If you travel to Spain a lot you’ll have noticed that this is a country that loves a holiday and Malaga is no exception. In this blog post we list the public holidays in Malaga for the whole of 2023, all 14 of them! Note all but two local holidays (19 August and 8 September) are also public holidays in Andalucia 2023.Â
Â
What’s open on public holidays in Malaga?
Before our list of dates of public holidays in Malaga for part of 2021 and the whole of 2022, some information on what to expect open on a public holiday. As a general rule, the following are closed:
- Banks
- Government (regional and national) offices
- Malaga council offices
- Schools and universities
- Shops (except on permitted days – see specific dates below).
As a general rule, the following are open:
- Bars and restaurants (with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)
- Public transport (Sunday timetables usually operate)
- Museums and monuments (with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
Also note that if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday after becomes the public holiday.
Public holidays in Malaga in 2023
January
Sunday 1 January – New Year’s Day is a public holiday. Shops, businesses, monuments and museums in Malaga do not open on New Year’s Day. Some bars and restaurants may be open. Note, however, that the official holiday passes to Monday 2 January when shops will be open
Friday 6 January – Three Kings (Epiphany). Shops won’t open but they do open on Sunday 8 January, at the start of the sales and a great time to pick up some bargains when you’re shopping in Malaga. Read about the Three Kings Parade in Malaga.
February
Tuesday 28 February – Andalusian Regional Day, when the region of Andalusia celebrates its autonomical status. Most shops, bars and restaurants open
Keep your finger on the Malaga buzzer – sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter. All you need to know about what’s on and what’s new in the city in your inbox every other Friday.
April
Easter comes in the middle of the month this year.
Thursday 6 April – Easter Thursday. Most bars and restaurants open as do larger shops. Small stores close.
Friday 7 April – Good Friday. Expect bars and restaurants in the main tourist areas to be open. Shops are closed.
Easter is one of the busiest times of the year in Malaga.
May
Monday 1 May – Labour Day. Shops open.
In Spain when a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday those people who can take the Monday or Friday off as well. This is known as a ‘puente’ (bridge).
August
Tuesday 15 August – Ascension Day and a national holiday. Bars, restaurants and shops are open.
Saturday 19 August – 1 of the 2 local holidays and the high point of Malaga Fair. Shops and businesses close.
Sunday shopping – many shops open in August.
September
Friday 8 September – a local holiday (in Malaga only) celebrating the city’s patron saint, the Virgin of the Victory. Bars and restaurants open, but shops close.
Sunday shopping – shops open on some Sundays in September.
October
Thursday 12 October – Spanish National Day. Bars, restaurants and shops are open.
November
Wednesday 1 November – All Saints Day, when Spanish people traditionally visit cemeteries and honour their dead. Shops, bars and restaurants open as usual.
December
Wednesday 6 December – Spanish Constitution Day. Shops and businesses close, but bars and restaurants open as usual. .
Friday 8 December – Immaculate Conception Day. Bars, restaurants and shops open.
Monday 25 December – Christmas Day, shops and the vast majority of restaurants will be closed. Find out more about Christmas in Malaga.
Sunday shopping – shops and markets open on Sunday 3, Sunday 10, Sunday 17 and until 3pm on 24 December to give you extra time for your Christmas shopping!
