Costa del Sol information

The coast stretches just about 150 km in the province of Malaga. Most of the stretch is made up of beaches stretching from town to town all the way westward from Malaga to the province of Cadiz. Most of the small towns such as Fuengirola or Marbella used to be small white fishing villages that stem back to the Roman and Moorish times. These villages have over time grown to towns, some of which are more exclusive, such as Marbella.

The Costa del Sol offers all kinds of outdoor activities throughout the year due to its climate. You can kite-surf, play golf, tennis or go horseback riding all year round. All the cities, towns and villages offer different kinds of accommodations, from cheap hostels or pensions to expensive luxurious five star hotels. The Costa del Sol also offers all kinds of pastimes for the family, such as going to the beach or driving up to the mountains to visit beautiful old towns such as Ronda and a short drive away are the historic old Andalusian towns of Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba. There are water parks, zoos, theme parks and various aquariums for the whole family to visit..

There are restaurants, bars, casinos, nightclubs and shops in abundance all along the coast, with shopping districts in each town or city. In recent years the coast has had a boom with shopping centers, which you can find in or around most towns.

Malaga

Malaga is the capital city of the Costa del Sol. Malaga is a modern city, with an important commercial port, airport and university. Famous for its golf courses and beaches, Malaga is one of the major tourist destinations in southern Europe. From Malaga it is very easy to get to any of the other major cities in Andalusia by highway, like Cordoba, Cadiz, Sevilla and Granada. Malaga has several museums including the recently opened Picasso Museum.

The old town offers many shops, bars and restaurants as well as beautiful historic architecture dating back to the Phoenicians and the Moors, such as the Cathedral ?La Manquita?. The airport on the Costa del Sol lies just outside Malaga on the west side.

Malaga has a superb climate all year round and here you can partake in any outdoor activity throughout the year.

Top of page

Benalmadena

Benalmadena is about 10 to 15 minutes from Malaga airport, neighbouring Torremolinos, this is also a popular town for the British to visit. Benalm?dena has a very famous Marina where you can enjoy drinks and meals in any of its many restaurants and pubs, and you can get a nice look at some of the many fabulous yachts docked there! There is also the very well known Sea Life centre for the kids to enjoy.

Benalm?dena has an amazingly popular nightlife down in the Marina and also in the centre of town with its late-night bars and early morning discos.

Up in the hills beyond there is Benalm?dena Pueblo, a traditional Spanish village. It has astonishing views of the coast and North Africa. Nearby in Arroyo de la Miel you will find Tivoli Park, an amusement park for the kids and a Dolphinarium.

Top of page

Marbella

Marbella, the world famous destination, is located in the heart of the Costa del Sol on the Golden Mile. It is about 50 km (30 miles) from the airport. Marbella used to be a little fishing village which quickly grew into a luxury town with many well-known celebrities residing here. Behind Marbella lays La Concha, a famous mountain that provides a stunning backdrop to this exciting city. Marbella literally means beautiful sea.

Marbella is a very cosmopolitan town, more so than any of the others, and is often compared to Cannes and Monaco. Just behind the town centre you can find the quaint Old Town which is a must to visit, with narrow streets and a typical Spanish village feel, especially the famous Orange Square which is surrounded by historical buildings and a beautiful church. Marbella also has various challenging golf courses on offer just minutes from the town. There are also possibilities for the children to attend internationals schools.

Marbella is full of first class restaurants for sumptuous dining and various trendy bars and nightclubs. Celebrated hotels are in abundance, catering to all needs. There is a lovely beach promenade spanning over 20 beaches, where you can walk and admire the sea and sit down for a coffee or a lovely dinner.

Marbella is a very cosmopolitan town, more so than any of the others, and is often compared to Cannes and Monaco. Just behind the town centre you can find the quaint Old Town which is a must to visit, with narrow streets and a typical Spanish village feel, especially the famous Orange Square which is surrounded by historical buildings and a beautiful church.

Top of page

San Pedro

San Pedro is part of Marbella but is about 8 km to the west of central Marbella. You will find many local bars and restaurants throughout the narrow streets in the old part of town; a short stroll down to the sea will take you to a beautiful wide seafront promenade filled with beach restaurants (chiringuitos) and palm trees.

Thursdays is the local market day where you can go and find some great bargains. This small town also houses the famous weeklong last Andalusian summer ?feria? in October.

Top of page

Fuengirola

Fuengirola used to be a small fishing village and was originally called Suel, named after a star. When the Catholic Kings re-conquered the town in 1485 the name was changed to Fuengirola. On the western end of Fuengirola you can see the beautiful Sohail Castle, with park area and many festivals held within these historic grounds now.

Fuengirola is a small picturesque town between Marbella and the airport. It is a popular choice due to its positioning, a 20 minute drive to Malaga airport, 20 minutes to Marbella and Puerto Banus and 10 minutes to Torremolinos and less than an hour to Gibraltar. Here you can find many pubs and restaurants in town as well as along the extensive beach promenade. Along the promenade you will find a harbor with everything from fishing boats to yachts.

Fuengirola is more of a tourist location than anything else. In the area there are various golf courses as well as a water park for the kids to go and have fun; in town they also have a zoo. And on Tuesdays and Sundays you can go and look for a bargain in the street market.

Top of page

Ronda

You can find Ronda by the windy road that leads up through the mountains from San Pedro, it boasts one of the most amazing views that you will find on the coast. This village is rich in history, with the famous Roman bridge with a vertical drop down to the river gorge ?El Tajo?, overlooking the river Guadalevin that is absolutely breathtaking. Do not miss the opportunity to see this typical Andalusian town as well as to take a look at its famed bullring.

Top of page

Gibraltar

Located on the southern tip of Spain, Gibraltar lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. A population of around 30,000, Gibraltar was once owned by Spain but was returned to England in 1713 in the Treaty of Utrecht. Gibraltar is about an hour west of Marbella.

Gibraltar is a self-governing British Colony and has its own airport with daily flights. The rock is not very large; however there are many things for tourists to do, such as taking the cable car to the top of the rock to look at the monkeys. Or walk through town and do a spot of shopping, where you can purchase plenty of English food products. Most electronic gadgets can be bought for a much cheaper price than on the mainland in Spain, such as cameras, DVDs etc. .

Top of page

Puerto Banus

Named after its famous promoter Jose Banus, Puerto Banus lies between Marbella and San Pedro. It is Marbella?s most famous and glamorous asset. Puerto Banus is legendary for its housing of some of the most magnificent and luxurious big yachts. The port has an amazing nightlife; everywhere you turn there are bars, pubs, nightclubs and outdoor cafes catering to all your social demands!

There are many famous fine dining restaurants in the port, as well as the leading name designer shops, such as Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, which are open until very late at night. Puerto Banus is a fantastic place to visit for a touch of the life of the rich and famous!

Top of page

Torremolinos

Torremolinos is 10km from the airport, and is famous for being the first town in the south of Spain to pave the way for the tourism boom. With plenty of shops, golf courses, street markets, bars, nightclubs (rivaling Benidorm) and a wide selection of restaurants, there is a lot to do here.

The restaurants offer a delicious variety of foods such as English, Chinese, Italian, German, Spanish and much more.

The beautiful wide beaches extend throughout the whole town, where you can find all sorts of water related activities like para-gliding and water skiing. You will find people of most ages around Torremolinos, from golfers to regular holidaymakers enjoying the lively nightlife. This is not the town for all you culture seekers out there.