The best places to spend Christmas in Spain

Thinking of mixing up your Christmas holidays this year? Whether you’re excited to swap your eggnog for a pina colada, are looking to celebrate different kinds of festivities, or just want to get away from the chaos of wrapping and Jingle Bells, a Christmas holiday in the sun is a great way to spend the festive season.  

 Spain provides much-needed warm weather, December sunshine and, best of all, is just a short flight away from the UK, so no time is wasted in the efforts to escape the British winter. Spain celebrates with some familiar traditions, too, so you won’t feel like you’re missing out on the festivities.  

 Here are our top picks of 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 an excellent chance of catching some Christmas sun. Temperatures here reach highs of 18°C, which is just warm enough to grab your (Santa) hat and shades and 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 be 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 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 dazzles 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 (yes, really) 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, as 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 5th January, so if you love a long yuletide 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. Champagne, anyone?  

Fancy swapping the UK for a Spanish Christmas? Check out our Christmas deals for Spain and beyond. Plus, read our top picks for Christmas holiday destinations for even more inspiration. 

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Author: Becky Wells and Sallna Akhtar 

Last updated: 25/09/2023