Are shops in Marbella and Málaga open on Sundays?
Short answer
Yes in Holy Week and from the start of June to the end of September, when the whole of Marbella and the whole of Málaga are tourist zones and shops may open every day. For the rest of the year large shops there may open only on Andalucía's 16 permitted Sundays and holidays.
Detailed answer
The Junta de Andalucía has declared the whole municipality of Málaga a tourist zone for shop opening hours in Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, and every day from the start of June to the end of September. Marbella's whole municipality has the same declaration for Holy Week and the summer. Estepona and Manilva, on the way from Gibraltar, are tourist zones for the same periods.
Inside those periods any shop in the zone may open on Sundays and holidays, which includes the large shopping centres such as La Cañada in Marbella and Plaza Mayor, Vialia and Larios Centro in Málaga. Each shop still sets its own hours and may choose to close.
Outside those periods the general rules apply: large shops may open on only the 16 Sundays and holidays the Junta sets for the year, and each council may swap up to two of them. Smaller independent shops, bakeries, florists and convenience stores can open whenever they choose.
Jerez de la Frontera has two declared tourist zones, its historic centre in Holy Week and several summer and autumn months, and the whole town during the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix, but both have been suspended since Friday 30 January 2026. That day the Junta published the suspension ordered by the High Court of Justice of Andalucía on Wednesday 29 October 2025 while the court hears a challenge brought by the large retailers' association. Jerez council said on Friday 6 February 2026 that while the suspension lasts the rules allow opening on only the 16 days a year.
Gibraltar Bites' free tool Is it open in Spain today? shows which shopping centres in Marbella, Málaga and nearer Gibraltar are open today, tomorrow and this weekend.