Last updated 11 November 2026. Year-round attractions from published travel guides. No official 2026 Christmas programme for Marbella had been published at the time of writing, so no dated event is listed.
If you are staying for the days before New Year’s Eve, the town has plenty to fill them with. This page lists plans that do not depend on a dated event, because Marbella’s official Christmas programme for 2026 had not been published when we checked. When it is, we will add it.
Walk the Old Town
Marbella’s historic centre is a network of narrow, whitewashed streets with orange-scented squares, fountains and tapas bars. The natural starting point is Plaza de los Naranjos, a square ringed by orange trees with a Renaissance fountain and the 15th-century Ermita de Santiago. Nearby you can see the Renaissance town hall, the partly preserved Moorish castle walls (illuminated at night, with a good viewpoint on Calle Portada) and the church of Santa María de la Encarnación. Parking in the centre can be difficult, so allow time. (Lonely Planet, Barceló)
Walk the seafront
The Paseo Marítimo is a palm-lined promenade of roughly 6 km that runs from the Marina La Bajadilla to Puerto Banús, with cafés and beach bars along the way. It suits a long, slow walk on a sunny winter day. (Lonely Planet)
A market, a park and two museums
- Mercado Municipal, on the northern edge of the Old Town: produce, cheese, fish and wine, open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 3pm according to Lonely Planet. Check hours around the holidays.
- Parque de la Represa: a long, shaded park that climbs towards the castle ruins, with a playground and ponds, good for a walk or picnic. It also makes an easy plan with children; see New Year’s Eve with children.
- Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo: a small museum in a former Renaissance building on the eastern edge of the Old Town, with prints by artists including Picasso, Miró and Dalí.
- Museo Ralli: free to visit and focused on Latin American avant-garde and surrealist art. Lonely Planet lists it as open Tuesday to Friday and Saturday morning; confirm hours before you go.
Plans that need booking
Flamenco shows in the Old Town and the treetop adventure park at Elviria are listed by Lonely Planet as places to book ahead. We have not checked 2026 availability or hours for any of them, so confirm directly.
Free council events
The council usually adds free family activities in these days, such as a Christmas park for children and the Royal Postman. See what Marbella usually organises before New Year’s Eve for last year’s pattern.
Plan the big night
If you have not yet booked New Year’s Eve, compare the announced nights, read how to choose a New Year’s Eve dinner, and plan the journey home.
Sources
Quick answer
What is there to do in Marbella between Christmas and New Year?
Year-round plans work well: a walk through the Old Town and Plaza de los Naranjos, the seafront promenade towards Puerto Banús, the municipal market, parks and museums. Dated Christmas events for 2026 had not been announced when this page was written.
Looking for dinners and parties? See New Year’s Eve events in Marbella.