{"id":14818,"date":"2026-11-11T16:56:50","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T15:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/?p=14818"},"modified":"2026-11-11T16:56:52","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T15:56:52","slug":"malaga-in-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/malaga-in-december\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u00e1laga in December, Christmas lights, winter sun and local traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"product\"><div class=\"product\">\n<div class=\"product ics-post\">\n<style>\nbody:has(.ics-post) h1.entry-title{font-size:36px!important;line-height:1.25!important;font-weight:700!important}\n.ics-post h2{font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif!important;font-size:26px!important;font-weight:400!important;line-height:1.3!important;margin:44px 0 12px!important}\n.ics-post h3{font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif!important;font-size:20px!important;font-weight:400!important;line-height:1.35!important;color:#0f489b!important;margin:26px 0 6px!important}\n.ics-post .faq h3{font-size:17px!important;margin:18px 0 4px!important}\n.ics-post .faqbox h2{margin-top:22px!important}\n.ics-post p{line-height:1.7}\n.ics-post figure{margin:34px auto!important;max-width:480px}\n.ics-post figure img{display:block;width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:6px!important;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(15,72,155,.10)}\n.ics-post figcaption{color:#5b6475;margin-top:10px;font-style:normal}\n.ics-post .ics-cta{text-align:center;margin:38px 0!important}\n.ics-post a.ics-btn{display:inline-block;background:#ff7c5e;color:#fff!important;font-weight:700;font-size:17px;line-height:1.3;border-radius:50px;padding:16px 36px;text-decoration:none!important;box-shadow:0 6px 18px rgba(255,124,94,.35);transition:background .2s,transform .2s,box-shadow .2s}\n.ics-post a.ics-btn:hover{background:#0f489b;box-shadow:0 6px 18px rgba(15,72,155,.30);transform:translateY(-2px)}\n.ics-post ul.ics-facts{list-style:none!important;background:#f3f6fb;border-left:4px solid #ff7c5e;border-radius:6px;padding:24px 28px!important;margin:30px 0!important}\n.ics-post ul.ics-facts li{display:grid;grid-template-columns:150px 1fr;gap:16px;margin:0!important;padding:10px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #e1e7f2;line-height:1.55}\n.ics-post ul.ics-facts li:first-child{padding-top:0}\n.ics-post ul.ics-facts li:last-child{border-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0}\n.ics-post ul.ics-facts strong{color:#0f489b}\n@media(max-width:640px){body:has(.ics-post) h1.entry-title{font-size:28px!important}.ics-post h2{font-size:22px!important}.ics-post ul.ics-facts{padding:18px!important}.ics-post ul.ics-facts li{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:2px}.ics-post a.ics-btn{display:block;font-size:16px;padding:15px 22px}.ics-post figure{margin:26px auto!important}}\n<\/style>\n\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/malaga-in-december-calle-larios-christmas-lights.webp\" alt=\"M\u00e1laga in December, Christmas lights on Calle Larios\" width=\"900\" height=\"1200\"><figcaption>Calle Larios dressed in its Christmas lights<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p>M\u00e1laga in December has a charm of its own. The city lights up, the terraces stay full under a low winter sun and the streets smell of roasted chestnuts. Locals fill the old town in the evening for the light show on Calle Larios, families gather for long lunches and the end of the year brings traditions you only see in Andalusia. This guide brings together what to see, eat and plan for a December visit, with tips from people who live on the coast all year round.<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"ics-facts\">\n<li><strong>Weather<\/strong><span>Sunny days around 17 degrees, cooler evenings around 8 to 9 degrees<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Highlight<\/strong><span>The Christmas lights and light show on Calle Larios<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Public holidays<\/strong><span>6 and 8 December, 25 December, 1 and 6 January<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Local tradition<\/strong><span>Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales on 28 December<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Taste<\/strong><span>Churros with hot chocolate, mantecados, polvorones and turr\u00f3n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"ics-cta\"><a class=\"ics-btn\" href=\"\/nl\/aanbevolen\/\">\u2192 Find trusted local businesses in M\u00e1laga<\/a><\/p>\n\n<h2>Christmas lights on Calle Larios<\/h2>\n<p>The Christmas lights of M\u00e1laga belong to the best known in Spain. The lights are switched on at the end of November and stay up until early January. On Calle Larios, the main shopping street between the port and Plaza de la Constituci\u00f3n, a ceiling of light arches covers the whole street. Several times each evening the lights move to music in a short show that draws a big crowd. Check the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.malagaturismo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">M\u00e1laga tourism website<\/a> for this year&#8217;s show times.<\/p>\n<p>Come early and stand halfway down the street for the best view. The show is free, and the streets around it turn into one big evening walk. Afterwards the side streets of the old town are perfect for tapas, with small bars serving a glass of sweet M\u00e1laga wine next to the classics.<\/p>\n\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/malaga-in-december-calle-larios-winter-sun.webp\" alt=\"Christmas decorations on Calle Larios under the winter sun in M\u00e1laga\" width=\"900\" height=\"1200\"><figcaption>Christmas decorations under a clear winter sky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2>Winter sun in M\u00e1laga in December<\/h2>\n<p>Days in M\u00e1laga in December often feel like spring elsewhere in Europe. Clear blue skies and mild afternoons make a walk along the promenade of La Malagueta or Pedregalejo a real pleasure. Many people still have lunch outside, wrapped in a light jacket, with grilled sardines from the beach restaurants. Swimming is for the brave, yet the sunshine alone makes a winter break here worthwhile.<\/p>\n<p>The evenings cool down quickly once the sun sets. Bring layers, and plan your outdoor moments around the middle of the day.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Traditions that make December special<\/h2>\n\n<h3>Nativity scenes in churches and the city centre<\/h3>\n<p>Belenes, the Spanish nativity scenes, appear in churches, cultural centres and public buildings across M\u00e1laga. Some are huge, with whole villages in miniature, flowing water and moving figures. Walking from one bel\u00e9n to the next is a lovely way to discover the old town and its churches.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Christmas Eve and Christmas Day<\/h3>\n<p>Nochebuena, Christmas Eve, is a family evening in Spain. Many restaurants close early or offer a set menu, so book in advance if you plan to eat out. On Christmas Day the city is calm in the morning and lively again over lunch.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales on 28 December<\/h3>\n<p>On 28 December the hills of Puerto de la Torre come alive with verdiales, one of the oldest folk music traditions of the province. Groups called pandas play violins, guitars and cymbals, with dancers in colourful hats decorated with flowers and ribbons. It is local, loud and joyful, and a side of M\u00e1laga most visitors miss.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"ics-cta\"><a class=\"ics-btn\" href=\"\/nl\/de-beste-restaurants-in-de-oude-binnenstad-van-malaga\/\">\u2192 Discover the best restaurants in M\u00e1laga old town<\/a><\/p>\n\n<h3>New Year&#8217;s Eve and the twelve grapes<\/h3>\n<p>At midnight on 31 December, the whole of Spain eats twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock. In M\u00e1laga people gather in the city centre to welcome the new year together. Supermarkets sell small tins of peeled grapes for the occasion, a handy tip if you want to keep up with the chimes.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Three Kings in early January<\/h3>\n<p>The festive season ends with the Three Kings. On the evening of 5 January the Cabalgata de Reyes parade rides through the centre, with sweets thrown to the crowd. The next morning children open their presents and families share a rosc\u00f3n de reyes, a sweet ring cake with a surprise hidden inside.<\/p>\n\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/malaga-in-december-three-kings-alcazaba.webp\" alt=\"Three Kings figure in front of the Alcazaba in M\u00e1laga\" width=\"900\" height=\"1200\"><figcaption>One of the Three Kings in front of the Alcazaba<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2>What to eat in M\u00e1laga in December<\/h2>\n<p>December is the month of mantecados, polvorones and turr\u00f3n. You find them in every bakery and supermarket, often in beautiful boxes that make a perfect gift to take home. For breakfast or an afternoon break, churros with thick hot chocolate are a must. Casa Aranda, right next to the central market, has served them for generations.<\/p>\n<p>The Atarazanas market is busy in the weeks before Christmas, with stalls full of seafood, ham, cheese and seasonal fruit. Visit in the morning, when the atmosphere is at its best.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Museums and culture on cooler days<\/h2>\n<p>A cloudy afternoon in M\u00e1laga in December is the perfect excuse for culture. The Picasso Museum shows the work of the painter who was born in M\u00e1laga, and the Carmen Thyssen Museum focuses on Spanish and Andalusian painting. Above the city, the Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro castle offer history and a wide view over the port, beautiful in the soft winter light.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Day trips from M\u00e1laga in winter<\/h2>\n<p>M\u00e1laga in December is a great base to explore the white villages inland, without the summer heat. Frigiliana, with its narrow streets and Moorish quarter, and C\u00f3mpeta in the Axarqu\u00eda mountains are both easy day trips. Nerja, with its balcony over the sea, is close by too. The light in the mountains is clear and the villages are quiet and authentic.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"faqbox\">\n<h2>Veelgestelde vragen<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq\">\n<h3>Is M\u00e1laga worth visiting in December?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. M\u00e1laga in December combines mild, sunny weather with festive lights, local traditions and fewer crowds than in summer. It is one of the warmest city breaks in Europe at this time of year.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the weather like in M\u00e1laga in December?<\/h3>\n<p>Daytime temperatures are usually around 17 degrees with plenty of sunshine. Evenings cool down to around 8 or 9 degrees, so bring a warm layer.<\/p>\n<h3>When are the Christmas lights in M\u00e1laga switched on?<\/h3>\n<p>The Christmas lights on Calle Larios are switched on at the end of November and stay up until early January, with a light and music show several times each evening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Read also<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/nl\/5-leukste-dingen-om-te-doen-en-te-zien-in-malaga\/\">5 best things to do and see in M\u00e1laga<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/nl\/beste-rooftop-bars-en-terrassen-in-malaga\/\">Beste rooftopbars en terrassen in M\u00e1laga<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/nl\/de-leukste-dingen-om-te-doen-en-te-zien-in-frigiliana\/\">Best things to do and see in Frigiliana<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/nl\/de-leukste-dingen-om-te-doen-en-te-zien-in-competa\/\">Best things to do and see in C\u00f3mpeta<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Your guide to the Costa del Sol<\/h2>\n<p>infocostadelsol brings together verified local businesses along the whole coast, from Nerja to Sotogrande. Restaurants, shops, real estate agents, doctors, lawyers and many more, each checked before they appear on the platform. Planning M\u00e1laga in December or living here all year round, you find trusted addresses in one place.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"ics-cta\"><a class=\"ics-btn\" href=\"\/nl\/reclame-maken-voor-woo\/\">\u2192 Do you run a business on the Costa del Sol? Get listed<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Calle Larios dressed in its Christmas lights M\u00e1laga in December has a charm of its own. The city lights up, the terraces stay full under a low winter sun and the streets smell of roasted chestnuts. Locals fill the old town in the evening for the light show on Calle Larios, families gather for long [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14821,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[371],"tags":[571,570,572],"class_list":["post-14818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-what-to-do-at-costa-del-sol","tag-christmas","tag-december","tag-malaga-in-december"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14818"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14818\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14827,"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14818\/revisions\/14827"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/infocostadelsol.com\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}