Traveling to the Costa del Sol

A visual guide to sun-kissed beaches, exquisite landscapes and charming towns

In this Costa del Sol travel guide we’ll take a closer look to the cities in the Costa, the best activities to look for, festivities, places to stay and the best ways to move around. Come join the fun – there is a lot to come!

Here you’ll find most (if not all) of our posts related to travel, events, weather, activities, what-to-do and what-to-see in different areas of the Costa del Sol. For a more complete experience, check also our categories – they have the same posts and then some that also fit in other areas. Now let’s explore!

The Costa del Sol is a fantastic place to spend a good time. There is always a lot going on, on top of the beaches, the sun and the lovely places that sometimes just appear in front of us during a walk around. Below, a bit about the main towns in the area, as well as their latest events. Come see a bit (or a few bits!) of paradise.

Malaga is large, warm and has thousands of years of history. It is a place of cultural coexistence, good food, welcoming people, delightful beaches, arts and every museum one can dream of. Irresistible, magnificent Malaga. Despite all that, and of having been, in the past, a neighborhood of Malaga, did you know that Torremolinos tourism success has nothing (or not much) to do with the big city?

Torremolinos has grown on it’s own, much because of the interest of celebrities of the 1950s and 1960s in finding a discreet piece of paradise. They did! And then everybody else found it too! Torremolinos is the birthplace of the Costa del Sol, a town with a history of freedom, respect, pride and peace, a generous reminder of the best in mankind. A dream place which also happens to have amazing beaches!

Benalmadena’s success came right after Torremolinos’s. Nowadays, it is attractive on its own, one of the beautiful towns of the Costa del Sol, and probably the most child-friendly place in the world. It happens to be where I live, and for that reason, the one I know best and talk more about. Check what I have already discovered in my almost two years living here and embracing this lovely city as my new home.

Fuengirola is a big city disguised as a town. You can find the best of both worlds here, with great beaches a stone’s throw away from the train. Easily connected to Málaga, cosmopolitan and traditional, Fuengirola is a must see and enjoy. Adorable.

Mijas is the ultimate mix of modern and traditional, pueblo and seaside. A enchanting place that mesmerizes visitors, almost a siren town. Romantic and appealling, there is a love story waiting to be written in this town. Or has it already been written?

Marbella mixes luxurious living with traditional Andalusian scenery and lifestyle. Our ever-growing biggest city in the Costa (after Malaga) appeals to locals and foreigners alike with its diverse enchantments.

The Garden of the Costa del Sol is a delightful candy for the eyes. If you wander around its city center, you may think you are dreaming, but it is all real – the colors, the flowers, the views, are all right there in Estepona.

There is plenty going on year-round in the Costa del Sol. Here are some overviews of the main celebrations that happen every year; in each city or town you’ll find the most recent edition of each one. This part of the world uses every opportunity to party; you just feel bored in the Costa del Sol if you choose too. Each place publishes a whole program containing the events that are happening during a given celebration, and they tend to last for several days and to be spread around many neighborhoods. It’s impressive!

The Costa del Sol is lovely all year long, but if you want to enjoy your trip to the maximum, it is always good to know what is going on ahead of the trip. Here is a bit of what you can look forward to in each season. Or just to daydream, which is traveling’s young sibling.

On the months posts you can check even more about the events and activities going on in the Costa del Sol, based on what usually goes on in each month. We also focus on what to expect about the weather and I show a bit of what people wear – so you can have a better feel of the weather. 😉 Every picture in the months posts was taken on the reference month. So good!

If you are considering making the Costa del Sol your new home, check our Moving to Spain, where we tell all the stories about our move, topped with some practical advice on preparing it. Moving or not, if you like Spain and would like to know more, there is a lot that may be of your interest in Living in Spain, particularly culture related topics, such as life in the Spanish coutryside, national holidays and some useful tips that can be of help during your stay.

And before you go, please subscribe or follow Mama Málaga, so you get to know when something new comes up! 😉