Book your holiday to the Costa del Sol
Discover the best hotels on the Costa del Sol at the best prices. Enjoy the most incredible destinations in the south of Spain by staying in a hotel in Marbella, Malaga, or Torrox. Take a look at our holiday deals in the Costa del Sol and get ready for an unforgettable vacation!
Find your hotel on the beach on other nearby coasts
Not sure where to go on holiday? Looking for the best deals on hotels on the beach? Don’t miss the best beachfront hotels on nearby coasts: from Nerja to Marbella, enjoy the best of southern Spain!
Holiday deals in the Costa del Sol
Talking about the beaches of Andalusia means referring to more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, and the province of Malaga, the main coastal destination in this region. It is also one of the most important tourist areas in Spain, with a stretch of coastline that welcomes the most international visitors to the country. With our holiday deals in the Costa del Sol, you can stay in the best hotels on the seafront and enjoy the Mediterranean at incredible prices.Â
The Costa del Sol is bordered to the east by the province of Granada, the so-called ‘Costa Tropical’, and to the west by the province of Cadiz, on the Costa de la Luz. This adds up to 150 km of coastline, an ideal place to disconnect and discover everything Malaga has to offer.Â
With Travel2Holidays, the beaches of Malaga are at your fingertips. What are you waiting for?
Holiday deals in Nerja
Holiday deals in Marbella
Holiday deals in Torremolinos
How to get to the Costa del Sol
Plane
Most visitors arrive at the Costa del Sol by plane. Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is located just 7 km from Torremolinos, the nearest coastal town, and is very well connected. In addition to having many international flights to countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and Belgium, Malaga Airport also has regular flights to Spanish cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Palma de Mallorca.
Car
It is also possible to get to the Costa del Sol by car. All municipalities are easily accessible via the A-7 highway, known as the Mediterranean freeway. The section of the AP-7 on the west coast, from Benalmádena to San Roque (Cádiz) is a toll road. Alternatively, you can drive on the N-340, which leads through almost all the towns along the Malaga coast.
Private boat
On the other hand, those who travel by private boat can arrive at destinations such as the city of Marbella, docking at one of its marinas: Puerto Banús, Cabopino, Marina La Bajadilla, or Puerto Deportivo de Marbella.
Train
A good alternative for those travelling from within Spain is to reach the Costa del Sol by train. The city of Malaga is well connected to major Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville through the high-speed train (AVE). For example, you can go from Madrid to Malaga in just two and a half hours. There are also daily AVE connections to Malaga from Barcelona, Zaragoza, and Valencia, among other cities.
In turn, AVANT trains (medium-distance trains) connect the Costa del Sol with other Andalusian cities. It takes less than two hours to reach Malaga from Seville, and just 45 minutes from Cordoba.
The Malaga-Maria Zambrano train station is located in the centre of Malaga, next to the bus station – where there are intercity buses that connect the main towns of the Costa del Sol – and has a taxi stand and metro line. It is also home to the Vialia Shopping centre, which has restaurants, shops, entertainment, a supermarket, a cinema, and a 4-star hotel.
In addition to rail connections between Malaga and other Spanish cities, the Renfe commuter train network also operates to facilitate movement within the Costa del Sol. At the MarÃa Zambrano station, where the AVE arrives, you can also catch various local trains. Line C1 covers the route from Malaga to Fuengirola in less than 45 minutes, passing through Malaga-Costa del Sol airport, while line C2 reaches Alora in about 40 minutes.
The climate on the Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol has a Mediterranean climate, with 300 days of sunshine a year and an average annual temperature of 19°C (68°F). August is the hottest month in this tourist destination, with an average of 26°C during the day, while the coldest is January, with an average high of 12°C. The best month for swimming in the sea is August when the average water temperature reaches 23°C (73 °F). Hence, it is worth taking advantage of the holiday deals to travel to the Costa de Sol in the summer.
Rainfall is scarce with the rainiest month being November, with an average of 115 mm of rain recorded.Â
What to see in the Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is so full of incredible places to see that you can’t possibly see them all in just one visit. From the stunning caves in Nerja to the glamorous marina in Marbella, every spot has something special. You can stroll through the old streets of Velez-Malaga, relax on the beaches of Torrox Costa, and soak up the local culture in Mijas. As you move along the coast, you’ll find everything from ancient ruins to lush gardens and lively beachfront, ending up at the lovely beaches of Manilva. Make the most of our great holiday deals in the Costa del Sol and experience the mix of beautiful nature, rich history, and fun spots that keep calling you back to explore more.
From Nerja to Torrox Costa
Moving from the coast of Granada east to the province of Malaga, the first large coastal town we come across is Nerja of the Axarquia region. Among its main attractions are the Sierra Tejeda, Alhama and Almijara Natural Park, shared with the province of Granada, and the Natural Cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo. Also noted should be the famous Nerja Cave, discovered in 1959, one of the most visited tourist destinations in Spain. As for the beaches of Nerja, there is the beach of Salon, which is 200m wide, although there are smaller ones such as El Carabriello Chico, Carabeo, Calahonda, La Burriana, La Caletilla, Cala Cañuelo, and Cala del Pino. Nerja is also where the mythical television series Verano Azul was filmed.
Continuing west, you’ll reach Torrox Costa, with its numerous apartments and hotels next to the beach. Its main attraction is the centre of El Morche, which in the past was home to fishermen, but now piques the interest of visitors worldwide. Â
Velez-Malaga to Rincón de la Victoria
The next main municipality on this route is Velez-Malaga, where the old town has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site. There you can see the remains of the keep and the church of Santa MarÃa la Mayor, as well as the Cerro de San Cristóbal, crowned by the hermitage of Los Remedios. Outside the walls, there are examples of Mudejar and Baroque architecture in palaces and characteristic residential buildings, such as churches and convents. As for its beaches, don’t miss the beach of Algarrobo, which is one of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol.
Continuing along the coast of Malaga, we arrive at Rincón de la Victoria, where 8 km of coastline are spread over four beaches: Cala del Moral, Rincón de la Victoria, Torre de Benagalbón, and Los Rubios. At the top of a forest, there is also a wall dating back to the year 1000 B.C. that may have contained a settlement, based on evidence from the remaining ruins.
Malaga and Torremolinos
In Malaga, the capital of the province and an important port city, it is worth noting the Alcazaba and ruins of Gibralfaro, the legacy of Muslim occupation in Spain. Its striking Renaissance cathedral, popularly known as La Manquita because it is unfinished, is another point of interest. As is the Picasso Museum of Malaga, dedicated to the work of the brilliant Pablo Ruiz Picasso, the most celebrated painter from Malaga.
From there, you will reach Torremolinos, located between the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas and the sea. It became an independent municipality in 1988 but until then it had been a district of Malaga capital. Despite its rapid urban development due to the boom in sun and sea tourism, Torremolinos still preserves charming corners from when it was just a fishing village. The same is true of the Molino del Inca Botanical Garden, ideal for those interested in getting familiar with the local flora.
Benalmádena and Fuengirola
Next is Benalmádena, which has an extensive offer for tourists with about 13,000 hotel rooms, golf courses, an amusement park, a beautiful marina, an auditorium, and the Sea Life Centre aquarium, which is the first underwater park on the Costa del Sol, and a great choice if you are travelling with children. There is also the Torrequebrada Casino, an exhibition centre, and the Felipe Orlando Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, as well as a cable car that takes you to the top of Mount Calamorro. From there, on clear days, you can see the coast of Africa.
Then, you’ll reach Fuengirola, a town that owes its name to the Genoese fishermen who settled on the coast in the fifteenth century. In addition to its beautiful beaches, Fuengirola also has preserved remains from Roman times as well as an Arab castle. At night, many bars and clubs open their doors and are popular with British and Nordic tourists.Â
Sierra de Mijas and Marbella
In the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas and facing the sea, are the whitewashed buildings of Mijas, which still preserve the charm of a typical Andalusian village. There you can see the parish of the Immaculate Conception, with a beautiful Mudejar coffered ceiling; the hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña excavated from the rocks, and the Museum of Miniatures, which displays works of art as unique as The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, painted on a grain of rice.
In turn, Marbella, located in the centre of the Western Costa del Sol and between the foothills of Sierra Blanca and the Andalusian beach, is the great leisure centre of the southwestern Mediterranean. Filled with luxurious buildings and exclusive areas like the Golden Mile or the marina of Puerto Banús, where it’s not uncommon to run into some famous faces, it also boasts a remarkable old town full of history. In fact, this city was founded by the Tyrians more than 3,500 years ago before becoming a Roman village of which some traces still survive.Â
Estepona and Manilva
Continuing our journey along the coast, we reach Estepona, where 21 km of beaches and an attractive pedestrian town centre home to multicoloured flowerpots, sculptures, and large murals on the facades of some buildings, await us. From there, you can take leisurely trips to tour Sierra Bermeja and the ruins of the castle of San Luis. Â
Finally, Manilva is located more to the southwest of the coast of Malaga, touching the province of Cadiz. Its coastline stretches from northeast to southwest, with 7.8 km of sandy beaches and rocky coves.Â
What to do on the Costa del Sol?
Much of what there is to do in the Costa del Sol is to relax on its beaches, twenty of which have the distinctive Blue Flag. The climate also plays in its favour, as it gives the area the longest beach season in the Iberian Peninsula, with pleasant temperatures from the beginning of April to the end of October, perfect for swimming.
The beaches of the Costa del Sol are also the ideal place to participate in water sports such as jet skiing, kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving – especially in Torremolinos and Marbella – as well as water skiing and parasailing. Since the main centres on the coast have companies that organise these activities, it’s not difficult to rent the necessary equipment. There are even whale and dolphin-watching excursions.Â
Another possibility is to play a round of golf. With more than 70 golf courses, it has earned the nickname the ‘Costa del Golf´. In fact, it has more golf courses per square kilometre than any other location in continental Europe. Almost all of these clubs are located along the coast, which gives them magnificent views of the sea and the nearby mountains.
For those who are interested in hiking the Costa del Sol, you can visit the biosphere reserve Sierra de las Nieves and Grazalema, as well as the Natural Park of Torcal.Â
In any case, a holiday to the Costa del Sol wouldn’t be complete without tasting the exceptional Andalusian cuisine. Fried fish espeto is a popular local specialty. You can also do wine tours in the Costa del Sol. Malaga has the perfect microclimate for the cultivation of grapes, producing wines such as the Serrania de Ronda DO. There are about twenty wineries around the beautiful town of Ronda so there is no excuse for not doing a tasting during your stay. Pair young reds or Crianza red wines with a cheese board or Serrano ham.Â
Don’t miss out on booking your holiday to the Costa del Sol: check our travel deals, book your room within these days, and stay in the type of accommodation that best suits you, whether it’s a bed and breakfast, half board, full board, or an all-inclusive stay. Treat yourself with our travel agency to a few days of rest and relaxation on the beaches of Malaga. We’re sure you’ll be back for more!
