16 Amazing things to do in Malaga in winter

We absolutely love Andalusia, and this is one of the main reasons why we want to introduce you to Malaga in winter. The beautiful city on the coast of the Spanish Region is unique, and the perfect weather makes it the ideal destination when the rest of Europe is cold and rainy.

The Andalucia region has about 300 days of sun during the year, which leaves out just a few days of rain. Spending winter in Malaga, you will have the best time, not only nice weather but also great food and cheap prices.

In recent years, this part of Spain is growing in popularity among digital nomads and remote workers for its incredible lifestyle and connection with other cities and countries. Discover how many things to do in Malaga in winter could be on your Spanish bucket list.

Is Malaga Worth Visiting in Winter?

Absolutely yes! Visiting Malaga in winter is the best way to avoid the crowds. The low season is the ideal time to visit Malaga and enjoy the city at its best. We assure sunny days and cheap rates.

Malaga’s winter is also the off-season period, which is not necessarily synonymous with bad weather and cold temperatures. Mid-January is ideal, with fewer tourists on the streets compared to the rest of the year. For more activities, locals visit Malaga at Christmas to have the best time with local traditions.

Already spoke about the absolutely unique weather conditions of Malaga in winter. But it’s never enough to talk about that and convince you to spend winter in Malaga. Below we crafted a guide for you month-by-month of Malaga off-season, gathering temperatures, the best period and some tips.

Weather in Malaga in November

Usually, November is the wettest month of the year in Malaga. With reasonable sunny days, is not that bad overall. Definitely, a mild temperature during the day is about 20 °C, dropping by 10 °C overnight.

Malaga in December

December in Malaga is colder than November, and certainly not the ideal way to head to the beach. The average rainy day is about 5, but you might expect more, especially in recent years. However, the temperatures are not that bad with 15 °C to 17 °C during the day and this drops about 8 °C to 10 °C overnight.

Visiting Malaga in January

This is the most popular month for winter escapes in Europe, the temperatures start to rise and there is a lot less rainfall compared to November and December. Average temperatures are about 17/20 °C. As in other winter months in Malaga, the temperature will drop overnight to about 10 °C.

Temperatures in Malaga in February

The temperatures in February in Malaga start to rise with a lot fewer rainy days. The average is about 20 °C, but some days this can easily reach 25 °C. Amazing, isn’t it? These temperatures and weather conditions persist in the whole Region throughout the whole month.

What is winter like in Malaga?

Absolutely beautiful, one of the best destinations to visit in Europe in winter. From December to February the winter temperatures are mild with many sunny days in a row. The bad weather is mostly characterized by storms concentrated in a certain period, leaving the rest to shine.

The position of Malaga, which is protected by the Sierra Nevada Mountain range from the northern and central cold wind, is a shield that protects the city and the area from freezing temperatures. Although the wind coming from Africa make it one of the warmest destination with temperature exceeding 20 °C

Why Come to Malaga in Winter?

Because it is beautiful, less crowded, cheaper than other places, you can go to the beach and for the bravest, you can also dive into the blue turquoise water of Malagueta.

Enjoy a beer by the beach in a local chiringuito, or stop at a restaurant for fresh seafood and tapas.

Enjoy wonderful weather and the sunshine

Spoke enough already about Malaga weather that it is worth knowing a few things more. The city seems never to chase life (that’s why we love Malaga so much). In some aspects, it seems like our hometown Naples, in Italy. The locals are vibrant, the market is buzzing with local products, and everything blooms in December.

The sunshine every day makes your mood good all-time Walking along the city park you will see green parrots flying all around you.

Winter Malaga seems like heaven and the best location for a winter city break in Europe. Nothing is comparable to this location in Europe. Even when it rains in Malaga, there is light rainfall rather than showers.

This is the best part of our guide to Malaga in winter. The beautiful weather and the fewer tourists around is the best reason to plan to explore the whole city. This also can make you move faster around the sights and discover more in less time. For more reasons why visit Malaga, check our guide!

Below are the 10 best reasons to visit Malaga in winter, and things to do when it is cold.

Relax at the Beach Without the Crowds

The beaches of Malaga are an impressive attraction and a unique brand of the city. Although many coastal towns are not ideal for exploring in the cold months, Malaga beaches are perfect for a winter relaxing time without crowds.

During winter, you might find days that the sun shines up into the sky with average temperatures of about 20 to 25 degrees in some cases. The perfect way to chill out is to lay on your towel on the beach, snap some photos and make fun of your friend’s stack in the pouring rain somewhere else. Malaga is one of the best winter sun destinations in Europe, and you now understand why.

La Malagueta is the main beach of Malaga, about 10 minutes walking from the city centre along Muelle 1 and Muelle 2 the Harbour of Malaga, full of shops and restaurants. If you are not willing to go on the beach or dip in the water, stay at a nearby chiringuito. This is a particular bar, right on the beach, that offers food and drinks.

Visit Museums on Rainy Days

There are not many rainy days in Malaga, however, we wanted a complete guide to Malaga in winter. While the weather conditions don’t stay for long, there is no better place to stay in Malaga than a museum when it is raining.

The city is famous for being the birthplace of Picasso, and there is an awesome museum right in the city centre totally dedicated to the famous artist. The museum often hosts other artists’ exhibitions, but there is a permanent gallery with works by famous painters. On Sunday afternoon, the Picasso Museum is free to enter.

If you are not into that, you can visit other museums in Malaga. The Museo del Arte Flamenco Juan Breva can give you insight into that dance style. Outside the city centre, you can visit the Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda and La Termica which offers plays, exhibitions, galleries, and it’s totally free to enter.

Enjoy the view from the Gibralfaro | The Moorish Alcázar

For the best view of Malaga, hike up the Gibralfaro, the old Moorish Alcazaba. Like other locations in Andalusia also, Malaga has its old Arab Palace. The Moorish mark is everywhere in the region, you can admire spectacular Alcazaba and Palace everywhere, famous is the Alhambra of Granada, the Mesquita of Córdoba and The Royal Alcázar of Seville historically known as al-Qasr al-Muriq.

The Gibralfaro excel on top of all the rest of the buildings of the city, offering a 360 view over the sea and surrounding area. This was an advantage point to spot enemies in old times. It is today one of the best-preserved Alcazaba in Andalusia. Below this piece of history of this land, there is the Roman Theatre, which offers free exhibitions and in some parts of the year, you can walk along with it.

Road trip in Andalusia

One of the best memories in our minds is the road trip to Andalusia, back in 2018. Winter is the perfect time of the year to go on a road trip through the beautiful valleys, seascapes, little villages and unknown places. We will focus more on the little villages, identified as White villages or Pueblos Blancos of Andalucia, later. For now, let’s give you some tips on what to visit and don’t miss while exploring Andalusia on the road.

We always suggest starting a road trip in Andalucia from Malaga. The city has one of the main airports in the whole region, and it is easy to go from Malaga to Gibraltar within a couple of hours. Gibraltar is an overseas British Territory, not part of Spain but with a unique flag, currency, airport and traditions. Spend one day in Gibraltar to enjoy the vibes.

Your trip might include some stops on the way, visiting Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Marbella, and some other little coastal villages. Continuing your trip you can’t miss Tarifa, the southern corner of Spain, facing the coasts of Morocco, Cádiz, beautiful and unmissable. About two hours out of Cádiz there is Seville, the incredible city of Flamenco needs more than a stopover. Spend two days in Seville, and discover all the photo spots of Seville.

Go on and enjoy the beautiful Mesquita of Córdoba and the Alhambra in Granada before continuing the trip on the coast toward Malaga.

We have included some of the best villages to visit in Andalucía above, but no trip to Malaga in winter is complete without indulging in some little beautiful Pueblos Blancos.

These particular villages are all around the major cities of Andalucia. Around Malaga you can enjoy popular locations like Ronda, Mijas al Pueblo, Nerja, Fuengirola, Setenil de las Bodegas or Frigiliana.

Check out the beautiful white village that is at a short and medium distance from Malaga. While visiting Andalucia in winter you will get fewer people around and discover the essence of the places with their traditions and authentic lifestyle.

We suggest at least an experience to Ronda, one of the most popular but also beautiful. Ronda in winter is less crowded and incredible to explore. There are many guided tours from Malaga, and below there are our suggestions.

Enjoy the snow on the peak of Sierra Nevada

Who said that it is never snowing in Andalucia, doesn’t know the real essence of a Region that can surprise you. During the coldest months of the year, January and February, the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada or Sierra de Las Nieves turn white, making the landscape even more magical.

About two hours outside of Malaga, 100Km, you can enjoy a trip to the slopes of this beautiful Natural National Park, hiking up the mountains and reaching the highest summit of Torrecilla.

While spending winter in Malaga, consider also the peaks of Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama covered since December. Within two hours from the snowy peaks, you can reach the seaside for the best landscape ever.

The Season of mandarins and oranges

After living in Malaga, what we missed the most is the life there, the atmosphere, the smells, and the colours. What most comes to mind during the cold season in Malaga is the beautiful trees full of orange mandarins and oranges.

All around the city centre, you will see lines of mandarin trees. Just admire it, but don’t pick it, it is not good enough for consumption. Instead, it is the right season to head to the local market of Atarazana. Explore the beautiful products of Andalucia in winter, enjoying fresh orange juice with local goods.

Festive Atmosphere in Malaga in Christmas

Malaguegnos, local inhabitants, always have a good reason to party. Christmas is no different, and if you are not able to visit Malaga in Easter, you should consider Christmas in Malaga. The vibes of the two celebrations are similar, with millions of lights, streets totally decorated, and thousands of people around coming for holidays and from the surrounding villages.

Malaga and the whole Region is very religious, and you can tell from the many churches around, like in Italy. Christmas is one of the most beautiful times to visit Malaga, where the communities join together, and the city centre is totally adorned. Christmas in Malaga starts the celebrations from the beginning of December until the 6th of January with the Tres Reyes (Three Kings). The main street of Malaga is the centre of the party, walk across Calle Larios for a Christmas shopping time, some choirs, concerts, nativity scene and traditional food.

Spain is famous for its culinary traditions, and the most popular is tapas. These little plates are heaven for tourists. Tapas are also synonyms of cheap, but good to fill your stomach, and in many cases, these are served with your beer for free upon request.

IF you want to dive into this beautiful traditional food, we encourage you to go on a Tapas tour in Malaga. Walking around the maze of streets of the city centre, there are many tapas bars ready for you, but going with a local guide that can explain the history behind any of this is a unique experience to do in Malaga.

Golf in Costa del Sol

While in the rest of Europe you might experience harsh weather, often rainy which makes you moody, in Costa del Sol the sun shines in the sky and boosts your mood!

If you are into golf, you will be surprised about the high standards and quality of golf clubs along the coast. The presence of British, Germans, Americans and Australian tourists boosted the market, making Costa del Sol one of the best locations for this kind of sport and activity. Outside Malaga, you can find many Golf Clubs to welcome and let you enjoy a little holiday with fun and sport.

Christmas Lights

Visiting Malaga in December, you will enter a loop of emotions. This is one of the best times of the year to explore the region, enjoying the most incredible Christmas lighting in Andalucia. Locals from nearby towns and villages all come to Malaga to celebrate.

Calle Larios and nearby streets are full of locals going shopping. The beautiful streets are full of artists performing, concerts, candlelight and many more attractions.

Experience Los Reyes

Like in Italy also, Spain has the tradition of extending the Christmas period over the conventional 24th and 25th of December. The whole period that goes from December 8th until the 6th of January is dedicated to family and unity. The 6th of January is a special moment in religious traditions. This is the time when the three wise men or the three kings, arrived to pay homage to the king of kings, the baby Jesus.

You can find this time identified in many ways like above, or in a local way, as “La llegada de Los Reyes” or either “de Los Magos”.

Throughout this period, the families meet all together to celebrate the end of Christmas celebrations. The city sees a long parade through the narrow streets of the city centre that is fascinating.

Nativity Scene at Town Hall

While exploring Malaga at Christmas, you will be taken by many emotions and transported in the celebrations, you can’t miss admiring the nativity representations just at every corner of the city.

We recommend that you don’t miss the one at the Town Hall. This is the oldest in town and is very detailed with sound and light effects and perfect running water. This nativity scene is the most popular, and it is usual to find a queue, and visit it during the week to avoid the crowd. The entrance is subject to time and days, from the 6th of December to the 6th of January from 10 am to 2 pm and after the siesta from 5 pm to 9 pm. Free admission without booking in advance.

Eat roasted chestnuts from a local street vendor

While exploring Malaga in December, you cannot say No to the Christmas atmosphere. The city is totally glittering with lights, fake snow, shops adorned with typical stuff. On the side of the streets, you can find local vendors selling tasty chestnuts. Impossible, don’t stop by and take a little cone to taste while strolling around the old town.

Is December a good time to visit Malaga, Spain?

It is possible to find very good holiday deals during these months and enjoy the Christmas activity in Malaga. Between the middle of December and late January, it’s the rainy season and probably the coldest days in Malaga.

Enjoy the sunshine in winter in Malaga

What we always chase is the winter sun in Europe, not far from home and easy to reach.

We love the sea in winter, and Andalusia and Costa del Sol boost this with over 300 days of sun. Nothing is better than booking a flight to Malaga in winter and getting that natural vitamin D boost that all of us need.

As you can see there are many things to do in winter in Malaga, and with the addition of the usual 20 degrees, you have to book your flight. For a more intimate holiday by the sea in winter, you might go further down or north on the coast. Visiting places like Torre del Mar, Marbella, or Fuengirola will give you the warm touch of the little village with the sunshine you require.

FAQ | Malaga in winter