A Guide to the Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is situated in the Spanish region of Andalucía and is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. The area is blessed with an abundance of blue flag beaches and a near-perfect all-year-round climate with over 300 days of sunshine. Its coastline stretches for over 150km from Almeria to Tarifa and it caters for all tastes, ages and nationalities with a wide range of attractions and facilities.  

British holidaymakers in their millions fly there every year, with popular resorts being Benalmadena, Estepona, Marbella and, of course, Torremolinos. The area is renowned for its history and culture, its climate, beaches and golf. In fact, the Costa del Sol is a golfer’s paradise, with some excellent golf courses spanning the region (around 35 golf courses surround the city of Malaga alone).

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at what to expect on a Costa del Sol holiday.

Essential Information 

Language

Spanish, along with English, is widely spoken.

Passport and visas

British citizens do not need a visa to enter Spain but must have a valid passport.

Time difference

Costa del Sol, Spain is 1 hour ahead of the United Kingdom

Flight time

Between 2 hours 30mins and 3 hours from the UK

Currency

Euros

Best time to travel

The best time to take a holiday here is between March and November, but it is open all year round.

Resort Guide

Marbella

Many say Marbella occupies the best part of Costa del Sol’s coastal strip. This glitzy gem of a resort offers you a chance to enjoy the high life, with its many designer boutiques, fine dining restaurants and wonderful marina for all to sit alongside the luxury yachts whilst sipping on a cocktail. Marbella also boasts some of the best beaches in Spain with many restaurants and beach bars lined along the pristine sandy beaches. Perfect for luxury holidays to Spain.

Estepona

Estepona is a traditional old Andalusian town and is a wonderful spot for a beach getaway, with probably more beaches than any other resort in Costa del Sol. The old historic town is well worth a visit, here you will find narrow winding streets, beautiful whitewashed houses and some amazing traditional cafes and tapas restaurants. 

The resort also offers an array of water sports whether it’s scuba diving or surfing.

Benalmadena

Over the years Benalmadena has become one of the most popular resorts in Costa del Sol. The resort attracts all types of holidaymakers from families to couples and groups. This is due to its wonderful beaches, great accommodation, stunning marina, many restaurants which cater for all and some of the best nightlife in the region. The resort also offers visitors a few places of interest, with two being the Enlightenment Stupa – the largest Buddhist temple in Europe – and Colomares Castle.  

Torremolinos

In the 1950s Torremolinos became the first town in the whole of Spain to open its doors to international mass tourism and has thrived ever since. The resort offers more or less everything for all ages and nationalities, with its great beaches which offer an array of water sports, great international and tapas restaurants, hiking trails, vibrant nightlife and its impressive aqua park which is situated on the outskirts of the town.

Malaga City

One of the oldest cities in Spain, this vibrant port city puts the soul into the Costa del Sol. Malaga city is the birthplace of Picasso so it is not surprising it has more than 30 museums and a thriving art district. Its history is incredible with century-old castles and cathedrals scattered in and around the city. Malaga also offers some of, if not the best cuisine in Costa del Sol, with numerous Michelin-starred restaurants, family-run tapas bars and rustic seafood shacks. In the evening, once the sun has set, you can swap the beach and pop in and out of its many bars sampling different tapas in each, Malaga bubbles with energy and has a magnificent nightlife.

Do you have a favourite place to stay on the Costa del Sol when on luxury holidays? Let us know, we’d love to hear your recommendations.