While sun, sea and sand might be the greatest attractions to visitors to the Malaga region and the Costa del Sol during the summer months, the often long, drawn-out British winters also make the Southern coast of Spain a popular destination during off-season months too.
Of course, as with popular tourist destinations in many parts of Europe, the face of the Costa del Sol in winter is quite different to the lively, bustling summer scene. Many of the fun parks, nightclubs, self-catering apartments and shops are seasonal businesses which close their doors usually some time in October when temperatures begin to cool and the main tourist period draws to a close. In some cases, towns and villages can be virtually unrecognisable when they transform back into their normal domestic routine and visitors can sometimes be surprised by the change. In Britain, where things tend to be more constant, we grow used to an ‘all year round’ way of life which is not nearly so evident in many of the warmer European resorts.
Visiting Malaga in the out of season period, however, offers some wonderful advantages for many. The weather is clearly one very important factor, and with temperatures varying between 9°C up into the twenties during the period between November and March, the chance to escape from the nightmare of scraping snow and ice from the car windscreen every morning is a welcome one. Of course, it does rain on the Costa del Sol during winter, but it would be unusual for it to continue for more than two or three days at a time and there are many days of glorious winter sunshine in between. For the local people who are more acclimatised to the summer heat, winter is still a time to be bundled up in layers and thick jackets, but for the visitors from cooler climes, it is very much an extension of the tee-shirt season.
For those who enjoy walking and exploring the more typical view of Spanish life without having to endure the blistering summer heat and the other tourists, the off-season is the ideal time to do it. Although some hotels do close during the winter, many continue throughout the year and there are some great winter deals to be found. Flights into Malaga Airport continue through the winter too and again offer some superb bargains. Despite the fact that the number of flights is obviously reduced compared to the summer, in many cases you will still find four or five going backwards and forwards from some of the UK airports each week.
Bars and restaurants can still be found aplenty even after the main throng of tourists has gone home, and one of the lovely things about being in Malaga in the winter is that much of the time the weather is good enough to still allow you to eat outside. The evenings can feel quite cool, but so long as you go prepared with a jumper or a jacket, you should still be able to sit outside comfortably and enjoy the fresh Mediterranean air.
In Malaga city itself, as well as those areas which have a high concentration of ex-pats from Britain and other European countries, life does of course have to continue uninterrupted during the winter months, and so these are the places where the visitor will see less change. In the slightly more rural areas, whilst the amenities might not be as numerous during the winter, you will still receive a wonderfully warm Spanish welcome and have the opportunity to see the ‘real’ Spain.