With warm waters and sun-drenched beaches, the Costa del Sol certainly lives up to its name. From north of Gibraltar to Almuñecar, this part of Andalusia is a top destination for holidaymakers of all budgets.
Puerto Banús attracts the world’s super-rich, and many moor million-pound yachts in its harbour. Glamorous Marbella also has designer shops, an orange tree-lined square, and easy access to Costa del Sol golf courses.
Quieter Estepona has a low-key harbour and several good Costa del Sol hotels for kids, while Fuengirola’s long, sandy beach is overlooked by a Moorish castle and Roman ruins. On its outskirts is Mijas waterpark, named after the hill town offering fantastic views of the Costa’s rugged mountains and pristine beaches.
Another waterpark - Aqualand - is in Torremolinos, a vibrant resort with many Costa del Sol hotels by the beach. Long and sandy, it stretches all the way to lively Benalmádena, from where dolphin watching trips depart. Also here is Tivoli World theme park, and a cable car just opposite goes up Monte Calamorro.
With its impressive Alcazaba castle overlooking Roman ruins, Málaga, the region’s capital, was the birthplace of Picasso, and a museum and his former home can be visited. Nerja to the east boasts a 19th-century aqueduct and the Balcony of Europe promenade above its beach.
