Torremolinos Guide: what to do in Torremolinos

Torremolinos Guide – Every now and then I hear someone saying there is nothing to do in Torremolinos beyond the beaches and the promenade. Well, I disagree! Let me show what Torremolinos has to offer in this Torremolinos Guide – and let me tell you: after almost 3 years living in the Costa del Sol, I still find more in and about Torremolinos!

What to do in Torremolinos

So much! We will start close to the mountains, in the upper areas of Torremolinos, and move downhill towards the beaches, that we will see on the next section. If you need some help understanding the areas, check the map below or, better yet, our post explaining all 11 neighborhoods of Torremolinos. 😉 These two posts go hand in hand, but while there it was all about the areas, here, I want to focus on the most interesting things Torremolinos has to offer.

El Ranchito

Ritmo a Caballo (Horse Rythm) is a traditional spectacle that has been happening every Wednesday for more than 30 years. It mixes two Andalusian traditions, horse riding and Flamenco, in one show – yes, even the horses in Andalusia dance Flamenco. Immerse yourself in this one-of-a-kind cultural tradition. The show at El Ranchito lasts 1:30h, but you can arrive early to take pictures with the horses!

Molino de Inca Botanical Garden

The Molino de Inca Botanical Garden is a luxurious place in Torremolinos. Tall, abundant green vegetation, birds, walks and water fountains in a large area of Torremolinos, close to the AP-7. There’s even a Japanese Garden in the premises, along a small museum with moving dioramas explaining how the mills, (molinos, in Spanish) that named the town, worked centuries ago. To know everything about this magnificent oasis, check our post about the Molino de Inca – prices, opening times, how to go, and many pictures – it’s all there.

Crocodile Park

Enjoy a day of safe adventures in Europe’s only crocodile park. Visit more than 200 crocs of different species and variable sizes – some weighing up to half a ton, some little babies you can hold in your hands and get a picture with. Only in Torremolinos! (Well, also in Florida; but there, without the safety fence).

Street markets in Torremolinos

The street market called Mercadillo de Torremolinos happens every Thursday, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, at Avenida del Real, in the Recinto Ferial (fairground) of Torremolinos. The Rastro de Torremolinos happens in the same place and time on Sundays, and the difference between both is that the Rastro is a second-hand market, while the Mercadillo is a market for band new goods.

The closest train station to it is Montemar Alto, but it takes a good 20 minutes’ walk from the train to the market; from inside Torremolinos, the T-1 bus line leaves you by the entrance of the fairground.

There are Street markets in the Costa del Sol every day of the week. Thanks to the great train and bus connections between Torremolinos and the nearby towns, you can explore the other markets as well; check here the full list with places, days and locations. 😉

Torremolinos Center

There is so much to do and to see in Torremolinos center!! We have shown a lot of the center when we talked about the Torremolinos train station, right in center of Torremolinos, in the Plaza de la Nogalera. The famous Calle San Miguel, the ways to go from the center to the beach – both by stairs or using the elevators – Plaza de Andalucia, Plaza de la Unión Europea and Plaza de la Costa del Sol, they are all there.

To avoid repetition, here I just want to add one location that has been renamed and renovated in the end of 2023 and now has many a visitor trying to find: the Piano Key stairs. It’s in the Pasaje Pía Beck in Avenida Isabel Manoja:

Pía Beck was a Dutch pianist that lived in Torremolinos and opened the Blue Note Jazz bar in Pasaje Begoña, famous among the locals and part of the cultural scene of Torremolinos back when the city started to be noticed internationally. She was also an LGBT activist, which makes the tribute in the center of Torremolinos even more pertinent. The center of Torremolinos, particularly the area around the Nogalera square, is where most of the nightlife in Torremolinos happen, and where many of the LGBT bars and nightclubs are located.

But what really stands out about La Batería is the pond in the middle of the park, with crystalline light blue waters. It used to offer the possibility of renting a small boat to sail around, then they closed, then reopened, then reclosed… we never know. You may get lucky, but don’t count much on it.

Getting to La Batería is very easy by bus – line T1, stop La Batería – or by train, stopping at the Montemar Alto station. Both leave you close to the entrance of the park. We reviewed the Parque de la Batería in deep while going around the train stations in Torremolinos, so you can check that post to know all about the park. 😉

La Casa de los Navajas

The lovely Casa de los Navajas is the eye-candy of the Bajondillo. It was built to be a residence in 1925 (it turns 100 years in 2025!) by a wealthy family of the area, the Navajas. The building belongs currently to the municipality, is open for visitation (see times here), for free, and can be rented for weddings and other celebrations.

Inner La Carihuela

The Carihuela is not only a well-known beach in Torremolinos, but also the name of the neighborhood where the beach is. One of the reasons why La Carihuela stands out is that this neighborhood has a lovely walk-only part with shops and cafes. Here is a must-see place in Torremolinos that you shouldn’t skip on your next visit:

Above, Calle Carmen, with the Church of the Virgen del Carmen (from where the namesake parade departs in July) on the right side. Below, another view of the area, in Calle de San Ginés.

The promenade

The beautiful promenade of Torremolinos stretches along the whole shore of the town and connects all the beaches of Torremolinos. It is long, flat, sunny and – most importantly – full of life. Take a walk and watch the beach and the chiringuitos (seaside bars / restaurants) on one side, and Torremolinos blossoming on the other.

You’ll find plenty of interesting sites on your way, from the idyllic views of Los Alamos to the fun of the Plaza del Remo, in La Carihuela, where people dance on the streets (mostly during the Rockin’Race Jamboree. See below! More about it here).

Torremolinos beaches

You may find different names for the beaches in Torremolinos, partially because many of the chiringuitos name the beach where they are after themselves. Broadly (and officially!) speaking, though, Torremolinos is divided in 4 beaches – from north to south: Los Alamos, Playamar, Bajondillo and La Carihuela – as shown in the Turismo Torremolinos map in the beginning of this post.

Playamar

Playamar is the second beach of Torremolinos coming from Malaga. It is more central and urban than Los Alamos and also has many oases and chiringuitos. The landscape is dominated by the tallest buildings in Torremolinos, the towers along Avenida de Benyamina.

Bajondillo

Bajondillo Beach is a very popular beach, right in the center of Torremolinos. Being the closest beach to the center, it is very popular both among passersby, that enjoy a great walk and people-watching along the promenade, and with beach goers. It is the most popular beach among the LGBTIQ + community, both due to the proximity to the Plaza de la Nogalera and because some of the chiringuitos of the area focus on the group. Check the Eden beach club in the area, a well-known and beloved place, that usually hosts special events during Pride!

Carihuela

By far the most popular beach in Torremolinos, La Carihuela starts where Bajondillo finishes, at the Castillo Santa Clara (not a real castle, but a rock formation by the shore with great views) and extends up to the Marina, already in Benalmadena. The beach is beautiful and the promenade in this area is fantastic, extending inside the Carihuela itself (as we talked about before, in the part about the inner La Carihuela).

There are plenty of beautiful hotels facing La Carihuela – the uber famous Ocean House among them – and the lively Plaza del Remo, where many events are held all year long. But what I really think makes the Carihuela special (and this may be only my biased opinion) is the proximity to the Marina of Benalmadena, a mix of harbor, shopping center, playground and foodie’s paradise, with many options of fine restaurants and bars.

Where to stay in Torremolinos

Being the tourist magnet Torremolinos is, there are plenty of accommodation options. Here are a few vacation rentals and hotels that stand out for having great locations and reviews, being super charming and offering a good bang for your buck:

Restaurants and bars in Torremolinos

If you are in the center, head to Calle Danza Invisible, where you’ll find many good options and my favorite in the area, El Armario. This is also the part of the town where much of the nightlife happens, and the LGBTQI+ heart of Torremolinos.

Around the Bajondillo area, another mouthwatering, great option is La Favorita, with a creative and varied menu, including gluten free and vegetarian options.

In La Carihuela, try the chiringuitos on the beach and one of the many restaurants in the inner, walkable part of the neighborhood; for a more upscale experience, head to the harbor zone in Benalmadena!

Weather in Torremolinos

The weather in Torremolinos is mostly sunny all year round – as the name of the region, Costa del Sol, highlights. If you have the impression that the town is empty during the winter, let me clarify – it is not; it is actually vibrant, filled with people enjoying the festivals, and some brave ones on the beach!!

Torremolinos has sunny, warm days even in February. You can check our overview of the weather month by month or, if you know when you are coming to Torremolinos, pick your month in the list under Festivals in Torremolinos (our next topic); each post offers a deeper analysis of the weather that month plus a lot of things to do!

Festivals in Torremolinos

Torremolinos never stops! Here is a list of the events that happen every year in Torremolinos, by month. Clicking on each month will take you to a page with a lot of information about things that happen in the Costa del Sol throughout the year, including (but not limited to) the ones mentioned here. Clicking on the events will take you either to a page dedicated to the most recent edition of that event in Torremolinos or to a page talking about that specific celebration broadly. Enjoy!

January: The 3 kings
February: Valentine’s, Carnival and Rockin’Race Jamboree
March or April: Holy Week and Feria del Residente Extranjero
May: Cruces de Mayo
June: Pride
July: Virgen del Carmen
September: Feria de San Miguel
August: Canela Party
October: Halloween
November and December: Christmas

Above: a bit of the celebrations in Torremolinos: Christmas on the left and Pride on the right. Torremolinos has plenty of attractions and festivals!

Torremolinos public transportation

Torremolinos is very well served by trains and buses. There are 5 train stations in Torremolinos, connecting much of the upper (closer to the mountains), more residential part of the town. You can get the train both to visit other parts of Torremolinos or to visit nearby towns, as well as to go to Malaga and to the airport. Until June 2025 you can actually use the train for free with the abono recurrente – something which I talked a lot about here, as well as ticket prices without the abono and a lot more information about the train.

On the bus side, Torremolinos counts on 2 internal lines, aptly named T-1 and T-2. T-1 covers the south (Carihuela) and the center of the city; T-2 covers the center and the north (Los Alamos). Both lines overlap at three bus stops in the center. The full price ticket for each of the lines costs € 1,30 as of this writing, but it is possible to get discount cards – no matter if you are a resident or a visitor. There are two main possible cards here:
– with the green bus card, this price drops to € 0,99 (from January 1, 2025);
– with the red card, it drops to €0,59.

The second (red) card gives more discounts, sure, but this card is valid only for lines T-1 and T-2, while the green is valid for these and all other lines that cross Torremolinos and connects to other towns (see them below!). Nothing stops you from getting both and using the one that is most convenient on each occasion. The red one costs € 1,80, and the green one, even less.

Day trips from Torremolinos

There’s plenty to do in Torremolinos, but it doesn’t mean you need to explore only one town while in the Costa del Sol; it is not cheating, you can like them all!!

From Torremolinos to Malaga

Depending on where in Malaga you are going, you should choose between getting a bus or a train. To put it simply, here are the places you can reach by train:

– Plaza Mayor, a beautiful and pleasant open air shopping center;
– The Airport of Málaga;
– Málaga Maria Zambrano station, that is the transportation hub of Malaga, from where you can get a long distance train to Sevilla, Madrid, etc
– Málaga Centro Alameda, which takes you very close to the center of Malaga, the Alcazaba and the Muelle Uno.

To get to Malaga from Torremolinos by train, take the train towards Málaga Centro Alameda. To know more about each of the stops – with a lot of pictures – check our post about the train stations in Malaga. 🙂

To other places within Malaga, it may be better to get a bus. Check the available lines below – the links show times and stops on a map:
M-110 Málaga – Torremolinos – Benalmádena Costa
M-112 Málaga – Mijas
M-116 Benalmádena – Torremolinos – Teatinos (Universidad)
M-123 Churriana – Torremolinos – Benalmádena Costa

Check also the bus lines inside Malaga. Depending on where you are going, you may need to take a local bus or use the metro.

From Torremolinos to Benalmadena

Easy peasy. Take the train towards Fuengirola and stop on Benalmadena-Arroyo de la Miel station, to see the center of Benalmadena – enjoy the cable car, visit the market in Benalmadena (on Fridays), walk around the shops and restaurants. From there, you can take a bus (103 line) towards Benalmadena Pueblo, which is super super cute, or towards the beach. You can also stop at Torremuelle, but this is a more residential side of Benalmadena. Check both on train stations in Benalmadena.

By bus, you can get the same line as to Malaga – in the opposite direction – plus these:
M-124 Carola – Torremolinos
M-125 Torremolinos – Patronato
M-126 Benalmádena – Torremolinos

From Torremolinos to Fuengirola

Did you say train? Yes! It’s the best and fastest way. You can stop to visit Los Boliches, a seaside fishing village part of Fuengirola, full of charm, or go straight to the center of the action in the last station, Fuengirola. You can see all 4 train stations of Fuengirola on our post! Tip: Fuengirola train station is also sort of a hubby; there is a bus stop nearby that connects to Mijas, Marbella and Estepona.

If you do prefer the bus, get line M-120 Torremolinos – Fuengirola.

Conclusion

It already feels like a trip! I hope this Torremolinos guide helps you get to know the town and plan better vacations; you can pick the right places to be and the right months to come based on the events you plan to visit; and you can go see everything else in between events. Enjoy the weather, the promenade and the beaches, as well as the botanical garden, the horse show, the crocodiles… and next time someone says there isn’t much going on in Torremolinos, please send them the link to this page! If I find more – which I don’t doubt – I’ll come back to add; please let me know your findings, too, in the comments. 😉 Best travels!