March in the Costa del Sol
The weather in March in the Costa del Sol is lovely. Spring is starting, the temperature is rising, plants are getting greener and the flowers – that never really stopped blooming – are now everywhere. Walking around is a delight to the senses; the sun, the sea, the food – life is good, isn’t it?
Questions and answers
How is the weather in March in the Costa del Sol?
In March, the average high temperatures range from 18oC to 20oC, and happen between 2 pm and 4 pm; the average lows are around 10oC, in the early morning, around 7 am. Therefore, as per the historic record, you can expect mild temperatures in the morning, but somewhat warm weather in the afternoons and evenings. As a matter of fact, the graph below shows how, in 2023, the actual highest temperatures were a lot warmer than the average. Assuming this is a new tendency brought in by climate change, the expectation is that average temperatures are on the rise.
The temperatures are nice, but you should also consider the wind and the possibility of rain. In the Costa del Sol, it can get very windy, any time of the day (but more in the evening); and it tends to rain a bit during this month. Bring a small umbrella and plan the clothes (and hair holders) you’ll bring accordingly. Another weather-related phenomenon we can have in March is Calima, which happens when the wind brings some Saharan sand, leaving the skies orange. 🙂 It is uncommon and doesn’t last much (a day or a few). But it is worrisome, because the sand in suspension can aggravate respiratory problems, even more when combined with spring pollen.
Weather-related data for March in Malaga (data from Weather2travel):
🏊 sea temperature: +15oC
🌅 Sunrise times: 07:48 (Mar 1) – 08:05* (Mar 31)
🌙 Sunset times: 19:12 (Mar 1) – 20:39* (Mar 31)
🌼 Average number of daylight hours: 12
☀️ Average number of sunshine hours per day: 7
* Note that the daylight saving (summer time) starts on the last weekend of March. Precisely at 02:00 a.m. from Sunday, clocks jump straight to 03:00 a.m.
The weather information above is all for Malaga (city), but as the towns are so close together, you can extend this information to the surrounding areas as well. Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella and Estepona, as well as Rincón de la Victoria, Torrox and Nerja, should not differ much.
What to pack for March in the Costa del Sol?
Tricky question, as that depends a bit on your habits. Do you intend to wake up early in the morning (say, around 6:00 a.m.) to go for a walk? If yes, bring a warm coat suitable for temperatures around 10oC. If not, you can pack a bit lighter; a light coat may be enough even for the beginning of the night (up to midnight).
For going out in the afternoon, you may feel comfy in a T-shirt or something similar; T-shirts are always good because you can wear them at home anyways. Tennis shoes are also always ‘in’, because, remember, much of the Costa del Sol is hilly. But at this time, you may already bring some shorts and sandals as well! And don’t forget the sunscreen. 😉
Over the years I’ve been living in the Costa del Sol, I’ve taken a lot of pictures. In many of them – as you would expect – there are people around. Here are a few of those pictures, each and every one taken in March of previous years, where you can see what people are wearing. The goal is to give you a good idea of what to pack to feel cozy in March in the Costa del Sol! You can click on each image to enlarge it. 😉
Remarkable dates
March has no holidays in Spain, except when the Holy Week falls on this month. Then, Friday and often the Thursday of the Holy Week are holidays in the Costa del Sol. We opted to talk about the Holy week on the pos dedicated to April in the Costa del Sol, as this religious event happens more often on April than on March. 😉
Other notable dates in March are Women’s Day (Día de la Mujer), on March 8, and Father’s Day, on March 19. This last date was chosen because in the Catholic tradition, this is the day of San José, Jesus’ father.
Related posts:
Malaga holidays 2024
April in the Costa del Sol
Foods of the Month
The period between Carnival and Easter is known as Lent (cuaresma) among Christians. Traditionally, Christians should not eat red meat during these days, so it is no surprise that sea food dishes take the spot. Bacalao (cod) is present in both buñuelos de bacalao (cod fritters) and in Bacalao ajoarriero, a sort of cod stew; Shrimp pies are also popular, but perhaps not as much as the sopa de ajo (a delicious vegetarian garlic soup with olive oil and bread).
Sweets are also in high demand. Chocolate comes to mind (well, it is always there), specifically on egg or bunny shapes, on Easter. Typical Spanish foods for the period include the Monas de Pascua, a cake that resembles the Roscón de Reyes of January and the Torrijas, a kind of sweet toast prepared with cinnamon.
Events on March in the Costa del Sol
St. David’s Day
The Welsh Society usually hosts events in honor of St. David’s Day in Benalmadena. Look for them in the beginning of the month in the Plaza de la Mesquita and / or in the Casa de la Cultura, both in Arroyo de la Miel.
Women’s Day
In previous years, the towns of the Costa del Sol have celebrated Women’s Day with month-long programs. Much of the events are focused on lectures or workshops (both in Spanish only), or in reinforcing the need for equality in the workplace and for the end of domestic violence. These are not party-like events, obviously. You can check our cultural and entertainment guides below to find more about when and where these events are taking place this year.
Culture and Entertainment guides
The best places to look for events are the official monthly guides of the Town Halls websites and their Facebook counterparts. Some cities update them more frequently than others, and usually information is posted just a few days before the event itself; despite that, they are the most complete source of information about cultural (and sometimes not so cultural) events in each city. Below, a super useful list:
For Malaga city: Visita Málaga guide and Facebook
For Torremolinos: Torremolinos Cultura guide and Facebook
For Benalmadena: Benalmadena guide and Benalmadena Cultura
For Fuengirola: Fuengirola guide and Agenda Fuengirola
For Mijas: Mijas and Cultura Mijas
For Marbella: Marbella and Cultura Marbella
For Estepona: Cultura Estepona and Facebook
Festival de Malaga
Malaga’s cinema festival happens every year in March. The festival celebrates national productions, be they movies, short movies or series. The productions are in Spanish; some of them have the VOSE symbol, which stands for Versión Original Subtitulada en Español (original version with Spanish subtitles); in this case, Spanish with Spanish subtitles. If that is not a barrier, it is a great opportunity to watch local stories, centered in different parts of the country.
Spanish dramaturgy is original and very different from the mainstream US movies. Spanish stories are often slightly surreal and tend to center more in the relationship between the characters, with humor and lightweight. If you are interested, Netflix has several Spanish productions, the most famous probably being Money Heist (La Casa de Papel). Check also Spanish Affair (Ocho Apellidos Vascos) and any other production with Dani Rovira (which, incidentally, happens to be from Malaga!)
Saint Patrick’s Day
There are several Irish communities in the Costa del Sol, and every year there are parades or other St. Patrick’s celebrations on March 17. The Irish Association of Spain usually organizes a mass, a parade and live music in Benalmadena’s Arroyo de la Miel. The Irish pubs of the Costa – and there are many in every town – plan events too, with lots of Guinness!
Ruta de la Tapa de Estepona
I’m yet to meet someone that doesn’t like tapas, the small portions of food served usually with cañas (a small glass of beer) in some restaurants in Spain, that people can keep coming for hours or just as an appetizer before the main meal… Well, what about a Ruta de la tapa, an event in which several restaurants participate, offering tapas and cañas so you can taste a lot of what the town has to offer? Great, right?
The Ruta happens every year, sometimes in April, sometimes in March.
Plants Fair in Benalmadena
Celebrating the arrival of Spring, in the end of March or beginning of April we have the Feria de Plantas de Colección (Plants Fair) in Benalmadena’s Parque de la Paloma. In this lovely fair, plant collectors and nursery gardens gather to show and offer some of their greatest pieces, surrounded by the very pleasing ambiance of the park. If you like plants, it is the best place to be. A few posters of the previous years’ Plant Fairs:
Holy Week
The Holy Week is celebrated solemnly in Spain, with processions of members of religious brotherhoods carrying large and heavy thrones on the shoulders along a band playing ceremonial rites. It is a beautiful and profound spiritual occasion. There are religious processions happening every day of the week, and often more than one. Holy Week is celebrated in every city in the Costa.
For a lot more about these processions and the traditions associated, check our post dedicated to the Holy Week and Easter. 😉 And if you speak Spanish, don’t miss this activity: Tour de la Semana Santa en Málaga, which visit brotherhoods and churches of the center of Malaga, telling the stories of the Holy Week in the city while showing religious art and sculpture.
Related posts:
Holy Week and Easter in the Costa del Sol
Holy Week in Benalmadena 2024
Holy Week in Fuengirola 2024
Activities in March in the Costa del Sol
Food & drink experiences
Malaga has 3 interesting food & drinks experiences, and I think you may like at least one of them – if not all! You can have a pub crawl night out, and maybe even make new friends while at it; or you can learn from the masters in a Paella cooking class – and up your game forever in the kitchen – or follow your guide through Málaga’s pretty Old Town and beat the queues in the city’s eateries with your skip-the-line ticket, while learning the art of pairing Iberian Peninsula wines with regional tapas specialties. Food is culture!
Adventures in March in the Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol really has all kinds of adventures! Do you wonder if there is a safari-like adventure around the Costa? oh, well, there is! It is a walking kind of Safari, though, but with plenty of adventures along the way and animals from many parts of the world. It is the Selwo Aventura, a place that is more than a zoo, with its hanging bridges, lakes, trampolines and even a zip line! Particularly good for families with kids, not so good for families with elders, as the area is hilly. Excellent for March, as the weather allows for time in the sun!
If you enjoy Selwo Aventura, I think you will enjoy the Crocodile Park in Torremolinos too. It is the only Crocodile Park in Europe! Compared to Selwo, the Crocodile Park takes less time to visit, it is easy to walk around as well as being close to the town itself. Did you know that a croc can reach up to 600 kg?
Outside of the animal kingdom, more adventures await for you in March in the Costa del Sol. Or not so outside, as on the top of Mount Calamorro, which can be reached by the iconic, one and only Cable Car of the Costa (pride and joy of Benalmadena), there is actually a falconry display. But the display happens only a few times per day, so, if you want to watch, make sure to book your time accordingly. 😉 Even without the falcons, eagles and other birds of prey, the view from the top is unbelievable. A must!
Finally, if these were not adventure enough – safari animals, crocodiles, cable car – let’s add a Canyoning tour to the mix! Yeah, your adrenaline will pump this March! In the Canyoning Tour in Guadalmina, you don’t need to worry about Neoprene suits, helmet or rappelling equipment – the organizers of this activity have it all for their guests. The groups depart from Benahavis, close to Marbella, all the way to Guadalmina Canyon, where they climb, rappel and even walk to the top. After reaching it, you don’t need to jump, but I think you’ll want to!
For Hen parties
Not only for hen parties, actually; any group is welcome! To have the luxury of a private boat rental with a skipper (no, hens, not a stripper!) you’d need a 10 people group. Sailing with friends across the waters of the coast of Fuengirola makes any party memorable, don’t you think?
Conclusion
March in the Costa del Sol means colorful flowers against a deep blue sky. The weather in March is just perfect to explore the area, and to sit comfortably to have a meal under a shadow watching the sea come and go. It is also perfect to explore the towns, the surroundings and the adventures they have in store! Just come and enjoy! 🙂
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