If you’re fed up with the winter in Europe, you might be thinking Costa del Sol is exactly what you need for a dose of sunshine and a few lazy days away from work.
While this year is certainly going to be nothing but ordinary, there are still things you can count on – good weather and empty beaches.
In a couple of months I will be celebrating my first year anniversary of moving to Spain and also spending my first winter & Christmas here. I’m quite used to warm winters after living in Cyprus, but somehow Spain feels much less rainy and the weather is a little more stable.
I thought this would be a good opportunity to summarize the current situation in Costa del Sol, for all those who are wondering if its safe to travel here, when and where to stay and what to avoid.
At the moment, Spain has implemented a tiered system which triggers more strict restrictions each time a city hits certain number of new cases per day. At the time of writing, Marbella is one of those last hit cities where more strict regulations are now in place.
In Fuengirola, it’s business as usual – and by that I mean the post-covid normal. They tightened up the closing hours of bars & restaurants (open till 6pm), the curfew is still in place from 10pm to 6am and of course masks are still compulsory (as they’ve been since March last year).
Apart from the empty shop windows left behind by closed down businesses and the lack of sky traffic, it really feels more or less just like one extremely quiet winter.
If you’re planning to come for a holiday, avoiding big cities is probably the best thing to do (Malaga, Seville etc). Some hotels in coastal resorts are still operating even in winter and they are more or less empty, and also safer to stay than hotels in big cities.
You will also need to count with a bit of flexibility as the rules change depending on how the new case numbers evolve.
The Spanish government is promising to have the country fully open for tourism by spring, and that will also probably mean a massive spike of new cases in autumn when the tourists leave. At the moment Andalusia is battling its third wave and it seems like things should start looking up soon.
With that in mind, here is a bit of sunshine to warm you up, wherever you are!
Fuengirola: Recommended Day Trips & Experiences
- Caminito del Rey Day Trip with Guide – explore the world-famous pathway of the king, and admire the stunning views from the gorge El Chorro. Includes pick up in Fuengirola, entrance to Caminito del Rey and helmets.
- Day Trip to Gibraltar – with pick up from Fuengirola with a minibus, with free time in Gibraltar for shopping and an optional tour of the nature reserve.
- Gibraltar Sightseeing Day Tour – a more structured day trip with a full tour of the nature reserve, showing you all the highlights, with free time for shopping. Pick up from Fuengirola.
- Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas Day Trip – see the famous Puente Nuevo bridge in Ronda, with one of the oldest bullrings in the country, and admire the homes and restaurants built into caves in Setenil. Pick-up in Fuengirola – includes a walking tour of Ronda and a complimentary glass of wine in Ronda.
- Day Trip to Granada with Alhambra Tour – see one of the architectural wonders of Spain, the Moorish Palace complex of Alhambra, with free time to explore Granada. Includes pick-up from Fuengirola, tickets to Alhambra and a guide.
Southern Spain Travel Planning Guide
Is it safe to drive in Spain?
YES! The roads in Southern Spain are generally in very good condition, with modern highways connecting the biggest cities. To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, which will get you the best deals on your car rental for your trip.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO DRIVE?
PUBLIC TRANSPORT — Southern Spain has a well-established and modern network of trains and buses. To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
DAY TRIPS — If you don’t like the hassle of using public transport, local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
WHERE SHOULD I BOOK MY ACCOMMODATION?
BOOKING.COM — I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and have never had any negative experiences. Their reviews are very accurate and you get the best deals even on apartments, not just hotels.
ARE THERE LUGGAGE STORE OPTIONS IN THE CITIES?
YES — If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, before heading to the airport, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage options in almost all the destinations in Southern Spain.
DO I NEED TO BUY A LOCAL SIM CARD FOR THIS TRIP?
YES – You can, of course, use your own card if you have roaming data available. If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards, avoiding the hassle of sourcing local physical sim cards and extra roaming charges anywhere you go.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.
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