If you’re thinking about living in Costa Blanca or planning a winter trip to explore the Costa Blanca real estate market, Christmas and New Year are the perfect moments to experience real Spanish life. Streets are full of lights, families gather for long dinners, and unique Spanish Christmas traditions fill December and January with colour and emotion.
In this guide we’ll walk through the most important Christmas and New Year traditions in Spain, with a special focus on Costa Blanca – from Alicante and Benidorm to Altea, Calpe and Valencia.
Christmas in Spain: Nochebuena & Christmas Day
The heart of Christmas in Spain is Nochebuena – Christmas Eve on 24 December. This is when families in Costa Blanca and across the country sit down together for a long, late dinner at home. Typical dishes can include seafood, jamón, roast meats and traditional sweets such as turrón and polvorones.
After dinner, many people watch “El Mensaje del Rey” (the King’s speech) on TV, or go to Misa del Gallo (Midnight Mass), especially in smaller towns like Altea or Benissa. Christmas Day (25 December) is usually calmer – more about relaxing with family than big gifts.
Spanish Christmas Traditions: Nativity Scenes & Christmas Markets
Instead of focusing only on Santa Claus, Spanish Christmas traditions include:
- Belén – elaborate nativity scenes, often displayed in town halls, churches and main squares. In Costa Blanca towns you’ll almost always find a Belén near the Ayuntamiento.
- Christmas markets in Costa Blanca – small but atmospheric markets with wooden stalls selling crafts, sweets and decorations. Popular locations include central squares in Valencia, Alicante, Benidorm, Altea, Calpe and Torrevieja.
These Christmas markets in Costa Blanca are perfect for strolling on mild winter evenings – and for imagining what life here could feel like if you decided to buy a holiday home or relocate to Spain.
Spanish New Year Traditions: Nochevieja & the 12 Grapes
New Year’s Eve in Spain is called Nochevieja, and it comes with one of the most iconic Spanish New Year traditions: eating 12 grapes at midnight.
As the clock strikes twelve, people across Spain watch the live broadcast from Puerta del Sol in Madrid. With each chime of the clock, you eat one grape. If you manage all twelve in time, it’s supposed to bring good luck for the new year.
Many people celebrate New Year in Costa Blanca:
- at home with friends and family;
- at restaurants offering special Nochevieja menus;
- or in main squares and promenades, especially in Alicante, Benidorm (Levante Beach), Torrevieja and Valencia.
For new residents and second-home owners, it’s a fun, easy way to join in local life and feel part of the community.
Three Kings Day: The Grand Finale of Christmas in Spain
While many countries finish Christmas after 25 December, in Spain the real finale is Three Kings Day (Día de Reyes) on 6 January. This is when children traditionally receive most of their gifts.
On the evening of 5 January, most towns in Costa Blanca hold a Cabalgata de Reyes – a colourful Three Kings parade with floats, music and sweets thrown to children. Popular Cabalgatas take place in:
- Alicante – through the city centre to the harbour and Town Hall.
- Benidorm – with floats, costumes and local groups.
- Coastal towns like Altea, Calpe, Torrevieja and many others.
These Costa Blanca winter festivals are some of the best moments to experience Spanish culture in a very authentic way – and to see how family-friendly and community-oriented life is here.
Winter Festivals & Local Life in Costa Blanca
Beyond big dates like Nochebuena, Nochevieja and Three Kings Day, many towns organise winter festivals in Costa Blanca:
- concerts and events in main squares;
- children’s activities, amusement rides and ice rinks;
- local food fairs and small artisan markets.
Thanks to the mild climate, you’ll often see people enjoying café terraces, promenades and outdoor activities even in December and January. For anyone considering living in Costa Blanca long term, these months show the region at its most real and relaxed – without the intense heat and crowds of summer.
Why Christmas & New Year Are a Great Time to Explore Costa Blanca Real Estate
If you’re thinking about buying property in Costa Blanca, spending Christmas or New Year here can give you a clear picture of:
- how each town feels in low season;
- what kind of winter lifestyle you can expect;
- how easy it is to blend into local traditions and everyday life.
You can combine property viewings in Altea, Calpe, Moraira, Valencia, Benidorm, Torrevieja or Orihuela Costa with evenings enjoying Spanish Christmas traditions, Costa Blanca winter festivals and New Year in Spain like a local.
Thinking About a Home in Costa Blanca?
Spanish Christmas and New Year traditions make winter one of the most charming times to discover this region. If you’d like to go beyond being a visitor and start thinking about owning a home here, Real Estate Guru – licensed real estate agency in Costa Blanca – can help you:
- understand which Costa Blanca town fits your lifestyle;
- organise property viewings around your holiday plans;
- guide you step by step through the buying process in Spain for foreign buyers.
Get in touch and we’ll help you turn your love for Christmas in Spain and New Year in Costa Blanca into a long-term lifestyle and investment.
