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Seasonal ideas

Costa del Sol in winter: what to do by car from November to February

Winter on the Costa del Sol is mild on the coast and cold in the mountains an hour inland. That mix is the reason to have a car: you can walk the coast in the sun, see Granada and Ronda without summer crowds and, from late November, drive up to the snow in the Sierra Nevada.

By WoopDrive editorial teamReviewed by Ricardas (owner, 2026-10-27)2 min read
Snow on the Sierra Nevada above Granada, Spain
Sierra Nevada from Granada; the ski resort is about 2 h 15 min from Malaga. Jose Manuel Gonzalez Lupiañez Photography / Pexels

In short

  • Málaga's Christmas lights on Calle Larios were switched on on 28 November in 2025; the 2026 date has not been confirmed by the city council yet.
  • The Sierra Nevada ski season is planned from late November 2026 to spring 2027, snow permitting.
  • The Caminito del Rey keeps shorter winter hours and stays closed on Mondays.
  • Winter is low season on the AP-7 toll road, with lower prices than in summer.
  • Days are short: plan mountain drives to finish before dark.

Málaga at Christmas

From late November Calle Larios in Málaga is covered by a light installation with a free light and sound show several times each evening, and around 500 streets across the city are decorated. In the 2025 season the lights went on on 28 November and the show ran until early January. For 2026 the city council had not published the dates at the time of writing, so check the official Málaga site before you plan an evening around it.

Do not drive into the centre for the lights: the centre is a low-emission zone and car parks fill up. Park at your hotel or a car park outside the centre and walk or take the metro.

Snow in the Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada ski resort

Spain's southernmost ski resort, above Granada. The 2026-2027 season is planned to open in late November, depending on snow.

Drive
Approx. 2 hours from Málaga via Granada
Parking
Paid car parks at Pradollano.
Time to allow
A long day, or a night in Granada
Families
Ski schools and beginner areas; very cold in the morning.

The last part of the road climbs steeply to about 2,100 m. Winter tyres or snow chains are required when there is snow, so ask the rental company for chains or a car with winter tyres if you plan to drive up, and check the road status before leaving.

Quieter Granada and Ronda

Winter is a good time for Granada and Ronda: fewer coaches, easier parking and comfortable walking temperatures in the middle of the day. The Alhambra keeps winter opening hours and still sells out on weekends and holidays, so book your Nasrid Palaces slot in advance.

Walks that are too hot in summer

  • Caminito del Rey: cooler in winter; shorter winter hours, closed on Mondays and in bad weather.
  • El Torcal de Antequera: marked trails among limestone formations from the visitor centre; cold and windy on top in winter.
  • Nerja coast: cliff paths and coves east of Nerja on a sunny day.

Driving in winter

  • Coastal roads stay mild; frost and fog are possible in the morning on the roads to Ronda and Antequera.
  • Heavy rain can arrive suddenly in autumn and winter; slow down and avoid fords and flooded underpasses.
  • The AP-7 is in its low-season tariff outside June to September and Easter.

Open in Google Maps

Car rental in Malaga

Sources

  1. Christmas lights in Andalucía, Andalucia.com (checked October 27, 2026)
  2. Christmas in Málaga 2026: official and unconfirmed dates, Pixidia (checked October 27, 2026)
  3. Sierra Nevada season start, Skiresort.info (checked October 27, 2026)
  4. El Caminito del Rey: timetable, La Garganta (checked October 27, 2026)
  5. Costa del Sol motorway low-season tariffs, Última Hora (checked October 27, 2026)

Rules, prices and opening hours change. Check the official source before you travel. Drive times are approximate.

Photos provided by Pexels

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