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Whether you’re excited to swap your eggnog for a piña colada, fancy trying some new traditions, or just want to get away from the chaos of wrapping and Jingle Bells this year… You can’t go wrong with a Christmas holiday in the sun. It’s not like the UK doesn’t get enough cold weather ?
Spain is a great go-to for some winter heat, with December sunshine, and it’s just a short flight away. Spain also loves a bit of Christmas in its own way too, so you won’t feel like you’re missing out on all the festivities.
Here are our top picks for places to spend your Christmas break in Spain this year. Plus, check out our latest Spanish deals for your next trip.
Costa del Sol
Head right to the south of Spain and you’ll have the best chance of catching some Christmas sun. Temperatures here reach highs of 18°C, which is just warm enough to spend the day on the beach. There are plenty of restaurants in the region, like El Grill in Marbella, where you can grab a traditional turkey dinner if you just can’t go without your sprouts. Plus, you can’t miss a daytrip to Calle Larios to see the famous Malaga Christmas lights. This no-expense-spared display lights up the city’s main street and is a must-visit photo spot.
Costa Dorada
Further up the coast, but no less festive, you’ll find Costa Dorada. Here, there are Christmas markets lining the streets, where you can grab locally made crafts, food, drink and decorations. Salou’s Christmas market takes place on Via Roma, opposite the Municipal Market, and makes for a perfect family-friendly activity. You should also head to PortAventura theme park over Christmas – Santa Claus makes an appearance in the special Christmas parade and the whole park gets a glow up with thousands of decorations.
Barcelona
You’ll find festive markets, ice rinks and a huge nativity scene at Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona. On Christmas Day, the streets are lively and many of the bars and restaurants are open, so you don’t have to put a stop to your sightseeing just because of the Bank Holiday. Look out for the traditional Christmas log in the nativity scenes – you’ll spot a branch decorated with a face and wrapped in a blanket next to the other traditional nativity characters – it’s all part of a very unique Catalan tradition.
Tenerife
Christmas in Tenerife is usually a warm, sunny affair – the only place you’ll see snow is at the top of Mount Teide. Parties and celebrations here keep going into the New Year and right up until the 5th of January, so if you love a long celebration, this is the place to be. It’s a popular Spanish tradition to buy a lottery ticket for the last draw before the big day, so grab your ticket for a chance to be rolling in it.
Check out our Christmas market breaks for the ultimate festive trip and browse our best deals for something hot.
Looking for more articles? You’ll find them on the Inspire homepage.
Author: Lily Owen (she/her)
Last updated: 05/09/25
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