Costa del Sol Holidays

A covers-all-corners Costa

Whoever said you can't have it all hasn't been to the Costa del Sol. Skirting Spain's southern coast, it packs in the full spectrum of beach holidays. Take Benalmadena, for example. What families can’t do in here isn’t worth mentioning. The super-sized stretch of sand is the big draw, and then there’s the Sea Life Centre and theme park to think about. There’s no shortage of bars, shops and restaurants, either. And you can go traditional in its cobbled old town, Benalmadena Pueblo.

Traditional taste

You’ve probably heard of the big names on this region’s CV, but the little-known ones deserve a shout-out, too. San Pedro de Alcantara is 10 minutes’ drive from plush-as-anything Puerto Banus, but a totally different ball game. Think Roman ruins, narrow streets and tapas bars. Nearby Estepona’s got cultural clout, too, thanks to a snow-white old town. And they both come with a couple of sandy beaches to boot.

Classic Costas

Torremolinos and Benalmadena are the big personalities around here. Beach-wise, pretty much the whole coast is coloured in with sand. And they work the family-friendly angle, too. Between them, they round up a theme park, a waterpark and a crocodile zoo. Plus, Malaga’s just up the road for even more action.