Nerja at Christmas - 5 Reasons to Visit the Hidden Jewel of the Costa Del Sol
The Climate Nerja, in the eastern Costa Del Sol, benefits from one of the best climate patterns in Europe, not just Spain.
The average daily temperature during December is around 18 degrees centigrade, and in one of the 158 hours of sunshine during the month it reaches into the 20s.
There are only 6 days of any significant rain so anyone visiting for a week or more is almost guaranteed to enjoy some beautiful sunshine.
The evenings are chilly, dropping below 10 degrees, so pack some warm clothes along with your shorts and t-shirts which you might end up wearing on Christmas Day.
Shopping As in the UK and elsewhere Nerja residents love to shop at Christmas.
The local businesses make a wonderful effort to decorate their shops for the festive period.
Walk down Calle Pintada or any other shopping street, with their mix of gift shops, designer boutiques and craft shops and you will find lights, trees and traditional decorations enticing you to enter and browse their delights.
Some shops create their own nativity scene, or Belen in Spanish, with animated models, dozens of figures, and the ubiquitous 'caganer', the cheeky character caught with his pants down who all the giggling children try and spot.
Christmas Dinner There is no shortage of restaurants and bars in Nerja where you can enjoy a traditional English Christmas Dinner.
If you are looking for a stylish place with a more sophisticated take on the roast turkey try Numero Seis.
For a homely experience of the bird with all the trimmings the friendly Buddy's Bar is a good option.
If the English menus are not what you are looking for most Spanish restaurants open on Christmas Day, eating out being a popular choice for local families.
It Lasts Longer Unlike the UK, Spain celebrates again on January 6th with the festival of the three kings.
This is the day when children receive their presents and the fun begins the evening before when 'Los Tres Reyes' arrive in town as part of a lively and colourful parade.
The children gather along the route waiting for the kings to throw sweets and small gifts and then they scramble to collect as many as they can.
Great Value During December and January there are many bargains to be found amongst the wide range of accommodation in Nerja.
Most hotels and private owners do not increase their rates, even for Christmas and New Year, so visiting Nerja during these holidays is cheaper than at any other time of year.
The best value is to be found by booking directly with property owners who may even reduce their weekly rental rates further for longer stays.
With airlines offering very low fares for most of the month Christmas really is a great time to visit Nerja.
The average daily temperature during December is around 18 degrees centigrade, and in one of the 158 hours of sunshine during the month it reaches into the 20s.
There are only 6 days of any significant rain so anyone visiting for a week or more is almost guaranteed to enjoy some beautiful sunshine.
The evenings are chilly, dropping below 10 degrees, so pack some warm clothes along with your shorts and t-shirts which you might end up wearing on Christmas Day.
Shopping As in the UK and elsewhere Nerja residents love to shop at Christmas.
The local businesses make a wonderful effort to decorate their shops for the festive period.
Walk down Calle Pintada or any other shopping street, with their mix of gift shops, designer boutiques and craft shops and you will find lights, trees and traditional decorations enticing you to enter and browse their delights.
Some shops create their own nativity scene, or Belen in Spanish, with animated models, dozens of figures, and the ubiquitous 'caganer', the cheeky character caught with his pants down who all the giggling children try and spot.
Christmas Dinner There is no shortage of restaurants and bars in Nerja where you can enjoy a traditional English Christmas Dinner.
If you are looking for a stylish place with a more sophisticated take on the roast turkey try Numero Seis.
For a homely experience of the bird with all the trimmings the friendly Buddy's Bar is a good option.
If the English menus are not what you are looking for most Spanish restaurants open on Christmas Day, eating out being a popular choice for local families.
It Lasts Longer Unlike the UK, Spain celebrates again on January 6th with the festival of the three kings.
This is the day when children receive their presents and the fun begins the evening before when 'Los Tres Reyes' arrive in town as part of a lively and colourful parade.
The children gather along the route waiting for the kings to throw sweets and small gifts and then they scramble to collect as many as they can.
Great Value During December and January there are many bargains to be found amongst the wide range of accommodation in Nerja.
Most hotels and private owners do not increase their rates, even for Christmas and New Year, so visiting Nerja during these holidays is cheaper than at any other time of year.
The best value is to be found by booking directly with property owners who may even reduce their weekly rental rates further for longer stays.
With airlines offering very low fares for most of the month Christmas really is a great time to visit Nerja.