Costa-del-Sol, Spain
Coastal Information - Cities Overview
Costa del Sol is the southernmost, sun-drenched coast of Spain, stretching from Malaga to the Strait of Gibraltar, and is home to the most prestigious resorts of the entire Spanish coast! The color of Andalusia with its rich history, culture, traditions is combined with the most picturesque nature of the region, long, clean beaches, and attracts not only tourists from all over the world, but those who want to buy real estate in Spain. Costa del Sol has become the second home and summer residence for aristocrats, world-class stars, entrepreneurs, owners of large companies and many other prominent, influential and wealthy people.
Translated from Spanish, Costa del Sol means "Beach of the Sun", and it's hard to argue with that! Indeed, on the coast there are more than 300 sunny days a year, and the average annual temperature is + 19 ° C. The season starts at the end of May and lasts until the end of September. Although the region is considered to be the hottest in Spain, the sea water rarely exceeds 22 ° C during the high season, due to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and underwater currents. But on the other hand, the infrastructure for water sports is well developed here and ideal conditions are created for surfers.
In addition to water sports on the coast, there are many sports complexes, stadiums, the best golf courses in Spain, so the Costa del Sol is often called the Costa del Golf.
You can get to the Costa del Sol by arriving at the main airport of the region, located in the city of Malaga. If you arrive in Madrid or Barcelona, then it will not be difficult to get to the Costa del Sol - high-speed trains run towards the coast, and the journey will take only 2.5-3 hours. All resort centers in the region are connected by bus routes, and the capital of the region - the city of Malaga can be reached by suburban train.
Cities of the Costa del Sol, which you should pay attention to
Marbella
No matter how loud words are said, they will not be enough to describe one of the most expensive and prestigious resorts in Spain - Marbella! The resort began to develop in the 40s of the XX century, and today Marbella is a luxury world famous resort, where Arab sheikhs, politicians, businessmen, movie and pop stars have their own residences, villas, palaces, the resort is chosen by members of royal and presidential families. This is the Spanish Saint-Tropez, where an atmosphere of idleness, luxury reigns all year round, and the level of comfort is brought to perfection!
Marbella is located on the Mediterranean coast at the foot of the Sierra Blanca mountains, which protect the resort from cold winds. Due to such a favorable geographical location, the city is characterized by a very mild climate - without sudden temperature changes and smoothly passing from one season to another.
The name of the resort is translated from Spanish as "beautiful sea", and along this beautiful sea, Marbella stretches for 28 km. Many beaches here are marked with a blue flag, the best of them are Carihuela and San Pedro de Alcantara, but it is worth noting that these are paid beaches. Popular free beaches: Babalu, U Victor, Don Carloe, Cabopipo and Las Dune.
The world famous Golden Mile is located here in Marbella. The area stretching 4 kilometers from the city to the port of Puerto Banus is built up with the most fashionable, exclusive and expensive villas, apartments, mansions, and residences. In the same area, there is a unique Rally Museum (Museo Ralli) with collections of Latin American art, works by Chagall, Dali, Miro and Moore, Andre Masson, Max Ernst and others.
The resort's infrastructure is created for a luxurious vacation: a variety of restaurants with gourmet cuisine, countless bars, modern clubs, excellent beaches with luxurious service, casinos, tennis courts and golf clubs that meet the highest international standards. The Marble Promenade in Marbala stretches for 7 km along the Mediterranean Sea, walking along it you are not surprised to meet the stars of Hollywood. Marbella has one fishing and three sports ports: Cabo Pino, Puerto Marbella and the most famous and largest in the Mediterranean - Puerto Banus. In the center of the resort is the Avenida de Mar alley, where the originals of the sculptures by Salvador Dali are installed.
There are interesting museums in the city: the Bonsai Museum, the Museum of Engraving, the Museum of Flowers. A crocodile park and a water park are open for children. Marbella offers water sports, go-karting, horse riding and yachting.
The city has preserved monuments of history and architecture. For example, the Ermita del Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz church was built in the 16th century, the Iglesia de Santa Maria de La Encarnacion Church in the 17th century and today is the religious center of the city. Naranjos Square or Orange Square is the heart of the old town. Here are the buildings of the Ermita de Santiago chapel and the Municipality, the House of Corregidor, a 16th century fountain. Also, while resting in the resort, you can visit several parks: Arroyo de la Represa, Parque de la Alameda and Auditorio de la Constitucion.
The event program of the city is also interesting. In the summer, many festivals and holidays are held here. So in June, a holiday is celebrated in honor of St. Barnabas - the patron saint of the city, the International Jazz Festival is held in the historical center, in July - the reggae music festival and the international film festival, and in August - the international opera music festival.
Distance to Malaga - 60 km,
area - 114 km²,
population - 141,172 people
Estepona
Estepona is considered one of the most beautiful, cozy and picturesque resorts on the Costa del Sol. The city is located in the south of the province of Andalusia at the foot of the Sierra Bermea mountain. Stretching for 23 kilometers along the Mediterranean coast, it is the westernmost point of the Costa del Sol. The distance from Estepona to Malaga is 83 kilometers, the area of the city is 137 km², and almost 67 thousand people live here.
The resort includes 17 beaches, there are both sandy and sandy-pebble, as wild, as well as beaches equipped with modern infrastructure and equipment for water sports. Within the city there are two of them - La Rada and El Cristo. The most famous beach is the three-kilometer-long Playa de la Rada - well-maintained and crowded. On a clear, sunny day, Gibraltar can be seen from the city coast, as well as the coast of North Africa.
The resort's promenade - Paseo Marítimo Pedro Manrique, stretches for 3 km along the La Rada beach and ends at the fishing port. The resort also has a yacht harbor - Puerto Deportivo de Estepona. There is a tourist information center, many bars, restaurants, nightclubs.
No one will get bored in Estepona! There are water activities, golf, go-karting (including a track for children), diving, snorkeling, surfing, yachting, and even an equestrian club.
Estepona has a wonderful mild warm climate, which makes the resort recognized as one of the best golfing destinations in Europe. There are 8 magnificent golf courses of varying difficulty levels. In addition to golf, the resort has conditions for year-round tennis and paddle tennis. The Jose Ramon de la Morena sports center has been built in Estepona and the Perz Munos football stadium.
Estepona also has sights, most of which are located in the old part of the city. The heart of the Old Town is Plaza de las Flores - Square of Flowers. This is a beautiful square, in different directions from which the sympathetic narrow streets "soaked" with Andalusian flavor diverge. There is a 15th century clock tower with a bell tower Torre de Reloj, which is 22 meters high. So it is interesting to see the church of Los Remedios, the ruins of the castle of San Luis, as well as the villas La Borrega and De Mondejar built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Pay attention to the Casa de las Techerinas or the House of Culture - a building of the 18th century, now it hosts exhibitions and various cultural events.
A must-see is the Estepona Zoo - Selwo Aventura. It is spread over a vast territory, and the living conditions of animals are as close as possible to natural ones. In Selwo Aventura, you can not only watch animals, but also ride the rides and take part in sports.
The Botanical Orchid Garden (Parque Botanico Orquidario) in Estepona has over 8,000 plants and is considered one of the best in the country. The garden is spread out in a covered area - under glass domes. An interesting landscape design has been developed inside, including a 17 meter high waterfall.
There are also many interesting museums in the city: archaeological, paleontological, ethnographic, museum of Corrida.
Distance to Malaga - 83 km,
area - 137 km²,
population - 66 863 people
Torremolinos
The popular resort of the Costa del Sol, 18 km from the administrative center of the province - Malaga. Covers an area of 20 km², and the population is almost 70 thousand people. This town is especially loved by young people from England, but Hollywood stars also rest here. Cozy resort with beautiful beaches, which are 6 km long. All beaches have excellent conditions for active recreation and comfortable pastime. There are 6 beaches in total, the most popular of which are Bajondillo and Cariuela, which have all the necessary infrastructure, and there are 24-hour bars and restaurants on Montemar beach. Fans of active nightlife should also look into San Miguel Street, where the bulk of clubs and bars are concentrated, and during the day you can stroll along the central street Palma de Mallorca, visit numerous shops, pastry shops, souvenir shops, taste the famous Malaga wines in the cellars, which are called “ bodegas ". When visiting fish restaurants, you should definitely try Espetos de sardinas - sardines prepared in a traditional way in a fishing boat filled with sand.
Torremolinos is home to the largest water park on the Costa del Sol - "Aqualand", where the sharp
both children and adults will be able to experience it. Children will also be interested in visiting the "Dinosaur Park", and adults can watch bullfights, as bullfighting is still allowed in the region. While in the resort, take a look at the crocodile farm and the botanical garden of Molino de Inca.
In summer, the city hosts sports competitions, festivals, and various festive events. One-day fish festivals are well known, where everyone can taste fish treats absolutely free.
Benalmadena
Benalmadena resort is located on the Costa del Sol and borders Torremolinos. The two resorts are conventionally separated by a beautiful port. The city itself is very popular with the British - they like to relax here not only in season, but also stay on a permanent basis.
Benalmadena is divided into three districts: Benalmadena Costa, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmadena Pueblo.
The coastal part of the resort belongs to Benalmadena Costa. The beach strip here stretches for 9 kilometers, and rocky ledges divide it into magnificent beaches. Along the sea you can stroll along the promenade, look into the port and take a lesson here on sailing yacht management, or go on a boat trip and admire the dolphins. Boutiques, restaurants and 24-hour bars are also concentrated around the port.
In the same area, there is the Selwo Marina entertainment center, where shows with dolphins, penguins and tropical birds are shown, as well as you can visit the Sea Life Aquarium, which displays marine life and the world's largest collection of sharks.
At the foot of the mountains is the Benalmadena-Pueblo region. The buildings here are made in the style of a classic white-walled Andalusian village, so even a walk through the streets of the city will give you great pleasure. In this area there is an archaeological museum with a rich collection of ancient art.
Among the sights of the city, it is worth highlighting the Castillo de Colomares castle with the smallest chapel in the world (its area is 1.96 m²), the Castillo de Bil Bil castle, the Santo Domingo church, the central square with the famous sculpture "Girl from Benalmadena" - the symbol of the city. It will be interesting to visit the Museum of the Pre-Columbian Era with a collection of art and everyday life of the Indians of Latin America. Another attraction of the city is the Stupa of Enlightenment (Estupa de la Iluminación), built in 2003, which is a 33-meter high Buddhist stupa.
In Arroyo de la Miel there is an entertainment complex Tivoli World with attractions, slot machines, restaurants with a special children's menu. Not far from this park is the lower station of the Teleférico de Benalmádena cable car. This cable car climbs Mount Calamorro, the highest point of which is at an altitude of 771 meters. The top offers an excellent panoramic view of the resort's coastline, and in clear weather you can also see Gibraltar.
In addition to an interesting cultural program and beach holidays in Benalmadena, you can enjoy playing golf on excellent courses, try your luck in the casino, and also watch the bullfighting in the bullring.
Fuengirola
A pleasant, hospitable city and a popular tourist destination on the Costa del Sol is located in the province of Andalusia, 35 km from the administrative center - the city of Malaga. Fuengirola is the third most densely populated city in Spain - almost 75 thousand people live on a relatively small area (10.2 km²). And during the peak season, the population of the city generally increases to 250 thousand!
Fuengirola, despite the developed infrastructure and modern comfortable living conditions, managed to preserve the flavor and coziness of the Spanish fishing village. The city is surrounded by the Sierra de Mijas mountains and is located on the shores of a picturesque bay. The resort's beaches have been awarded the "blue flag" and are considered one of the best on the coast. Beautiful nature, high-quality living conditions, Spanish flavor, excellent golf courses - all this attracts not only tourists to Fuengirola - here are the residences and apartments of many famous and wealthy people.
Within the city there are 7 wonderful equipped beaches with golden sand, the total length of which is 8 km. The well-groomed Paseo Maritimo promenade with numerous shops, souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs stretches along the beaches. There is also a port with 200 yacht berths.
While in Fuengirola, you can visit the water park and exotic biopark, on the outskirts of the city are the ruins of the Arab fortress Soail, built in the 10th century. On the central square of the city - Constitution Square, there is another attraction - an ancient ficus. Several years ago, the city authorities planned to expand the parking space and move the ficus to another place, but city residents expressed a violent protest and even set up guards near the tree, which were on duty both day and night. The ficus was defended, and today you can see it in the same place and even sit in a cozy cafe next to the long-lived ficus.
Puerto Banus
Puerto Banus - the most famous the first sports port in Spain and the most fashionable seaside resort in the Costa del Sol, 6 km south-west of the equally famous and pretentious Marbella. The port was built in May 1970 by the local developer and businessman Jose Banus, after whom the port actually got its name. The opening was attended by Prince Rainier of Monaco and his wife, actress Grace Kelly, and was originally planned for a luxury marina and shopping complex. José Banus also presented a project for a whole area of expensive real estate, which was accepted with a bang, all the land in the area was bought out and became the most pretentious place on the entire Spanish coast.
Puerto Banus is visited by 5 million people annually, the resort is popular with world celebrities, many have residences here. While vacationing in Puerto Banus, there is a very high probability that you will meet Hollywood stars, world famous politicians, prominent figures of art and culture and other public figures. Boutiques of world brands, elite nightclubs, the most expensive cars and yachts in the world, gourmet restaurants - all this is found everywhere in Puerto Banus.
On both sides of the port there are luxurious beaches - to the north along the coast is Puerto Banus Beach, and to the south - Nueva Andalucia. Behind the harbor is the most famous shopping center in all of Spain - El Corte Ingles. The yacht marina is designed for almost a thousand places, and the local yacht club is considered the best on the coast.
For those who are indifferent to water sports, Puerto Banus provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy the game of golf - the number of golf courses per square kilometer in this area is the largest in Europe.
Sotogrande
Sotogrande is a prestigious urbanization that stands out for its exclusivity, privacy, high level of privacy and security. The resort was founded over 50 years ago by the American entrepreneur and millionaire Joseph Raphael Mc Micking. The main idea of the project was to create a city in the image of Venice, where the owner of the property will have a boat or yacht parking in the immediate vicinity. Mack Micking dreamed of creating a city on the Mediterranean coast, where the aristocracy, the entire high society of Europe, would gather and rest. And he succeeded! Sotogrande today is one of the most luxurious urbanizations in Europe with a beautiful port, luxury real estate, picturesque canals and green alleys.
The urbanization is located on an area of 20 square kilometers, 25 minutes from the cities of Puerto Banus and Marbella, as well as an hour from the international airport in Malaga. The port of the resort, designed for about 500 places, has 14 berths, as well as everything you need for yachts and sailing. Here you can also visit restaurants with gourmet cuisine, exclusive boutiques.
The resort has 5 golf courses, including the world famous and number one club in Europe - Valderrama Golf Club. This course hosts the Volvo Masters every year, the final leg of the European PGA Tour.
There are also tennis courts, a sailing school and a riding school. Also in Sotogrande there is an international private "Sotogrande International School".
Malaga
Malaga is a wonderful old city on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea of Andalusia. This is the sixth city in terms of population in Spain, and if Seville is the administrative center of Andalusia, then Malaga is undoubtedly a resort center that unites all the cities, towns, urbanization of the Costa del Sol.
The city is located in a bay surrounded by the Malaga Mountains. Two rivers flow through the resort, flowing into the Mediterranean Sea - Guadalmedina and Guadalhorce. The climate here is Mediterranean, typical for the south of Spain. The beach season lasts from May to early October, the average temperature in summer is + 28 degrees, in winter +16.
The history of the city dates back to the 8th century BC. Founded by the Phoenicians, Malaga is part of the Roman Empire in the III century, in the V century it passes to the Visigoths, in the VI century it was conquered by Byzantium, and in the VII century the city is captured by the Arabs and Malaga becomes one of the most developed and prosperous cities of the Iberian Peninsula. The city was annexed to the Castilian Crown in the 15th century and continued to develop actively. In the 19th century, Malaga became one of the largest industrial centers in Europe, today the main source of income is tourism. The rich history, preserved architectural monuments, wonderful nature, mild climate, as well as the presence of a large transport hub - an international airport - contribute to the active and stable development of tourism and attract travelers from all over the world here every year.
In Malaga, the ruins of the Roman theater of the 1st century AD have been preserved, you can see the monuments of Arab architecture - the palace-fortress of the Moorish kings Alcazaba and the fortress-lighthouse. The main attraction of the city is undoubtedly the Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación Cathedral, which was built from 1530 to the 17th century. The city has many museums and memorial sites. Naibol
its interesting and significant ones: Museum of Picasso, the famous native of the city of Malaga; Malaga Museum of the History and Development of the City and the Province; Carmen Thyssen Museum, where you can see more than 200 paintings by Spanish masters of the mid-19th - early 20th centuries; the Branch of the Russian Museum is interesting (it should be noted that this is the first branch of the Russian Museum in Europe, which opened in March 2015 in the building of a former tobacco factory). It will also be interesting to visit the Automobile Museum, the Center for Contemporary Art, La Malagueta bullring. In Malaga, you can ride one of the largest Ferris wheels in Europe - the Noria Mirador Princess.
Do not overlook the beaches of Malaga. The coastline in the city area stretches for 14 km and is divided into 16 beaches. The bulk of the resort's beaches are sandy, but there are stony and rocky ones. The city's most popular beaches, La Malagueta or La Malagueta, are within walking distance of the historic center. All conditions for a comfortable stay are provided here: sun loungers, umbrellas, toilets, changing cabins, beach cafes, rent of equipment for water sports. Fans of a calm and secluded vacation will find the beaches of Campo de Golf and Guadalmar, although it should be noted that the last beach is a favorite place for nudists.
The resort's embankments stretch almost along all the beaches. Here you can not only enjoy picturesque views, but also relax in cafes and restaurants scattered along the embankment, look into souvenir shops, visit children's and sports grounds with children.
Malaga is also a great place for shopping. Many shops are located on the main shopping street of the city - Calle Marqués de Larios, as well as in the historic center. Large shopping centers are located on the outskirts of Malaga - Plaza Mayor, Factory Outlet Malaga, etc.
8 km southwest of the city is the Malaga airport - the largest in Andalusia. From the airport to the city center can be reached by bus or suburban train - Cercanías. The city has a large port - one of the oldest on the Mediterranean coast. And since 2014, the Metropolitan has been operating here, consisting of two lines. In Malaga itself and its suburbs, there are well-developed bus networks.
Distance from Barcelona - 953 km,
Distance from Madrid - 540 km,
Distance from Alicante - 472 km,
area - 398 km²,
population - 569,002 people
