Costa del Sol Holidays

It is not by chance that the Costa del Sol in the South of Spain has become one of the most popular beach destinations all over the world among all kind of tourists. It offers more than 320 sunny days per year, with mild winters, perfect autumns and springs and warm but bearable summers.

It also boasts excellent connections by plane with basically all cities in Europe and many important ones from the rest of the world. From the Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport you can reach Torremolinos, Benalmádena or Fuengirola by train (‘tren de cercanías’) within just a few minutes. You can also rent a car and be in Marbella in around 40 minutes or in Estepona in a bit more than 50.

To make the most of your holidays we advise to forget about crowded resorts and opt for a luxury apartment in Costa del Sol instead.

Here are some reasons why everybody loves the Costa:

Beaches

If there is a reason that drags tourists to this region, it is, undoubtedly, its beaches. From Nerja in the East to Estepona in the West, the Costa del Sol stretches over 300 kilometers where you will find a total of 126 beaches: secluded and busy, sandy and rocky, big and small… There is something for everybody. Some of the most renowned are Maro and Burriana in Nerja area, El Faro in Marbella, la Viborilla in Benalmádena and El Cristo Beach in Estepona.

Something to take into consideration too is the flag colour of the beach. Blue flag is the gold standard for hygiene and public facilities. In 2019 22 beaches in Costa del Sol have been awarded with this distinction.

For those who are looking for a bit of action, there’s a water sports center next to the beach at virtually every resort in the Costa. Paddle surfing, jet skiing, parasailing or windsurfing, the offer is endless.

Golf

If beaches are the main attraction of the Costa, golf comes second. Also known as ‘Costa del Golf’, the area is considered an all-year-round golfer’s paradise with around 60 golf courses located along its coastline. Four of them are ranked in the Top 10 in Europe:  Valderrama Golf Club, San Roque Golf Club, La Reserva and Los Naranjos.

The excellent climate of the Costa del Sol with a very low rainfall makes it perfect to fully enjoy a round of golf anytime without having to worry about the weather. Also, the courses are normally surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, including spectacular panoramic views of the deep-blue Mediterranean Sea.

Gastronomy

Spanish food is famous for being varied, rich and healthy and the Costa del Sol is no exception.

One of the must-tries of the local cuisine is the espeto. Nearly every beach in the region has chiringuitos, beach bars that offer mainly Andalusian fried seafood dishes. Among them, you will find this local delicacy, consisting on skewered sardines roasted to perfection over crackling wood fires on pits in the beaches outside. Cheap, healthy and delicious. Oh, and they go great with just a pinch of lemon!

Of course, we advise you to try all sorts of pescaito frito (small fried fish) too. Also coquinas (a special kind of clams, smaller and tastier), gazpacho (a delicious vegetables cold soup) and some of the endless tapas variety that the region offers.

Local tip: paella is not a specialty of the area, so the chiringuitos and restaurants who offer it are manly tourist-oriented!

The ‘pueblos blancos’

If you are tired of the beach, it’s time to explore the beautiful hinterland. The white villages, also known as ‘pueblos blancos’, are hidden amongst the peaks and valleys throughout Málaga province, but the more famous in the area are Ronda and Frigiliana.

Ronda is a lovely town that still retains much of its historic charm, specially its old town. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the Guadalevín river through its centre.

Frigiliana is one of the most picturesque and beautiful villages you can visit, a maze of cobbled streets, with meticulously maintained whitewashed houses that provide a stunning contrast against the blue skies and red slate roofs.

Málaga, the capital

The southernmost large city in Europe it is considered one of the oldest cities in the world due to its 2,800 years of history. In contrast, nowadays Málaga  is renowned for being one of the most modern and trendiest towns in Andalucía. A visit to the Alcazaba – Roman Theater – Gibralfaro Castle area is mandatory, as well as a stroll through the brand-new Port area, full of shops and restaurants.

If you happen to visit it in one of those rare rainy days, don’t stress, the city offers more than 30 museums, some of them with international recognition, such as the Museo Carmen Thyssen, Museo Picasso and a Pompidou delegation.