Christmas is also a magical time on the Costa del Sol. The mild temperatures in Málaga mean that during the day you can enjoy a stroll in the sunshine next to the sea, or go for a walk along any of the innumerable inland routes where you can take in spectacular natural landscapes and visit the pueblos blancos (white towns). At night, the lights come on and it's time to make the most of some unforgettable moments.
The extroverted character of the inhabitants of Málaga, and activities laid on for all kinds of visitors, give you the opportunity to have a perfect New Year. We propose various alternatives to celebrate the end of one year and the start of the next.
New Year's Eve in a hotel or in rural accommodation on the Costa del Sol
An all-in package in a hotel that includes your accommodation, a New Year's Eve dinner and party is one of the best ways to start the new year. You can choose a hotel in the middle of a town or city, or one that is right on the beach front. These hotels usually prepare special menus, many of them with produce typical of traditional Málaga cuisine.
To complete your stay, you can spend New Year's Day luxuriating in a spa as a perfect way to relax and recover your strength after a night's partying.
Another option is to start the year in a country house in the province of Málaga, having dinner around the fireplace with family or friends and enjoying being in touch with nature.
The San Silvestre race
Another tradition associated with New Year is the open, popular San Silvestre race, which takes place on 31 December. In the capital, Málaga, there's one in the Palma-Palmilla district, and this year, for the first time, this popular race is also going to be run in Antequera.
Seeing in the New Year in the street
In practically all the towns and cities of the province of Málaga, the start of the New Year is celebrated out in the open air, in a square, where many people still participate in the tradition of the twelve lucky grapes. In Spain, people eat a grape with each of the twelve chimes at midnight on New Year's Eve. It is our way of starting another year with good luck. You could start the year among the people of Málaga, who will welcome you with open arms.
And to finish, hot chocolate and churros
If the twelve grapes are the protagonists at midnight on the 31st, another firmly-entrenched tradition is to finish a long night of partying by having a breakfast of hot chocolate and churros (fried dough). You can get these from churrerías (special shops or stalls selling churros) and also in some coffee shops, which are usually open to the public from the early hours on 1 January.
Happy New Year!
