Easter in Marbella: Enjoy the traditions and Andalusian customs

Learn about how to enjoy the traditions and customs of Easter in Marbella. We'll tell you everything you need to know before planning your trip.

What are your Easter plans this year? If you’re thinking of a getaway, we’d recommend Marbella as an excellent Easter destination. Easter in Marbella offers a wonderful combination of culture, traditions, great places to eat and things to do. It is an Easter break with a difference and plenty of Andalucia flair. We think you’ll love it.

Traditions and customs you’ll find at Easter in Andalusia

In Spain, Easter is a week-long affair and is about much more than chocolate and Easter Egg Hunts. There are parades on all the key days between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday being particularly important.

These parades are wonderful spectacles of devotion, with stunning “tronos” brought out from churches and chapels and carried through the streets. These are ornate sculptures of holy events, which take 20 or more people to carry. Expect music, incense and groups of the faithful, some with the iconic peaked hoods.

There are two happy, daytime parades, on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. The others are sombre affairs, but really powerful and are often lit by thousands of candles. Marbella has some excellent parades, starting from the Old Town and travelling along the main road of Ricardo Sorriano.

Although there are Easter Eggs in the shops, this is not a traditional thing to eat over Easter in Andalucia. However, there are many traditional sweet treats to try. We’d recommend trying the Torrijas, which are said to have originated in the convents. Made with bread, soaked in milk and honey, fried in olive oil and dusted with sugar, drizzled in syrup or honey, for a delicious Easter snack before or after the parades. Pestiño pastries are also traditionally enjoyed at this time of year and you can often find decorated biscuits and meringue figures from the parades. Pop into a bakery or café and you won’t be disappointed!

Marbella Easter Week 2025

Easter starts this year with Passion Saturday on April 12th, ahead of Palm Sunday on April 13th and finishes with Easter Sunday on April 20th. Bank holidays fall on the 17th of April (Maundy Thursday) and 18th of April (Good Friday). All shops are closed on these days, so if you’re in a vacation rental, make sure you’ve stocked up at the supermarket!

Easter Processions in Marbella

Below you’ll find the key Easter dates for your diary, with the starting time and place.

There’s a great website detailing all the processions and their routes, so you can make sure you’re in the right place at the right time. Check out the website semanasanta.marbella.es and click through to the parades you’re interested in and you’ll see the routes and a map to help you find your way. It’s an excellent way to explore parts of Marbella that you might not usually discover.

  •         12/04 Passion Saturday – Parade starts at 6.30pm, leaving from the main church in the Old Town and processing through the Old Town and back to the main church square
  •         13/04 Palm Sunday – Parade starts at 5pm, starting from and finishing at the main church in the Old Town and following a similar route to the previous day, but also going through the gardens at the top of Avenida del Mar
  •         14/04 Holy Monday – Parade starts at 8.30pm from the Santo Cristo Chapel at the top of the Old Town and returning back there at the end.
  •         15/04 Holy Tuesday – Parade starts at 9pm from the main church square in the Old Town and returning there, and an opportunity to try the traditional Santa Marta cakes in the church.
  •       16/04 Holy Wednesday – Parade starts at 8.30pm, leaving from and returning to the main church in the Old Town
  •       17/04 Maundy Thursday – There are three processions in Marbella on this important day. They start at 6pm at the Calvario Chapel, 8pm at Orange Square and 11.30pm at the Santo Cristo Square.
  •       18/04 Good Friday – There are two processions in Marbella on Good Friday, at 9pm from the Santo Sepulcro Chapel and at 9.30pm from the main church square in the Old Town.
  •     20/04 Easter Sunday – The final parade starts at 10.30am at the main church in the Old Town and finishing in the same place.

Other outstanding Easter Weeks

It’s not just Marbella that celebrates Easter with daily parades, every town and village will have their own parades to enjoy. There are also parades in San Pedro and Nueva Andalucia, that you can find details of on the same website that we mentioned above.

Malaga is the nearest city to Marbella where the biggest, most impressive parades take place. It is famous for the drama, art, military splendour and outbursts of doleful flamenco. Thousands of people flock to the centre to witness these parades and it’s an amazing way to see the city. If you rent a car we’d recommend leaving it in the Plaza Mayor shopping centre parking and heading in by train. Many streets will be closed off due to the parades and parking will be difficult. Alternatively, we can organise a private transfer from your holiday rental into Malaga and get you as close to the action as possible. Once you’ve seen a parade, head to one of the many wonderful restaurants in the Old Town, or down to the lovely port area for a stroll and a bite to eat. 

Seville also does it in style with over 60 religious brotherhoods arranging parades.

Granada is another great place to visit over Easter, to see the iconic Alhambra and over 30 parades. 

Even the tiniest villages have parades, and this can be a great way to see the typical “pueblo blancos” at their best. There are many beautiful villages dotted along just inland from the coast. Two of the most picturesque are Casares and Mijas Pueblo. Both have lovely parades, particularly on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Palm and Easter Sundays. Get the programme of events from the Town Hall and then make your way to the village Church, as everything starts from there. Following a parade is an amazing way to explore a village like this and see all the locals on the streets.

Alternative plans to the Easter processions in Marbella and surrounding areas

It’s not all about parades though! One of our favourite things to do is to enjoy the wonderful restaurants. On Sundays and Bank Holidays here on the Costa del Sol shops are closed, so everyone heads out to the restaurants. Lunchtime is always buzzing and there’s a really great atmosphere, but it’s wise to book a table in these busy times. Before or after the parades, follow the people to have tapas and cold beers and enjoy the atmosphere. For our recommendations on where to eat in you can read our Marbella restaurant guide.

Spring is also a lovely time to have an active holiday. We’re recommend doing a round on one of the many golf courses in Marbella and hiking or canyoning to explore the beautiful countryside we have on our doorstep. Check out our recommendations of adventurous activities to try in Marbella.

How to organize your Easter holidays in Marbella?

If you’re planning to come over for Easter, browse and book your luxury holiday rental property here. We have the best properties in some great areas, including Marbella’s Golden Mile, Puerto Banus and Nueva Andalucia.

We also offer excellent guest services to help you enjoy your holiday to the full. We can help you with car rentals and even deliver a delicious breakfast to your door. Nothing is too much trouble for our helpful team! Contact us and let us help you plan your perfect Easter getaway in Marbella.

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