Mijas in December 2026: Weather, Events & Things to Do

December in Mijas is mild, bright and quiet, with daytime highs usually in the mid to high teens, short days and cool evenings. It is a month for long lunches outside, walks by the sea and Christmas lights in the village squares, rather than for beach days.

If you are weighing up a winter break or Christmas on the Costa del Sol, here is what the month actually looks like.

What is the weather like in Mijas in December?

The nearest official long-term record is the AEMET station at Málaga Airport. Its climate normals for December show an average high of about 17.5 °C and an average low of about 9 °C. December is one of the wetter months of the year, with around 100 mm of rain falling on six or seven days on average, so expect the odd grey or showery spell between long runs of sunshine. The station logs around 160 hours of sun across the month.

Days are short. Around the winter solstice there are only about 9 hours 40 minutes of daylight, with sunrise a little after 8:00 and sunset around 18:00. Mijas Golf sits in an inland valley, so mornings and nights there can feel a touch cooler than on the seafront.

The sea is typically around 16 °C. The beaches are pleasant for walking, playing and a coffee in the sun, but swimming is for those who enjoy a bracing dip.

What to pack: layers for the evenings, a light waterproof jacket, sunglasses and comfortable shoes for village streets.

What events are on in Mijas in December?

The 2026 Christmas programme had not been published when we wrote this, so the dates below are last year’s, to show the pattern. We will update this page when the town hall publishes its programme.

• Christmas lights. In 2025 Mijas switched on its lights in three separate events: Mijas Pueblo on 3 December, La Cala on 4 December and Las Lagunas on 5 December, each in the early evening with music and a light-and-sound show.
• Light-and-sound shows. After the switch-on, the shows ran in each centre in the evenings until 6 January.
• Christmas market. Mijas Pueblo held a Christmas market in the village centre through the season.
• Nativity scenes. The traditional belenes trail ran across Mijas Pueblo, La Cala and Las Lagunas until 6 January.
• Children’s events. Santa Claus villages, storytelling sessions and visits from the Royal Postman, who collects children’s letters to the Three Kings, were spread across the three centres in the second half of the month.
• Pastorales and zambombas. Andalusian Christmas carol groups performed in the squares, a lovely thing to catch if you can.

Public holidays in December 2026 (Andalusia): Monday 7 December, when Constitution Day moves from Sunday 6; Tuesday 8 December for the Immaculate Conception; and Friday 25 December. The 7 to 8 December long weekend is a busy one locally, with families out in the villages and restaurants full at lunchtime.

Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) is a family night in Spain, and many restaurants close early or offer a set menu. On New Year’s Eve, the tradition is to eat twelve grapes on the twelve chimes of midnight. If you want to eat out on either night, book well ahead.

What is open in December, compared with summer?

Most of everyday life carries on as normal: supermarkets, restaurants in the towns, the golf courses, and the shopping centres, which are especially busy in the run-up to Christmas. Beach bars along the promenades are fewer, and some keep shorter hours or close for the winter, so check before you drive to a particular one. Seasonal attractions such as water parks are closed.

On the public holidays and on 25 December, expect shops to close or open shorter hours. Stock up the day before.

Tip: Plan outdoor time around the light. Walk or play a round in the late morning, have a long lunch outside while the sun is high, and save indoor plans or a village visit for the early evening, when the Christmas lights come on and the squares fill up.

Who does December suit?

Families celebrating Christmas together. If the point is to gather everyone in one place, December delivers mild days, festive villages and quiet roads outside the holiday weekends.

Golfers. Cool, bright mornings are comfortable for a round, and the courses in Mijas Golf are a few minutes from the house.

Groups who want a slower week. It is a good month for cooking together, walks and a couple of well-chosen outings rather than a packed itinerary.

It suits you less if you want reliable sunbathing weather or warm sea swimming.

Staying in Mijas Golf in December

Indoor comfort matters more in winter, and it is worth asking about before you book anywhere. Casa Hestenes has heating, air conditioning and a fireplace in the main living room, and the private pool can be heated on request as an optional extra, so a December stay does not have to mean a week indoors. With six bedrooms across three levels and two kitchens, it also gives a family Christmas some breathing room.

For restaurants, walks and outings near the house, see the area guide. If you are thinking about Christmas or New Year dates, ask us early so you have the widest choice of dates. You can see the living spaces and terraces on the homepage.

Planning your trip? Check dates at Casa Hestenes.