Since December is synonymous with Christmas, you’ll be thinking about how to make the most of the festive season abroad. Visiting Spain in December may not be the first option to spring to mind, but it’s a fantastic choice offering both winter and sun as well as a festive spirit.
Christmas in Spain may not be a massive commercial holiday like in New York or London, but December is still an exciting month with fewer visitors than in summer! You can do it all in December: pack your sturdy snow boots for winter skiing and your best sunglasses to soak up the winter sun! Needless to say, December in Spain is a Christmas holiday like no other.
Read on to find out what makes travelling to Spain in December so special.
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Where to Go
As most tourists flock to frosty, snow-clad countries for an authentic winter holiday, it gives you the opportunity for an all-rounded experience in Spain in December!
For one, there is no lack of Christmas spirit as bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona are popular for Christmas markets, lights, and other fun seasonal activities.
Look to the mountains such as the snow-capped Spanish Pyrenees for exhilarating winter sports, including skiing and snowboarding. Or if you want to combine city hustle and winter wonderland, consider Vigo in the Galicia region, which generously covers its city centre with artificial snow.
Southern Spain promises winter sunshine and warmer weather for eager travellers craving an escape. Andalusia is the prime getaway destination, with small-town Torrox in Malaga boasting the best climate in Europe. Why not participate in their annual Migas (Breadcrumb) Festival whilst you’re there!
What to Do / Best Places to Visit / Unique Experiences
Vigo
Situated on Spain’s northwest Atlantic coast, the underrated city of Vigo is a top December destination for festive cheer. The city is transformed into a magical place, with a Christmas village, Santa’s House, an ice-skating rink, and even a Christmas train.
With over 10 million dazzling Christmas lights, Vigo competes with the best in the world for Christmas displays. Yet the Christmas spirit doesn’t stop there. Fifty snow machines installed at the Christmas Market are responsible for making the city centre a winter wonderland. You can visit Vigo on our 6-Day Galicia and Santiago de Compostela tour.
Madrid
With milder winter weather (an average of 6°C), and a festive climate, Madrid in December will not disappoint. There’s plenty to do in the Spanish capital during this time.
You can buy unique decorations and toys at Plaza Major’s sprawling Christmas market with over a hundred small red stalls. Or feast on legendary chocolate and churros from the historic Chocolatería San Ginés. One thing not to be missed are the city’s incredible Christmas lights that illuminate the city. Spot these special twinkling lights all over Madrid in December on our 5-day Madrid city tour.
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Planning to Visit Spain in December?
Barcelona
Barcelona is a vibrant and colourful place to be in December. Christmas brings markets to this coastal city and fewer tourists in contrast to the summer months.
Like Madrid, Barcelona’s streets are beautifully embellished with hundreds of lights in December. To be specific, Barcelona boasts around 100 kilometres of gleaming lights! Make sure to head to Plaça de Catalunya for an impressive display. Our Local Designers in Spain will also make sure you see the best of Catalan Christmas on a Barcelona tour.
Barcelona also combines the festive season with humour, symbolised by the cheeky El Caganer figurine; a man caught in the act of defecating, and the jolly Caga Tió; the Christmas log that hypothetically defecates presents if children take better care of him. You’ll most likely see a few of these ornaments in local shops and nativity exhibitions across the city.
The Spanish Pyrenees
Visiting the Spanish Pyrenees in December is the closest you’ll get to a white Christmas in Spain. Although they’re not as high as the Alps, with snow falling from December onwards, the mountain range is still a good destination for skiing and snowboarding, especially for beginners.
Prices are also lower in the Spanish Pyrenees during this time, in comparison to the Alps, and there are plenty of family-friendly resorts. If skiing and snowboarding aren’t your thing, there are also opportunities for winter cycling, sledging, hiking, snowshoeing, and more.
Festivals / Special Events
Over the Christmas period, the central Spanish city of Alcázar de San Juan dazzles spectators with a flamboyant annual carnival – the only one celebrated in December in all of Spain!
The parade paints the town with vibrant colours, embodied by feathers, masks, costumes, and elaborate animal floats. You’ll quickly forget about the chilly weather as you savour this summery ambience in Spain in December! Rainbow-coloured comparsas (groups of singers, dancers, and musicians) also take the streets, alongside dozens of cyclists in costumes, joyful parading children, and religious exhibitions such as the nativity scene.
The carnival closes with the highly anticipated and fascinating tradition, the ‘Burial of the Sardine,’ a custom that signifies the end of a carnival in Spain. In Alcázar de San Juan, a giant make-shift, sea-green sardine is cremated in the Plaza de Toros. This event is well worth the watch for an unforgettable Spanish holiday!
Torrox Migas Festival
Visiting Spain in December is your chance to experience Torrox’s delicious local delicacy – migas – (deep-fried breadcrumbs). Held on the Sunday before Christmas, the festival has become a cherished gastronomic event in Spain, attracting over 40,000 visitors yearly.
Upon the blow of a conch shell at 2 pm, local cooks satisfy the public with a hearty lunch composed of crumbly migas and fresh arriera salad (made with oranges, olives, cod, and onions), paired with locally-produced wine.
Several street performances, including folk singers and dancers, and a street market selling local produce, arts, and crafts, also accompany the festivities.
Torrox, a gem in Costa del Sol, is a pretty white-washed town credited with having the best weather in Europe. So the Migas Festival is also the perfect excuse to visit this golden Spanish region.
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Día De Los Santos Inocentes (Holy Innocents Day)
On December 28th, Spain erupts with jokes, laughter, and pranks. Similar to April Fools on April 1st, Holy Innocents Day in Spain is a day of mischief. Many Spanish cities and towns host celebrations, but they can be quite hard to find. Yet when you do, you’re in for a truly authentic experience.
In Ibi, locals celebrate the Els Enfarinats festival with a massive fight with hundreds of eggs, flour, and firecrackers. The Fiesta de Verdiales in Malaga witnesses groups of musicians compete on a mountain road between Malaga and Antequera. In the rural town of Setiles, a man dressed as a devil stalks the streets while children attempt to pull his tail. And in Jalence, ‘fools’ with painted faces and eccentric costumes crazily dance in the streets.
If you’re in Spain on December 28th, don’t be surprised to find a paper cut-out or puppet pinned to your back – it’s all part of the fun!
Weather / Seasons
Although it may not be a complete winter wonderland, Spain offers ample winter sunshine and a festive spirit.
Despite December being Spain’s second coldest month of the year, following January, it offers a milder winter than the rest of Europe. Northern Spain’s temperatures are colder than southern Spain’s, with highs of 14°C and more rainfall. Nights in this region also get particularly chilly. However, warm spells can still occur in December. To enjoy some winter sun on the northern coast, head to San Sebastian, which experiences a maximum temperature of 16°C.
When visiting southern Spain, leave your heavy winter coat behind. With an average temperature of 14°C throughout the southern region, all you’ll need is a light jacket. Andalusia continues to be the warmest region in Spain in December, just like in November (link). In Malaga, temperatures can even reach as high as 20°C, perfect for those craving winter sun. However, the weather in the south can be unpredictable with chilly and windy days. And keep in mind, with sea temperatures averaging around 16°C, it’ll be a frigid swim if you dare.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Most bars and restaurants close on the evening of December 24th.
- As Christmas is a national holiday in Spain, most shops are closed on the day.
- Eat and drink like a local does in December with plenty of Iberian cured ham and bottles of Cava!
- December also marks the beginning of sea urchin (garotes) season in Spain – make sure to give this seasonal delicacy a try!
- On New Year’s Eve, it’s tradition to eat 12 grapes with each bell chime at midnight for good luck.
Spain in December gives you a unique insight into how Spanish people celebrate one of the world’s biggest holidays. Are you now feeling inspired to spend your next Christmas in Spain? Scroll through our gallery of completely customisable trips or connect with our Local Designers in Spain who would help curate your ideal trip!
