We are planning a trip to Southern Spain for late March of 2025. My husband really wants to see the Mediterranean while we're there, so I was planning for us to bus our way from Granada down to Almunecar or Nerja for at least 2 full days at the end of our other plans. I don't expect the coast to be lively given that time of the year, but I am wondering if one, there will actually be reliable, frequent bus service to one of these two places. And two, will anything aside from our hotel be open? I don't need a bustling scene - just a couple of places to get food. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2014 posts
No worries about going to Nerja in March as restaurants, cafes and bars still are open then. Nerja doesn’t shut down from December through March in the way a lot of Spanish resorts do. It sounds like you already realize the Mediterranean will be too cold to swim in with sea temps ranging 58-63 degrees.
And you’ll want to pack sweaters for evenings and windbreakers in case of rain, but Nerja in March can be really pleasant with daytime highs about 65 and nighttime lows about 55 degrees. It rains less than 2 inches spread out over 10 days.
Two ( or more ) March days in Nerja will be wonderful.
Posted by
Australia
1072 posts
We spent March 2023 in Spain. Shops, restaurants etc were probably 90% open in Valencia, Malaga and Fuengirola. A few of the beach club places weren't open. We had no issues with public transport.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5541 posts
The Costa Del Sol doesn't close down in March, there are plenty of residents, ex pats and those seeking a bit of winter sun. I've been in March and it's quite pleasant. I would probably consider Malaga over Nerja, plenty of things to see, bustling restaurants, cafes and bars and it's right on the coast.
Posted by
North Italy
382 posts
We were in Andalucía in early March this year. Malaga was already very busy indeed, and lots of people around in Nerja when we drove through. Nerja has lots of foreign tourists, Almuñécar Spanish as well so we preferred Almuñécar for that reason (stated a week in November one year). March is the ideal time to visit unless you want swimming
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2024/04/off-beaten-track-in-andalucia-early.html?m=1
Posted by
56 posts
We were in Malaga in mid-February and every tourist site and restaurant we wanted to visit was open. There was nice busyness to the city, but I would not describe it as crowded. And the Sea is right there.
Posted by
Chicago
2047 posts
I went to Andalucia at the end of March and it was still busy though not crazy crowded like summer. The weather was perfect up into the 70s some days.
Things will be open and tourists come all year round.