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Holidays to the Costa del Sol can be tailor-made to suit you. Sandy beaches, glitzy towns, historical villages and lively theme parks are just a few of the things Spain’s Sunshine Coast has to offer.
A national treasure
Britain’s love affair with the Costa del Sol has just passed the diamond anniversary point. It was slightly more than 60 years ago that holidaymakers from the UK started to head to Spain’s southern coast. Today, the relationship couldn’t be stronger. Not only do thousands of visitors travel over here every year, but 300,000 expats now call this place home.
The Sunshine Coast
The secret to the Costa del Sol’s success is in its name. The sunshine coast experiences approximately 320 days of sun every year. What’s more, the region’s 161-kilometre coastline has everything you need to make the most of the weather. In Marbella alone there are 25 kilometres of silky sand, broken up by five-star hotels and beach clubs. Torremolinos’ beaches, meanwhile, are backed by tapas bars, shops and ice-cream parlours. And in Benalmadena, a whitewashed old town sits shoulder-to-shoulder with a cosmopolitan harbour area.
Pueblo blancos
The Costa del Sol is the gateway to Andalucia. This part of Spain is known for its pueblo blancos – whitewashed villages that spill down the hillside. It’s also the location of guidebook-touted cities like Granada and Seville.
Places To Stay In Costa Del Sol View all places to stay »
Nerja
Teetering on the rocks on the southern tip of Andalusia – about 40 minutes from Malàga – is Nerja, AKA the jewel of the Costa del Sol. You’re in classic Costa territory here, with sandy beaches and an all-night bar scene. There’s tumultuous history to explore, too – the centrepiece is the Balcon de Europa, a viewing platform that was once part of a battle-torn castle. No wonder King Alfonso XII made Nerja his holiday home back in the 1880s.
Fuengirola
Sandwiched between Torremolinos and Marbella, the former fishing village of Fuengirola is now one of the Costa del Sol’s biggest players. It’s got the high-rise hotels, buzzing bars and tourist-friendly restaurants to prove it, but there are also side streets and squares crammed with upmarket tapas places and chic boutiques. And a Moorish castle adds a bit of history. The real draw, though, is the super-sized sandy beach.
Puerto Banus
Puerto Banus is Marbella’s world-famous port, right in the heart of Spain’s Costa del Sol. It’s a millionaire’s playground with beach clubs, super-yachts moored in the marina, and a long strip of bars, clubs and designer boutiques along the water. There’s another side to this firecracker of a spot, though – head away from the sea and there are quieter bars and authentic Spanish tapas.
Benalmadena Pueblo
Narrow streets, whitewashed houses and bougainvillea spilling from balconies are all part of the picture at Benalmadena Pueblo on Spain’s Costa del Sol. So are the mountain and sea views that frame this peaceful hillside village. And it all comes with the sort of relaxed vibe that has locals chilling out alongside tourists in the bars and restaurants. As for beaches, there’s a whole coastline waiting in the wings.
Frigiliana
Frigiliana is perched high on a ridge above Nerja on the Costa del Sol. This whitewashed village is navigated by a maze of steep cobbled streets – at its centre is the Moorish old town, where floor mosaics narrate the story of the Moors’ uprising. Here you’ll find authentic restaurants where tapas and sangria reign. And for nightlife and sandy beaches, Nerja is just down on the coast.
Calahonda
Calahonda sprang up in the Sixties between major players Marbella and Fuengirola. This custom-built place is a mix of larger hotels and whitewashed low-rises, and what it lacks in traditional Spanish atmosphere it more than makes up for with its energetic nightlife, provided by the mostly British-style bars and restaurants. Of course, with the Costa del Sol, you’re looking at nearly year-round sunshine – and here you’ve got a great sandy beach to make the most of it.
AT A GLANCE
- Marvel at the glitz and glamour of the Alhambra Palace
- Put the Champagne on ice in one of Puerto Banus’ beach clubs
- Improve your par on one of the ‘Costa del Golf’s greens
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Weather
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WHEN TO GO
The name of the Costa del Sol is a weather report in itself. Spain’s southern coast gets an impressive 320 sunny days a year, so it’s a great year-round destination. In summer, daytime temperatures don’t tend to stray from the 30s. In the spring and autumn, meanwhile, you can expect highs of between 18 and 22 degrees.
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£ 158
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Things To Do View all »
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Malaga Festival
This week-long festival is one big hats-off to culture of the Costa del Sol. Throughout the week, the paving stones of Plaza…
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Pop a cork on Puerto Banus' east beach
A manicure, an oversized pair of designer sunglasses and a kaftan will make you feel at home on this nipped and tucked stretch…
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