YourAndalucia

The Costa del Sol is one of the most popular areas in Andalucia, Spain. It is known for its sunshine, beautiful coastline, crystal clear Mediterranean Sea, package holidays, upmarket resorts, the excellent Costa del Sol golf courses and of course the weather.

The Costa del Sol, Spain, is situated between Gibraltar, a British territory famous for the Gibraltar Rock, and Granada Province's Costa Tropical. It is a long coastline which can be divided into two – places east of Malaga City and places west of Malaga City:-

East of Malaga

The coastline east of Malaga tends to be quieter than the resorts found west of the city. This part of the coast, which borders with Granada's Costa Tropical, does not consist of high rise apartment blocks and huge package holiday hotels, but instead offers pretty fishing villages and traditional Spanish seaside resorts which include:-

• Nerja – Nerja is a typical whitewashed fishing village which offers tourists a charming old town area, the palm tree lined Balcon de Europa promenade, attractive beaches, wonderful caves, beautiful mountains, stunning sea views and a host of water-sports to enjoy. The resort is only 56km from Malaga City and airport, so it's the ideal holiday destination.
• Torrox – Ignored by many guide books, Torrox municipality actually consists of Torrox Costa, a busy seaside resort offering beaches, lighthouse and Roman necropolis and villa, and Torrox village. The village is far more attractive and is a traditional whitewashed hillside pueblo which had an important role in Moorish times, due to its involvement in the silk trade. It has a pretty centre with a Baroque church.

West of Malaga

The coastline west of Malaga is far more developed than that of the east. Here, you will find the popular resorts of Torremolinos, Benamadena and Fuengirola which are often described as concrete jungles and Spain's version of Blackpool.

However, these resorts are very popular with tourists from all over the world because of the wide range of facilities they offer, the climate and the beauty of the coastline. I'm not sure that they really can be compared to Blackpool!

Whatever type of holiday you want, you can find it here. If you like great facilities, a package style or all-inclusive holiday, and plenty of English speakers then you will find it in the busy seaside resorts. If, however, you want to get away from it all and find the real Spain, then you can move further inland or visit the smaller, more traditional fishing villages which are still within easy reach of good facilities.

• Torremolinos – This resort is very near to Malaga Airport (only 7km away) and, although it is known for its high rise hotels and apartments, it still has much going for it and much work has been done to shake off its "concrete jungle" reputation.
  
  The resort offers vibrant nightlife, a choice of lovely sandy beaches, a pretty promenade, the Torre de los Molinos 14th century watchtower, wide choice of restaurants and bars, relaxing gardens, a good choice of accommodation and plenty of shops in its attractive pedestrianised shopping area. There are also many quieter and more traditional resorts nearby.
• Benalmadena -This is the quieter neighbour of Torremolinos and it has three main areas - Benalmadena Costa, with its beaches; the charming Benalmadena Pueblo on the hillside, with its attractive square, narrow streets and traditional houses, and the lively suburb of Arroyo de la Miel, with its restaurants, bars and shops. If you want a holiday which offers excellent facilities, a wealth of attractions and a good choice of accommodation, in the Costa del Sol, Benalmadena is a great place to go. One attraction not to miss is the wonderful Teleferico cable car
• Fuengirola – Situated further along the coast, 25km from Malaga Airport, this former fishing village has grown into a bustling tourist resort. Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, is well known for its wealth of attractions which include an upmarket and trendy marina, beautiful beaches, pretty plaza, historic 10th century castle, gardens, huge choice of restaurants and bars and vast array of shops and boutiques.
• Mijas - Originally a small pueblo, Mijas was popular with Bohemian writers and artists in the 1950s and 60s, and is now a popular resort which incorporates the busy Mijas Costa and the charming Mijas Pueblo.Visit the folk museum (the Casa Museo de Mijas), the grotto of the Virgen de la Peña with its wonderful views, and the Carmelite Ermita del Calvario.

• Marbella – Everybody has heard of Marbella and for good reason. Marbella is a sprawling, glamourous town which encompasses Nueva Andalucia, San Pedro and the marina of Puerto Banus  which is known for its posh yachts and celebrities.
  
  Attractions include the pretty Casco Antiquo (Old Town), the attractive Plaza de los Naranjos and fountain, 16th century town hall, Baroque Iglesia de la Encarnación, Moorish walls, the Avenida del Mar which is decorated with sculptures by Dali, and its beautiful coastline with beaches and water-sports.
• Estepona – This upmarket, low-rise resort is a popular tourist resort which has managed to hang onto much of its original Spanish charm. Visit Estepona for its lovely marina and seafront, stunning beach and whitewashed pueblo. Other attractions include the Selwo Aventura safari park , the pretty Plaza de las Flores and the Playa de la Rada beach.