Spain offers several vacations around the holidays.
Sometimes staying home for Christmas isn't as appealing as traveling abroad. Spain is an ideal vacation spot at Christmastime. With December being the off-season, prices on airfare and accommodations are less expensive. Churches abound throughout the country, ideal for your holiday celebrations, and in Madrid, two of its biggest festivals, Dia de los Reyes and Fiesta de Otono, are held during this time of year. For some sunny weather, vacationers can head to the Costa del Sol and the cities of Granada and Gibraltar in the south of Spain.
Madrid
A Christmas in Madrid, the capital of Spain, offers a variety of activities and attractions in a cosmopolitan setting. Art lovers will enjoy the city's three major museums, the Museo del Prado, which houses a well-known, extensive collection, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, home of Picasso's famous "Guernica," and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Other popular attractions that will appeal to lovers of the outdoors include Real Jardin Botanico and Parque del Buen Retiro. Madrid also offers a lively nightlife and two major festivals, Dia de los Reyes and Fiesta de Otono, take place during Christmastime.
Granada and Gibraltar
For travelers looking for history and impressive architecture, as well as some skiing, a Christmas vacation to Spain should include Granada and Gibraltar. Granada, a World Heritage city, sees millions of visitors every year. according to JustSpain.org. Vacationers can visit the world-reknown Alhambra Palace and the Generalife summer palace which contains lavish gardens and go skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountain range south of the city. Only 121 miles away, Gibraltar is well-known for its main attraction, the Rock of Gibraltar. Besides historical sites, the city offers duty-free shopping and mild winter weather due to its subtropical climate.
Costa del Sol
For travelers looking to liven up their winter with some sun and leisure activities, a Christmas vacation to the Costa del Sol is an ideal choice. According to Spanish-Fiestas.com, the Costa del Sol (Sun Coast) of Spain sees more than 2 million visitors a year. With over 300 days of sunshine, the region is a year-round resort destination. Malaga, the birthplace of Picasso, is both a historic as well as modern port city, offering a lively nightlife, pedestrian-friendly shopping in its historic center, and views of the Mediterranean Sea. The Costa del Sol is lined with resorts and about 70 golf courses and offers activities such as scuba diving, horseback riding, dolphin watching, sailing, and more.
