Warmest place in Spain at Christmas: mainland or Canaries?

The warmest place in Spain at Christmas is the Canary Islands, where southern Tenerife averages a high of 22.8°C in December. Christmas in southern Spain on the mainland is cooler but still mild, with Almería, Alicante and Málaga all close to 18°C by day. Mainland nights are chilly and the sea is cold, so pack a jumper.

Where is the warmest place in Spain at Christmas?

The Canary Islands, by a clear margin. We compared December averages at 31 stations from AEMET, Spain's state weather agency. Every station in the table below uses its 1981 to 2010 figures. Tenerife South airport has the highest daytime average, at 22.8°C. El Hierro airport has the warmest nights, at 17.8°C.

The London row is our own 1981 to 2010 average from Met Office monthly data. Dublin Airport averages 8.3°C by day in December and about 1.7 hours of sun a day, on Met Éireann's 1991 to 2020 figures.

Are all the Canary Islands warm at Christmas?

No, and this catches people out. Tenerife North airport sits 632 metres above the sea. Its December high of 17.1°C is lower than Alicante's, with 8.8 rainy days and only 137 hours of sun. Santa Cruz, on the coast of the same island, reaches 22.1°C. The difference is height.

La Palma and El Hierro stay warm, but their airports log fewer than 140 hours of December sun. If warmth and sunshine are the goal, choose southern Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura.

What is the warmest place in mainland Spain at Christmas?

On AEMET's figures, Almería, narrowly. Its airport averages 17.9°C by day in December, with 178 hours of sun and just 30 mm of rain. Alicante is 0.2°C behind and Málaga 0.4°C behind.

• Cádiz has milder nights, at 10.9°C, and a slightly higher 24-hour average, at 13.9°C against Almería's 13.8°C. It is cooler by day, at 16.9°C, and wetter, with 92 mm of rain.
• Melilla reaches 17.8°C, but it is a Spanish city in North Africa, not on the mainland.
• Marbella and Estepona: Málaga airport is the nearest of these stations.
• Torrevieja: the closest stations we compared are Alicante-Elche airport, at 17.3°C, and San Javier airport in Murcia, at 16.9°C.
• Mallorca and Ibiza: cooler still, at 16.1°C at Palma airport and 16.7°C at Ibiza airport.

Almería's problem is getting there. Ryanair's two UK routes, from Stansted and Manchester, show no flights at all in December 2026. Other airlines may differ, but for most British and Irish visitors Alicante or Málaga is the easier choice.

Is Alicante or Málaga warmer at Christmas?

It is close to a tie, and the real difference is rain. Málaga has slightly milder nights, but Alicante has about a quarter of its December rainfall.

So where to go in Spain for Christmas comes down to this: southern Tenerife or Gran Canaria for warmth, Alicante for dry days and short flights, Málaga for the lights.

Thinking about more than a holiday? Our Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol comparison looks at the two regions side by side.

Is Spain hot at Christmas?

No. Warm is the right word for the south of the Canaries, mild for the Mediterranean coast and cold for much of the interior. Madrid averages 10.0°C by day in December, and Granada's air base, at 687 metres, 13.1°C with 8.4 frost days.

Averages hide a lot, so we also pulled actual Christmas Day highs at the airports from NOAA's daily records, converted from Fahrenheit. 2024 is the latest Christmas in the data we could open.

Tenerife South stayed above 21°C every time. Málaga matched it in 2022, then fell to 17.4°C a year later. Mainland nights can be sharp: the same records show lows of 3.0°C at Alicante in 2023 and 4.0°C at Málaga in 2024.

Two more things change how Christmas feels:

• The sea: December averages are about 16.5°C at Alicante, 16°C at Málaga and 21°C at Tenerife.
• The light: on 25 December 2026 the sun sets at 15:56 in London, 16:11 in Dublin, 17:47 in Alicante and 18:15 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Alicante gets about 1 hour 40 minutes more daylight than London, and Tenerife about 2 hours 30.

Want cold on purpose? Our guide to skiing in the Sierra Nevada near the coast covers how close the slopes are to the beach.

What is on at Christmas in Alicante and the Costa Blanca?

On 31 October we could not find full 2026 programmes, so these details come from last Christmas. Check the town hall website before you book.

• Giant nativity: Alicante's Belén Gigante, officially the Belén Monumental, stands in Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The city's tourist board says it is in Guinness World Records, and a 2020 report put Joseph at 18 metres. Last year it opened on 23 November and ran until 7 January.
• Programme: more than 60 events up to 5 January, with 2.6 million LED lights.
• Three Kings: on 5 January the Kings were due at the port at about 17:00, with the parade from about 19:00.
• Torrevieja: more than 40 events across the town and La Mata, including a drone show on 21 December, a free synthetic ice rink in La Mata from 26 December and the Three Kings parade on 5 January.
• Alcoy: this inland town in Alicante province has what Spain's official gazette calls the country's oldest Three Kings parade, in its present form since 1885. It runs at dusk on 5 January.

For the meaning behind all this, see our guide to Christmas traditions in Spain.

What is on at Christmas in Málaga?

Calle Larios is the main event. These are the details from last year:

• Lights: 2.7 million LED points in the centre and landmark areas, lit from 28 November 2025.
• Sound and light show: 18:30, 20:30 and 22:00 until 4 January. On 24 and 31 December and 5 January the lights stayed on, but without the music.
• Verdiales: this folk music festival falls every 28 December. In 2025 it was held at Puerto de la Torre from 12:00.

What is on at Christmas in the Canary Islands?

The one to know is the Belén de Arena, a nativity scene carved from sand on Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The 20th edition covered 1,500 square metres, with some sculptures over five metres high. Entry was free, from 15 December 2025 to 8 January 2026. It opened 10 days later than planned that year, so confirm the dates.

Are there Christmas markets in southern Spain?

Yes, but do not expect Germany. These are mostly stalls selling crafts, nativity figures and sweets.

Can you fly to Spain on Christmas Day?

Not with Ryanair. We read its December 2026 timetable on 31 October for 88 UK and Irish routes to Alicante, Málaga and the Canary Islands. None had a flight on 25 December. On 24 December, 84 of the 88 had one flight or none. Other airlines may differ, so check them too.

The Canary Islands keep the same time as the UK and Ireland. Mainland Spain is one hour ahead.

On a British passport your Christmas trip counts towards the 90 days allowed in any 180. The EU's Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, so your first crossing may involve fingerprints and a photo, and GOV.UK says to allow extra time. ETIAS has not started yet. Irish citizens are not bound by the 90/180 rule. GOV.UK says to carry a GHIC or EHIC and travel insurance.

What are the downsides of Christmas in southern Spain?

• It can be cold indoors. Many homes are built for summer. Of the 514 Torrevieja properties on our books on 30 October 2026, 285 list air conditioning and only 57 list central heating. Ask how a rental is heated before you book.
• Key dates are closed days. 25 December, 1 January and 6 January are national public holidays, so buy food in advance.
• The Spanish calendar runs differently. The big family dinner is on Christmas Eve and children's main gifts traditionally arrive on 6 January. If you plan to eat out on the 24th, check the restaurant is open and book early.

Could a warm Christmas become a habit?

If one trip turns into wanting more, rent for a winter first. You will soon see whether the home stays warm in January.

Our guide to where to live in Spain compares the main areas, and the Alicante property guide goes deeper on the city. If you do buy, budget up to 13 to 14 per cent on top of the listing price, as our guide to purchase costs explains. Owning a home adds no extra days for British visitors. Browse homes for sale in Alicante.

Frequently asked questions

What is the hottest place in Spain at Christmas? Southern Tenerife has the highest December daytime average on AEMET's figures, at 22.8°C at Tenerife South airport. Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura follow at about 22°C. El Hierro has the warmest nights. On the mainland, Almería is highest at 17.9°C, only slightly ahead of Alicante and Málaga.

Is Spain warm enough for the beach at Christmas? In southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria, usually yes, with highs around 22°C and a sea near 21°C. On the mainland you can walk on the beach and sit outside in the sun, but highs near 18°C and a sea around 16°C make swimming a cold choice.

Is Alicante warm at Christmas? Alicante is mild rather than warm. AEMET's December averages are 17.7°C by day and 7.4°C at night, with 164 hours of sun and only 3.8 rainy days. Compare that with 8.3°C and 51 hours of sun at London Heathrow. Take a coat for the evenings.

Is Málaga warm at Christmas? Málaga is mild, with December averages of 17.5°C by day and 8.9°C at night at the airport. It is wetter than Alicante, with about 100 mm of rain against 25 mm. Christmas Day reached 23.5°C in 2022 and only 17.4°C in 2023, so pack for both.

Does it snow in southern Spain at Christmas? Not on the coast. AEMET records an average of zero snow days in December at Alicante, Málaga and Almería. Snow belongs to the mountains, such as the Sierra Nevada, and there is a little inland: Granada's air base station averages 0.3 snow days in December.

Are there flights to Spain on Christmas Day? Ryanair's December 2026 timetable shows none on the 88 UK and Irish routes we checked to Alicante, Málaga and the Canary Islands. Most of those routes had one flight or none on 24 December. Other airlines may differ, so check their timetables before you plan around those dates.

Want more Christmases on the Costa Blanca?

Tell us what you are looking for and we will help you work out which town suits your winters. Tripinvest ES is a licensed agency (RAICV 4221) with offices in Torrevieja and Calpe and a head office in London. Service is in English from first call to the notary. Our clients don't pay us commission.

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Sources

Last checked: October 2026

1. AEMET, climate normals 1981 to 2010: Alicante, Málaga airport, Almería airport, Alicante-Elche airport, San Javier airport, Tenerife South airport, Tenerife North airport, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Gran Canaria airport, Fuerteventura airport, Lanzarote airport, La Palma airport, El Hierro airport, Valencia, Cádiz, Melilla, Seville airport, Granada air base, Madrid Retiro, Palma airport, Ibiza airport (official)
2. Met Office, Heathrow historic station data, our 1981 to 2010 averages: metoffice.gov.uk (official)
3. Met Éireann, Dublin Airport 1991 to 2020 averages: met.ie (official)
4. NOAA NCEI, Global Summary of the Day, stations at Alicante, Málaga, Tenerife South, Heathrow and Dublin: ncei.noaa.gov (official)
5. BOE, 30 January 2012, Alcoy Three Kings parade declared of cultural interest: boe.es (official)
6. GOV.UK, Spain travel advice, entry requirements: gov.uk (official)
7. GOV.UK, Healthcare for UK nationals visiting Spain: gov.uk (official)
8. European Commission, Entry/Exit System: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu (official)
9. European Union, official ETIAS website: travel-europe.europa.eu (official)
10. Ayuntamiento de Málaga, 21 November 2025, Christmas lights: malaga.eu (official)
11. Ayuntamiento de Málaga, 17 December 2025, Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales: malaga.eu (official)
12. Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja, 9 December 2025, Christmas programme: torrevieja.es (official)
13. Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, Alicante Christmas festivities: comunitatvalenciana.com (official)
14. Turismo de Alicante, Christmas in Alicante: alicanteturismo.com (official)
15. Ryanair, timetable by route, December 2026, read 31 October 2026, example: ryanair.com
16. Garrigues, BOE public holidays for 2027, resolution of 8 October 2026: garrigues.com
17. El Periòdic, 4 December 2025, Alicante Christmas dates: elperiodic.com
18. The Olive Press, 1 December 2020, Alicante nativity records: theolivepress.es
19. RTVC, 15 December 2025, Belén de Arena: rtvc.es
20. RTVC, 26 November 2025, Belén de Arena delayed opening: rtvc.es
21. Festivales de España, Málaga Christmas market 2025: festivalesdeespana.com
22. El Español, 11 December 2024, Granada Christmas market: elespanol.com
23. Travel Begins at 40, Feria del Belén de Sevilla: travelbeginsat40.com
24. Sea temperatures by city in December: seatemperatu.re
25. Sea temperature in December: Alicante, Málaga, Los Cristianos
26. Sunrise-Sunset.org, sunset times for 25 December 2026, example: sunrise-sunset.org
27. Tripinvest ES listings, 30 October 2026