Costa del Sol Guide

Costa Del Sol Guide

Here’s a quick guide to the Costa Del Sol.  The Costa Del Sol has a backdrop of spectacular mountain scenery and edges on to the Mediterranean Sea. Stretching for approximately 100 miles along Europe’s most southerly coast you are offered a varied and wide panorama including the Rock of Gibraltar, the coast of Northern Africa and the snow on the Sierra Nevada Mountains above Granada.

I really believe that there is something for everyone on the Costa del Sol. Many of our friends who have come to visit us since moving here have come back year after year as they liked it so much . . . it really wasn’t what they expected – but in a good way!

What’s on offer on the Costa Del Sol

Depending on what you enjoy, you can drive for 10 minutes inland from the Costa del Sol and find typical white Andalucian Villages, visit designer shops in Puerto Banus, enjoy a meal surrounded by the scent of orange blossom in Marbella Old Town or choose from 40 Golf courses on the Costa Del Sol.

There are on average 320 days of sun on this coast so there is plenty of opportunities to visit the numerous beaches, walk in the mountains, swim or water ski on the lakes, visit a theme park or shop at a flea or street market.

Please take time to plan your break, it is well worth visiting Marbella Old Town, Estepona, Ojen, historic Ronda and Istan. Granada is only 1.5 hours away and Cordoba 2 hours. Malaga itself is a beautiful city – one of Europe’s most underrated with its cathedral, museums and pot area with its new Pompidou Centre which is the only one outside Paris. You can stroll around the port with its luxurious yachts and people-watch in Puerto Banus or Benalmadena. Sit on a Costa Del Sol beach on a clear day, squinting to see Gibraltar with Africa in the distance.

During most of the year (weather permitting) there is a catamaran ferry from Marbella Marina to Puerto Banus which takes about 30 minutes and is a great way to travel.

Or, why not do something really different and fly into Malaga, drive to Seville and on to the Algarve and then fly home from Faro Airport in Portugal.

Make an effort, get as much information about Malaga and the Costa Del Sol life as you can and you will be rewarded with a wonderful holiday, why do you think we have all moved here!

Costa del Sol beaches

Access to the Costa Del Sol

Most of the Costa Del Sol is less than an hour’s transfer from Malaga Airport and you can fly to the Costa del Sol from over 30 countries and 118 Airports. With the completion of the additional runway and opening of the new Terminal 3 at Malaga Airport with its transportation hub containing a railway station.

Flights to Spain are available from over 30 UK Airports operated by a number of no-frills, low-cost airlines. The choice and frequency of cheap flights to Malaga are why so many people choose to spend time on the Costa del Sol.

You can also find out more about trains on the Costa del Soland make a booking online by visiting our web page.

Amusement Parks on the Costa Del Sol

For kids, there are several Costa Del Sol Theme Parks including a water park and Zoo in Fuengirola, Selwo Safari Park in Estepona, Selwo Marina in Benalmadena, a Crocodile Park in Torremolinos and Tivoli World in Benalmadena. You can even visit the Andaluz Donkeys in Estepona on a Sunday morning – if you can manage to drag the children out of the pool!  For those of you thinking of moving here with kids we also have a Marbella Schools Section which is full of information about schools and education, private and state in Marbella.

Shopping on the Costa del Sol

We have written information on Plaza Mayor Leisure Park just outside Malaga, and the Miramar Centre in Fuengirola. There’s also La Cañada shopping in Marbella, The Vialia Centre in Malaga, Marina Banus in Puerto Banus. Of course, there’s also the famous El Corte Ingles department store in Malaga and Puerto Banus, plus an El Corte Ingles Outlet store in Mijas Costa, very near Fuengirola.  

You can also find details on all the Costa del Sol markets.  We have drawn up a list of public holidays in Spain and Andalucia so you can see when the shops are closed.

Costa del Sol white villages

Casinos & Gambling on Costa Del Sol

Casinos are becoming more and more popular along the Costa Del Sol. We have provided information on Puerto Banus Casino and the Casino at Torrequebrada Hotel in Benalmadena. We will soon be providing information other Casinos and bookmakers.

Costa Del Sol Beaches, Weather & Temperatures

We have a detailed page with information about the Costa del Sol Beaches and if you would like to check out the weather or are wondering what clothes to pack then we give advice in our Costa Del Sol Temperatures section.  Spend sometime finding the heart of the Costa Del Sol and it will change your holiday, read some guide books, research the internet and hire a car even if it is just for one day.

Health Cover on the Costa del Sol

If you are concerned about the health cover and the Spanish Health Service don’t be.  We share our experience of having a baby in Spain and tell you how to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which provides free emergency medical cover to you both as a visitor to Spain and as someone living here.

Other Places to Visit from the Costa Del Sol

There is so much to explore around the Costa Del Sol other than the usual haunts of Marbella and Puerto Banus. We love driving around visiting different Towns, Villages and Cities and provide details of our personal trips around Andalucia in Places of Interest. Some of the scenery in Spain is amazing and the roads are just a dream to drive on. Malaga is one city that is definitely underrated.

Property on the Costa Del Sol

If you are interested in buying a property to either live here or use for holiday rentals, you can come and chat with us direct on our Facebook Page.