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Costa Del Sol

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With stylish marinas, modern hotels and sandy beaches – not to mention 320-odd days of sunshine a year – a holiday to the Costa del Sol is always a winner.

Family-friendly Benalmadena

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.

Up-tempo Torremolinos

Torremolinos is another classic beach resort. Its sandy sweeps are dotted with ‘chiringuito’ bars, and the town itself is choc-full of shops and restaurants. The place really comes alive at night. For something a little more slow-paced, head for the old district, El Calvario, and you’ll find traditional markets and countless tapas bars.

Authentic Spain and City Life

If traditional Spain is high on your agenda, try the seaside town of Estepona. It’s still a pretty big resort, but it’s held tight to its whitewashed, Andalusian charm. Wander its steep cobbled streets and you’ll come across no end of unusual shops, pavement cafés and tapas bars. The original fish market is still going strong, too. And if you’re up for venturing away from the coastline, Andalusia’s big three – Granada, Seville and Cordoba – are all within daytripping distance.

Sunshine

With a name that translates as the Sunshine Coast, you can guess that this place does a nice line in beaches. All along the coast, from Nerja in the east to Estepona in the west, you’ll find wide ribbons of sand bordered by palm trees and swimmer-friendly waters.
The Big Beach

If we’re talking popularity contests, Torremolinos’ Playacar Beach would win hands down. Come summer this place is packed with sun-seekers. The slate-coloured sands stretch along the coast for a kilometre, though, so there’s always room to lay out your beach towel. There’s pretty much everything you could need here – sunbeds, showers, watersports, and even a playground for the kids. And when lunchtime rolls around there are shedloads of chiringuitos and beach bars serving up fried fish and ice-cold San Miguels.
The Secret Beach

If you prefer your sand with a bit more of a ‘do-not-disturb’ feel, Nerja’s Playa Carabeillo is a good shout. It’s a small, sand-and-shingle bay fringed by palms and bookended by jagged cliffs. It tends to stay pretty empty, as most holidaymakers settle down at Burriana Beach, Playa Carabeillo’s famous neighbour. You won’t find any noisy beach bars or cafés here, either, although there are a couple at the top of the cliff, so there’s not far to go if you’re peckish.

Bargain Buys

Two of the best markets in the area are at Torremolinos' Recinto Ferial and Estepona's marina. They're held every Sunday and you can pick up souvenirs like handmade jewellery, leather bags and even the odd antique. As with most markets, the prices aren't fixed in these places, so barter for all you’re worth.
Mid-Range Buys

Fuengirola, a 15-minute car ride from Benalmadena, is a great place for high-street buys. Its central square, Plaza de la Constitucion, rolls out big names like Benetton, Pull & Bear and Zara. Over in Benalmadena, Avenida de Consitución and the streets spinning off it are the place to be for on-trend clothes and shoe shops.
Designer Buys

Puerto Banus, a 20-minute drive from Estepona, is the best place in the Costa del Sol for designer shopping. Its streets are lined with the likes of Gucci, Dior, Armani and Bulgari. If your budget allows it, head to the Golden Mile just behind the marina for the pick of top-end shops.

Laid-back evenings

The nightlife doesn't really get going ‘til late on the Costa del Sol, so a quiet evening revolves around dinner and a drink in a bar. Estepona's old town has a good selection of bars that aren't too booming. Elsewhere, the La Carihuela area of Torremolinos still has a quiet, fishing-village vibe about it, with a slew of low-key bars and good restaurants along the prom.
Lively evenings

Although Torremolinos still wears the nightlife crown when most people think of the Costa del Sol, Benalmadena is actually livelier. In both places the clubs start late – they don't open ‘til 11pm – and go on past dawn. In Torremolinos, head to Avda de Palma de Mallorca, and in Benalmadena go for the aptly-named 24 hour Square.

Gazpacho

This rustic, tomato-based soup is packed with raw vegetables, garlic, vinegar and olive oil, and served with crusty bread. It was introduced to region in pre-Roman times and quickly became a favourite throughout the Spanish empire. Farmers used to eat it at lunch to cool off from the midday sun as, famously, it's served cold.
Ajoblanco

Like gazpacho, this soup is served cold, usually as an appetiser with grapes or melon. It's made of bread, crushed almonds, garlic, olive oil, water, and sometimes a splash of vinegar. You’ll find it on menus all over Costa del Sol, with a few interesting variations to keep things interesting. In Granada, for example, they like it with baked potatoes.
Pescaíto frito

This is rumoured to be the inspiration behind British favourite, fish and chips, and apparently it originated in Torremolinos. The secret to its success lies in the batter – the fish is fried in a special mixture that keeps it nice and light. The type of fish may vary from place to place, but you’d be hard pushed to find a menu that doesn’t offer it.
Huevos a la Flamenco

Flamenco eggs, as this is better known, is a big favourite in these parts. Onions, garlic, peppers, and chopped tomatoes are made into a thick sauce and used as a base to poach the eggs in. It goes down well with crusty bread and a hearty red wine.
Tinto de verano

This alcoholic drink is a bit like sangria, but simpler. It contains an even mix of red wine and gaseosa, a low-sugar, lightly flavoured lemonade. There might sometimes be a dash of rum or a slice of lemon added, but the locals love it however it comes, especially on warm summer afternoons.

Places To Stay In Costa Del Sol View all places to stay

Benalmadena

Benalmadena has carved itself a big slice of the Costa del Sol, with a whopping 20 kilometres of coastline to its name. And it’s divvied up its spoils well. Up in the old town it’s all whitewashed houses and narrow streets, while the main centre packs in the bars and restaurants. And down on the seafront, you’ve got back-to-back beaches and a marina that looks so hot it’s won awards.

Torremolinos

Set on the Costa del Sol in the south of Spain, Torremolinos was one of the first holiday resorts to draw sun-hungry Brits back in the Sixties. Today, around 3.5 million holidaymakers come here for their annual blast of warmth, whether it’s in the summer or the winter. As a result, the town has quite a British slant, with familiar places serving pints, roasts and fry-ups.

ClubHotel Riu Costa del Sol

San Pedro De Alcantara

San Pedro de Alcantara – or San Pedro, for short – is anchored in the west of the Costa del Sol, about 10 kilometres from Marbella. It’s got a bit of a split personality – along the beachfront, it’s all hotels, cafés and souvenir shops, while the town centre is more like traditional Spain, with sieasta, tapas bars lining narrow backstreets and a big weekly market.

Globales Cortijo Blanco

AT A GLANCE

Be wowed by the Alhambra Palace
Spend a day exploring Seville
Tread the cobbles in Malaga’s old town

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Weather

Average monthly temperature and rainfall for Costa Del Sol.

TEMPERATURE (°C)RAINFALL (mm)

Month	Temperature	Rainfall
JAN	17.0	71.0
FEB	18.0	60.0
MAR	20.0	51.0
APR	22.0	40.0
MAY	25.0	21.0
JUN	28.0	7.0
JUL	31.0	3.0
AUG	31.0	3.0
SEP	28.0	31.0
OCT	24.0	58.0
NOV	20.0	65.0
DEC	17.0	113.0

WHEN TO GO

The Costa del Sol opens its doors to tourists all year round. For temperatures around 29°C, July and August are your best bet. That said, spring and autumn are lovely and warm, and even in winter, the mercury sits between 16°C and 19°C.

Top 4 resorts in Costa Del Sol

Top 4 hotels in Costa Del Sol

1

Holiday Village Costa del Sol

From £621
2

ClubHotel Riu Costa del Sol

From £318
3

Globales Playa Estepona

From £466
4

Globales Cortijo Blanco

From £405

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Costa Del Sol

Family-friendly Benalmadena

Up-tempo Torremolinos

Authentic Spain and City Life

Things to See and Do in Costa del Sol

Sunshine

The Big Beach

The Secret Beach

Bargain Buys

Mid-Range Buys

Designer Buys

Laid-back evenings

Lively evenings

Gazpacho

Ajoblanco

Pescaíto frito

Huevos a la Flamenco

Tinto de verano

Places To Stay In Costa Del Sol View all places to stay »