What's Open at New Year

Potbellypig

Family of 2 adults, 2 teenagers and I'm looking at abroad holidays next new year with some sort of sun. We've been to the Canaries quite a lot and know it's all open there, however I'm interested to know if anyone has been to the tourist places in Spain, Balearics and Portugal and whether everything is open? (or majority of it open). 

DullGreyGuy

In the non-major tourist part of Spain then many places will be closed on new years day but its only the one day, more places are likely to be open in the more major tourist cities. Would imagine Portugal is similar. 

NoodleDoodleMan

When you say "next year" do you mean 2026 ?

Potbellypig

NoodleDoodleMan said:

When you say "next year" do you mean 2026 ?

2025 going into 2026. 

daveyjp

You should get sun, but it won't be as warm as Canaries.  Balearics is probably limited to Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza are very quiet in winter and flights are limited, no direct flights UK to Menorca.

Madeira is similar temps to Canaries, but probably not much for teenagers.  Sharm in Egypt will be warm and plenty happening.

Potbellypig

Thanks, yeah understand the weather situation but more interested in experiences on whether things will be open please. For example, browsing earlier and there was a hotel I seen in Torremolinos and on reading one of the reviews someone said that they weren't told that the bar and restaurant in the hotel wasn't open in winter months. Not necessarily interested in the hotel openings but surrounding bars and restaurants, if that makes sense. 

lea2012

We've done Southern Spain for new year for a number of years now.

The Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca remain open all winter. 

Torremolinos/ Benalmadena area is all open and fairly busy. I'd suggest staying towards La Carihuela area (around Sol Timor Apartments / Pez Espada Hotel) to be close to the marina and beachfront bars and restaurants. Plenty of places to eat and drink, and an excellent public transport system to get you out to places like Malaga city, Fuengirola Zoo, Sealife Centre, Mijas Pueblo, Arroyo de La Miel for the cable cars etc. Further afield you can visit Caminito del Rey, zip lining, Nerja caves, Plaza Mayor shopping centre etc. 
Nearby Estepona, San Pedro or further north in Nerja may also be worth a look.

Further north on the Costa Blanca  - Benidorm is very busy for Christmas and New Year and has plenty going on for families. Stick to the Old Town area, RH Princessa hotel, Rio Park, Primavera Park etc as this is much more family orientated. Beaches are great plus there's the zoo nearby, boat trips to peacock island, indoor bowling alley, small amusement park and  from mid December - 6th Jan there is a small kids Christmas village with bouncy castles, ice skating etc near the town hall too. There's evening entertainment in many places that is suitable for families if you want it too.

Albir / La Cala Finestrat either side of Benidorm are smaller but still have plenty going on too. 

It's usually sunny, but not boiling. We arrived back from Benidorm last night, after spending yesterday sat on the beach with temps around 20, plenty of people sunbathing and swimming in the sea. We had some cooler days too but overall much better weather than the UK. 

Doshwaster

lea2012 said:

We've done Southern Spain for new year for a number of years now.

The Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca remain open all winter. 

Torremolinos/ Benalmadena area is all open and fairly busy. I'd suggest staying towards La Carihuela area (around Sol Timor Apartments / Pez Espada Hotel) to be close to the marina and beachfront bars and restaurants. Plenty of places to eat and drink, and an excellent public transport system to get you out to places like Malaga city, Fuengirola Zoo, Sealife Centre, Mijas Pueblo, Arroyo de La Miel for the cable cars etc. Further afield you can visit Caminito del Rey, zip lining, Nerja caves, Plaza Mayor shopping centre etc. 
Nearby Estepona, San Pedro or further north in Nerja may also be worth a look.

I was in Fuengirola for Christmas week. Not everywhere is open - some smaller family-run places choose to close for the holidays - but there was no shortage of places to eat and drink. 

You need to be lucky with the weather. This year was windier than usual but as long as you could find some shelter there was still a few hours of around 18C each day but you needed a coat in the evenings. In previous years I've known temperatures of lows 20s.

Potbellypig

lea2012 said:

We've done Southern Spain for new year for a number of years now.

The Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca remain open all winter. 

Torremolinos/ Benalmadena area is all open and fairly busy. I'd suggest staying towards La Carihuela area (around Sol Timor Apartments / Pez Espada Hotel) to be close to the marina and beachfront bars and restaurants. Plenty of places to eat and drink, and an excellent public transport system to get you out to places like Malaga city, Fuengirola Zoo, Sealife Centre, Mijas Pueblo, Arroyo de La Miel for the cable cars etc. Further afield you can visit Caminito del Rey, zip lining, Nerja caves, Plaza Mayor shopping centre etc. 
Nearby Estepona, San Pedro or further north in Nerja may also be worth a look.

Further north on the Costa Blanca  - Benidorm is very busy for Christmas and New Year and has plenty going on for families. Stick to the Old Town area, RH Princessa hotel, Rio Park, Primavera Park etc as this is much more family orientated. Beaches are great plus there's the zoo nearby, boat trips to peacock island, indoor bowling alley, small amusement park and  from mid December - 6th Jan there is a small kids Christmas village with bouncy castles, ice skating etc near the town hall too. There's evening entertainment in many places that is suitable for families if you want it too.

Albir / La Cala Finestrat either side of Benidorm are smaller but still have plenty going on too. 

It's usually sunny, but not boiling. We arrived back from Benidorm last night, after spending yesterday sat on the beach with temps around 20, plenty of people sunbathing and swimming in the sea. We had some cooler days too but overall much better weather than the UK. 

Perfect! Exactly the sort of info I was after. Thank you