Christmas on the Costa del Sol: Things to do and places to go

Christmas is magical on the Costa del Sol with lots of great activities, the towns sparkling with beautiful lights & delicious Christmas treats to enjoy

Christmas is magical on the Costa del Sol with lots of great activities and events, the towns sparkling with beautiful lights, nativity scenes and delicious Christmas treats to enjoy. What makes it even better, is that the sun usually shines and the temperatures rarely dip below 10°C, so you can take a stroll on the beach to walk off that Christmas dinner.

Read on, for insiders’ information and recommendations to help you enjoy this wonderful time of year to the fullest.

Why spend Christmas on the Costa del Sol?

The Costa del Sol is a great place to visit throughout the year, but many people don’t think of it as a Christmas destination. In fact, it’s a wonderful winter sun destination, within easy reach of the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and Europe. Temperatures at this time of year average around 18⁰C during the day, and there are plenty of blue sky, sunny days to enjoy.

It’s a very diverse area, with bustling towns, picturesque white villages and seaside hot spots, which are all as pretty as a picture over Christmas. The Spanish really celebrate Christmas in style and as a very international area, you’ll find a mix of traditions and events to bring the magic of Christmas from around the world.

The best things to do at Christmas on the Costa del Sol

There is so much going on during Christmas on the Costa del Sol! Expect Christmas markets and events, world-class light displays, Santa’s Grottos, amazing Christmas dinners and parties and so much more. Here are our seven favorite things to do:

Tour the Nativity Scenes

You will see beautiful and elaborate nativity scenes (Belenes) in every town and village on the Costa del Sol, and Malaga has over 80 of them! There is a guided walk around them, and touring these lovely scenes is a truly festive way to see the city.

Marbella has a lovely nativity scene route as well, which is a great way to get to know the Old Town and see the stunning churches and chapels which are tucked away in the winding streets. There are 16 in total and they are listed in the Christmas programme.

Time a tour around the Marbella nativity scenes right and you can enjoy a light and sound show in Orange Square too. They take place at 18.30, 19.30 and 20.00 every day.

Enjoy the Larios Street Light Show

No Christmas on the Costa del Sol would be complete without a trip to see the lights on Calle Larios. This year’s lights feature 16 celestial angels on 32 columns stretched along the entire length of the street and are spectacular, even during the day.

Every day they have a little show where the lights flash in time to Christmas songs, so try and time your visit to catch it at 18.30, 20.00 or 22.00. But be prepared for some big crowds.

We’d also recommend going to the Malaga Cathedral to see the Blanket of Stars projection on the South Tower at 19.00, 20.30 and 22.00 – it’s really impressive.

The Christmas lights at the Málaga Botanical Gardens look spectacular. Combining a visit to the gardens with enjoying the magical atmosphere, the plants, the trees and the water features, all illuminated, is very special. The event takes place from 29 November to 6 January and admission costs €15.50 for adults and €11.50 for children aged 3 to 12.

Visit the Christmas markets

There are many fantastic Christmas markets that pop up all over the Costa del Sol at this time of year. Visiting these markets is a fun activity, and a great way to pick up some last-minute gifts.

In Malaga, there’s a Christmas Market in the port Muelle Uno and another one with over 90 stalls stretching down the Paseo del Parque. We’d recommend checking out the Christmas Market at El Cort Ingles Malaga as well. This iconic department store is once again holding a Christmas market from the 28th of November to the 5th of December. There are stalls selling Christmas gifts and decorations, and a food truck area to grab a bite.

In Torremolinos, there’s a Christmas Village in Plaza de la Nogalera and a large Christmas market in La Plaza Costa del Sol.

In Fuengirola, there’s a Christmas market in the main square (Plaza de la Constitución) until the 22nd of December. Every Saturday evening at 19.30, they make it snow, so you can really get into the spirit.

There’s another one in the beautiful village of Mijas, in the main square of Plaza de la Constitution, between 11 and 19.00 every day until the 31st of December.

In Marbella, there’s a beautiful market in the La Virginia area of town on the 8th of December, as well as a charity Christmas Market in the Palacio de Congresos from the 12th to the 15th of December.  There is also a market throughout December in the Alameda Park. This year, the Hotel Don Pepe Gran Meliá have a Christmas market and an ice-skating rink with a lovely festive atmosphere.

In Estepona, there’s a Christmas Fair with an ice rink, from December 5th to January 6th.

Christmas attractions for children

Christmas is all about the kids and there’s lots on offer to keep them happy all along the Costa del Sol.

Head to Torremolinos between the 20th of December and the 5th of January for the Christmas Park in the gardens of the Pablo Ruiz Picasso Cultural Centre. There are rides, workshops, entertainment and much more. They can also visit the Santa Claus Christmas Village in Estepona’s Plaza de Ajedrez on the 22nd and 23rd of December.

Every town has a Santa’s grotto and the one in Marbella is in the central Paseo de la Alameda. It opens on the 12th of December with a parade to welcome him to town at 17.00. You can visit the man himself and give him your Christmas list from the 13th to the 23rd of December between 17.00 and 20.30 and on Christmas Eve morning (11-13.30).

On the 28th of December there’s a kids’ pre–New Year’s Eve party in the Plaza de la Iglesia and there is Magic Christmas Park from the 30th of December to the 5th of January in the Antonio Serrano Lima sports complex with an ice rink, Christmas train, bouncy castles and a toboggan ride.

There’s a kids’ party on the 3rd of January at 17.00 in the Plaza Rincón de San Bernabe, building up to the arrival of the Three Kings.

A highlight in all towns and villages is the arrival of the Three Kings on the 5th of January which is always celebrated with a big kids’ parade. The floats feature your kids’ favorite characters from films and TV and classic stories, music and lots and lots of sweets being thrown down to waiting families. This takes place everywhere, with the biggest and best in Malaga and some great ones in the major towns of Fuengirola, Marbella and Estepona. In Marbella it starts at 18.00.

Try the traditional Christmas food

There are a few sweet treats that you need to try during your Christmas on the Costa del Sol.

  1. Polvorones: These are crumbly biscuits, which come in lots of different flavors.
  2. Turrón: This is nougat, which is traditionally hard, and includes almonds, but also comes in soft form, in chocolate and in a myriad of other styles
  3. Roscón de Reyes: This is a round cake with a hole in the middle, made of brioche dough, filled with cream and other sweet fillings and topped with candied fruit. This is eaten on the 5th of January before the arrival of the Three Kings.

Christmas concerts

There’s so much wonderful live music over Christmas on the Costa del Sol. Look out for the word Zambomba and you’ll be treated to some fantastic Christmas music and dancing. There are lots of these performances throughout the festive period.

In Marbella there are Christmas concerts in the main church in the Old Town on the 15th of December at 17.00, the 16th of December at 19.30, the 19th of December at 19.30.

In Estepona there’s a Christmas concert on December 14th and in Torremolinos there are several on the 21st of December.

There are also two performances of The Nutcracker in Malaga in December, so why not enjoy some traditional Christmas culture this year! You can see it at the FYCMA on the 23rd of December, or at the Cervantes Theatre on the 29th of December.

Find the perfect last-minute gift

The Christmas markets above are great places to find a gift or two, but there are also a whole host of fantastic shopping centers on the Costa del Sol to choose from. Marbella’s La Cañada is a great place for shopping, as is Miramar in Fuengirola and Plaza Mayor just outside Malaga. They will be decked out with lovely decorations and trees and have regular activities and events for kids too.

New Year’s Eve and Three Kings’ Day, two very special days to spend with family

You can celebrate New Year’s Eve in many different ways on the Costa del Sol. Almost all bars, restaurants and hotels hold big parties and dinners on the 31st of December. Every Town Hall also organizes a celebration, with live music, DJs and often with amazing firework displays. In Marbella, it’s taking place in the Represa Park, starting at 23.00 and lasting into the early hours of 2025.

To see in the New Year Spanish style, you need to have 12 grapes on hand, and eat one for every chime of the bell. It’s surprisingly hard to manage, but a lot of fun.

Three Kings Day is the 6th of January and is Spain’s Christmas Day. You’ll see all the kids out with their presents, having a walk and often enjoying lunch as a family. It’s a great day to stroll along the promenade.

Where to stay for Christmas on the Costa del Sol?

As you can see, there’s lots going on across the Costa del Sol, but where to choose as your base?

Here are some places to consider –

Marbella is beautiful over the Christmas period, with the best lights and activities around the atmospheric Old Town. Make sure you tour the nativity scenes, sit in one of the beautiful squares for a drink and enjoy the very special atmosphere while picking up some last-minute Christmas gifts. Browse our excellent selection of Marbella Golden Mille vacation rentals on our website.

Estepona is a pretty Spanish town, with a lovely vibe and a vibrant Old Town. Its whitewashed buildings, pretty plazas and pedestrianized streets make for a very special Christmas atmosphere that you will love. We have some really nice Estepona vacation rentals on our website which give easy access to both Estepona Old Town, Marbella and Puerto Banús and make an excellent base for your Christmas holidays.

Mijas is a lovely place for a Christmas getaway, with the large and busy town of Fuengirola, the pretty village of Mijas Pueblo and the seaside town of La Cala on Mijas Costa with its excellent beaches and famous market. It is also well known for its excellent golf courses and so it’s good for an active off-peak holiday. Check out our Mijas Costa vacation rentals on our website to find the perfect base.

If you are looking for quality vacation rentals along the Costa del Sol to enjoy as your home-from-home this Christmas, don’t hesitate to contact our helpful team or browse our list of vacation rentals on our website. We can help you prepare for Christmas by stocking your fridge with all your Christmas favorites and decorating the tree for you so you can arrive and start relaxing straight away. Nothing is too much trouble for our valued guests! Please contact us to find out more.

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