ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE COSTA DEL SOL, SPAIN
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This post is all about why you should visit the Costa del Sol, Spain and what to do when you’re there
Costa del Sol is an extemely popular area in southern Spain with a beautiful coastline of glorious golden beaches, cultural attractions and delicious food.
Undoubtedly the biggest draw of the area is the 325 days a year sunshine and the sandy shorelines of popular tourist destinations such as Marbella, Benalmedina and Torremolinos. You can soak up the sun relaxing on the beaches or for the more adventurous you can have a go at various water sports activities such as diving, jet skiing, paddleboarding.
There’s the historic center of Malaga which is home to many attractions such as the striking cathedral, an Alcazaba fortress and a Picasso museum.
If you head inland you can discover traditional mountain villages called ‘pueblos blancos’ or ‘white villages,’ named after their whitewashed houses. Ronda is a unique village to visit with it’s bridge over a dramatic gorge that’s accessible from the coast in about 1 hour by car if you’ve hired you own or you can book a tour to Ronda from Marbella.
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This post is all about why you should visit Costa del Sol, Spain and what to see and do when you get there.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT THE COSTA DEL SOL
There are so many reasons why choosing the Costa del Sol for your holidays is a fantastic decision.
Beautiful Beaches : The Costa del Sol is famous for its miles and miles of stunning beaches with golden sand and crystal clear waters. Whether you prefer a quiet, secluded spot or a lively, party atmosphere you’ll be able to find the perfect beach on the Costa del Sol. There are busy tourist hotspots like Marbella and Torremolinos and charming coastal towns like Meja that offer completely different experiences.
Sunny Mediterranean Climate : The Costa del Sol region enjoys a fantastic Mediterranean climate, which means long hours of sunshine, mild winters, and warm summers. Due to the weather the Costa del Sol is a year-round destination.
Cuisine : Spanish food is renowned worldwide. The Costa del Sol region offers so much delicious, diverse food ranging from traditional tapas bars to high-end Michelin-starred restaurants. You can enjoy traditional, delicious paella, try local specialties like gazpacho or ajoblanco or sample excellent wines from nearby vineyards.
Outdoor Activities : The Costa del Sol is renowned for it’s beaches but there are many more outdoor activities on offer you can enjoy. You can explore natural parks and reserves, go hiking in the stunning Sierra de las Nieves or El Torcal. If more adventurous sports are your thing you can enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, and rock climbing. Golf enthusiasts will also find numerous world-class golf courses in the area.
Easily Accessible : The Costa del Sol is easily accessible, with Malaga Airport serving as the main gateway to the region. Many airlines offer direct flights from major cities across Europe, making it convenient to reach. Once you arrive, the area is well-connected by roads and public transportation, making it easy to explore the different towns and attractions along the coast.
Rich Cultural Heritage : There is so much history around the Costa del Sol and it boasts such a rich cultural heritage. You can visit Moorish castles, explore ancient ruins and discover charming Andalusian white-washed villages. Cities like Malaga and Granada offer world-class museums, art galleries, and historical sites that will captivate history and culture enthusiasts.
POPULAR TOWNS ON THE COSTA DEL SOL
Marbella
Torremolinos
Estepona
Fuengirola
Benalmádena
Mijas
Malaga
WALKING TOUR VIDEOS FROM THE COSTA DEL SOL
MARBELLA
Marbella has a well earned glamourous reputation with high end resorts offering a luxurious lifestyle. There are luxury hotels, world class restaurants and stunning beaches. Some of the more popular beaches include Playa de la Fontanilla, Playa Nagueles, and Puerto Banus Beach.
There are a number of top notch championship golf courses if that’s your thing.
The narrow, cobblestone streets of Marbella Old Town or Casco Antiguo are lined with whitewashed buildings with beautiful colourful flower pots. Wandering around Old Town you’ll find Plaza de los Naranjas where you can relax at a cafe, eating traditional Spanish tapas, soaking up the atmosphere.
If you’re after some culture Marbella can offer amazing contemporary sculptures by Salvador Dali along the beautiful street of Avenida del Mar. You can also explore the 10th century Moorish walls or visit the charming Ermita de Santiago which is situated in Plaza de los Naranjas.
If fancy dining is your thing then you will be right at home in Marbella. Spain in general has a wonderful selection of delicious local foods to try such as paella, gazpacho, patatas bravas. There are many diverse options to choose from in Marbella from traditional tapas bars to Michelin star restaurants.
There is some amazing nightlife in Marbella. You can dance the night away in bars and clubs or enjoy live music at many venues. Puerto Banus Marina is a particularly glitzy area where you socialise in the evening.
TORREMOLINOS
Torremolinos is one of the most popular holiday destinations in all of Spain and it’s easy to see why. It has beautiful beaches to relax on and enjoy the Spanish sunshine. The beaches are lined with beachfront bars and restaurants perfect for enjoying a refreshing cocktail or a traditional Spanish meal.
Torremolinos has a vibrant, lively nightlife centred around Plaza Costa del Sol with many bars, clubs and live music venues offering an aray of choices for you if you want to dance the night away.
If you fancy a little thrill and adventure you can head to Aqualand Torremolinos which is a popular water park with thrilling, adrenaline pumping slides, a special Kidworld area for the younger kids and relaxing pools.
If you enjoy an Old Town you should head to the charming Old Town of Torremolinos, known as La Carihuela. It has the traditional narrow streets with whitewashed buildings. The area of La Carihuela used to be a fishing village and it’s well known in the area for some of the best seafood restaurants around.
If you fancy stepping back from the beach you could head to Parque la Bateria (Battery Park) is a lovely lake and fountain with rowing boats and a tower you can climb up for some views around the area.
Casa de los Navajas is a beautiful building you can wander round. It was built by a successful sugar planter who wanted a palace by the sea and it is stunning. There are alot of steps so unfortunately, not a good trip for anyone with mobility issues.
ESTEPONA
Estepona is one of the lesser known resort towns on the Costa del Sol although kit has gained in popularity in the past few years with visitors from all over Europe as well as a thriving ex-pat community.
Estepona is on the western side of the Costa del Sol about 30km west of Marbella and 50km north of Gibraltar, at the foot of the Sierra Bermeja.
Estepona has a very long promenade filled with flowers and palm trees. There are shaded children’s play areas for the kids if you can drag them away from the long, sandy beach. During a walk along the promenade you’ll be treated to all sorts of smells from the restaurants that entice you in to enjoy a quick snack.
Estepona Old Town is very pretty and traditional with it’s narrow, cobbled streets, fountains and plazas.
FUENGIROLA
Fuengirola is one of the most lively and popular areas on the Costa del Sol with it’s lively promenade and it’s long, beautiful beaches.
The golden sands at Fuengirola stretches for miles along the coast of the Costa del Sol and they are perfect for relaxing on, sunbathing and soaking up all that Spanish sunshine.
Paseo Maritimo is the lively promenade in Fuengirola with many shops, restaurants and attractions to entertain you. Fuengirola is known for it’s lively nightlife with lots of bars, live music venues, pubs and discotheques for you to sing and dance the night away.
If you’re interested in history you must visit Sohail Castle. It’s a medieval fortress offering panoramic views of the town. They also host many concerts and cultural events throughout the year. If you’re around later on in the season in the second week of October you could catch the biggest festival of the year - Feira del Carmen.
There is a unique zoo in Fuengirola : Bioparc Fuengirola. This zoo immerses visitors in the animals natural habitats and allows you to get close up encounters with some exotic animals.
If you fancy some water fun away from the sea and hotel pool you can head to Aqua Mijas Water Park where there are dozens of attractions from high thrill slides, jacuzzis and a special children’s splash area called Lizard Island.
MIJAS
Mijas offers something different from the costal towns of Costa del Sol. Mijas Pueblo is a picturesque Andalusian village nestled in the hills with stunning views and lots of history and culture.
If you fancy stepping away from the beach and experiencing a little more Spanish culture Mijas is a great place to go. It has the traditional whitewashed houses of Andalusia with narrow, cobblestone streets lined with colourful flower pots.
If you have an interest in the history of bullfighting you can visit the Mijas Bullring, which dates back to the 19th century and houses a Bullfighting Museum that showcases items and provides an insight in to this traditional Spanish sport.
Another popular attraction in Mijas Village include the Ermita del Calvario, a small hermitage perched on a cliff offering panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Mijas Pueblo offers a look at a different side of Spain for anyone who wants to experience Andalusia at it’s most authentic. There are local craft shops and art galleries. Evening entertainment is a quiet meal at one of the restaurants.
MALAGA
Malaga is the location of Costa del Sol’s airport and it is a wonderful destination offering history, culture, beautiful beaches and so much more.
When in Malaga you must visit the Malaga Cathedral, referred to by the locals as “La Manguita”, a masterpiece of Renaissance and Baroque architecture.
Like many Spanish towns Malaga has a charming Old Town lined with boutiques, restaurants and plazas.
There is plently of natural beauty around Malaga. You can head to the long streches of beach where you can soak up the sun and enjoy a cocktail or two in the popular chirinquitos.
If you’re a lover of art and culture, you should visit the Picasso Museum which showcases an extensive collection of the legendary artist's works. There is a fortified palace fortress called Alcazaba, which dates back to the 11th century that you can visit for a glimpse into the city’s Moorish hertitage and boasts amazing panoramic views of Malaga.
If you head slightly outside of the city you will find Gibralfaro Castle. Here you will get breathtaking views over the Mediterranean Sea and Malaga.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT COSTA DEL SOL
Marbella enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long hot summers and relatively short mild winters.
If you love the sun the best time to go to Marbella is between June and September. The hottest month of the year is August with an average daily maximum of 31 C and an average low of 23 C. This is the summer holidays in Europe so it’s also the busiest and most expensive time to visit.
Instead of the height of summer, if you don’t mind slightly coolder temperatures you may enjoy visiting during early autumn - September or October. The sea is a wonderful temperature at this time.
WHICH AIRPORT SERVES THE COSTA DEL SOL
Malaga is the nearest airport to Marbella.
It is just over 50km away and takes about 40 minutes by car.
I personally hired a car at Malaga airport and it’s how I’d recommend getting to Marbella as it allows you to explore other places around the south coast such as Ronda, Seville or Sentenil de Bodegas.
I recommend renting a car through RentalCars.com as they search the biggest brands in car rental, have flexible rentals and no hidden fees. Book your rental car here.
HOW TO GET AROUND THE COSTA DEL SOL
Walking is the best way to get around Marbella. It’s not a very big town so it’s easy to get to most places on foot.
Old Town has some cobbled paths so pack a good pair of walking sandals to make the walks easier.
Marbella does have local bus services that can connect you to surrounding areas that are a little too far to walk such as Puerto Banus. Marbella Bus Station is located on Avenida del Trapiche, just north of the town centre. Marbella Bus Station has services that link directly to Málaga Airport, and Madrid.
You can find timetables of services from Marbella Bus Station here.
The Fly Blue catamaran offers daily cruises between Marbella and Puerto Banus if you want to head over there. The journey takes around 30 minutes and costs 15 euros for a return ticket.
If you’re driving, there are lots of car parks in Marbella that are all close to the center that are decently priced. Rent your car from RentalCars.com
COSTA DEL SOL GUIDE BOOKS AND GOOD READS
COSTA DEL SOL ESSENTIALS
Planning a trip to the Costa del Sol? Here are some of the resources and tools I personally use to organise my travel plans to anywhere in Spain.
FLIGHTS : Find the best deals on flights to Malaga using Skyscanner.
VISAS : Use iVisa to check if you need a tourist visa for Spain and apply for an expedited visa online. Use OneWayFly to obtain proof of onward travel/hotel reservation for your visa application if needed.
TRAVEL INSURANCE : Insure your trip with my preferred insurance for single trip and annual cover HeyMondo
AIRPORT TRANSFER : Pre-book your hotel transfer from Malaga Airport.
ACCOMMODATION : Find the best hotel deals in the Costa del Sol on Booking.com.
BUS TICKETS : It is easy to book your transport once you’re in Spain but if you’d like to book in advance you can buy private transfers online through Bookaway .
DAY TRIPS : Find the best city tours and day excursions in Costa del Sol on Viator or Get Your Guide.
Where else can you visit in this area of Spain?
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