Episode 35

🗓️ Week of September 8–14, 2025

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🌟 Special Spotlight: This is the
Costa del Sol

🗓️ Week of September 8–14, 2025

“September here isn’t the end of summer — it’s the start of something softer, brighter, and even more beautiful.”

Carmen Tweet

Forget the package holiday clichés of the 1980s — this is the real Sun Coast. In September, with 25° days while northern Europe is already pulling on coats, the Costa del Sol feels subtropical, vibrant, and alive. Carmen and Baptiste jump town to town — from Estepona and Marbella to Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Torre del Mar and Nerja — showing how each has its own heartbeat. Beaches for families or surfers, tapas squares like Fuengirola’s Plaza de los Chinorros, out-of-season gems like Nerja’s caves or Benalmádena’s cable car… together, they weave a portrait of a coast that’s almost better in autumn and winter than midsummer.

September lights up Málaga province with fiestas both big and small — harvests, devotion, and heritage all playing out this week.

Feria de Mijas (Sept 6–11) → Whitewashed streets buzzing with day casetas, fairground rides, concerts, and on Sept 8th the solemn procession of the Virgen de la Peña through the pueblo.
Virgen de la Victoria – Málaga (Sept 8) → Patron saint of the city with a midday cathedral mass and a 19:30 procession to the sanctuary. Expect crowds and music across the centre.
Fiesta del Boquerón Victoriano – Rincón de la Victoria (Sept 9–14) → A thousand kilos of fresh anchovies served fried and grilled, showcooking, concerts, and Saturday’s fishing reenactment with marengo breakfast.
Feria de la Vendimia – Mollina (Sept 11–14) → Wine harvest fair with artisan stalls, equestrian shows, tastings, and local music. Opening toast Thursday night at 22:30.
Luna Mora – Guaro (Sept 12–13) → More than 20,000 candles illuminating the mountain town. Moorish market, falconry, street theatre, and a Saturday concert by Chambao.
Fiesta de Viñeros – Moclinejo (Sept 14) → Muscatel grape harvest festival with barefoot pressing, verdiales music, and giant communal paellas.
Festival of the Goat – Casabermeja (Sept 13–15) → Celebrating the Málaga goat with tastings, cheeses, and traditional stews.
Fiesta de la Aceituna – Alozaina (Sept 12–14) → Olives and olive oil in the spotlight, with milling demonstrations and tastings.

🖼️ Culture & Exhibitions

🍷 Food & Hospitality

🎶 Music & Nightlife

From bold retrospectives to experimental photography, Málaga’s cultural calendar is in full swing this week.

Centre Pompidou Málaga hosts a stunning Kandinsky retrospective — dreamy colours, modernist madness, and perfect portside air-con.
MUCAC La Coracha has opened with Omnímoda, a bold post-digital photography exhibition that’s 100% free.
Museo Carmen Thyssen explores post-Franco Spain with Pintura Liberada — expressive, defiant, and deeply human.
Bonus: the Soho District remains Málaga’s best gallery-without-walls, with murals and street art you can enjoy day or night.

September in Málaga is a feast for the senses — from sea to sierra, food is at the heart of the celebrations.

Fiesta del Boquerón Victoriano – Rincón de la Victoria (Sept 9–14) → A thousand kilos of fresh anchovies served fried and grilled, showcooking, concerts, and Saturday’s fishing reenactment with marengo breakfast.
Feria de la Vendimia – Mollina (Sept 11–14) → Wine harvest fair with artisan stalls, equestrian shows, tastings, and local music. Opening toast Thursday night at 22:30.
Fiesta de Viñeros – Moclinejo (Sept 14) → Muscatel grape harvest festival with barefoot pressing, verdiales music, and giant communal paellas.
Festival of the Goat – Casabermeja (Sept 13–15) → Celebrating the Málaga goat with tastings, cheeses, and traditional stews.
Fiesta de la Aceituna – Alozaina (Sept 12–14) → Olives and olive oil in the spotlight, with milling demonstrations and tastings.
Everyday highlights: Plaza de los Chinorros in Fuengirola for a buzzing tapas crawl, Málaga’s chiringuitos for espetos by the sea, and the CIVIMA wine museum in Manilva for tastings year-round.

From salsa under castle walls to candlelit strings and arena pop, September nights on the Costa del Sol are alive with rhythm.

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico – Fuengirola (Sept 12) → Salsa legends performing at Marenostrum Fuengirola, with Castillo Sohail as their stunning backdrop.
Quevedo – Málaga (Sept 13 & 14) → Two back-to-back nights at the Martín Carpena arena, bringing Spain’s urban superstar to thousands of fans.
Candlelight Concerts – Málaga (Sept 13) → A rock and Coldplay tribute performed by string quartet, bathed in candlelight at Sala Fundación Unicaja María Cristina.
Luna Mora – Guaro (Sept 12–13) → Already a festival highlight, it’s also a music event — this year featuring Chambao live under 20,000 candles.
Flamenco Guitar Fest – Benalmádena (Sept 9) → Showcasing virtuosos of the Spanish guitar in an intimate setting.
Festival Flamenco El Quejigal – Benalmádena (Sept 13) → Singers, dancers, and musicians bringing tradition to the stage.
Nightlife beats: Puerto Banús for luxury clubs and DJs, Los Álamos, Torremolinos for beachside electronic sets until sunrise.

🏄 Sports & Outdoor Activities

From world-class tennis to cliffside hikes and seaside adventures, September is made for getting outside on the Costa del Sol.

Davis Cup Qualifier – Marbella (Sept 13–14) → Spain faces Denmark at the Puente Romano Tennis Club, with Carlos Alcaraz, Alejandro Davidovich, and Holger Rune expected on court.
Caminito del Rey – El Chorro → The famous cliffside walkway through the Gaitanes Gorge, open Tuesday–Sunday, offering one of Spain’s most breathtaking hikes.

Kayak & Snorkel – Maro to Nerja → Daily guided tours through caves, arches, and waterfalls plunging into the sea, with snorkeling in crystal waters.
Benalmádena Cable Car → Ride from Arroyo de la Miel to Mount Calamorro for sweeping views and birds-of-prey shows at the summit.
Torremolinos Rastro → The big weekly flea market on Avenida del Real, where bargain-hunting becomes an outdoor sport.
Beach & Water Sports → Parasailing, jet skiing, paddle boarding — the Med is still warm, perfect for adventure on the waves.

🔗 Travel Tip of the Week

Kayak & Snorkel from Maro to Nerja

Swap the city streets for sea caves and crystal water. Daily guided kayak tours take you along the cliffs of Maro and Cerro Gordo, past natural arches and waterfalls that tumble straight into the Mediterranean. Stop for snorkeling in hidden coves and discover marine life beneath the surface. September is ideal — the water is still warm, but the summer crowds are gone.