Destination Guides: Costa del Sol

Calahonda (Mijas)

The Costa del Sol has long been the most popular tourist area in Spain offering sun, beaches, golf courses and culture. Here is a brief guide to some of the major resorts and towns

Benalmadena

Benalmadena offers a good beach, very pretty marina, and an excellent central park for evening strolls. It has all the usual shops and bars, plus a Sea Life Centre and a small theme park (Tivoli World, in Arroyo de la Miel). A good centre for family holidays.

Fuenguirola

Fuengirola is a well-established resort with wide variety of shops, restaurants and bars. While not offering as much in the way of culture as some of the other Costa del Sol resorts, it has some decent beaches, a small marina a bullring and an excellent zoo. There is an aqua-park on the outskirts of town (suitable for adults and children over 1.2 metres tall – there is very little to do for smaller children), and also a cinema for when the sun becomes too much. There is also a large “rastro” (flea market / car boot sale) at the fairground on Saturdays.

Malaga

Most travellers to the Costa del Sol only ever see Malaga’s airport, but it has much more to offer, from the large cathedral to the Picasso museum and various city parks and restaurants. Well worth a day trip.

Marbella

Marbella

Marbella is a beautiful town, especially the old town near the centre. It’s a particularly good centre for shopping, eating and nightlife, although many of the shops are more expensive than elsewhere. It has a beautiful old park in the centre, with an outdoor theatre, plus several cinemas and a marble promenade with several sculptures by Salvadore Dali.

Mijas Costa

Mijas Costa mainly consists of several large “urbanisations” (suburbs) which spread a long way along the coast. It’s quieter than the other resorts, and boasts some excellent beaches and golf courses.

Nerja

Like the rest of the Eastern Costa del Sol, Nerja has escaped the worst excesses of the property developers and is a much quieter resort than those in the West. It still has its fair share of bars and restaurants and is a very pleasant place to stay. The famous Nerja caves are 6km inland and are well worth a visit.

Torremolinos

Torremolinos is the largest resort on the Costa del Sol, and is probably the place to go if you are after nightlife and beaches. It was built up very fast in the late 20th century, but some areas of the old town remain, and are well worth a visit. For families, there’s an aqua park on the edge of town and some of the most popular beaches in Spain.

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