These Are The 10 Best Things To Do In Malaga This Christmas

Spain really comes to life during the Christmas season. The celebrations are huge, the lights are bright, and there’s so much to see and do. This applies to all of Spain, but particularly to Malaga, where you’re sure to enjoy a "Feliz Navidad" if you visit during December!

But what is there to see and do in Malaga this Christmas? Here’s our list of the top 10 best things to do in Malaga for Christmas 2024:

 1.The Christmas Lights Switch On

Malaga boasts beautiful Christmas lights throughout the festive period. And if you’re in the city on November 29th then you can be there to see them switched on for the very first time of the season. This spectacle will take place at 7pm.

There are incredible lights all over the city, but Calle Larios, the city’s central avenue, is the real focal point of the lights and boasts a truly spectacular display. This is a light and sound display with evening shows set to music.

If you’re visiting on any other night during December then you can see the light show on Calle Larios every day at 6:30 PM, 8 PM, and 9 PM, except on December 24 and 31.

 2.Go Ice Skating

What’s more Christmassy that wrapping up warm and skating around on a frozen ice rink? And the people of Malaga aren’t about to let a little thing like warm weather get in the way of them enjoying this traditional festive experience!

You’ll find in the city center and in the Paseo del Parque so if you want to ice skate your way into Christmas then you can in Malaga this year.

 3. Malaga Christmas Markets

Europe is famed for having the best Christmas markets in the world, and while the markets in Germany might get all the attention, the markets in Spain are truly exceptional too. Malaga boasts 3 main Christmas markets as well as several smaller ones.

These markets open in December and January and are a great place to find gifts, Christmas decorations and nativity pieces, as well as delicious food.

The biggest market is in Malaga Park, boasting 90 stalls and with a convenient location right by the old town of the city. The second largest market, and one of the most popular, is located by Malaga Port. This market is famous not only because of it stalls but because it is so beautifully lit in the evenings, which reflect on the water of the port.

 4.Explore Malaga’s Nativity Scenes

At the heart of Christmas in Malaga are the ornate nativity scenes. They are known locally as ‘Belenes’ or ‘Nacimientos’ and locals take great pride in creating their own in their own homes. However there are also ornate public nativity scenes that you can explore.

There are around 80 public Belenes in Malaga, and 3 of the best of these are the one in the Town Hall which is 150m2 in size, the one in the city’s famous cathedral, and the 140 piece nativity in Malaga’s Glass and Cristal museum.

 5.See The Lights At Malaga’s Botanical Gardens

What’s better than Christmas lights? Christmas lights in a beautiful environment with over 25,000 plants and 2000 different species to explore. The Malaga Botanical Gardens was established in 1855 and has a long tradition of creating beautiful light displays during the festive season.

The Christmas Garden is accessible from 1 December to 7 January 2024, between 6:30 PM and 10:30 PM.  You can visit every day during the festive season, but will be closed on 24th December, 31st December, and 5th January.

 6.Visit Malaga Cathedral

Malaga’s Cathedral is a stunning and visually spectacular building no matter what the time of year, but it particularly comes into its own at Christmas. The cathedral is covered in twinkly lights and puts on a nightly light display from 1st December to 4th January.

These shows take place every evening (except 24th December and 31st December) and you can see the show at 6:45 PM, 8 PM, and 10 PM. The timings are perfect for taking a Christmas light tour and experiencing the lights in all of Malaga’s hot spots back to back.

It’s also worth noting that the 3 shows aren’t exactly the same. So why not consider catching the early show, enjoying a leisurely dinner, and the watching the late show on the same evening.

During the day time you can also visit the Nativity Scene in Malaga Cathedral from 4th December to 7th January. This opens daily at 10am.

 7.Watch The Three Kings Parade

Arguably the most important day of Christmas in Spain isn’t December 25th, but Three Kings Day on January 6th. This is celebrated as the day that the three kings arrived to see the new baby, and it’s also the day that marks the end of the Spanish festive period.

To celebrate, Malaga hosts an elaborate Three Kings Parade. This is a procession with highly decorated floats and performers accompanying them. Each king has their own unique float, and thousands of families turn up to watch creating a wonderful party atmosphere.

 8.Malaga’s Christmas Concerts

Malaga has a lively and active arts scene, so it should come as no surprise that there is an abundance of Christmas concerts hosted in the city to celebrate the Christmas season.

At the Plaza de la Constitución there’s a series of concerts called Music for Christmas, the Maria Cristina Concert Hall holds a candlelight Christmas concert, and The Málaga Philharmonic Orchestra put on a special Christmas concert too.

 9.The Malaga Lantern Festival

If you’re looking to experience all the fun of the festive season without the religious overtones of some of the other experiences on this list then try the Malaga Lantern Festival.

This event is inspired by Chinese lanterns and takes its inspiration from the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. The festival takes place from 29^th November until 12^th February, making it the longest lasting event on this list too. There’ll be over 600 lanterns here and other special events and workshops, such as lantern making and Chinese theatre performances.

This event will take place to the west of Malaga’s city centre in the Parque del Oeste.

 10. A Christmas Carol At The English Cemetary

Do you want to experience all the fun of an English Victorian Christmas? Be transported back in time to Charles Dickens’ London with this fun Christmas experience. The English Cemetary is transformed into a Victorian winter wonderland, and there will be actors playing characters from the Christmas Carol story injecting life into the experience. There’ll also be a choir and refreshments too.

The event runs from 1st December to 4th January, but it will be closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, from 5 to 10pm. Entry costs €5 per person.

 There’s nowhere quite like Malaga at Christmas! Are you thinking of moving to Malaga? Looking to escape the cold and rainy weather in the UK and make an escape to the sun? Then why not get in touch with our local property experts, who are perfectly placed to help you buy the Spanish home of your dreams. We’re excited to help you make your next move your best move!