Andalucia in Winter

Winter in Andalucia – the best reasons to visit

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Winter in Andalucia always takes me by surprise. Even though I’ve lived in Andalucia since 2017 I’m always woefully unprepared for the drop in temperature which comes after the scorching heat of summer and the mild weather of autumn.

However, the winter months from December through to March have a lot to offer and a low season break in Andalucia is most definitely worth considering, particularly if you’re coming from the UK or Northern Europe and want some much-needed respite from the weather there.

Read on to find out why I think you should visit Andalucia in winter.

Despite the cold it’s still sunny

I know I said it was cold but, despite the drop in temperatures, Andalucia still gets an average of around 5 or 6 hours of sunshine each day during the winter months (if not more), and daytime temperatures range from 11°c to 18°c, or higher. Certainly on the Costa del Sol it’s not unknown for the mercury to rise to over 20°c and, although you’ll need to pack a jacket to wear in the morning and evening, you can certainly still wear shorts during the day.

The Costa de la Luz has slightly lower temperatures and it does get windy there (hence why it’s a mecca for windsurfers and kite surfers) but it’s still perfectly possible to sit outside at a chiringuito enjoying some of Andalucia’s finest tapas.

Don’t be surprised to be the only one wearing a light jacket or even just a T-shirt during the winter months, particularly if you’re staying away from the tourist areas. Once the clocks go back at the end of October, the locals start to dress accordingly and you’ll notice everyone wearing full winter attire (coats, boots, hats and scarves). It may be equivalent to a British summer day to you but to everyone who lives here this is not the time for enjoying an ice cream on the promenade!

One thing that surprised me about winter in Andalucia is that it’s usually warmer outside than inside – one of the things I wish I’d known before I moved here as I wouldn’t have been so quick to leave most of my winter wardrobe behind. Houses in southern Spain are built to keep out the scorching summer heat but the flip side of that is that during the winter months they are exceptionally cold.

It’s for this reason that I wrote the original version of this post while wearing my fleecy onesie that makes me look like a giant teddy bear while hugging a hot water bottle, and for this update I’m sitting in front of a roaring log fire!

Of course, it does rain in Andalucia too but, on the whole, rainfall is much lower compared to the UK and there tend to be fewer rainy days overall.

Mind you, when it rains it pours. In January 2021 I was living in Sotogrande and parts of the neighbourhood were flooded.

Winter floods in Andalucia

Thankfully, downpours tend to be pretty short-lived so you would have to be extremely unlucky to get rain ruining every day of your holiday.

Christmas in Andalucia

The festive season in Andalucía, and across Spain, starts on 22nd December with the national lottery draw ‘El Gordo’ (which literally translates as the fat one) and lasts until Three Kings’ Day on 6th January, and even the smallest towns and villages are beautifully decorated with trees and light displays.

A visit to Andalucia at Christmas time isn’t complete without a trip to Malaga which is generally recognised as having the best festive lights on the Costa del Sol. As well as the main display on Calle Larios which erupts into a sound and light show three times a night, many of the streets around the city are lit up and the Botanical Gardens are transformed into a winter wonderland.

Christmas lights on Calle Larios in Malaga 2021
Christmas lights on Calle Larios in 2021…
Christmas lights on Calle Larios in Malaga
…and in 2022

The lights on Calle Larios change every two to three years so there’s always a good excuse to come back year after year! The video below is from 2018.

Winter sports

There can’t be many places in the world where you can be on the beach in the morning and on the piste in the afternoon, yet just a short drive from the beaches of the Costa Tropical are the ski resorts of the Sierra Nevada, the most southerly in Europe.

The Sierra Nevada is part of Europe’s second highest mountain range (and the highest in Spain) meaning that, if winter sports are your thing, it’s the place to be.

Pradollano is less than 20 miles from Granada and the ski slopes usually open in November until as late as May some years. The best time of year to go, to be sure of enough snow to ski or snowboard, is February and March.

Whether you’re skiing or not a trip to the mountains is still worthwhile if only to take a cable car to the highest point to enjoy the views and kick back with a drink. There’s also the opportunity for sledging, snow shoe walks and, if you’re staying overnight, the dark skies are perfect for stargazing.

Pradollano in the Sierra Nevada in Andalucia

If you do intend to ski or snowboard you can buy daily or weekly passes.

Bear in mind that weekends at the ski resorts tend to be busier than during the week as the locals travel up from Granada and further afield.

It’s heaven for hikers

It might not be warm enough for sun worshipping on the beach but, just like during the autumn months, winter in Andalucía is ideal for walking and hiking.

Whether you prefer a gentle stroll along the beach or are looking for something more challenging, Andalucia has many incredible walking and hiking routes including through some stunning Natural Parks, so you’re bound to find something to suit your level of experience.

Click to discover some of the best guidebooks for hiking in Andalucia.

Senda Litoral de Malaga

Once fully complete the Senda Litoral de Malaga will run the length of the Costa del Sol from Manilva to Nerja – a distance of over 100 miles. Although there are still some sections which haven’t been finished, it is still possible to walk most of it along promenades and boardwalks without having to leave the path.

Gran Senda de Malaga

The Gran Senda de Malaga is a 400 mile long route that encircles the whole of Malaga province. It’s divided into 35 stages with an average distance of 11 miles per stage. There is some overlap with the Senda Litoral but, if you prefer mountains to the beach, this could be the one for you.

Via Serrana

If walking the Camino de Santiago is on your bucket list then you’ll be interested to know that there’s an official Camino route which starts in Andalucia near the border with Gibraltar and heads inland through to Ronda and then onwards to Seville where it joins the Via Plata to Santiago de Compostela.

Caminito del Rey

The Caminito del Rey (King’s Little Path) used to be considered the most dangerous paths in Europe which isn’t surprising given that it’s a narrow walkway that clings to the rockface over 300 feet about the Rio Guadalhorce.  

Nowadays it’s perfectly safe, although perhaps not one to consider if you’re scared of heights, and is one of the most popular day trips from Malaga. Tickets do sell out quickly though but if you don’t have any luck buying one direct you can book a guided tour.

Wherever you choose to hike you’ll be in for a treat. Winter rainfall means that the valleys are lush and green and, from late January, they come alive with stunning displays of almond blossom reminding us that spring is just around the corner.

If you’re interested in walking and hiking take a look at my other website Alison on Foot. As well as my Camino de Santiago experience I write about my favourite walks around the world.  

Winter in Andalucia is the quiet season

A winter city break is one of the best times to enjoy some of Andalucía’s landmarks and attractions. Without the crowds it’s a joy to take your time wandering around the backstreets of usually busy towns and cities, exploring the attractions. It generally means that restaurants and bars are quieter too, so you won’t have to jostle for your place at the bar or make reservations too far in advance (if at all).

Andalucia has many UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Cordoba and the Real Alcazar in Seville and, during the summer months, these attractions get extremely crowded. Tickets can sell out well in advance and, unless you have a skip-the-queue ticket, you could end up waiting for an hour or more to get in. Visiting in winter takes away a lot of the stress and, if you’re really lucky, you could get the place to yourself.

Travelling to Andalucia in winter is cheaper too and offers great value for money with excellent low season deals on flights, accommodation, and car hire, particularly if you avoid the Christmas period.

Andalucia’s winter cuisine

The menu starts to change in autumn and by the time the winter months roll around, salmorejo and gazpacho have made way for heartier fayre so you’ll find lots of soups and stews on the menu as well as popular Andalucian winter dishes like rabo de toro (oxtail) and carillada de cerdo (pork cheek).

If you’re a vegetarian you might struggle in winter as even seemingly meat free meals such as sopa de lentejas (lentil soup) often have chorizo or morcilla (a type of black pudding) added so do ask before you order, just in case.

A saucepan of Andalucian fish stew

If you eat fish then there are usually tasty fish stews and soups on the menu including gazpachuelo, a speciality of Malaga, which is a hot soup of fish, egg, potato and mayonnaise – it tastes better than it sounds.

And of course, the best way to start the morning during the winter months in Andalucia is with a plate of churros and a thick and creamy hot chocolate. The breakfast of champions!

Exploring the great outdoors

I mentioned the fantastic hiking earlier but, even if you’re not into exploring on foot, there are plenty of other activities that you can enjoy during the winter months in Andalucia.

If cycling is your thing then there are Vias Verdes to explore on two wheels. These are disused railway lines which have been converted to cycle paths. It’s also possible to cycle from Cadiz along the full length of the Mediterranean coast on the EV8 cycle route (the Mediterranean Route).

If you’re into birdwatching then Andalucia is definitely the right place to visit in winter. In and around the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales (which stretches over Cadiz and Malaga provinces), and the Parque Natural del Estrecho on the Costa de la Luz, you’ll spot various birds of prey as well as dozens of storks which have returned to Andalucia to build their nests.

Nesting stork

In Huelva province, a visit to Doñana National Park is a must. As well as the abundant birdlife you might even spot an Iberian Lynx in its natural habitat. A 4WD trip from Seville is a great way to visit this area.

Winter in Andalucia – month by month

December in Andalucia

Spain has some wonderful Christmas traditions which shouldn’t be missed. As well as the Christmas light displays, there are Belens (nativity scenes) which you can visit. In some of the bigger towns and cities you can pick up a map from the Tourist Information Centre and spend a delightful afternoon viewing them all.

If you’re in Malaga in December then the Belen in the Cathedral is not to be missed.

Belen in Malaga Cathedral

In Cadiz province you might be lucky enough to witness the ‘zambomba’, an uplifting mixture of Christmas carols and flamenco. It originated in Jerez de la Frontera but is found throughout the province.

December in Andalucia culminates at midnight on New Year’s Eve with the twelve grapes tradition where everyone gathers in the main square of towns and villages to eat twelve grapes – one on each strike of the clock.

January in Andalucia

The first big event in January is the Cabalgata de los Tres Reyes (Three Kings’ Parade). This takes place on 5th January and the three kings and their helpers ride on floats through the streets of even the smallest villages throwing sweets to the crowds watching the parade. In the bigger cities the floats in the Cabalgata are usually very elaborate affairs and children head home with huge bags full of sweets, ready for the Three Kings to visit them overnight and leave them gifts.

February in Andalucia

The highlight of the calendar in February is Carnival which takes place in the days up to Lent and is a huge celebration of song and dance with parades and processions.  

The biggest and best in Andalucia (if not the whole of Spain) is in Cadiz but, throughout the region, everyone comes together to enjoy the festivities with friends and neighbours.

March in Andalucia

Spring is just around the corner now so the weather is warming up and, depending on the year, Easter could fall in March. Holy Week is the most important religious festival in Andalucia so if you’re visiting over Semana Santa, you’ll see processions of penitents dressed in long robes and pointed hoods carrying statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

Semana Santa procession in Andalucia

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about winter in Andalucia and what a great destination it makes for an escape from the dreary British weather. Let me know what you think in the comments below or, if you have any questions, send me an e-mail and I’ll be happy to help you with any recommendations.

Happy travels!

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With around 6 hours of sunshine each day and average temperatures of 11°c to 18°c, winter is a great time to visit Andalucia.

This post was first published on January 12, 2021, and updated on January 31, 2023.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this post you might like the following:

Spring in Andalucia
Surviving a Spanish Summer
Autumn in Andalucia

If you’re interested in spending winter in Andalucia you might find these resources useful to help you plan your visit and save you money.

Find the best accommodation. I regularly use Booking.com as they have a huge range of accommodation options in Andalucia as well as an excellent cancellation policy in case you have to change your plans.

Book a rental car. Andalucia is the ideal destination for a road trip, so hiring a car offers you freedom and flexibility. I recommend Discover Cars which lets you compare multiple car hire sites.

Book your train travel. Travelling by train is a fantastic way to see the Andalucian countryside and can often work out cheaper than hiring a car. The national railway is RENFE but, if you plan to travel a lot within Andalucia, it may be worth considering an Interrail or Eurail pass.

Organise trips and tours. It’s worth booking ahead if you intend to visit any of Andalucia’s most popular attractions. I always use Get Your Guide when I’m planning tours or day trips as they have a wide selection to choose from throughout Andalucia.

Take out travel insurance. Travel insurance is vital and it’s really not worth the risk of taking a trip without it. I recommend Globelink who have policies to suit whatever type of traveller you are.

Get your travel guides. While blogs (like this one!) can help you plan your trip it’s still useful to have a good travel guide (or two!) to make sure you don’t miss any of the sights.

Andalucia Tourist Information – the official website for Andalucia tourism with information on all eight of the region’s provinces.

3 thoughts on “Winter in Andalucia – the best reasons to visit”

  1. Pingback: Best European Winter Destinations to Enjoy an Epic Weekend

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