Costa del Sol braces for Easter 2026 rush with packed beaches and transport boosts
Holidaymakers and those who live along the stretch from Torremolinos to Manilva can expect lively scenes over Easter 2026. Coastal towns including Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Manilva, as well as inland Alhaurin el Grande, Coin and Benahavis welcome holidaymakers without the beaches, restaurants and attractions operating normal hours despite the religious festivities.
For eating out, especially Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday, be sure to book ahead if you want to eat out for lunch as many restaurants will have already taken reservations and may only be preparing for one siting only.
Supermarket shopping options vary across the region
Mercadona stores close on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at inland sites, but most are advertising normal opening hours at the coast. In contrast, Aldi and Lidl outlets generally stick to standard timetables at Easter across the board, offering convenient access for groceries.
The bigger shopping centres maintain full operations too. Miramar in Mijas and La Cañada in Marbella advertise unchanged hours, while Carrefour and Alcampo hypermarkets follow suit in most locations.
Public services face widespread closures Thursday & Friday
Medical centres shut completely on Thursday and Friday, directing non-emergency cases to out-of-hours services or private clinics. Banks halt all counter operations during the same period, with only ATMs remaining available for cash withdrawals. Garages and repair shops will be closed too, so best not save that lightbulb replacement for Thursday.
Post offices, town halls and many administrative offices also suspend normal activities. Emergency services continue uninterrupted, but routine appointments require rescheduling for after the holidays.
Transport sees boosts for holiday travel
Bus services undergo minor adjustments rather than full suspensions. Routes linking coastal towns to Malaga may face delays from processions or road closures in Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola, yet extra interurban services run to accommodate crowds heading to events.
Cercanías trains receive a welcome increase in frequency. Renfe is adding extra services on the Costa del Sol line, with some operating late into the night until 3.40am on peak days. This improvement supports travellers between Malaga and Fuengirola, although expect carriages to be chockablock.
Overall, the Costa will be business as usual except for public services, with some local closures for inland Mercadonas as is often the case during public holidays.
