A short explanation of the 6th and 8th December holidays in Spain and how they affect everyday life on the Costa del Sol, including opening hours for shops, supermarkets, public services, and local businesses during the long weekend.
6 and 8 December Holidays in Spain
December is a time when many people wonder how the holidays in Spain will affect their pre-Christmas plans.
In early December visitors to Spain are often taken by surprise by two national holidays. The first is the 6th of December, Día de la Constitución, which marks the signing of the Constitution in 1978 establishing Spain as a post-Franco democratic state. Two days later comes the 8th of December, the Day of the Immaculate Conception, which is a long-standing Christian religious holiday. Together they create what has become known as the “Puente de Diciembre”, which is generally a long weekend when many people travel, visit family, or use the time to start their Christmas preparations.
The practical question for most people is simple. What is open, what can I do, and what can’t I do? In much of Spain these two days can be a partial shutdown with offices, banks, and many smaller local shops and businesses closing. However, the Costa del Sol operates slightly differently because of the mix of international residents and the tourism-driven economy.
Shops and supermarkets on the Costa del Sol
Most of the major retail centres and supermarkets will be open as normal on the 6th and the 8th. For example, El Corte Inglés, La Cañada, Miramar, and the larger Mercadona, Carrefour, and Lidl stores will generally keep their pre-Christmas schedules. Smaller independent shops may still close, and it is worth checking whether the local town hall has published its own guidance, as there can be small variations from place to place. It is always worth checking the opening times of the stores near you before nipping out to do the shopping.
Public services, banks, and administrative offices will be closed on both days.
Expect traffic on the motorways to be heavier than usual due to holiday travel, especially towards Málaga Airport and the popular coastal towns. This is likely to start on the Friday, with the 6th this year falling on a Saturday. Restaurants, chiringuitos, and bars will of course be open, taking advantage of the increased number of visitors coming over the long weekend to enjoy the attractions of the coast and visit the Christmas decorations.
If you are living or staying on the Costa del Sol and are planning to do some Christmas shopping, you are unlikely to run into major problems. The main retail parks will be open (except for Sunday), and the larger supermarkets will continue with normal hours. Local businesses may vary, but the overall rhythm of life here is more open than in many other parts of Spain during the December bank holidays.
We will be available throughout the holidays so if you need help selling or buying Costa del Sol property call us on (0034) 952 90 52 00, WhatsApp us, or email info@michael-moon.com.
