Costa del Sol travel guide
More than 300 days of sunshine a year, white villages, golf and tapas. Spain's sunshine coast is a classic that still surprises.
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In short
The Costa del Sol is roughly 150 kilometres of coast, from Nerja east of Málaga to Estepona in the west. Stay in Málaga for culture and food, in Marbella for beach clubs and luxury, and in Torremolinos or Fuengirola for long beaches and a short train ride from the airport. Estepona and Nerja are quieter.
Our first choice: Marbella Club Hotel, the hotel that put Marbella on the map in the 1950s, on the Golden Mile between the town and Puerto Banús.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Marbella Club Hotel
The coast people keep returning to
There is something about the Costa del Sol that keeps people coming back. Year after year. With family, with friends, or just two people with a bottle of good wine and no particular plans. The coast runs for more than 150 kilometres along Andalusia’s southern shore, from the city of Málaga in the east to the white villages towards Gibraltar. It is far more than package tours and all-inclusive resorts.
More than sunshine and beaches
Costa del Sol means ‘the sun coast’, and with more than 300 days of sunshine a year it has drawn visitors since the 1950s. What sets it apart from so many European coasts is the mix of the informal and the sophisticated. You can eat tapas in a narrow alley at lunchtime and dine at one of Marbella’s best restaurants the same evening.
There is [Málaga](story:ed146b61-8c88-43e3-872b-3856a8f3c45d), Picasso’s birthplace, with its museums and an old town worth getting lost in. Further west lies Marbella, known for its old quarter, Casco Antiguo, the marina at Puerto Banús and restaurants of international standing. If you have not yet been to Mijas Pueblo, the whitewashed hill town looking out over the sea, put it high on your list.
Torremolinos is perhaps the place that first put the Costa del Sol on the map for British and Scandinavian holidaymakers, with broad beaches and a direct train into Málaga. Benalmádena Costa is an underrated alternative, with an aquarium by the marina and the village of Benalmádena Pueblo on the hillside above, which many beach visitors never find.
Fuengirola is a good choice for families, with long beaches and a relaxed pace for anyone who wants a holiday without surprises on the bill.
Further west is [Estepona](story:5533f5a6-f903-4612-b29e-13d40acd42b3), the flower town of the coast, where the lanes of Casco Antiguo are lined with pots of geraniums and whitewashed houses. It is calmer than neighbouring Marbella and home to El Orquidario, an orchid garden under a glass dome with more than 8,000 species.
On the other side of Málaga, to the east, Nerja is for those who want to escape the crowds. Narrow streets, the Balcón de Europa lookout and beaches such as Playa de Burriana make it a place that deserves more attention than it gets.
Food, wine and good evenings
The Costa del Sol is not only beaches and pools. Andalusia has a proud food culture, with fresh seafood, tapas and dry fino sherry. Around Málaga it is worth trying the sweet Málaga wine, and in the small tapas bars of the old town a simple evening can turn into one of the meals you remember from the trip.
If you want something unexpected, look in the old fishing quarters. In Marbella you will find small restaurants in plain rooms, where the smell draws you in before you have read the menu.
Not everything is Spanish. Davero in Marbella is a family-run Italian restaurant in the old fishing harbour, serving pasta and pizza made with ingredients shipped from Italy.
Sardines as tapas
Sardines are the fish of this coast. In summer they are grilled on skewers over embers in sand-filled boats on Málaga’s beaches.
Nature and culture
The interior is often overlooked. From the coast it is a short drive to El Torcal de Antequera, a nature reserve of limestone formations that look like another planet. The white villages, the pueblos blancos, and Ronda with its bridge over the gorge show another side of Andalusia and give the trip a second layer.
Practical information
Best time to travel: April to June and September to October. It is warm enough for the beach, without the August heat and crowds. Winter is mild and good for culture and walking.
Getting there: Málaga Airport (AGP) is one of Spain’s busiest, with direct flights from most UK airports.
Getting around: The local train runs from the airport to central Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola. For Marbella, Estepona, Nerja or the interior, a hire car is easiest.
Accommodation: Everything from apartments to luxury hotels. Below is where we would stay in each town.
Where to stay on the Costa del Sol
The town you choose shapes the holiday more than the hotel does. Here is one hotel in each of the main towns, picked for what that town does best.
Málaga: Gran Hotel Miramar
In Málaga you stay in a city that is alive all year, with museums and its own city beach. Gran Hotel Miramar sits where the city meets La Malagueta, so you can walk to the old town in the evening and swim in the morning. More hotels, area by area, in where to stay in Málaga.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Gran Hotel Miramar
Torremolinos: Meliá Costa del Sol
Meliá Costa del Sol stands right on Bajondillo beach, with three outdoor pools and the train to Málaga less than ten minutes’ walk away. The rooftop terrace is for over-16s only, but the rest of the hotel suits families who want the sand on the doorstep.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Meliá Costa del Sol
Fuengirola: Higuerón Hotel Málaga
Higuerón Hotel sits on the hillside between Benalmádena and Fuengirola, with views along the coast and the long town beaches a short way down. It belongs to Hilton’s Curio Collection and suits travellers who want to stay above the bustle with the beaches within easy reach.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Higuerón Hotel Málaga
Marbella: Puente Romano Beach Resort
Puente Romano takes its name from the Roman bridge in its gardens and lies on the Golden Mile, with white Andalusian village-style buildings running down to the beach. Puerto Banús and Marbella old town are a short taxi ride away. For beach clubs and long dinners.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Puente Romano Beach Resort
Nerja: Parador de Nerja
Parador de Nerja sits on the cliff above Burriana beach, a couple of minutes’ walk from the Balcón de Europa. The paradores are Spain’s state-run hotel chain, and this one is the pick for sea views and quiet evenings east of Málaga. To stay right by the lookout, Hotel Balcón de Europa is the alternative.
Book your stay: See available rooms at Parador de Nerja
Costa del Sol: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay on the Costa del Sol?
Málaga is best for city life, culture and food, Marbella and Puerto Banús for luxury and nightlife, while Estepona and Nerja are quieter. Fuengirola and Torremolinos are popular with families, with long beaches and a direct train to the airport. For Málaga itself, see where to stay in Málaga.
When is the best time to visit the Costa del Sol?
May, June, September and October bring warm days and comfortable temperatures. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, and winter is mild, which makes the coast popular all year round.
How long is the flight from London to Málaga?
A direct flight from London to Málaga takes around two and a half to three hours, with frequent departures from Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and most other UK airports all year round. From Málaga airport, the train runs to the city centre, Torremolinos and Fuengirola, and the drive to Marbella takes around 45 minutes.
Which Costa del Sol town is best for families?
Fuengirola and Torremolinos. Both have long, gently shelving beaches and hotels with several pools, and the airport train runs right into town. Benalmádena, between them, has an aquarium and a marina. To mix beach and city, La Malagueta in Málaga is also a good choice.
Keep reading
Where to stay in Málaga, best hotels in Seville and Málaga, Estepona and Davero.
Marbella hotels: where to stay, from the old town to Puerto Banús
Things to do in Málaga: from the Alcazaba to the Caminito del Rey
Hotels in Fuengirola: where to stay, from Miramar to Los Boliches
Torremolinos hotels: where to stay, from Playamar to La Carihuela
Nerja travel guide: Balcón de Europa, the caves and where to stay
Benalmádena travel guide: Puerto Marina, the old village and where to stay
Ronda, Spain: day trip from the Costa del Sol, Puente Nuevo and where to stay