Guide to the Costa del Sol region of Spain
The Costa del Sol is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Many former small fishing villages such as Torremolinos and Fuengirola are now large tourist resorts attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Driving in the Costa del Sol is fairly straight forward along the coast, with the A-7 (E15) motorway providing easy access from Malaga airport to all the major resorts. Driving inland from Malaga, the roads become smaller and undulate through the Andalucian countryside. The scenery inland from Malaga is often spectacular, dominated by mountain ranges such as the Sierra Nevada which is popular with skiers.
Below are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the Costa del Sol.
Torremolinos/Fuengirola
Both Torremolinos and Fuengirola were formerly a small fishing villages, but are now 2 of the most popular and developed resorts in the Costa del Sol. Both towns have a large ex-pat communities and are particularly popular with younger visitors as both have a very lively nightlife with plenty of bars and nightclubs which attract a lot of younger visitors. In the winter months they are much quieter and frequented by older visitors and are also popular with golfers.
Fuengirola is home to the 10th century Moorish fortress Sohail Castle, which is set in the foothills of the mountains outside Fuengirola. The castle has been restored over the last 20 years, and has access from the A7 motorway.
Nerja
To the east of Malaga is the town of Nerja. Slightly quieter than Fuengirola and Torremolinos, Nerja is a popular family holiday resort. Nerja is a popular destination for walkers and climbers, with easy access to several popular climbing ranges. The pretty hillside village of Frigiliana set in the hills behind Nerja is also a favored location for visitors.
Mijas
The attractive whitewashed village of Mijas is located around 30km to the west of Malaga and a few kilometres inland from Fuengirola. Set back in the hills overlooking the mediterranean coastline Mijas is very popular with visitors. There is a busy market every Wednesday and Saturday which attracts visitors from all over the Costa del sol region.
Marbella
Marbella is the most exclusive resort of the Costa del Sol and is the favoured resort of the rich and famous. Located around 30 minutes to the west of Malaga Airport, Marbella is frequented by many boat owners, many of whom moor their boats in the harbour.
Marbella has a popular waterfront area with many exclusive bars and restaurants, although the prices are generally higher than in neighbouring resorts such as Fuengirola and Torremolinos. Marbella also has a beautiful old town area which should not be missed.
Gibraltar
Around a 2 hour drive from Malaga airport is the Rock of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is a British territory. There are bus services from Malaga and many of the other Costa del Sol resorts. It is possible to drive acroos the border from Spain to Gibraltar, but due to queues many visitors choose to walk the short distance. The island is famous for its nature reserve which contains the only wild monkeys in Europe.
Alhambra Palace Granada
Within a couple of hours drive of Malaga is the spectacular Alhambra Palace in Granada, built by the Moors in the 14th century. The palace is a very well known tourist attraction and can be especially busy in the summer.
Granada is also inland, so the temperature can be hotter than on the coast in the summer months and can also be cold in the middle of winter. Be prepared to queue even out of season, or alternatively you can book tickets in advance from the Alhambra Palace website.
In addition to the stunning architecture the Alhambra palace has large gardens with ponds and fruit trees.
Malaga
The historic city of Malaga is often over looked by visitors, but has plenty to offer. The cultural influence of the Moors can be seen throughout Malaga, and the old town area is one of the best preserved in Andalucia. Below are a few must see attractions in this historic city:
- Picasso Museum (Malaga is the birthplace of the artist Picasso)
- Malaga Old Town - a maze of cobbled streets with shops, bars, restaurants and the famous Malaga Cathedral at the centre
- Finca de la Concepcion Malaga botanical gardens just to the north of the city
- Gibralfaro Castle - Castle with spectacular views over the sea and Old Town
- FC Malaga - La Liga football close to the city centre
Car Rental at Malaga Airport
If you require a car for your visit to the Costa del Sol, Blue Valley Car Hire provide car and minibus rental at Malaga Airport.
Questions and Answers
Every place has something to offer to its guest and visitors. It could be the beautiful scenery of the place, the delicious food that only they can offer or the adventures that you can experience and many more. Today every place is thinking of something to attract visitors and tourist to their place and Costa del Sol is not an exception. Costa del Sol receives more than two million people a year who arrive at Malaga international airport
Spain is part of the European Union and all EU and American nationals can visit the country for a period of no longer than 90 days solely with a passport. EU national can apply for a residency permit if they wish to extend their stay. Non EU nationals can apply for a further 90 day extension. These regulations
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