Western Costa del Sol
Beaches, marinas and white villages between Torremolinos and Manilva.
Key points
- From Torremolinos to Manilva, some 80 km of coastline with beaches, promenades and marinas.
- Marbella combines an Andalusian old town with the luxury of Puerto Banús.
- Mijas Pueblo, Benahavís and Casares are white villages a few minutes from the sea.
- The commuter train links the airport with Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola.
Torremolinos and Benalmádena
Torremolinos was the birthplace of Costa del Sol tourism in the 1950s and 60s. Today it keeps the lively atmosphere of Calle San Miguel, the fishing quarter of La Carihuela with its seafood restaurants, and Bajondillo beach.
Benalmádena has three faces: the coast, with its eye-catching Puerto Marina; Arroyo de la Miel; and the old village up the hill. Don't miss Colomares castle, a whimsical monument to Columbus, the Buddhist stupa overlooking the sea and the cable car up Mount Calamorro.
Fuengirola and Mijas
Fuengirola has one of the longest promenades on the coast, around seven kilometres of urban beach with every service, and Sohail castle, of Moorish origin, which hosts summer concerts. Bioparc is one of the most visited zoos in Andalusia.
Up in the hills, Mijas Pueblo is the quintessential white village of the coast: whitewashed streets, the Virgen de la Peña chapel carved into the rock, the old walls with viewpoints and its famous donkey taxis.
Marbella and Puerto Banús
Beyond its fame, Marbella has a lovely old town: Plaza de los Naranjos, the Church of the Incarnation, the San Francisco quarter and the Avenida del Mar, an open-air museum with sculptures by Salvador Dalí. Around 6 km away, Puerto Banús is Spain's most famous marina, with yachts, luxury shops and restaurants.
In San Pedro Alcántara you can visit the Río Verde Roman villa, with mosaics showing Roman cooking, and the Las Bóvedas baths.
Estepona, Casares and Manilva
Estepona calls itself "the garden of the Costa del Sol": its old town is full of colourful flowerpots and large murals on the façades. It has an orchid house with thousands of specimens, La Rada beach and a harbour with a Sunday market.
- BenahavísA mountain village known for its restaurants and the Las Angosturas canyon on the Guadalmina river.
- CasaresA white village perched on a crag, crowned by its castle; birthplace of Blas Infante.
- ManilvaMuscatel vineyards, La Duquesa castle and the Roman baths of La Hedionda.
- Istán and OjénMountain villages a stone's throw from Marbella. More in Sierra de las Nieves.
Tips for enjoying the coast
Do
- Use the commuter train between the airport and Fuengirola.
- Book beach bars and restaurants in August.
- Head up to the villages at sunset.
Avoid
- The A-7 at summer rush hours.
- The midday sun on the beach without protection.