by Scott Crowe, Villa Plus Contributor
When the Northern European winter reaches its peak, it becomes incredibly tempting to escape the freezing temperatures and long, dark nights. That’s where we come in. We’ve got a whole host of warm destinations with a wide range of homely Villa Plus villas for the whole family to relax and unwind in over the festive season.
In this piece, we’ll take you through some of the warm Christmas destinations that will welcome you for a winter sun holiday at the most wonderful time of the year. Across these islands, Christmas isn’t just celebrated, it’s lived. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in the local culture and spend some quality time together in our quality places to stay.
Why stay in a Villa Plus villa at Christmas?
Staying in a Villa Plus villa elevates your Christmas experience even further. Located conveniently close to the whole host of festive traditions and events, you’ll be living in a real home-from-home that will play the perfect host to your celebrations with the loved ones. Here’s why you should pick us for your next December holiday:
Kitchens for a culinary masterpiece
Whether you’re preparing a full festive feast based on the delicious dishes we’ve mentioned, or simply grazing on some snacks throughout the day, your villa kitchen will give you total flexibility.
Spacious settings for festive fun
There’s always somewhere to open presents, gather together for some Christmas games or enjoy some peace and quiet away from it all.
Heated private pools
A Christmas morning swim isn’t out of the question. Expect to spend a pleasant afternoon in the sun relaxing in the generous and private outdoor spaces our villas provide.
Privacy and comfort
Everything is taken care of before your arrival, so rather than fixed meal times and bustling corridors of hotels, everything can be done at your own pace so you can focus on making memories together.
Christmas in Madeira
Temperatures over the festive period
Madeira is typically mild and pleasant throughout December, with daytime temperatures reaching somewhere between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius.
Madeira Christmas traditions
Christmas in Madeira involves magical local customs that have been practiced for centuries. One of the most loved is ‘Missas do Parto’ (Childbirth Masses), a series of early-morning church gatherings in the nine days leading up to Christmas from 16-24 December. This is followed by the Missa do Gallo, a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Another highlight is the 23rd December Market Night, an unmissable evening where Madeirans shop for last minute gifts amongst a feast of street music, carols and festive treats.
Events over the holiday period
Madeira’s capital, Funchal, is home to one of the best Christmas light displays in Europe, illuminating the Avenida Arriaga with a procession of colour that’s complete with festive stalls and live entertainment. There are also concerts held in the city, ranging from classical performances to traditional folk songs, held al fresco around the city’s Cathedral and public squares.
Consider extending your stay until New Year in Madeira. You’ll be rewarded with the world-famous Funchal Bay fireworks, a great way to round off the festive period.
Festive cuisine
Comforting Madeiran Christmas flavours are led by carne vinha d’alhos (pork marinated in wine and garlic), alongside favourites like espetada (beef skewers). On the sweet side, bolo do mel (honey cake infused with spices) is exquisite, along with Bolo Rei (King’s Cake) if you’re extending your holiday to early January.
And of course, no December holiday in Madeira is complete without a glass or two of the iconic Poncha, made from sugarcane rum, honey, sugar and orange or lemon juice. The drink served as the inspiration for the Brazilian Caipirinha.
Christmas in Tenerife
Temperatures over the festive period
You can expect pleasant, mild weather in Tenerife over the festive period, with daily high temperatures in the region of 21 to 23 degrees, a far cry from back home!
Tenerife Christmas traditions
Beléns define Tenerife over Christmas. These beautifully detailed nativity scenes go far beyond those of the typical biblical story. Entire landscapes are recreated in miniature form, complete with tiny fishermen, artisans and desert scenes. The town of La Orotava is a particular highlight, turning belén-spotting into a festive trail through its historic streets.
As Christmas Day approaches, families gather for a big dinner on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) before attending Misa del Gallo (midnight mass), which is often followed by music in village squares.
Events over the holiday period
Open-air celebrations are the norm over Tenerife’s holiday period and include the famous Christmas Day Symphony Orchestra performance, packed with heart-warming classical music.
There are festive parades in Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje, with artisan markets popping up across the island through December too.
Festive cuisine
Tenerife’s access to the sea is celebrated in its Christmas culinary traditions. Cherne (wreckfish) is an immensely popular dish, served with classic Canarian potatoes, cabrito (young goat) and finished off with sweet almond-based treats like turrón.
There’s a huge emphasis on outdoor dining too, which adds an extra ingredient to these tasty dishes.
Christmas in Lanzarote
Temperatures over the festive period
You’ll be more than comfortable outside during the day in Lanzarote, with daily temperatures in the region of 17 to 21 degrees Celsius on average throughout December.
Lanzarote Christmas traditions
A product of its incredible geography, Lanzarote brings its landscape to life through its nativity scenes over the festive period. These are often built using volcanic rock and sand to reflect the dramatic scenery of the island.
A standout tradition is Los Ranchos, which involves folk-music groups dressed in traditional attire singing religious songs in village squares. This creates a magical atmosphere in the run up to the big day.
Events over the holiday period
You’ll find a range of markets throughout Lanzarote, epitomising the island’s slightly more laid back feel compared to its neighbours.
Towns like Arrecife and Teguise sprinkle these markets with children’s workshops, live music and street performances. Coastal promenades are lined with lights, and there are a range of live nativity productions too.
Festive cuisine
Hearty meals are the order of Christmas Day in Lanzarote, led by sancocho canario (salted fish stew). Local seafood is served with locally grown sweet potatoes to create a festive feast.
Seasonal sweets like roscos de anís (aniseed doughnuts) and mantecados (shortbread cookies) go down a treat with the island’s famous volcanic wines.
Christmas in Fuerteventura
Temperatures over the festive period
Expect average daytime temperatures of 19 to 22 degrees celsius during a December stay in Fuerteventura, making outdoor Christmas experiences the norm for islanders and visitors alike.
Fuerteventura Christmas traditions
The island leans into its community spirit over the festive period, crafting bespoke nativity scenes, decorating plazas with lights and creating handmade ornaments.
Corralejo Christmas market is the place to be in the build up, and on Christmas Day itself, many head to the beach for a festive dip.
Events
Fuerteventura’s very own Tabajoste group hosts an unmissable Christmas concert that has been running for over 20 years and has become a staple of the festive build up on the island.
If you plan on extending your stay into January, the Three Kings parades on 6 January are an unforgettable cultural experience. Camels, dancers, colourful floats and music fill the streets as sweets are tossed to children. Corralejo and Puerto del Rosario host two of the liveliest celebrations.
Festive cuisine
Queso con almendras (cheese with almonds) and truchas (sweet potato pastries) are just a couple of the delicious festive Fuerteventuran snacks to try.
The main festive meal is a nod to the island’s fresh seafood, featuring prawns with pink sauce (gambas con salsa rosa), similar to a prawn cocktail dish in the UK.