Spanish coastal towns with life in Winter

[Chewbecca]

That I might not have heard of.

We are considering a road trip early next year all along the south coast of Spain (I know the Costa Brava is called north but you know what I mean). We'd like to rent holiday homes in pretty towns with a bit of winter life, i.e. restaurants still open!

Where would you visit?

Thanks in advance!

Begur is a gem lots of lovely things to do round there.

Bumping this - been several times to various places along the CDS but would like to try somewhere different winter 2026.

We spent Christmas Day in Cartagena (Murcia) which was lovely and was fairly busy.

Albir and Altea. Calpe, Denia and javier.

Frigliana in Andalucia is beautiful.

Thanks for the bump!
I'm familiar with the Costa Blanca towns (Calpe, Denia, Javea, Altea) and agree they fit the bill. Calpe in particular appears to be ugly on first sight but actually has a lovely centre and is so reasonable!
Frigliana and Cartegena are new to me, thanks.

And Begur too!

My best mate absolutely loved Cadiz

I've been to Cadiz and agree, it is a lovely little city!

We spent the whole of March in Conil de la Frontera. Lovely vibrant little town and easy trips to Jerez and Cádiz.

Would you consider Portugal, the South coast of the Algarve region has some interesting places.

I always find Portugal so much colder than Spain!

I second this.

Sitges, Tarragona, Peñiscola.

Girona in November was one of my nicest trips.

Estepona. Great working town so it's lively all year round. Fab Paseo all along the seafront, and plenty of independent shops and lovely little tapas and other restaurants in the Old Town. We go for three weeks over Christmas/NY and in May or September.

From there you can quite easily get to the white village of Casares, Seville (if you have time), then back across to Cordoba which is one of my favourite cities in Spain, then Antequera, Granada, Motril, and back to Malaga.

You don't have to do it all obviously, but it is a seriously good road trip.

Frigiliana is a 'white village' around 5 miles inland from Nerja. Similar are Competa (from Torrox) and Mijas (from Fuengirola/Benalmadena).

Salobrena proper town with life and restaurants and shops etc

That is my impression because of the wind . I wondered if Cadiz may be similar ?

That sounds a nice trip @halava
Last time we visited Estepona (February 2023) they were doing work on the road / walkway between the old town and the port. Assume it's finished now.

Yes it's all done now and looks very nice indeed.

They are also building a walk/cycle way all along the seafront from Estepona to Marbella. Some parts exist but they are all joining up soon. It will be fantastic. I'll be checking it out over Christmas to see how it's coming along!