Valladolid sits on the high meseta, around 700 metres above sea level, and the climate is sharply continental. Winters are cold, with frequent fog rolling off the Pisuerga and occasional snow; summers are hot and dry, often above 35°C in July and August. Spring and autumn are the easiest months for sightseeing.
The two periods worth planning around are Semana Santa (Holy Week) in March or April, when the famous polychrome sculptures are paraded through the streets at night in solemn processions, and the Seminci film festival in late October — the oldest and most respected film festival in Spain after San Sebastián, which packs the cinemas and tapas bars with industry visitors.
The Ribera del Duero wine harvest takes place in late September and early October, a good time to combine the city with bodega visits in the surrounding villages.