Capture the winter sun with great offers on car hire in Spain and Portugal

Benefit from the cooler months in Spain and Portugal in more ways than one

Glorious sunsets, tree blossom and the sweet scent of oranges? It's winter time in Spain! Spending the colder season in Spain or Portugal is a common way of avoiding frosty mornings in the UK but it can also be the perfect way to make the most of the Iberian peninsula.

In the height of summer many of the major cities such as Lisbon, Madrid and Valencia can become unbearably hot. With the drop in temperatures in November, wandering around to admire the architecture or browsing the stalls at the local flea markets can be much more pleasant, and fewer tourists means fewer crowds and shorter queues.

Your hire car can take you for days out from Murcia to Cartagena, from Lisbon to Sintra or from Madrid to Toledo. Wind the windows down and enjoy the cool air as you travel! From Malaga you can even enjoy a day out skiing in the Sierra Nevada. You can then spend your evening relishing a fabulous meal back at a beachside restaurant.

Many activities can be much harder work in the heat of July or August but a walk up to the Park Guell in Barcelona, taking on the Via Verde ecopath in Mallorca or climbing in Alicante are all less tiresome as autumn disappears. Many castles are perched on top of hills so these can also feel more accessible when you don't have to stop continuously to have a drink or escape into the shade.

And what about sports? Winter is the perfect time to book golf or tennis lessons. Many of the clubs offer reduced winter fees if you are hoping to brush up on your skills. In Porto surf lessons continue all year round and if you fancy a spot of rollerblading along the seafront, there are far less people to get in your way once the summer season is over.

Winter sees a new menu in the Tapas bars, more meats and pastry and the speciality thick hot chocolate with churros to dip are sublime in the cooler evenings. You may also find more of a choice when it comes to places to eat. Quite a few restaurants close in the height of summer as their owners escape from the sweltering cities. They return in the autumn to reopen for customers.

Some sights can only be experienced in the winter. The Christmas market in Barcelona is a highlight of the season, combine this with a visit to the almost complete Sagrada Familia - but don't forget to book in advance for the cathedral. The orange harvest around Seville starts in November and there are many popular exhibitions held once the bulk of the tourists have flown home.

Wine tours in Mallorca, picnics on the beach in Malaga and organised walks in Ibiza - so much that can be enjoyed as the sun's rays die down. So don't look at a winter holiday in Spain or Portugal as getting away from the UK but more as a chance to see these countries at their very best.

If you are travelling to Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Ibiza, Alicante, Malaga, Seville, Palma de Mallorca, Faro or Porto you can save on your car hire with Clarify this winter. We are always updating our offers so keep checking our site so you don't miss out!

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