The Andalusian beach necklace is loved by tourists from different countries and by the inhabitants of Spain themselves. What makes a holiday in the Costa del Sol attractive? Learn about popular resorts, top hotels, home and villa rentals, beaches and places of interest.
Reviews about Costa del Sol
Spain's "sunny coast" stretches from Gibraltar to Malaga. This region is home to prestigious resorts with excellent beaches, well-functioning infrastructure and wonderful opportunities for active tourism. Costa del Sol is the place where European aristocrats and celebrities spend their holidays and weekends. Unlike in the north of the country, life on the Sunshine Coast flows more calmly and measuredly - as elsewhere in Andalusia.
According to tourists' reviews, hotels are more expensive than on the Costa Blanca or Costa Brava, but food is quite affordable at prices.
bojemoy: "Costa del Sol is a beach of sun and buzz! Most of all I was touched by the palm parks along the coastline, where huge green parrots live in the trees."
Ekaterina: "I was just amazed by the beauty of this region and the magnificent Mediterranean Sea. There it is somehow special, not the same as in Turkey or Greece. After such a bright trip, I am simply in love with Spain and especially with the Costa del Sol" ...
Which resort to choose in the Costa del Sol
In the south of Spain there are several cities and towns where tourists from Scandinavia, Great Britain and Russia like to rest. We will tell you about the best resorts on the Costa del Sol, and you choose depending on the purpose of your trip.
Benalmadena... An excellent resort for families with children pleases with an amusement park, a dolphinarium, a penguinarium and a cable car. In the Old Town, you can feel the unique flavor of Andalusia.
Torremolinos... The seaside town has the status of a European health resort, an excellent place for beach and youth tourism.
Fuengirola... A cozy resort that boasts long, well-equipped beaches, a water park and a zoo. In addition to relaxing by the sea, people come here for shopping.
Marbella... The most fashionable and popular Spanish resort. Hotels in Marbella are beyond praise!
Estepona... A city that is popular with lovers of a calm, quiet rest. Almost all hotels in the resort are new, have a spacious territory and are remote from each other.
Malaga... The small town is famous for its interesting architecture and rich gastronomy. There are good beaches nearby.
Best hotels in Costa del Sol
Hotels on the Costa del Sol are the most luxurious and expensive in Spain. There are many 5 * hotels, and the level of service is higher. All major hotels are on Bucking, and tours to the Costa del Sol are on Travelata.
The best hotels on the Costa del Sol, according to tourists' reviews:
Boutique X 3 * is a neat hotel in the central area of Fuengirola, 350 meters from the beach. In high season, a double room costs from 117 €. Find a tour "
Hotel Selwo Lodge 3 * - an original hotel in the African safari style in Estepona. A double room with breakfast costs from 125 €. The price includes tickets to Animal Park. Find a tour "
Sentido Benalmadena Beach 4 * is an excellent hotel with an outdoor pool, next to the Torre Bermeja beach in Benalmadena. Double room costs from 153 €. Find a tour "
El Tiburon Boutique Hotel & Spa 4 * is a comfortable boutique hotel 60 meters from the charming La Carihuela beach in Torremolinos. For a double room you will pay from 145 €. Find a tour "
Vincci Selección Aleysa Boutique & Spa 5 * is a luxury boutique hotel in Benalmadena, with direct access to the Las Gaviotas beach. Double room costs from 399 €. Find a tour "
Hotel Don Pepe Gran Meliá 5 * - a presentable hotel near Don Pepe beach, 15 minutes walk from the Old Town of Marbella. A double room with breakfast costs from 318 €. Find a tour "
Rent of houses and villas in Costa del Sol
Renting a villa or a house on the Costa del Sol is not a problem! Offers from the owners are available at any resort. For tourists who want to relax with children or friends, houses near the sea are popular. We found three great options on Airbnb (look for more - there are many more)! Good reviews from guests speak about the level of housing and service.
Bungalow in Marbella is a cozy house with a tiled roof, two bedrooms and a garden. The bungalow accommodates 4 guests and costs from 193 € per day.
El Oceano Residence is a lovely six bedroom two storey house with pool in Benalmadena. Comfortable accommodation can accommodate six people and costs from 284 € per day.
Semi-detached house - townhouse with three bedrooms and a barbecue area on 2 lines from the sea, in Las Lagunas de Mijas. The house is designed for 6 people and costs 409 €.
The beaches of the Costa del Sol
There are over 160 km of beaches in the south of Spain. The best beaches of the Costa del Sol, according to tourists' reviews:
- Artola-Cabopino in Marbella
- Maro and Burriana in Nerja
- Vélez-Málaga in Benajarafe
- Real de Zaragoza is 13 km from Marbella.
If you love the sea as warm as fresh milk - you're out of luck! Due to the proximity of the cold Atlantic current, the sea water in the Costa del Sol does not warm up above +22 ... + 23 ° С. Surf fans, on the other hand, love it! The same current allows you to catch the perfect wave almost all year round.
venusinfurs: "The most popular beach in Malaga, La Malagueta, is not the cleanest, if only because it is in close proximity to the port of Malaga."
Attractions Costa del Sol
Nature has endowed the Costa del Sol no less generously than other parts of Spain. Tourists are delighted with the picturesque mountains, palm trees and the sea. In this region are the famous Nerja caves, the Royal Trail - El Camino del Rey, the natural parks of Torcal de Antequera and Los Alcornocales.
From the resorts of Sunny Beach, vacationers travel to Malaga, Granada, Seville, Cordoba, Cadiz and the El Chorro gorge. According to tourists, excursions to Gibraltar and Morocco are popular on the Costa del Sol.
There is a good itinerary for the sights of Seville, Granada and Cordoba with photos, reviews and a map of places.
serhii1205: "Life in Malaga is different from life in any other city in Spain. It is sunny 350 days a year, and the mood is always good. The architecture of the city is mesmerizing and allows you to go back several centuries. Clean streets with the smell of delicious coffee and churros wake up pleasantly in the morning. ".
When is the best time to go
A full-fledged beach holiday in the resorts of the Costa del Sol begins in late May - early June, when the sea water warms up to +19 ... + 20 ° С. Summer in Sunny Beach is hot. Due to the proximity of Africa in July and August, the thermometer can rise to + 40 ° C and higher. However, extreme heat is rare. Typically, the air temperature at the height of summer is +31 ... + 33 ° С.
The velvet season in September and October is popular with everyone who loves to enjoy the mild autumn warmth and beach activities. You can swim until the end of October. In November, in the resorts of the Costa del Sol, it becomes cool + 19 ° С, and the sea cools down to + 18 ° С.
Tata Mirzoyan: "In the south of Spain, there is a real heat already in June, but on the Costa del Sol it is quite comfortable because of the sea breeze."
Conclusions: is it worth a vacation in the Costa del Sol
There are many advantages of a holiday in the Costa del Sol - well-groomed clean beaches, excellent hotel service, the opportunity to visit picturesque natural attractions and the old cities of Andalusia. The sunny coast is popular with parents with children, aged tourists and lovers of delicious Andalusian cuisine. Tourists with average and high incomes rest in the Costa del Sol. The only negative is that the sea is cooler than in other regions of Spain.