A developing method includes: horizontally holding an exposed substrate by a substrate holder; forming a liquid puddle on a part of the substrate, by supplying a developer from a developer nozzle; rotating the substrate; spreading the liquid puddle on a whole surface of the substrate, by moving the developer nozzle such that a supply position of the developer on the rotating substrate is moved in a radial direction of the substrate; bringing, simultaneously with the spreading of the liquid puddle on the whole surface of the substrate, a contact part into contact with the liquid puddle, the contact part being configured to be moved together with the developer nozzle and having a surface opposed to the substrate which is smaller than the surface of the substrate. According to this method, an amount of liquid falling down to the outside of the substrate can be inhibited. In addition, since the rotating speed of the substrate can be decreased, spattering of the developer can be inhibited. Further, a throughput can be improved by stirring the developer.