Spain winter itinerary: Plan your trip today!

Southern Spain is a great place to jumpstart your visit to the country, particularly during winter. As you go from one town to another, a diverse range of landscapes will welcome you. Many tourists choose to visit this portion of España for its romantic ambiance, too. Hence, the spectacular sights make it a perfect destination for honeymoons and traveling couples.

Additionally, the south offers an amazing view of the Spanish coastline. Plus, it’s easy to get around on foot. Whether you’re up for a day or evening walk around the little towns, there’s always something new and worthwhile to discover and experience. If you love nature, you’ll also love hiking this stunning area.

Spain winter itinerary: From vineyards to hiking and a whole lot more!

Wonderful sunshine, pristine beaches, and a wealth of rich culture and heritage to explore, a trip to Southern Spain in winter offers a vast range of attractions and activities. Whatever aspect of Southern Spain you fancy exploring Club La Costa World in Spain has a choice of beautiful resorts where you can enjoy the very best of Southern Spain.

If you’re traveling to escape the unforgivable winter where you’re from, Andalucia is always a good choice as it’s one of the most family-friendly destinations you can go to. Also, you can spend time enjoying the beaches, mountain ranges, and various historical attractions in the area. Plus, the weather is just right for some frolicking under the sun.

Want to do it for free? Then look no further – because our friends at CLC have offered you the opportunity you can’t miss! You could enjoy a fabulous travel experience to Spain for free with a week’s worth of CLC World Free Holiday Accommodation! 

Hike up La Concha In Marbella

Enjoy fabulous views of the Costa del Sol from the summit of La Concha. The highest mountain in the pretty town of Marbella, La Concha sits in the beautiful Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park. Spain’s cooler winter temperatures make hiking this stunning area a wonderful activity.

Once you’ve completed the hike, head to the centre of Marbella and soak up the town’s rich culture and heritage or enjoy a delicious tapas meal at one of the town’s myriad of restaurants.

Make sure to leave some time to visit the picturesque Old Town, boasting a maze of cobbled streets flanked with charming whitewashed houses and an abundance of local boutiques and galleries.

Explore Madrid

What’s a visit to Spain without at least setting foot in Madrid? The museums have gotten better, and so many sites have been well-preserved. If you fancy lazy days, just letting time fly by, you can do as the locals do in their delis and cafes. While Madrid may be a tad bit cold during the winter, you can still enjoy your vino and jamón comfortably while sitting in al fresco gastropubs at night.

Do not underestimate how cold Madrid will be in the winter. Cold and wet! So bring a brolly and your gloves. But – remember that the January sales should not be missed. We are speaking from personal experience, when we discovered that bargains abound! 

Madrid is very geared up for tourists. The first time we visited, we stayed in the Opera district which we found to be a great base from which to explore. The Metro is superb and will get you anywhere you need to be in no time at all. We can’t recoomned the Reina Sofia Museum highly enough either – be sure to allow yourself at least half a day to amble around, viewing the magnificent art, including the Guernica.

Tour a vineyard

Explore a wonderful selection of vineyards on the Costa del Sol, offering an ideal Southern Spain winter travel activity for wine connoisseurs (or “quaffers” too). Sample a selection of mouth-watering wines and sherries made from grapes grown under the warm Spanish sun and learn more about the process of winemaking.

Finish off your tour with a delicious meal at one of the many fine-dining restaurants located throughout the Costa del Sol.

Visit Valencia

Valencia is one of the largest cities in Spain. But, don’t expect it to be too crowded at all. You can still enjoy a peaceful holiday while bumping into a mix of locals and tourists, like yourself. Valencia is home to breath-taking architectural marvels, such as the art nouveau buildings that line the streets. If you fancy a Mediterranean feel, you can experience this in Valencia, too! Despite the lower temperatures during the winter, those blue skies and winter sun will still fell a whole lot warmer than the chills of, say, the UK at that time of year so don’t forget your sunglasses and enjoy that Valencia blue!

You must must MUST visit the science park! After all – if it’s good enough for Doctor Who, it’s good enough for us!

Valencia is growing as a place for people to live too. Have a look at our older article that discusses moving to Valencia in more detail. 

Enjoy some outdoor fun on the Costa del Sol!

If you’re looking to add some thrills and spills to your holiday then you won’t be disappointed.

The Costa del Sol offers heaps of fun to be had, from water sports activities such as kayaking, windsurfing and scuba diving, to land-based adventure such as mountain-biking, horse-riding, Segway tours, and even skydiving.

Golfing is another extremely popular pastime on the Costa del Sol, which offers 70 golf courses dotted around the region.

Indeed, on the Costa del Sol you’ll find an activity to suit everyone.

Explore the town of Fuengirola

Fuengirola is located in the heart of the Costa del Sol and is a must-visit on a Southern Spain winter itinerary. Boasting welcoming plazas, promenades and parks, along with a vibrant culinary scene, Fuengirola is a great travel destination for the entire family. Some of the town’s highlights include the Bioparc Fuengirola zoo and the Playa de Fuengirola, a lovely sandy beach that is ideal for kids. There is a fabulous selection of family resorts in Fuengirola to choose from, making exploring this stunning part of the Costa del Sol effortless.

Want higher temperatures?

No winter sun article about Spain would be complete without a special mention of the Canary Islands. Located a far south as they are, these beautiful islands are a great way to top up your tan during these otherwise gloomy months. Whether you head to the busier resorts on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, or aim for a serene escape to the almost untouched islands of El Hierro and La Gomera, the Canaries offer so much! Despite having moved to the mainland in 2012, I still miss the balmy temperatures we enjoyed when living in Playa Blanca on Lanzarote. I can close my eyes and transport back to one of the fantastic seafront eateries at the Marina Rubicon- basking in the sun while wolfing my bodyweight in fabulous seafood.

Final thoughts

We’ve barely scratched the surface with this article and its suggestions. There really is something for everyone. Plan your Southern Spain winter travel experience today!

Elle Draper

Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.