Season guide · Málaga · Spain
Málaga in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tyk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Mild days around 17°C, festive lights on Calle Larios and low hotel prices; too cool for most swimmers. Expect highs up to 18°C (64°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 16 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 8°C (46°F) to 18°C (64°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 16
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F) to 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17°C (63°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 5 | 9.9 h | 2/5 |
| February | 18°C (64°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 5 | 10.8 h | 2/5 |
| December | 17°C (63°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 6 | 9.7 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 17°C (63°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 16 of the year's roughly 43 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Three Kings parade (5 January)
- February: Carnival — parades and the 'burial of the anchovy' (usually February)
- December: Christmas light shows on Calle Larios (evenings through December)
- December: Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales — traditional folk bands (usually 28 December)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Centro Histórico
Museo Picasso Málaga
Visit early or late in the day to avoid cruise groups, and check the temporary exhibition, which is often excellent.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
Gallery · Centro Histórico
Carmen Thyssen Museum
Set in the 16th-century Palacio de Villalón, the museum focuses on 19th-century Spanish painting, especially Andalusian scenes of bullfighters, flamenco dancers and landscapes, along with works by Sorolla and Zuloaga.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Centro Histórico
Museo de Málaga
Start with the archaeology rooms on the top floor, then work down; the courtyard is a cool break on hot days.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · La Merced and Lagunillas
Museo Casa Natal Picasso
Picasso was born in 1881 in this house on Plaza de la Merced.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · Soho
CAC Málaga
Check the programme online; large exhibitions change several times a year.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Antequera and El Torcal (About 45 minutes by bus or train) — Antequera's Dolmens of Menga and Viera are prehistoric megalithic burial chambers listed by UNESCO, and the town has a Moorish alcazaba and many churches.
- Córdoba (About 1 hour by high-speed train) — The Mezquita-Catedral, a vast forest of striped horseshoe arches with a cathedral built inside it, is one of the great buildings of Islamic Spain.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Málaga?
It is a trade-off: Mild days around 17°C, festive lights on Calle Larios and low hotel prices; too cool for most swimmers. The best months overall are April–June and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Málaga in winter?
Highs of up to 18°C (64°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 16 rainy days over the season.