Although not the high season here in Benalmadena, Christmas time offers lots of interesting things to keep the whole family entertained.

Our guests often ask us for recommendations on things to do at this time of year so we’ve decided to put together this list which includes activities and specific places you can visit during the holidays. Although the title of this post specifically states Benalmadena, you’ll find that our list wanders a little further down the Coast; that being said, all of these places are well connected by public transport.

If you’re planning on visiting the Costa del Sol this Christmas I’m sure you’ll find something of interest on the list. Here goes…

#1 Visit one of the many traditional Christmas Markets on the Coast. You’ve got various markets here in Benalmadena; the one on Avenida de la Constitución is open from the 1st December to the 7th January 2024. But a trip to Malaga’s city centre is also highly recommended as they too have popular markets. The Christmas market along the main ‘Paseo del Parque’ in the centre of the city is a must-visit as is the Christmas market located at the Muelle Uno waterfront!

Paseo del Parque – 11:00am to 10:00pm

Muelle Uno Christmas Market – 10:00am to 10:00pm daily. 24th & 31st December: 10:00am to 8:00pm. 25th December, 1st and 6th January: 12:00pm to 10:00pm.

#2 The Sea Life Aquarium is open daily from 11:00am and offers a fun and educational morning or afternoon out for all the family. You’ll see sharks, an octopus, sting rays and many other fascinating sea creatures. Christmas opening hours are as follows:

• 11:00am to 7:00pm
• 24th and 31st December – 11:00am to 6:00pm
• Closed on Christmas Day!

#3 Time to head into Málaga city centre and see the impressive Christmas lights display in Calle Larios. This year’s lights feature a light and music show which is truly breathtaking (shows are at 6:30pm, 8:30pm and 10:00pm). You can get the train from Arroyo de la Miel straight into the centre of Málaga or jump on the nº110 bus which stops outside our hotel and will take you to the entrance to Malaga’s port; both easy and cheap! Well worth a visit!

This is what this year’s lights look like

#4 Enjoy the traditional Christmas Lunch Buffet here at Sunset Beach Club. If you pop into the Panorama Bar at midday, there’s an exciting event for the little ones too as Father Christmas will be visiting and bringing lots of pressies for them 🙂 You can click here to see the Christmas Day Buffet lunch menu.

#5 Take a trip to the top of Benalmadena’s Mount Calamorro on the cable car for the most amazing, crisp and clear views of the Coast. At 1:00pm , 2:30pm and 3:30pm they also have a fascinating bird of prey show which you’ll love. Don’t forget to take a warm jacket as it can get a little cold up there at this time of year! (The cable car opens from 11:00am to 5:00pm)

#6 If you’ve got kids, a visit to the Fuengirola Bioparc Zoo is another must-do. Open during the whole of the Christmas period this small, but nonetheless, impressive zoo, built in the centre of Fuengirola has lots of incredible wildlife including Silver Back Gorillas, Tigers and Crocodiles. Open every day from 10:am to 6:00pm (Closes at 3:00pm on the 24th & 31st December). Bus nº120 will take you from Benalmadena to the centre of Fuengirola and the Zoo is just a short 10-minute walk from the station.

#7 Watch the traditional 3 kings parade – On the 5^th January the 3 kings will visit Benalmádena… by boat! Head down to the Marina at 10:30am to watch their arrival. The famous 3 kings parade takes place at 4:30pm in Benalmadena Pueblo and at 7:00pm in Arroyo de la Miel. This is a must-see if you have kids as the 3 wise men will be throwing sweets and gifts into the crowd as they make their way through the streets.

#8 See in the New Year in style at our New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner. Check out the mouth-watering menu and full programme for the evening. DJ and party ‘til the early hours of the morning.  Don’t forget to book as it usually sells out!

The views from Muelle Uno Waterfront!

#9 Muelle Uno is a fantastic shopping centre with shops, restaurants and bars located on the waterfront in Málaga. It’s a great place to take a stroll, enjoy a drink and tapas or even get a little last-minute shopping done; If you’ve got kids, be sure to visit the Christmas stalls and say hi to Santa Claus who’ll be delighting visitors over the Christmas period.

#10 Visit one of the many Christmas activities and events taking place in Benalmadena during the festive period. Families will enjoy Christmas workshops, face painting, kid’s shows, storytelling, video mapping, carol singing, street parades and more! All this will be taking place in different locations around Benalmadena.  You can see more detailed information here!

#11 Take a day drip on the Benalmadena Site seeing double-decker bus. This is probably the easiest and most economical way to see all that Benalmádena has to offer as you can hop on and off whenever you like. The bus stops just outside the hotel which is another bonus! You can buy tickets from the Leisure Desk located on the 6th floor of our hotel.

#12 Take an organised tour or excursion and visit cities like Seville, Cordoba or Granada. It’s a great opportunity to see how each city celebrates the Festive Season! Just ask the friendly team at the Leisure Desk to help you book the best excursion! 

Well, that list should keep you busy! It’s by no means an exhaustive list so if you have any recommendations you’d like to add, feel free to do so in the comments below.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you!

P.S. – If you’re looking for a hotel in Benalmadena for the Christmas Holidays, at Sunset Beach Club we offer comfortable apartment-style accommodation and excellent facilities and activities programmes for a fun family holiday. Please visit www.sunsetbeachclub.com for more information and to check availability.