maintaining a cool underfoot feel during the warm months. In winter, however, they conduct cold efficiently and can make even a mildly chilly room feel significantly colder. This is one of the first things many new residents notice, and one of the simplest to address with rugs and soft furnishings.

Why do Spanish houses feel so cold in winter?

The short answer is that they were never designed to hold warmth in the first place. Spanish homes — particularly older properties in coastal and southern regions — were built to manage intense summer heat, not to retain heat during the cooler months. The result is a combination of features that work against comfort in winter: thick walls that cool slowly and take time to reheat, hard tiled floors that conduct cold upward, and windows that were sized to limit sun rather than maximise warmth. Add limited insulation into the mix, and the picture becomes clear.

Insulation standards: What you need to know before you buy

Alongside the architectural philosophy, insulation has historically been a low priority in Spanish construction — particularly in properties built before the mid-2000s. Single-glazed windows, basic aluminium frames, uninsulated roofs, and the absence of cavity wall insulation are all common features of older homes in Spain, especially in the south and along the coast.

Spain introduced the Technical Building Code (Código Técnico de la Edificación) in 2006, which set new standards for thermal insulation in new builds. Homes constructed or renovated since then tend to perform considerably better in winter. When exploring properties, it is worth checking the build date and energy performance certificate (EPC) — called a certificado de eficiencia energética in Spain — as these will give you a good indication of how well-insulated a home is likely to be.

For practical advice on improving thermal performance once you own a property, see our guide to boosting energy efficiency in your Spanish home.

Heating systems in Spain: Why central heating is not the norm

Central heating, as northern Europeans understand it, is relatively uncommon across much of Spain — particularly in Mediterranean coastal areas and Andalucía. The assumption of mild winters meant that the infrastructure for whole-home heating was simply never built into most properties as standard. Instead, Spanish homes typically rely on a combination of solutions.

Reversible air conditioning: The most widespread heating option

The split-unit air conditioning system found in most Spanish homes is reversible, meaning it can produce warm air in winter as well as cool air in summer. This is by far the most common form of heating in coastal and southern properties. It is energy-efficient when well-maintained, relatively quick to warm a room, and familiar to most buyers from their cooling use in summer.

Other heating options you may find or choose to install

Depending on the property and region, you may encounter several other approaches to winter warmth:

• Electric or oil-filled radiators: practical for individual rooms and easy to use, though they can be expensive to run over extended periods.
• Pellet stoves and wood burners: popular in rural inland areas, they provide excellent warmth and can add real character to a property.
• Gas heaters: still common in older homes, they provide strong, fast heat but require good ventilation and regular safety checks.
• Underfloor heating: increasingly installed in new builds and renovations, this is an excellent long-term comfort solution that works particularly well with tiled floors.
• Heat pumps: growing in popularity due to their energy efficiency and suitability for the Spanish climate.

Winter temperatures in Spain vary more than you might expect

It is worth noting that Spain is a climatically diverse country. The coastal regions of Andalucía, Murcia, and the Costa Blanca experience relatively mild winters, with daytime temperatures often staying above 15°C. In contrast, inland areas — particularly around Madrid, Castilla y León, and Aragón — can see temperatures well below freezing and regular snowfall.

This matters when you are choosing a property. A home in Marbella with no central heating and single glazing may feel perfectly manageable in winter. The same specification in a hillside village in the interior of Valencia could make for a genuinely uncomfortable experience. Orientation also plays a more significant role than many buyers realise — a south-facing property will absorb several hours of winter sun each day, while a north-facing equivalent of identical specification can feel markedly colder throughout the season. We recommend factoring in the specific microclimate of any area you are considering, not just the country's general reputation for warmth.

If year-round comfort matters to you, read our guide to Spain's regions, provinces and property, it can help you understand what life is like in each area throughout the year, not just in summer.

The role of humidity: why 12°C in Spain can feel colder than 12°C elsewhere

Coastal areas of Spain, while mild in temperature, often experience higher humidity levels in winter. This damp quality to the cold air is well-known among long-term residents — it feels more penetrating than the dry cold of inland regions, and it can make a property with poor insulation feel significantly less comfortable than the thermometer alone would suggest.

Good ventilation, moisture management, and adequate heating all work together to address this. If you are purchasing a coastal property with older construction, it is something to be aware of and to ask about during your viewing.

What to look for when viewing a property in winter

If you have the opportunity to view a property during the cooler months, this can be one of the most informative experiences you will have. A summer viewing tells you very little about how a home performs in January. For a full checklist of what to assess, see what to look out for when visiting a property for sale in Spain. In the meantime, here are the key things worth paying attention to from a comfort and insulation perspective:

• Check the energy performance certificate and ask about the insulation specification.
• Ask what heating system is installed and how it is typically used by current owners.
• Look at the windows — double glazing with quality frames makes a significant difference.
• Note whether the property has cold north-facing rooms that receive little sun in winter.
• Consider whether upgrades such as underfloor heating or improved insulation are feasible if you plan to renovate.

Newer builds across Spain are significantly better equipped for year-round comfort. If a warm, well-insulated home is a priority for you, focusing your search on properties built after 2006 — or on recently renovated homes — is a sensible starting point. Our guide to new build versus second-hand property in Spain covers the key factors to weigh up before you decide.

A property built for the sun can still be your ideal home — with the right preparation

The fact that Spanish homes are built with summer in mind is not a design flaw — it is the result of centuries of sensible adaptation to a warm climate. The good news is that with the right property choices, practical upgrades, and a few simple habits, staying comfortable year-round in Spain is entirely achievable.

Understanding this aspect of Spanish home life before you buy puts you in a much stronger position to find a property that genuinely works for you in every season — not just in August. And if you are considering upgrading an older home, our guide to renovating a house in Spain is a useful next step.

To start exploring properties across Spain, see our full search at thinkSPAIN property search.

Frequently asked questions

Why do Spanish homes not have central heating?

Central heating was simply never built into most Spanish homes as standard — particularly in southern and coastal areas. Homes were designed with summer comfort as the primary aim, and energy costs made retrofitting a whole-home system an unattractive prospect for most owners. This is gradually changing in newer builds, where integrated heating and cooling systems are increasingly the norm.

Is insulation improving in newer Spanish properties?

Yes. Since the introduction of Spain's Technical Building Code in 2006, insulation requirements for new construction have become considerably more stringent. Properties built or fully renovated after this date generally perform much better in winter. When viewing a property, always ask to see the energy performance certificate, which will give you a clear picture of thermal efficiency.

Are all Spanish regions equally cold in winter?

No — Spain has significant regional climate variation. Coastal areas such as the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, and the Canary Islands enjoy some of the mildest winters in Europe. Inland and northern regions, including Madrid, Castilla y León, and the Pyrenees, experience much colder and sometimes harsh winters. Understanding the local climate of any area you are considering is an important part of finding the right property.