Each stretch has its own character: the east, with Nerja and the Axarquía, is quieter and greener; the centre, from Torremolinos to Fuengirola, is the liveliest and best connected; and the west, with Marbella and Estepona, the most elegant. By car you can cover all of it in a couple of hours.
What to see in Costa del Sol: top sights
Marbella Old Town
Behind its glamorous reputation, Marbella keeps a white, flower-filled old town around the Plaza de los Naranjos, and a long seafront promenade with sculptures by Dalí on the Avenida del Mar.
Recommended time: 2–3 h
Hotels near Marbella Old Town · 457 propertiesPuerto Banús
The marina of yachts and supercars, with designer shops, terraces and nightlife. Boats and sailing trips leave from here to look for dolphins off the coast.
Recommended time: 2 h
Hotels near Puerto Banús · 215 propertiesNerja and the Balcón de Europa
A clifftop viewpoint over the sea in the middle of town, surrounded by coves such as Burriana, Calahonda and El Salón, on the easternmost and greenest stretch of the coast.
Recommended time: 2–3 h
Tip: Kayak trips leave from Nerja and La Herradura along the Maro cliffs to a waterfall that pours into the sea.
Hotels near Nerja and the Balcón de Europa · 395 propertiesNerja Cave
A huge cave discovered in 1959, with chambers of giant stalactites and one of the largest natural columns in the world. In summer it hosts a music and dance festival inside.
Recommended time: 1–1.5 h
Frigiliana
One of the prettiest white villages in Andalusia, in the hills above Nerja: a Moorish quarter of steep lanes, steps and flowerpots, with views of the sea.
Recommended time: 1.5–2 h
Hotels near Frigiliana · 123 propertiesMijas Pueblo
A white village looking down on the coast from the mountains, with the shrine of the Virgen de la Peña carved into the rock, a small bullring and viewpoints over Fuengirola and the sea.
Recommended time: 2 h
Hotels near Mijas Pueblo · 105 propertiesBenalmádena
Three towns in one: the white village in the hills, Arroyo de la Miel, with the cable car up Mount Calamorro, and Puerto Marina, a marina of fanciful architecture with restaurants and the Sea Life aquarium.
Recommended time: Half a day
Hotels near Benalmádena · 123 propertiesCaminito del Rey
A walkway pinned to the walls of the Gaitanes gorge, some hundred metres above the river, inland in Málaga province. The route is one-way and takes about three hours.
Recommended time: 3–4 h
Tip: Tickets sell out weeks ahead and children under eight are not allowed. If there are none left, guided tours with transport from the coast are a good alternative.
Estepona
The “garden of the Costa del Sol”: an old town of white streets full of colourful flowerpots and huge murals on the facades, with a town beach and a seafront promenade.
Recommended time: 2 h
Hotels near Estepona · 280 propertiesTorremolinos
A pioneer of tourism in Spain, with Calle San Miguel, a pedestrian shopping street, and the old fishing quarter of La Carihuela, famous for its fried fish.
Recommended time: 2 h
Hotels near Torremolinos · 369 properties
Day trips from Costa del Sol
Málaga
About 20 min by train from Torremolinos
The Alcazaba, the Picasso Museum, the Cathedral and Malagueta beach: the capital is right next to the coast.
Ronda
About 1 h by car from Marbella
The town split by a gorge and joined by the Puente Nuevo, with one of Spain’s oldest bullrings.
Granada
About 1 h 30 min by car from Málaga
The Alhambra and the Albaicín. Book your Alhambra ticket weeks ahead: it sells out.
Gibraltar
About 1 h by car from Marbella
The British Rock, with free-roaming monkeys, tunnels carved into the rock and views over the Strait and Africa. Bring your passport or ID card.
Costa del Sol in 3 days
Day 1
The east: Nerja Cave first thing, the Balcón de Europa and Nerja’s coves; sunset in Frigiliana.
Day 2
The west: Marbella old town in the morning, Puerto Banús and a boat trip along the coast; dinner in Estepona.
Day 3
The Caminito del Rey or Ronda. Or a day in Málaga: the Alcazaba, the Picasso Museum and Malagueta beach.
Costa del Sol with kids
- Bioparc Fuengirola, an immersive zoo with animals from Asia, Africa and Madagascar.
- Sea Life and the Benalmádena cable car.
- Selwo Aventura, a safari park in Estepona.
- Aqualand, the water park in Torremolinos.
Free things to do in Costa del Sol
- The seafront promenades, from Torremolinos to Marbella.
- The Balcón de Europa and Nerja’s coves.
- The white villages of Frigiliana, Mijas and Casares.
- Estepona’s old town and its murals.
- The Dalí sculptures on Marbella’s Avenida del Mar.
Where to stay in Costa del Sol
A motorway links the whole coast, and the local train runs from Málaga to Fuengirola via the airport, Torremolinos and Benalmádena. Choose your town according to the atmosphere you want.
Torremolinos
Beaches, nightlife and good connections, next to the airport and Málaga.
Places to stay in Torremolinos · 369 propertiesBenalmádena
Family-friendly, with the marina, the cable car and Sea Life.
Places to stay in Benalmádena · 123 propertiesFuengirola
Long beaches, a seafront promenade and the Bioparc; very easy without a car thanks to the train.
Places to stay in Fuengirola · 464 propertiesMarbella
An old town, beaches and nightlife, with places to stay in every category.
Places to stay in Marbella · 457 propertiesNerja
A charming town on the quietest, greenest stretch of the coast, to the east.
Places to stay in Nerja · 395 propertiesEstepona
Quieter, with a lovely old town and beaches, to the west.
Places to stay in Estepona · 280 properties
When to go to Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol boasts more than three hundred days of sunshine a year, with mild winters and hot summers. June to September is peak beach season; spring and autumn are ideal for combining beaches, villages and day trips.
In winter the climate is mild and it is a good time for golf and for sightseeing without queues. In summer many towns hold their fairs, and at Easter there are processions all along the coast.
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Frequently asked questions about Costa del Sol
Which towns make up the Costa del Sol?
From east to west, among others: Nerja, Torrox, Vélez-Málaga, Rincón de la Victoria, Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, Casares and Manilva.
Do you need a car on the Costa del Sol?
For the white villages, Nerja or Ronda, it helps a lot. Between Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola there is a local train, and buses link the whole coast.
Where should I stay on the Costa del Sol?
In Torremolinos or Benalmádena to be close to Málaga and the airport; in Fuengirola if you travel with family and without a car; in Marbella for nightlife; and in Nerja for a quiet town with coves.
When is the sea warm enough for swimming?
From June to October the sea is at its warmest. The rest of the year the days are sunny, but the water is cool.
Guide written by the buiigo team · Updated October 8, 2026
