If you are staying on the Costa del Sol for Christmas, you will find some great places to visit. If you are a resident here you will no doubt be planning to start your Christmas shopping soon, and there are plenty of great places to stock up on festive goodies.

If you want to escape the cold and grey Northern European winter this Christmas, take a trip to the Costa del Sol and bring some sunshine into your life. Whether you want to experience a true Spanish Christmas or enjoy turkey and mince pies, you can find it all in Marbella, Puerto Banus and Fuengirola. And remember, Malaga is just a 2 hour plane ride from London, and Malaga Airport is serviced by most budget airlines, including Easyjet and Ryanair.

The Christmas lights in Marbella, Puerto Banus and Fuengirola are fantastic, and it is worth strolling through the towns after dark just to see their colourful festive displays.

Christmas shopping in Andalucia
We always take a trip to Gibraltar at the beginning of December, which is just an hour away from Marbella and Puerto Banus, to make the most of the shops. Morrisons always have some great offers on party food and frozen goods which you can´t get anywhere in Spain, and of course, British Home Stores and Marks and Spencer have a fantastic range of Christmas gifts and decorations to suit all tastes and budgets.

Speaking of Marks and Spencer, the fabulous new store in La Cañada Shopping Centre, Marbella has now opened so if you live on the Costa del Sol, you can find a little piece of home much closer to your front door. With a great range of gift ideas, quality clothes and even a small food department, Marks and Spencer is still a huge attraction for many ex-pats in Marbella and the Costa del Sol.
If you live further east on the Costa del Sol, Iceland is a great place to stock up on frozen Christmas treats, including your turkey, mince pies and Christmas puds. This store has grown since it first opened a few years ago, and you can find just about everything you need here for a perfect family meal. They also stock some great gift ideas, selection boxes and delicious chocolates to make sure you pile on the pounds over the festive season.

Myramar Shopping Centre, Mijas-Costa and La Cañada offer visitors an amazing choice of shops, all under one roof, and the big plus of shopping in a mall is that you can take advantage of easy and free parking.

Outdoor activities at Christmas
Southern Spain is a truly magical place to be at Christmas and New Year, and whether you fancy walking the beaches, golfing, taking a trip to the cinema to watch English-language films, or even seeing a pantomime at one of the local theatres, you will find plenty to keep you entertained. With almost guaranteed sunshine, you can also make the most of the great range of outdoor activities on offer.



Bowling, golf, tennis, hiking, cycling, quad biking, 4×4 off-roading are all also on offer, along with carol concerts and the traditional colourful Spanish Christmas parades. If winter sports are more your thing, the slopes of the Sierra Nevada are just a two hour drive from Marbella and Puerto Banus, and you can enjoy a day or two in one of the most scenic and beautiful areas of Andalucia. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced skier, you will not be disappointed, and there are runs to suit all abilities, plus a ski school with expert tuition for all ages.

Where to eat Christmas Day
If you are planning to go out for Christmas Day, make sure you book early as a lot of the local restaurants are already fully booked. We enjoyed a fabulous meal a few years ago at Irvings in Calahonda, which was reasonably priced and included three courses, including roast turkey and all the trimmings, plus one of the best Christmas puddings we have ever tasted. If you are looking for a special location, the Tamisa Golf Hotel near Mijas Golf is also offering a Christmas Day Gala lunch plus plenty of live entertainment over the festive period.

If, like us, you prefer a quiet Christmas at home with family and friends, make sure you order your Christmas turkey early as I know the local British butchers are already over-run with orders. We enjoy a good walk on the beach on Christmas morning with the dog, after opening the pressies of course, and then visiting friends nearby before a late afternoon lunch at home. A drink at the pub in the park is normally the order of the day, and we like to eat about 4pm. Hopefully we will enjoy some more of this fantastic weather we have been having on the Costa del Sol for the last few months.

Things to do at Christmas on the Costa del Sol
There are plenty of things for the kids to do during the festive season on the Costa del Sol, including a trip to Selwo Aventura at Estepona. Selwo is one of the best safari parks in Europe, and visitors can observe over 2,000 species from all five continents, roaming freely in large open spaces similar to their natural habitat.

Selwo Marina at Benalmadena is a voyage of discovery and takes visitors through the different aquatic regions of the ´New World´ and is home to dolphins, sea lions, exotic birds which fly through the Amazon and Penguins.

If you like more adventurous days out, take a trip to Marbella´s Funny Beach, with its go-karts, trampolines, video games, electric bikes and children´s rides. As its name would suggest, Funny Beach overlooks the Mediterranean and is situated just five minutes east of Marbella Town Centre off the N-340. A restaurant and café is also situated at Funny Beach, and there are sun beds for rent if you are lucky enough to visit on a sunny day.

The 3 Kings Procession Marbella
If you are visiting Spain for the first time you may be surprised to learn that, although Santa Claus is popular with kids in Spain, the Three Kings Celebration or the ´Reyes Magos´ is the one that really counts on the 6th January, when children receive their presents.
On the evening of the 5th January, Spanish towns grind to a standstill, including Marbella and Fuengirola, Estepona and every town on the Costa del Sol, when a parade of floats winds its way through the streets. Local residents dress up as the Three Kings and ride into town on floats, while scattering sweets through the streets for eager kids to pick up. This is a great fun procession to watch, whatever your age, and the kings are said to deliver presents to Spanish children on the night of 5th January when they are sleeping (not unlike Christmas Eve in the UK when Santa Claus is supposed to arrive).

Where to eat in Marbella and Puerto Banus
If you are looking for some great restaurants in Marbella to eat during Christmas time, look no further than Puerto Banus. Home to the rich and famous, this classy marina offers visitors some of the best places to eat in Andalucia. Alternatively, take a trip to the old town of Marbella where you will find some fabulous restaurants nestling in the cobbled streets behind Orange Square.  Puerto Banus is lined with fish restaurants, fine dining restaurants, bistros, Indian restaurants and some of the best kid-friendly eateries in Spain. Why not take a stroll around the Marina, and enjoy a coffee at one of the stylish cafés before deciding where to eat.
If you want to see Marbella and Puerto Banus, you can enjoy a boat trip between both towns for under €10 each way.

Where to stay in Andalucia
If you are travelling with a group, the best and most economical way to book accommodation is to check out the luxury villa rentals in Marbella and Puerto Banus. Between you, the cost will not be more than a hotel, and in many cases it will be cheaper. The advantages are that you will have your own private luxury villa with private pool and an unbeatable location close to all the action, including restaurants, nightclubs and bars.

If you prefer to stay all-inclusive, you can find some great hotel deals over Christmas and New Year but book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. Whatever you do during Christmas on the Costa del Sol you will find plenty to see and do, and if the weather stays as good as it has been during November, you will be in for a real treat!