Spain's costa del sol. Holiday features on the Costa del Sol

Costa del Sol is located in the southernmost part of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Its borders are the Strait of Gibraltar in the north and the province of Malaga in the south of Andalusia. These 300 kilometers are imbued with a special atmosphere of real Spain - such as tourists imagine it from films and books. The region with the romantic name "Coast of the Sun" enchants its guests with its amazing beautiful nature. The climate of the Costa del Sol is simply unparalleled! Elite resorts and hotels are also located here, and on the famous Golden Mile there are villas of the “powerful ones”.

Transport accessibility

Marbella (the capital of Malaga and the coast as a whole) boasts excellent transport accessibility. There is a major airport 8 km from the city. The flight from Moscow to Malaga lasts only 5 hours. From the airport to the city center can be reached by bus or train. If Malaga is not your final destination, then from there you can easily get to any other resort - by bus, taxi, train or rental car.

Climate

The name "Coast of the Sun" is 100% justified. Can you imagine a place where 320 sunny days in a year? At the same time, the climate of the Costa del Sol is mild. Thanks to the mountains and the Atlantic current, which brings coolness, in the summer there is no debilitating heat. The maximum temperature in summer is +32°C. The most comfortable month for a holiday in the Costa del Sol is August. The air at this time does not warm up to more than + 30 ° С. Winter is short, with an average temperature of +17°C. Separately, it should be said about the temperature of the water. Due to the Atlantic current, it is slightly cooler here than in other areas of Spain. This prevents the growth of microbes and bacteria in it.

Beaches

Most of the territory is a series of numerous beaches. If you have chosen the beaches of the Costa del Sol, you do not have to worry about the availability of free space. It is not crowded here even in the midst of the tourist season. In addition, there are nudist beaches (in Estepona, a suburb of Marbella and in Benalmadena) - especially for supporters of an even tan without white stripes on the body. Below is a list of the "Best Beaches on the Costa del Sol" according to ABC:

1. Burriana,
2. Torreblanca,
3. Artola (nudist),
4. Sabinillas,
5. La Rada
6. La Malagueta,
7. Calahonda,
8. maro,
9. Puerto Banus,
10. Los Alamos.

Hotels

The number of hotels on the Sunshine Coast is in the hundreds. Hotels Costa del Sol, Spain, mostly have a category of 5 or 4 stars. Living in them guarantees you a luxurious vacation in comfortable conditions!

Puente Romano 5* (Marbella)

The territory of Puente Romano is literally immersed in greenery. It offers swimming pools, tennis courts, a cafe with gluten-free treats, Thai, Nikkei, Italian and Japanese restaurants, a sauna, a kids club. In addition, the price of the hotel includes the use of the golf course and the transfer to it.

Torrequebrada 5*(Benalmadena)

Located halfway to Malaga airport. The hotel is separated from the beach by a beautiful garden with a variety of plants, ponds and even miniature waterfalls. The 11-storey building of the hotel houses Europe's largest casino. In the club "Sala Fortuna" dancers constantly perform flamenco. Only 20 meters to the beach!

Rincon Andaluz 4* (Marbella)

The four-star hotels of the Costa del Sol are furnished according to the latest hotel trends. For example, Rincon Andaluz 4 * was built in a typical Andalusian style in 1980, but after that it was reconstructed. White buildings, cozy courtyards, small squares formed by neighboring buildings, a chapel… It was as if you had always lived in this small Andalusian town! Perfect for families with children - there are a lot of children's entertainment. The restaurants have a children's menu, and the pools have special sections for children. But adults are unlikely to be bored here either - all kinds of shows and programs are held, and live music is played in the evenings. The distance to the beach is 300 meters.

Las Piramides 4* (Fuengirola)

The hotel is located in the busiest resort area of ​​the Costa del Sol. Therefore, it is very convenient to get out to neighboring cities from here - on excursions or just for a walk. Near the hotel there are excellent golf courses, the zoo and the Miramar shopping center, as well as the ancient Arab castle Sohali. The beautiful sandy beach is only 25 meters away. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the hotel - there is an excellent fitness center on site, and water sports equipment on the beach.

resort cities

Holidays in this part of Spain are notable for the fact that there are Costa del Sol resorts focused on elite holidays (Marbella, Estepona), but average tourists will also be able to get their portion of the Costa del Sol by settling, for example, in Benalmadena or Fuengirola. The prices here are more democratic.

Marbella is the largest city in the province of Malaga. The bulk of vacationers in Marbella and Malaga are representatives of the elite. These are politicians, actors, musicians, entrepreneurs, offspring of royal families. Many of them no longer stay in local hotels, but come to their own villas or apartments. It is known that the city's embankment is washed daily with a special cleaning agent. A few kilometers from Marbella is the famous harbor of Puerto Banus - celebrities often have fun there.

This is another trendy resort on the Costa del Sol. He began to actively build up relatively recently. Therefore, in the city center you can admire the buildings in the old Andalusian style, and on the waterfront you will see the most modern buildings - hotels, villas, apartment buildings. When the sky is clear, the outlines of Africa can be seen from the Estepona promenade. Nature lovers are advised to visit the Selwo Aventura safari park, located in the vicinity of Estepona.

Torremolinos

Torremolinos is only 7 kilometers from the airport. Thanks to this location, the city has become the most visited and cosmopolitan resort on the coast. In the warm season it is quite noisy and crowded. Hotels for all categories of tourists, long and wide beaches, turnkey infrastructure, a whole sea of ​​entertainment - this is what Torremolinos looks like today.

benalmadena

Benalmadena is practically adjacent to Torremolinos. There are a little less hotels here, but the beaches are freer even in season. The local yacht club is considered one of the most beautiful in Spain. With the onset of the evening, discos open, and the city becomes truly party-like. The central part of the city in Benalmadena, as well as in Estepona, conveys the flavor of a typical Andalusian settlement. And the embankment is a concentration of entertainment - an amusement park, a penguinarium and a dolphinarium, boutiques, souvenir shops, casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, bars ...

Fuengirola

In the middle of the 20th century, one of the many fishing villages turned into a popular resort with long beaches and developed infrastructure. The city has a zoo, a water park, as well as great amount shops. Therefore, tourists who come here mainly for the sake of the beaches have an excellent opportunity for shopping. Local hotels are aimed at middle-class tourists, although there are also elite ones. In winter, it is much more crowded than in neighboring Benalmadena or Torremolinos.

Attractions

The beaches of the Costa del Sol are magnificent. However, numerous monuments of history and culture of Spain also claim the attention of visitors. Andalusia, on the territory of which the Costa del Sol is located, is called the soul of Spain. It was here that everything “the most Spanish” was born - bullfighting and flamenco. Islam, Christianity, the cultures of the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans are reflected here. Consider the most famous sights of the Costa del Sol.

Church of Santa Isabel (Malaga)

Santa Isabel is the smallest church in the world. Its area is only 1.96 m2 and on this occasion the church is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The chapel is hidden inside another cult building - Colomares Castle. It was erected in the 20th century in honor of Christopher Columbus and the discovery of America. The architects of the castle brought to their work the features of all the architectural roots of Spain - Byzantine, Romanesque, Moorish and Gothic styles.

The cathedral is the epitome of Gothic. Construction was carried out from 1528 to 1782, that is, more than 250 years. The best masters of their time participated in its creation, including the artist Alonso Cano and the sculptor Pedro de Mena. The locals affectionately call the cathedral "one-handed" (La Mankita), since the construction of one of the towers was never completed. The fact is that part of the money for the construction of the cathedral was donated to the conquests in the colonies.

San Miguel is perhaps the most famous street in the resort of Torremolinos. The number of shops per square meter here is off scale, which makes the street a place of active pursuits ... shopping! Of the historical attractions, there is an old Moorish tower dating back to the 14th century, and an old mill. By the way, it is thanks to the numerous mills that the resort got its name.

In the historical part of this now popular resort, many monuments of the past have been preserved - Bil Bil Castle, towers. These structures are surrounded by charming white houses in typical Spanish style. Tourists interested in the history, culture and way of life of Spain willingly visit the Museum of Pre-Columbian History.

Kitchen

After all the sights of the Costa del Sol have been explored, you can start exploring the local cafes and restaurants. Although it is advisable to combine both. For a long time, people from different countries, so here you can taste dishes from all over the world. As for the actual national cuisine, it mainly consists of seafood dishes. Vegetables and raw salads are prepared using local olive oil. Traditional Spanish soup gazpacho can be tasted almost everywhere. Desserts on the Costa del Sol often consist of honey and various types of nuts. There are a lot of sweet dishes - amarquillos and polvoron macaroons, donuts, torrijos, honey cookies ... Spain - real paradise for the sweet tooth!

Russian diaspora

There are many Russians among the foreigners living on the Sun Coast. The largest concentration of our compatriots is observed in Marbella.
And yet, Russians on the Costa del Sol do not tend to stick together, but settle more or less evenly. There are about a dozen Russian shops here, one Orthodox church, there is even some media in Russian. The stores not only sell typical Russian goods, but also deliver parcels.
So, if sometimes you are overwhelmed by nostalgia for your homeland, finding a piece of Russia in the Costa del Sol is quite real. Please enable JavaScript to view the

The Costa del Sol is the southernmost Spanish coast on the Mediterranean. Here, ancient Muslim fortresses and European Gothic, simple fishing villages and luxurious villas of aristocrats, hot sand and cold waters of Gibraltar intertwined in an amazing way.

• The only international airport on the entire Costa del Sol is located in Malaga. There are direct flights from Russia only in summer and only from Moscow and St. Petersburg. In other months and from other cities, you will have to travel with transfers. Full list airlines flying to Malaga,

• Direct rail links connect Malaga only with Spanish cities: Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Seville and Cordoba. From any other city in Europe, you can get by train to Malaga only with a transfer. You can choose the right train to Malaga

• By bus you can get from Madrid, Seville, other cities in Spain, as well as from France through Catalonia. Also, the bus is the main internal means of transportation between the cities of the Costa del Sol. Intercity flights are operated by two major companies: Daibus and Alsa. You can find the schedule and prices on the official websites of the companies

Holiday features on the Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is somewhat different from the resorts of Catalonia (,) and Valencia ().

• First, it is a very "English resort". It was the Anglo-Saxons who first chose this coast and still hold the palm among vacationers. Therefore, there are most golf courses on the Costa del Sol, the staff of hotels and local travel agencies are most “sharpened” for the English, and in local cafes and restaurants, English preferences are most often taken into account.

• Another feature: the Costa del Sol is considered a resort for aristocrats and wealthy people, which, of course, in some places affects the price level; the offspring of the most famous aristocratic families of Europe love to relax here
• Despite the fact that the Costa del Sol is the southernmost Mediterranean coast of Spain, due to the peculiarities sea ​​current the water here warms up only by July. Comfortable water temperature (above 22 C) lasts only from mid-July to mid-September

The main resorts of the Costa del Sol

Marbella

Marbella- generally recognized as the most fashionable, most glamorous, most sophisticated and bohemian resort on the entire coast. In this fashionable place, many world celebrities and aristocratic families have acquired personal villas.

The beach line where their villas are located is called the "golden mile", and this is the most expensive stretch of the coast: renting umbrellas and sunbeds here will cost several times more than on other beaches.

The city of Marbella itself is a typical Andalusian settlement with white stone houses, orange trees and tiled roofs. There are many parks and cozy squares, beautiful boulevards and embankments.

The port of Puerto Banus is a separate attraction - the largest parking lot for luxury private yachts of the world elite vacationing here. By the way, in Puerto Banus there is a sculpture by Zurab Tsereteli, which locals nicknamed "Russian for the first time at sea."

Estepona

Estepona (Estepona) is a place for a leisurely and very a relaxing holiday, in which the main entertainment is the beach and quiet walks along the seashore. But the beaches here are really first-class, and the service is impeccable. In Estepona, the old part of the city is very picturesque, there is the Bullfighting Museum and the Archaeological Museum.

At the local port, you can taste the freshest and best-cooked seafood. From Estepona, the closest access to Cape Gibraltar (the southernmost point in Europe is a must-see on the Costa del Sol) and to the Selva Aventura Safari Park (another must-see place on the coast).

Torremolinos

Torremolinos– typical beach town which is very suitable for families with children. This is the most democratic resort of the Costa del Sol in terms of prices and public. There are many cheap hotels, budget apartments and affordable entertainment.

There are many youth nightclubs and hostels in which European students prefer to settle. In general, this is the most crowded resort on the coast. In Torremolinos, you can taste the most delicious chiringuitos (fried sardines on a stick) in the area and the famous Malaga wines with tapas (appetizers).

From the entertainment of Torremolinos, one can note numerous discos, bars and traditional local restaurants, a crocodile farm and Botanical Garden in the vicinity of the city, the main promenade San Miguel and the huge Aqualand water park on the outskirts of the city.

The city is located on a mountainside, so when choosing a place to live, pay attention to the location relative to the sea. Some streets have a rather steep slope, which can be a serious obstacle for prams and people with disabilities.

Benalmadena- a city that closely borders Torremolinos and is its natural continuation. Unlike noisy Torremolinos, Benalmadena has a much calmer and more measured holiday.

The city is conditionally divided into three parts: the residential zone (the quietest area where local residents and those who rent apartments live), the hotel zone (hotels and a huge number of tourists are concentrated here) and the Arroyo de la Miel area - a kind of entertainment zone, which is occupied shopping streets and entertainment venues.

Benalmadena's promenade is adorned with mosaics, and at the end of the promenade is the Arabic-style Bil Bil Castle, which often hosts live concerts and small exhibitions. The castle is also interesting for its collection of antique furniture and paintings.

Port of Benalmadena Puerto Marina is the center of all kinds of restaurants local cuisine, snow-white yachts and houses in the Arabian style. Tourists like to gather here very much, during the day you can feed the fish near the pier or go on a boat trip on one of the many excursion boats, and in the evenings live music sounds here.

The cultural and historical sights of Benalmadena include the Colomares Castle (Castillo de Colomares) - a modern building erected in honor of the great travels of Christopher Columbus. The castle houses an exposition telling about the history of the discovery of the New World, about the history and customs of Spain during the time of the conquistadors. Also interesting are the streets and churches of the old part of the city of Benalmádena Pueblo.

Of the entertainments of Benalmadena, the Sea Life Aquarium is interesting, not big park Paloma, Selwo Marina Dolphinarium, Butterfly Park, Tivoli World Amusement Park. There is a cable car Telerifico de Benalmadena that leads to the top of Mount Calamorro. At the top is the Orlov Park (you can watch a performance with the participation of these beautiful birds) and an observation deck with excellent panoramic views of the Costa del Sol.

Fuengirola

Fuengirola (Fuengirola)– a calm and quiet resort, which will not be very interesting for young people and active tourists, but ideal for families with small children and pensioners.

Here, unlike other coastal cities, there is always a place on the beach, the coastal area is equipped with a large number of playgrounds, and the local promenade is considered one of the most beautiful streets on the Costa del Sol.

Fuengirola - pretty affordable resort in terms of prices. There are no luxury hotels here, prices in local shops and restaurants are more of an average category, and in two huge shopping centers El Cortes Ingles and Miramar you can find all the most famous democratic clothing brands.

In general, Fuengirola is the most the best place shopping on the Costa del Sol for people who do not consider themselves to be mega-wealthy people (the mecca of the oligarchs Marbella is affordable only for the elite). In Fuengirola, at the local Sunday market, you can buy excellent locally made leather goods at very reasonable prices.

Of the historical sites, Fuengirola boasts the old Moorish castle of Castilla-Sohe, which has a small museum, and the exposition of the Historical Museum of the city, which stores unique handwritten documents of a thousand years ago. For family entertainment, you need to go to the Bioparc zoo and the Aquarico Mijas water park.

Nerja

Nerja- one of the most charming towns on the Costa del Sol. Its main advantage is that the tourist boom has not changed the historical appearance of the old Andalusian city. This resort is not too well known to the bulk of tourists, the more valuable it is for connoisseurs of Andalusia vacationing here.

Nerja is known as the place where, in the 1950s, ancient caves were accidentally discovered - the site of the first inhabitants of the Costa del Sol, who preserved unique artifacts and cave drawings primitive people. There are several monuments from the time of Arab domination (watchtowers, ruins of an ancient fortress).

In the vicinity of Nerja, the ancient Roman aqueduct Aguila is perfectly preserved - grand building supplying water to the surrounding villages. The beaches of Nerja for cleanliness, comfort and developed infrastructure are in no way inferior to the coastal recreation areas of other cities of the Costa del Sol.

Malaga - the capital of the Costa del Sol

Malaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol and the largest city on the coast. This is a universal city that is suitable for recreation for all categories of tourists.

For connoisseurs of history, there is an old town with characteristic narrow streets and medieval buildings. For mothers with children in Malaga, there are enough playgrounds, wide promenades, excellent sandy beaches;

for lovers of modernity, numerous museums and exhibitions of contemporary art, various trends of avant-garde and underground are of great interest; for reckless youth, the most interesting begins with the onset of darkness in numerous entertainment centers.

What to see in Malaga

Malaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, the locals value and are very proud of this fact, so there are two museums of the artist in Malaga. First museum Museo Picasso Malaga located in the very center of the city in an old Buenavista mansion, in the permanent exhibition of which are works by Pablo Picasso, including world-famous canvases; in the basement of the museum you can see the ancient walls, which were unexpectedly opened during the regular restoration of the mansion.

Museo Picasso Malaga

The second museum house-museum of Pablo Picasso Casa Natal. In addition to paintings, here you can see sketches and graphic works, sculptures and ceramics, as well as get acquainted with the life and personal belongings of Picasso.

House Museum of Pablo Picasso Casa Natal, Malaga

Fortress of Gibralfaro built in the X century during the Arab rule. The name of the fortress is translated as "the death of the pharaoh". Until the beginning of the last century, the fortress was an active fortification, in which the garrison was constantly present. Currently, a military museum is open in the fortress, which tells about weapons from different eras, uniforms and soldier's life, military maps and devices.

Castillo de Gibralfaro

Fortress Alcazaba (Alcazaba de Málaga)- translated from Arabic "citadel" - a characteristic Moorish building, one of the best preserved Arab fortresses in Spain. The fortress was built to protect the city from the raids of North African pirates; for a long time it served as the residence of local rulers. In the past few years, constant archaeological excavations and restoration work have been carried out in the fortress, so some of the structures are from time to time inaccessible to the public.

Alcazaba de Malaga

Automobile Museum in Malaga- a modern museum, the basis of the exposition of which is a private collection of rare cars. There are more than 80 cars from the 1920s-1960s, and this is one of the most extensive and valuable collections of cars in the world. A great emphasis here is placed on cars of rare or unusual equipment and tuning.

Museo Automovilistico de Málaga

Museum of Glass and Crystal (Museo del Vidrio y Crystal)- a private museum that exhibits samples of crystal and glass objects from the Phoenicians to the present day. The museum is interesting because the exhibits are stored here not in ordinary showcases and shelves, but in interiors typical of the era to which they belong.

Museo del Vidrio y Crystal, Malaga

Museum Carmen Thyssen (Museo Carmen Thyssen)- Another private collection, which presents paintings by Spanish artists and antiques of the 19th century.

Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga

Cathedral of La Manquita- one of the main cathedrals of the city and the most popular church among tourists. The name of the cathedral is translated from Spanish as “one-armed lady”, because of the two towers of the cathedral originally designed in the 16th century, only one was completed.

La Manquita, Malaga

Holy Week Museum (El Museo de la Semana Santa). The Spaniards call Holy Week Holy Week, which precedes the church holiday of Easter. The museum contains everything related to this holiday: church utensils, vestments of clergy, paintings and sculptures on this theme, items that local residents use during the celebration and for solemn processions around the city dedicated to Easter. Since Catholics celebrate church holidays quite magnificently, many exhibits of the museum seem very curious.

El Museo de la Semana Santa, Malaga

Street Calle Larios (Calle Marqués de Larios)- a pedestrian street in the center of Malaga, on which a large number of shops and restaurants are concentrated. Also, solemn processions and folk festivals are held here on the days of national and local holidays. The street is a very beautiful promenade with mansions of the XVIII-XIX centuries.

Calle Marques de Larios, Malaga

Museum of Antonio Ordoñez (Museo Taurino Atonio Ordoñez) located in Plaza de Torros and tells about everything related to bullfighting: from luxurious matador costumes to advertising posters and photos of famous fights. The museum bears the name of one of the most prominent matadors in Spain, whose career was the basis for the plot of Hemingway's novel A Dangerous Summer.

Museo Taurino Atonio Ordoñez, Malaga

Botanical Garden of La Concepcion (Jardin Botanico-Historico "La Concepcion") is a huge collection of plants from all over the world. Several thematic routes have been developed in the garden, which are equipped with convenient signs and a color indicator. In addition to plants, there are fountains, gazebos, sculptural compositions and small mansions, which makes the botanical garden look more like a romantic park than an exhibition space.

Jardin Botanico-Historico "La Concepcion", Malaga

Buses Malaga City tour. If you wish, you can ride on the Malaga tourist bus. Unlike numerous travel agencies in the city, which conduct tours only in English and Spanish, the bus has an audio guide in Russian. More about sightseeing buses can be found out.

Malaga city tour

City beach Malagueta (la Malagueta) – central beach city, conveniently located in relation to urban transport, near shopping areas. The beach is well equipped and very comfortable for the whole family, including the youngest visitors. The entrance to the water here is very gentle, and the shore is protected from high waves by special stone breakwaters, so the water here is always calm and comfortable for kids.

la Malagueta, city beach, Malaga

Fun for kids on the Costa del Sol

Selvo Aventura Safari Park, Estepona

At the Safari Park Selwo Aventura you can see in natural conditions the inhabitants of different continents and climatic zones of our planet. Over 2,000 species are found on a vast territory. In total, there are 3 zones in the park, in two of them walking is allowed, in the zone with predators you can only move on special vehicles.

For the little ones there is a large area with contact animals. For ease of movement across the vast territory of the park, there are special tourist transport. There are VIP visiting programs, which, in addition to the general excursion, include feeding a tame gibbon, taking photos with a tiger, and walking around an area closed to other visitors. More information about the park can be found here www.selwo.es

Selwo Aventura, Costa del Sol

Selvo Marina Marine Park, Benalmadena

marine park Selwo Marina- not just a dolphinarium, but a real nursery of marine animals, where, in addition to dolphins, fur seals, crocodiles and other aquatic inhabitants, there is an aviary with arctic penguins. Colorful shows are held here every day. For a fee, you can swim in the pool with dolphins and fur seals.

The park is divided into several zones:

• Antilles- marine mammals, dolphins and fur seals, arena for daytime performances
• La Ondonada ("Gorge") - sea birds (pelicans, flamingos, herons), there is also a daily parrot show
• Amazonia - reptiles and amphibians (sea snakes, crocodiles, lizards), as well as predatory fish
• Isla de Yelo ("Ice Island") - a colony of real Arctic penguins

See more information about the park.

Selwo Marina, Costa del Sol

Crocodile Park, Torremolinos

Crocodile Park built in the form of an African village. There are small crocodiles to take pictures with, and huge adults, the largest of which, Paco's dad, reaches about 5 meters in length.

The exposition of the local museum will tell you all the most interesting things about the life of crocodiles. On the territory of the park you can watch reptiles in their natural habitat, the process of hunting and feeding is especially impressive. In addition to crocodiles, the park contains flamingos, turtles, ostriches and ducks. You can find out more about the park.

Crocodile Park, Costa del Sol

Butterfly Park, Benalmadena

Butterfly Park (Mariposario del Drago)- these are real tropics, where luxurious specimens from all over the world live. Here you can watch all the stages of life of insects, the most exciting of which is the transformation of a chrysalis into a butterfly. Strictly speaking, the Butterfly Park is a scientific facility created by biologists to study Lepidoptera. In addition to butterflies, you can see other animals in the park: chameleons, iguanas and kangaroos. Official website of the park.

Mariposario del Drago, Costa del Sol

Biopark, Fuengirola

Bioparc- This animal theme park, which is divided into 4 zones:

• Africa
• Madagascar
• Southeast Asia
• Pacific

In the zones, the natural conditions of each region are recreated and the species of animals living there are collected. There are no cages in the park, coexist on the same territory different types animals, just as they coexist in their natural environment.

The creators of the park tried to reproduce all natural ecosystems as accurately as possible, so that visitors to the park have the illusion of complete immersion in the world of tropical flora and fauna. The park also hosts various performances with the participation of animals and circus artists. You can see more about the park.

Bioparc Fuengirola, Costa del Sol

Tivoli Amusement Park, Benalmadena

Amusement Park Tivoli Word (Tivoli World) it is the largest amusement park on the entire Costa del Sol. It has everything that a large theme park should have: over 40 exciting attractions from baby carousels to breathtaking rollercoasters, restaurants and souvenir shops, national and themed shows, life-size puppets and performances for the little ones. You can take a closer look at the map of the park and find out everything about its entertainment.

Tivoli World, Costa del Sol

Aqualand water park, Torremolinos

Aqualand Water Park- This is the largest water park on the coast, which is located on a large area near Torremolinos. In addition to a large number of water attractions, there are pools with artificial sea waves, large jacuzzi baths, a diving school and a special deep-sea pool, artificial rivers and entire water towns for kids. To know Additional information, you can see the cost and buy tickets.

Aqualand Torremolinos, Costa del Sol

Aquapark Mijas, Fuengirola

Waterpark Mijas (Parque Aquatico Mijas) more modest in size than Aqualand, but it is cheaper and has fewer lines. Here is everything you need for comfortable rest for the whole family: 10 attractions, a restaurant and a picnic area, a playroom for the little ones, a dressing room and a gift shop. The park hosts shows and interactive performances. Detailed information can be found out.

Parque Aquatico Mijas, Costa del Sol

Aventura Amazonia Rope Park, Marbella

Rope park Aventura Amazonia (Aventura Amazonia Marbella)- This is the only park of its kind on the entire coast. There are 6 routes of various difficulty levels. The easiest route was laid for children aged 4-6, the most difficult one was laid at a height of 9 meters and includes, in addition to standard hanging obstacles, a real bungee, a tightrope walker's bridge and even air surfing.

Aventura Amazonia Marbella, Costa del Sol

All routes of the park are equipped with the most modern safety equipment, a well-thought-out carabiner system gives a 100% guarantee of safety, and a mandatory briefing is carried out before the start of the route. The park has a kids club where parents can leave their kids under the supervision of experienced nannies. Russian version of the official website Lobo-park, Costa del Sol

Where can you go from Costa del Sol?

While relaxing in the resorts of the Costa del Sol, you can go to other famous cities province of Andalusia.

Seville, the capital of Andalusia

• Giralda- Muslim mosque of the XII century with a viewing platform at the top
• Cathedral of Seville, which houses the tombstone of Christopher Columbus and unique paintings by Francisco Goya
• Alcazar castle- a delightful monument of architecture, including Moorish walls, throne rooms, unique tapestries and art objects, as well as the famous Moorish gardens

• old jewish Santa Cruz quarter– atmospheric part of the old town with characteristic narrow streets and gothic buildings
• Plaza of Spain- one of the most beautiful squares in Andalusia - and the surrounding Maria Luisa Park
  Museum Archive of the Indies, which has collected an extensive collection of items related to the period of the conquest of both Americas

Granada

• Alhambra- one of the most amazing castles of Andalusia from the era of Moorish domination
• Alcaseria– a Muslim quarter and a covered market, a very colorful area that has retained all the flavor of the Arab era of the region
• Abbey of Sacromonte– a monastery on Mount Valparaiso, beautiful architecture, an interesting museum of religion and stunning views of the surroundings from the top of the mountain

• R Aion Albaicin– a typical medieval quarter, the oldest part of the city
• Science Park– modern interactive museum of natural sciences
• Madrasah- a monument of early medieval Arab architecture, which housed a Muslim university before the reconquista
• Palacio Dar al Orra(translated from Arabic as "the queen's house") - the residence of Muslim rulers, then part of the Catholic monastery. The palace is notable for the fact that it has perfectly preserved interior decoration and interiors from the time of Arab domination.

Cordoba (Cordoba)

• old roman bridge- Pedestrian area on the Guadalquivir River
• Calahorra Tower- a defensive structure of Arab times, in which today there is a museum of three cultures (Muslims, Jews, Christians)
• Alcazar- the former residence of the caliph, after the reconquista the residence of the Spanish kings, now historical Museum where you can get to know amazing story region, as well as look at the instruments of torture of the Holy Inquisition, which, according to historians, raged the most in Spain

• Cathedral of Saint Mary- a former mosque converted into a Christian temple - a unique combination of Muslim and Catholic religious architecture
• Synagogue of Krodova- this is a rare medieval religious building of the Jews in the "Mudéjar" style, which has come down to us in a well-preserved form
• Museum of Fine Arts- a large collection of sculptures, drawings, paintings, religious objects of the Renaissance. The main decoration of the collection is the work of Francisco Goya

• Mesquite Cathedral- a unique place of worship, which alternately housed a temple of veneration of the Roman gods, a Muslim mosque and finally a Catholic church. Mezquita is notable for the fact that each subsequent religious building was built around pre-existing walls. Thus, both the mosque and the remains of the Roman temple can be seen today behind the facade of the Catholic Church.
• Hooderia- the former Jewish medieval quarter, the largest and best preserved medieval quarter in Europe; very interesting for walks with its patios and labyrinths of intricate streets

Transport and food on the Costa del Sol

Rent a car on the Costa del Sol

Most vacationers on the Costa del Sol prefer to travel by rented car. Since all the main transport hubs are located in Malaga, it is there that the bulk of rental offices of every taste and budget are concentrated, and most of them are located at the airport. In the city center, the number of offices where you can rent a car is much less. In small offices, prices are lower than in large European holdings. For long-term rental (from 5-6 days) a discount is provided. The highest price level is not at the peak of demand, in summer.

In order to rent a car, you need to have a plastic bank card, funds to make a deposit (the amount of the deposit depends on the rental period, the cost of the car, the type of insurance, etc.), an international driver's license. A rental agreement can be concluded by a person over 21-23 years old (the exact age depends on the specific rental company), who has a driving experience of at least 1.5-2 years. You will also need to take out insurance. insurance options, coverage area and cost of insurance depend on the internal conditions of the company.

It is important to know that traffic fines are very high in Spain. The most common types of violations committed by Foreign tourists: parking in the wrong place, exceeding the speed limit, violation of traffic rules, Russians are characterized by fines for not wearing a seat belt.

Cuisine of the Costa del Sol

Andalusian cuisine, which includes the Costa del Sol, combines Arabic and Mediterranean dishes. Seafood is very popular on the coast, in remote mountainous areas prefer pork grown on special feeds.

Traditional Andalusian dishes to try on vacation

• gazpacho- cold tomato soup, although in some areas of Andalusia it is made from bread and onions
• Espetos– sardines strung on a special skewer, fried on coals
• Mohamo- a type of tapas, the main ingredient of which is dried tuna
• ahoblanco- cold soup made from water, butter, garlic and bread

• tortilla- fried potatoes with onions, meat and spices, filled with egg
• Pescato frito- this dish has many varieties, main point- fried fish (any method of frying) with the addition of a side dish

We remember Torremolinos for walking along the long promenade of Maritimo along the coast - a light breeze that brings the smell of the sea, a lively, festive atmosphere, a local specialty - grilled sardines, which are cooked here on a grill made from an old fishing boat filled with sand.

Availability

The most convenient way to get to Torremolinos is from Malaga - 16 km from the center and only 7 km from the airport, you can take a taxi or take a bus. The town itself has an excellent transport network: several railway stations, bus service to the nearest Mijas, Marbella and Estepona, as well as to Granada, Seville, Cadiz - in principle, even without a car, you can get to know Andalusia better without any problems.

Beach

In fact, the entire 6-kilometer coastline from Malaga in the north to Benalmadena in the south is one huge beach. The central beaches of Torremolinos Bajondillo and Carihuela flow into one another and are separated only by a picturesque cliff jutting out into the sea. Above Bajondillo are Playamar with surf spots and beyond Los Alamos, more partyy at night, and south of Carihuela is laid back family Montemar.

In general, they form a long promenade along which countless hotels, cafes, chiringuitos, shops lined up, and if you wish, you can walk with interest from Malaga to Benalmadena on foot in a couple of hours, but we lived in the center, so in the evenings we made small trips to one, then to the other side.

The town itself is located on a mountain, so I had to go down and up the stairs several times a day, of which there are many and different - from gentle to very steep. If you are too lazy, you can also take the elevator, but it worked on schedule and was generally paid.

All the beaches are clean, very well maintained, here and there overgrown with palm groves, where we periodically escaped from the heat.

Beach Dimensions

The main beaches, which are not difficult to walk from the center of the town, are about 3 km, the beach strip is quite wide - about 40 meters, there is enough space and even a feeling of spaciousness.

Coast

I was not impressed with the local sand - some kind of dirty dark, coarse-grained, quickly heats up, and walking on it under the scorching August sun barefoot is a dubious pleasure, but it is great for architectural creations. The entrance to the sea was different, mostly quite gentle, but there are also places with a sharp cliff, in some places on the shore of an accumulation of large stones.

Infrastructure

All beaches are equipped: showers, toilets, playgrounds, you can rent excellent sunbeds with a mattress and umbrellas (4.5 euros). Along the entire beach line - a multi-colored and multi-lingual series of various bars, restaurants, chiringuitos, souvenir shops. Life is in full swing!

Night life

Evenings continue both on the beaches, where all establishments are open, music is playing, lights are shining and vacationers are flanking along the promenade, and in the center of Torremolinos, especially on the tourist cay San Miguel. Here and there in the restaurants they sing Spanish songs and street musicians light up - we were lucky to get on the Indians.

After midnight, those who wish go to clubs for every taste - there are with Latin or European music, gay bars, small romantic bars with disco and huge ones with a pool, like El Palladium. But not a party place at all, and the most notorious playboys visit the haunts of neighboring Benalmadena.

Water activities

Here again it is standard: water skiing, bananas, catamarans.

Hotels

A huge number of hotels along the entire coast, almost all within walking distance from the beaches, many literally across the road from the sea. Mostly hotels without claims, the largest are 4-rooms, apartments are popular.

Prices

Resort for Spain in the middle price category - renting an apartment cost 50 euros for two, a good dinner is not less than 40 euros for two.

Sport

Diving and windsurfing are practiced on the beaches, and in September a sailing regatta is traditionally held here.

People

Torremolinos is a mid-range resort, mainly for families, elderly and middle-aged couples. Advantages: it is easy to get here, there are suitable beaches for children and the elderly, there is plenty of entertainment for children and adults - all this attracts tourists from various countries here, it is even difficult to distinguish who prevails here, and in more or less large restaurants, the staff says, - to me, in all languages ​​of the world.

On weekends, it is interesting to watch outing Spanish family picnics - noisy, a lot of food and various tourist bells and whistles.

There is a large water park in the town and next to it is a crocodile park with handsome Paco, a five-meter alligator. In the Carihuela area, there is a very pretty snow-white church of St. Carmen in Carihuela, and in Bajondillo, a local landmark is the Casa de las Navajas, beautiful building city ​​administration.

The name of the city - Torro de los Molinos - gave a 12-meter medieval tower, however, now it is called Pimentel. In the heat, you can escape in the botanical garden and the charming park of La Bateria.

Where to go in the vicinity

It is attractive because you can spend your entire vacation here and see a large part of the region - go to the beaches of Fuengirola, Marbella and Estepona, see the picturesque Mijas or the rich architecture of Cordoba, or visit the large, ancient cities Seville, the capital of Andalusia, Granada.

Both trains and buses run to many destinations, and the distance is available for a day trip - up to 200 km.

benalmadena

What is the resort

Resting in Torremolinos, they could not help but visit neighboring Benalmadena, knowing about its reputation as an entertainment resort. The town spreads out on two hills and rises from the coast in steps: first beaches with a promenade and hotels, then a town with second line hotels and at the very top - the white stone old town of Benalmádena Pueblo.

There is an abundance of various entertainments for both families with children and active youth, many beaches for every taste - from super-equipped and crowded to secluded and wild.

Availability

Like Torremolinos, it is convenient to get to Benalmadena by bus or taxi from Malaga Airport, where planes arrive from Moscow - only 10 km. From Malaga to the resort - half an hour by bus or train, and Benalmadena is also connected by bus to neighboring Torremolinos and Fuengirola.

Beach

If you go from Torremolinos from the north, rounding the port of Marina, you can get to the beaches of Benalmadena. There are many of them here (more than 10 for sure), but the border between them is not always noticeable, although the landscape and infrastructure change a lot.

The beaches of Malapesquera and Torre Bermeja go from the port itself and are essentially one well-equipped beach.

Arroyo de la Miel, which follows them, is a nudist beach, and behind the rock is a small and cozy Torrevigia, pebbles already begin here. There are few vacationers here, it is poorly equipped.

The farthest Las Yucas and Viborilla are pebbly wild beaches, suitable for diving, snorkeling, fishing, and closer to Fuengirola there is a secluded Benalnature beach, also nudist, as the name implies.

Dimensions

Benalmadena has an extensive coastline - about 9 km, the beaches flow into one another, in some places separated by beautiful bays and rocks, especially near Fuengirola. The beach strip on the central beaches is wide - up to 50 m, and on remote wild ones - in some places it is quite narrow.

Coast

I repeat, the beaches here can be found different: on the central ones (Malapesquera, Santa Anna) there is rather fine gray sand, there the entrance to the water is mostly gentle, well suited for children, and starting from Bil Bil Beach and further, the beaches are natural, therefore coarse-grained the sand here turns into pebbles and even stones, there the entrance to the sea can already be steep.

Infrastructure

The main beaches are well equipped: umbrellas, sun loungers, showers, toilets, rental of all kinds of equipment and a huge number of chiringuitos and restaurants, hotels very close or right on the beach. The Maritimo promenade, begun in neighboring Torremolinos, continues here - a picturesque paved path along the sea.

Night life

The entire nightlife of Benalmadena, for which young people come here and even raids from neighboring Torremolinos and Fuengirola, revolves around the port of Marina. There is a whole alley of various large and small clubs and discobars to choose from, and noisy companies wander drunkenly from one to another until the morning.

From here you can also go on a night boat trip with free champagne. We liked the beach party format on Santa Anna Beach on Saturday - a fun, colorful party of different ages, fireworks, music.

Water activities

The beaches that originate from the port provide all possible entertainment: bananas, parachutes, water skiing, our favorite catamarans with a slide, canoes. You can learn how to sail a yacht, ride all kinds of sea transport, rent diving and snorkeling equipment. Basically, all such industry is concentrated near the port of Marina.

Hotels

There are first line hotels, some across the road from the beach and the promenade, and second line hotels, but the distances here are small, mostly up to 500 meters. The most chic, of course, is to live in Puerto Marina, but it is noticeable that the hotels here are quite expensive, there are many private properties.

Prices

If we compare it with neighboring Torremolinos, where we settled, Benalmadena seems more expensive, at least in accommodation: the most budget hostels from 55 euros, and a decent hotel on the first line - from 80 euros. Rental of umbrellas and sun loungers - 9 euros, entrance to clubs - 4-6 euros. The cable car ride cost 11 euros, but at the box office you can buy a subscription to visit the ski lift, the amusement park, and the Selvo Marina park at a discount.

Sport

Not far from the port there are volleyball and football grounds, and, of course, there are all water sports: windsurfing, yachting, diving, etc.

People

Mostly English people meet here - for some reason it is very popular with them, and many even get a “summer residence” here. In addition, there are a lot of young people of various colors and families with children, who come a lot on weekends at the expense of locals.

First of all, the port of Marina itself is a never-ceasing celebration of life against the backdrop of beauties of yachts and water channels, lacy bridges, small islands, and luxurious villas. A place for walking at any time of the day or night, for gatherings in bars, shopping, dancing until the morning with a special, carefree atmosphere. There is also the Sea Life Aquarium with an impressive shark tunnel.

From here it is very convenient to start exploring the city: from the port there is a sightseeing train and a bus with a stop at all the main attractions: Paloma Park, the Selvo Marina Dolphinarium-Pingvinarium, the amusement park and the Teleferiko cable car, which you must climb to see the town and its surroundings from a height , and you can go down on a donkey for a change.

In the town it is worth visiting the ancient towers, the castles of Colomares and Bil Bil.

Where to go in the vicinity

It is very conveniently located, and if there is not enough local entertainment, you can take a boat trip on a tram to neighboring Fuengirola, and you can generally walk to Marina from the port, but it is better to take a bus - there is an interesting crocodile farm and a large water park.

Only 45 minutes drive to fashionable Marbella, within an hour by bus - Mijas and Estepona, within two hours by car - unique beaches Tariffs, and up to major cities Spain - Seville and - 220 and 140 km respectively, you can take a tour.

Fuengirola

What is the resort

The highlight of Fuengirola is its beaches; perhaps the best we have seen on the Costa del Sol, almost everyone can boast blue flags. Otherwise, this is an ordinary Spanish resort that grew up on the site of an ordinary Spanish fishing village.

Availability

Like all resorts on the Sun Coast, Fuengirola is easiest to get from Malaga, where you can fly by plane - a distance of about 30 km, a choice of bus, train and taxi.

Beach

The beaches of Fuengirola begin with the sandy-shell beach of Carvajal, shared with Benalmadena, then Torreblanca - these are natural beaches, but at the same time well-equipped and very well-groomed. Then the open, wide and flat beaches of Los Boliches and Las Gaviotas stretch for more than two kilometers.

On the other side of the port - the central beach of Fuengirola and Santa Amalia, then on the border of the resort - Castillo beach with a view of the local landmark Soail fortress.

On the beaches, there is still the same dark sand of the Costa del Sol, which burns your feet - on bulk areas it is finer and yellow, but perfectly clean and well-groomed, on the outskirts, natural beaches - coarse sand with pebbles.

Dimensions

The coastline of Fuengirola is about 8 km. Los Boliches and Las Gaviotas are perhaps the widest beaches on the Costa del Sol - 55 meters, the rest are noticeably narrower, from 20 m.

Coast

Since many beaches are artificial, the entrance to the sea here is mostly gentle and convenient, but there can be a sharp cliff on the outlying beaches. The water is clean and transparent, there are moderate waves.

Infrastructure

Almost all beaches are well equipped - showers, toilets, umbrellas and sunbeds (4.5 euros), fitness equipment, rental of all kinds of equipment, playgrounds. Along the beaches stretches the pedestrian and entertainment area Maritimo, originating almost from Malaga. Here festivities, shopping, a huge selection of cafes and bars offering a local specialty - fried sardines.

Night life

It's quieter here than in party Benalmadena. We listened with pleasure to live music in a jazz cafe and went to dance latin at the Mai Tai club - various theme parties are held there, guest DJs play. And of course, part of the evening and night life takes place on Paseo Maritimo, where the fun never stops.

Water activities

On most beaches, entertainment is standard resort: banana and water skiing, parasailing, various boat trips, dolphin watching, etc.

Hotels

As in all resorts of the del Sol coast, hotels start from the very coastline and stretch along it. All hotels are located across the road from the beach, and the second line is within 200-300 meters from the sea.

Prices

The order of prices is as follows: simple hostels and boarding houses - from 40 euros for a double, dinner in a cafe with live music - 50 euros for two, any fast food like pizza or a hamburger with a drink - about 15 euros, 2 sunbeds plus an umbrella - 9 euros.

Sport

In the center of the coast there is a sports port of Fuengirola with a yacht club where you can take boating lessons, there is a diving center. There is also a golf club, and in winter there is a suitable wave for surfing.

People

The British, Germans, Finns predominate, in general the audience is very decent and restrained, there are many mature couples.

The undoubted must do of the resort is to look at the bay and beaches of Fuengirola from the ancient fortress of Soail, take a picture of a funny monument to the “1 peseta” coin and see the silhouette of the Fuengirola bull, an impressive size of a metal structure, against the background of the sunset.

A number of local attractions are aimed at children: a very interesting tropical zoo, where people come from all nearby resorts, a biopark and a small water park, which, however, did not impress, is much better in Torremolinos.

Lovers of antiquity can visit the archaeological site of El Secretario - the ruins of a Roman settlement.

Where to go in the vicinity

Fuengirola is the last stop of the railway line that runs from Malaga through Torremolinos (water park, crocodile farm) and Benalmadena (large Sea Life aquarium, Port Marina party center) - the latter, by the way, is easier to get by bus.

You can also take buses to small towns in the area - Mijas (7 km) and the resort of Marbella (36 km), as well as to large cities - Granada (150 km), Cadiz (210 km), Seville (240 km). And be sure to visit the beaches of white sand of Tarifa for contrast, it is only 136 km along the coast.

Marbella

What is the resort

Well, if you go to the Costa del Sol, then you must visit Marbella, we said to ourselves and went. Marbella appeared to us as a glamorous beauty against a luxurious background: luxury hotels, expensive yachts, elite villages where celebrities and the richest people live, and the number of Bentleys and Rolls-Royces per square kilometer rolls over.

Availability

From the international airport - 59 km, this distance can be overcome by taxi or bus, if you do not have your own yacht, of course.

Beach

The sand cover on the beaches of Marbella is different - from fine yellow sand to the usual for the Costa del Sol dark gray coarse sand mixed with pebbles. There are a huge number of beaches here (more than 20), many of them were quite busy in August, but all are very well maintained, many have a blue flag.

There are only a few beaches in the city area, we saw a small Faro with a lighthouse and a more spacious Fontanilla - the most popular, but also the most crowded. You can get here on foot from the center of Marbella, the beach is golden sandy and very beautiful. Here is the famous Paseo Maritimo promenade on the Costa del Sol - a popular pedestrian area with many shops and restaurants overlooking the promenade.

We liked Bounty Beach, also known as del Cable, which is not far from the Funny beach amusement park - there is a pleasant atmosphere, relaxed music plays and prices for chiringuitos, which pleased us, are quite democratic. The coating is fine golden sand.

Most of the beaches are far from the center, the most popular are Los Monteros, Alicate, Puerto Banus and San Pedro de Alcantara with dark, coarse sand.

Artola Beach is located 10 km from Marbella, which is next to nature reserve - sand dunes.

From Puerto Banus begins the "golden mile" - fashionable hotels, luxurious restaurants, expensive nightclubs right on the beach.

Dimensions

In total in the "greater Marbella", including suburban areas, 26 beaches of various sizes: Faro is only 200 meters long and 30 meters wide, Fontanilla stretches for 1 km with a width of 30 meters, Banunti - 1300 meters and very wide - up to 70 meters.

Coast

The coast of Marbella is generally flat, sometimes rocky, for example, on Cortijo Blanco beach it is almost impossible to enter the water, but on most other beaches the entrance is either gentle sandy or pebbly, but comfortable, the water itself is incredibly transparent, and there are practically no waves here.

Infrastructure

The closer to the center of Marbella, the better the beaches are equipped and the more services are provided: showers, umbrellas, sunbeds (5 euros), children's play areas, volleyball courts, a huge selection of restaurants and bars, rental of all kinds of equipment.

Night life

In fashionable Marbella, “golden youth” hang out - in the luxurious Billionaire Club Marbella, the network beach club Nikki Beach, the Pangea club. There are also many dance bars and clubs in the Puerto Banes area, and among the luxury ones you can find medium-sized establishments, but if you go to the coast just for an active nightlife, it is better to settle in Benalmadena.

Water activities

All water activities from catamarans to scooters on the beaches of Marbella are presented, and there is even an amusement park right on Funny beach where you can ride bananas and sail boats.

Hotels

As expected, mainly luxury hotels and luxurious villas lined up along the coastline, at least solid four stars, but there are democratic three-star hotels, boarding houses, and apartments in the resort, you just need to look, however, prices will still be higher than the coastal average.

Prices

Marbella is a celebration of life, but living here will cost a pretty penny: the most budget guesthouses start from 50 euros per night, and entertainment prices also correspond to the reputation of an expensive resort, for example, go karting in Funny Beach - 20 euros, a scooter - 50 euros per 10-15 minutes. To find a place suitable for your pocket for dinner, sometimes you have to go deeper from the embankment into the nearby neighborhoods. On the beaches you can find chiringuitos with quite reasonable prices: from 9 euros pizza plus a drink.

Sport

A wide range of different sports activities: bike and segway rental, tennis club and many golf clubs, diving center, beach volleyball.

People

Undoubtedly, the people themselves give fashionableness to the resort, and kings, actors, business sharks and politicians from all over the world, and simply wealthy people visit it and have real estate there.

What is interesting to see in the resort itself

Marbella is a beautiful old city, be sure to see its center with the towers of the Alcazaba fortress, Orange Square with a fountain and the City Hall, as well as parks, a botanical garden with a collection of bonsai trees.

One of the pearls of the city is Avenida del Mar with sculptures of the great Salvador (originals, by the way).

On one of the beaches there is an amusement park Funny beach - karting, various water activities.

A few kilometers from the center of Marbella is the port of Puerto Banus - the quintessence of glamor and luxury of the Costa del Sol, a real vanity fair: snow-white yachts, designer shops, expensive restaurants and a fashionable audience.

Where to go in the vicinity

In the direction of Malaga, all the neighboring resorts of the Costa del Sol are worth visiting: Fuengirola, Estepona, Benalmadena, Torremolinos. Here you can find a lot of interesting and inexpensive entertainment: a cable car, water parks, various parks of flora and fauna, a crocodile farm.

The ancient town of Mijas is 34 km away, and the picturesque mountain villages of Antequera and the white sands of Tarifa are within a radius of 100 km.

Conveniently, all the historical centers of Andalusia are within a day trip: (180 km), (212 km), (188), Cadiz (180 km), Jerez (171 km).

Estepona

What is the resort

After Marbella, we expected another “vanity fair” from Estepona, but it made a completely different impression on us - the atmosphere here is more restrained, and luxury is shown with dignity, and not bulging out. But in view are stunning landscapes, which include the mountains of the Sierra Bermeja, rivers, pine forests, secluded rocky beaches and the outlines of Gibraltar in the distance.

Availability

It is most convenient to get to Estepona, as well as to any resort on the Costa del Sol, from Malaga International Airport (76 km) by bus or taxi.

Beach

On all the beaches of Estepona, the dark, coarse-grained gray sand already familiar to us, in wilder areas mixed with pebbles, there are rocky shores.

There are 2 beaches in the city: within walking distance from the center along the city promenade, there is a spacious La Rada beach, the most popular and crowded. Across the port from it in the bay is Del Cristo, a very green, windless beach, great for children, but not for swimmers - very shallow.

To the east of the resort, a territory stretches for 10 km, which has only recently begun to be developed, so the beaches here are calm, quiet, spacious, very picturesque: sometimes hidden between the river and green fields, sometimes overgrown with pine trees, sometimes lush vegetation, with rocky shores or vice versa covered with grass.

There are also several beaches to the west: the Costa Natura, popular with nudists, the wild and incredibly beautiful Baia Dorada, where people specially come to go fishing and snorkeling or scuba diving.

Dimensions

The coastline of Estepona is 21 km, but within the city the beach strip is only about 4 km, and its width is from 30 to 55 m. Among the suburban beaches, there are both secluded and spacious ones.

Coast

The most comfortable beach on Del Cristo beach, it is not for nothing that families with children and the elderly have chosen it. It is very shallow here, the entrance to the water is sandy and gentle, and the water itself is clear and very warm. On La Rada, the entrance to the water is also gentle, but not so far to the depth. On many beaches, the coast is steep and rocky, more suitable for divers.

Infrastructure

Changing rooms, showers, toilets, umbrellas for rent, a small playground on Del Cristo (and a huge number of children's play areas on Paseo Maritimo). Rocky beaches are practically not equipped. Not to say that on the beaches, even the central ones, there was a huge selection of chiringuitos compared to neighboring resorts, for example, on the central Del Cristo there are only two or three of them.

Night life

In general, Estepona seemed to us a more restrained Spanish resort than the same Marbella. Night life there certainly is, but its degree is probably average along the coast. Salsa and other Latin American dances are danced in the center of the town in Disco Parasela, and the Plato 68 club, where guest DJs play, is popular among young people. And again, the center of nightlife is the port, here it is Puerto Deportivo, where there is no shortage of either clubs or music bars.

Water activities

The beaches offer a variety of boat trips, water skiing, flyboarding, snorkeling and diving.

Hotels

In the center, in the La Rada beach area, hotels are located across the highway and Paseo Maritimo - the resort promenade, in more remote areas there are hotels right on the beach. Near Eastern beaches, which began to develop relatively recently, there are not so many hotels and they often stand at some distance from each other.

Prices

Despite the reputation of a luxury resort and an abundance of luxury hotels, you can find simpler accommodation, for example, a hostel 50 meters from the beach for 35 euros / double, but food prices correspond to the respectability of the resort: a snack in a tapas bar that mainly serves snacks, 15 -20 euros per person, and dinner in a restaurant cost 60 euros for two. A visit to the Selvo Aventura safari park - 24.5 euros, discounts for children.

Sport

Sports activities for a respectable public: many golf clubs, horse riding, sailing, as well as more democratic diving, snorkeling, surfing (including kites).

People

The resort traditionally has a lot of English and Europeans, mostly in couples or families, there are few noisy companies. On weekends, the public is diluted with local vacationers, and it becomes crowded.

The old town - a typical charming Andalusian town - we went around in half a day. We looked at the Square of Flowers with a large fountain, the clock tower, old mansions, the Remedios Church.

If you walk along the Maritimo promenade, you can walk to the Punto Donsella lighthouse, a local symbol.

Worth a visit is the huge safari park Selvo Aventura, where elephants, giraffes, rhinos, kangaroos live in natural conditions.

And, of course, the port of Puerto Deportivo: smart vacationers, a series of bars, restaurants, shops, starting points for sea excursions.

I liked the fishing port of Puerto Pesquero, where you can buy the freshest seafood.

Where to go in the vicinity

In the nearby resorts of the Costa del Sol, you can choose entertainment to your taste: a water park and a crocodile farm in Torremolinos, a marine aquarium and an exotic animal park in Benalmadena, a tropical zoo in Fuengirola, an amusement park and Dali sculptures in Marbella - all a maximum of 75 km from Estepona. At the same distance, only in the other direction, white sandy beaches Fares and Gibraltar.

Large ancient cities of Spain that can be visited in one day - (220 km), (240 km), (209 km), Cadiz (150 km), and only 67 km to the picturesque mountain village of Ronda.

Huge popularity is gaining more and more holidays in Europe. Spain remains one of the most attractive countries for tourists. Today we will get acquainted with the southern part of the country - the Costa del Sol.

General information

In the very south of the country is the picturesque and sunny Costa del Sol - a region of the autonomous community of Andalusia, which also includes the settlements of Malaga, located on the coastline.

The coast stretches for as much as 300 km. Sandy beaches, slightly diluted with rocks, which sometimes rise to the very edge mediterranean sea, with picturesque views and a pleasant atmosphere. There are all conditions for a good and comfortable stay. People with any income will be able to find a suitable option.

A distinctive feature of the region is the high average annual temperature of +19 degrees Celsius. But at the same time, it is worth noting that the coastal waters are crossed by a cold Atlantic current, which is why the water temperature is about 20 degrees above zero. And only in the midst of summer, in July, it can warm up to 23.

Nevertheless, the weather on the coast is quite warm and stable, with 320 sunny days a year. It has a longer swimming season than anywhere else in the country.

coast capital

Malaga is a city and municipal center that is part of Andalusia. The city has an amazing microclimate, which exists thanks to the rocks surrounding it. There are so many sunny days here that it seems as if it never rains.

If you do not tolerate heat well, then it is worth remembering that in summer the average air temperature here is +30, and the maximum can be above 40. In autumn and spring, the climate becomes milder and more pleasant. In the evenings, when it becomes easier to breathe and you can take a break from the beaches, it is worth visiting the historical part of the city. Unfortunately, now it is not too big, and one day is enough to see all the sights.

Tourists will be lucky enough to see one of the oldest theaters, the history of which dates back to the 1st century AD. e., and an amazing example of Arab architecture - the Alcazaba Palace, built in the 9th century. Walking through the labyrinth of narrow courtyards, you can see outlandish plants, amazing flowers and many fountains.

There is everything here to get acquainted with the culture of the country and find out what it is - Spain. Costa del Sol offers a great opportunity to relax and learn a lot.

Torremolinos

In the early sixties there was a real tourist boom. And Torremolinos was the first to host mass flows of people due to its close location to No and today various tours (Costa del Sol, Spain) offer relaxation in this beautiful city. Cozy hotels from three to four stars, located on the first line, are always ready to receive guests. The proximity of the airport is not at all noticeable to residents - no noise, because all planes land on the other side.

If you look at the coast of Torremolinos from the sea, you can visually divide it into 2 parts: east and west. There is a rock between them.

If you prefer busy beaches, light hustle and bustle, then Bajondillo is for you, otherwise you will need Playamar located nearby. It is quite calm here and not too crowded even in the peak season. It is worth noting that this place is perfect for families with children and people who do not differ in swimming skills. The entrance to the water is quite gentle and long.

Whichever option you choose, be aware that all the beaches are urban, so you do not need to pay to visit them.

benalmadena

The next city after Torremolinos is located close enough - so much so that it can be difficult to accurately determine the border. Benalmadena is like a huge balcony hanging over the Mediterranean Sea. This and beach resort, and mountain.

The city center is presented in the original Andalusian style - white stone houses, narrow crooked streets. Everything here is in order, always clean and comfortable.

Many eminent people choose to vacation in the Costa del Sol). You may notice that some residents and guests of the city prefer to travel by water equipment. At the entrance doors of their houses, a variety of its variants are parked: boats, yachts, scooters.

If you are looking for a luxury property in Spain (Costa del Sol), then this is the right option. Amazing and trendy apartments are located on artificially created islands. A three-room apartment in this area costs at least one million euros.

Fuengirola

This city is one of the best resorts that Spain offers (Costa del Sol). Fuengirola is located 35 kilometers from Malaga.

The city is not only a resort area, but also a port for fishing boats. It was founded by the Phoenicians, but to this day it is actively working, supplying marine products to the entire coastal zone.

Experienced tourists are advised to visit the city center and enjoy the beautiful views and flavor of the country. Children will surely enjoy going to the zoo, where various representatives of the living and plant world are collected.

The city is perfect place for a holiday in the family circle, which is confirmed by the reviews of tourists. The infrastructure is designed in such a way that time flows slowly here. Shoppers will appreciate modern supermarkets and large shopping centers, "Court Ingles" and "Miramar", known throughout the country.

Mijas

Once the city was a small fishing village. But together with the rest of the neighbors, it began to actively develop in the post-war period. The picturesque expanses attracted not only ordinary tourists, but also real creative personalities. Inspired by the calm atmosphere and pleasant way of life, famous painter Salvador Dali created several paintings here. You can look at the coast from a bird's eye view by visiting one of the viewing platforms.

Among other things, the city is visited for pilgrimage purposes. In the ancient chapel, carved into the rock, parishioners can pray to the holy face of the Virgin Mary.

Unusual and attractive for tourists (their reviews say this) can be a vacation in the Costa del Sol (Spain). For example, in Mijas, in order not to bathe in stuffy cars, you can use an exotic form of transport - donkeys. All animals are specially trained, have a neat appearance.

If you love art, be sure to check out the Museum of Miniatures. For those who prefer a real spectacle - the road to bullfights.

Marbella

Many beautiful and expensive resorts opens Spain to tourists. Costa del Sol, Marbella is a truly fashionable, sophisticated and fashionable place. The city stretches for 28 km along the coastline. Beautiful beaches are surrounded by a picturesque marble promenade lined with palm trees and the Sierra Blanca.

The beaches of this city are considered one of the best, and you can spend your holidays here comfortably and comfortably. An important role in creating such popularity is played by Mount La Concha, which, like a huge fence, encloses the city limits and creates a microclimate. The weather here changes very smoothly and gently. In summer, the temperature does not exceed 27 degrees, and in winter, the thermometers rarely fall below +15.

Guests and residents of Marbella are given the opportunity to choose between paid and city beaches. Here is the largest sports port on the entire Mediterranean coast - Puerto Banus.

Nerja

The resorts of the Costa del Sol (Spain) provide a choice for people with different incomes. If you are interested a budget option, then Nerja would be an excellent choice. Despite the low economic status, the city is distinguished by friendly residents, beautiful nature and architecture. This place is chosen for solitude and relaxation in a calm atmosphere of cozy beaches and lagoons.

A distinctive feature of the city can be considered a rocky relief, which creates incredible picturesque pictures.

The caves are considered the main attraction of the city. One of them contains a stalactite listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Its height is more than forty meters, and its width is more than fifteen.

Another feature of the caves is the unique acoustic data. Thanks to this, the International Music Festival is held here every year, which can be visited in July and August.

Estepona

Despite the huge influx of tourists and constant development, the Costa del Sol (Spain) has retained one amazing corner filled with rustic charm and special flavor.

Apart from beautiful beaches, the city can surprise with its incredibly picturesque Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja National Park and Reserve. It is here that the only fir forest in the entire territory of the country is located.

The climate in the city does not differ from its neighboring resorts: mild, subtropical with little rainfall.

For tourists, the eastern part of the city is most interesting. It has an excellent infrastructure with a variety of hotels, some of which boast a five-star level.

Manilva and Torrox

Two more wonderful cities offer us the Costa del Sol. well developed tourist base, many hotels, chic restaurants and cozy cafe-bars. There are also places for walking and sightseeing: churches, ancient castles. There are places for secluded recreation and noisy city beaches.

A visit to each of all the cities described above will give a lot of unforgettable impressions and help you enjoy your vacation. Comfortable hotels, amazing culture, incredible - all this is offered by Spain (Costa del Sol). Reviews of tourists about these places are filled with pleasant impressions of a successful holiday.

Costa del Sol(Costa del Sol) is the most South coast Mediterranean Sea in Spain, which stretches from the city of Malaga to the Strait of Gibraltar. Translated into Russian, the name of this resort region means "sun coast". The resorts of the Costa del Sol are considered the most prestigious and fashionable on the entire Spanish coast. Many celebrities, aristocrats and owners of large companies have chosen the Costa del Sol as a place for their residences. Here, picturesque and clean beaches stretch for many kilometers, and throughout the coast region you can feel the atmosphere typical of Andalusia, considered one of the richest in culture and history of autonomies in Spain, which has its own unique flavor due to the customs and traditions that have been preserved for centuries.

The climate here is mild and warm, and the total number of sunny days per year is significantly greater than in Spain as a whole, the swimming season on the Costa del Sol also lasts much longer than in others resort regions countries.

Having visited any of the resorts of the Costa del Sol, you can visit many interesting places in various cities of Andalusia. You will have the impression that you have rediscovered Spain.

Cities and attractions:

Malaga(Malaga) - the capital of the province and a resort town with picturesque natural landscapes, clean, well-equipped beaches and many historical monuments annually attracts many tourists with its rich history, customs and traditions. Lush and bright holidays are another reason to visit this unique town.

Montes de Malaga Park(Montes del Malaga), located just a few kilometers north of Malaga, is one of the most famous reserves in Spain. Its territory occupies almost 5 thousand hectares, located in unique places from the point of view of the landscape, rich in hills, valleys and streams. The main value of the park is its rich flora and fauna. Here you can see about 400 species of plants, 27 species of mammals, 90 species of birds, 8 species of amphibians and 19 species of reptiles, among which you can see chameleons, which have become rare in Andalusia.

Parc la Siera de la Nieve(La Sierra de las Nieves) is another magnificent national park with rich vegetation and wildlife, located near Malaga.

Marbella(Marbella) - a resort located 60 km from Malaga, is considered the pearl of the Costa del Sol. This is the most luxurious and fashionable resort not only in Spain, but throughout Europe, which strikes the eye with the beauty of its gardens and parks. Along the entire embankment stretch of extraordinary beauty sandy beaches, surrounded by palm trees from the side of the city. It is this beautiful city that attracts the attention of many celebrities, aristocrats and influential businessmen who buy luxury villas here. Among them: members of the royal family, American TV stars and even Arab sheikhs.

Marbella, like many resort towns Spain is divided into two parts: the old city and modern city. However, the architecture of modern buildings in Marbella did not violate, but even harmoniously complemented the ensemble of the old part of the city.

Puerto Banus(Puerto Banus) - an expensive resort near Marbella, where all four- to five-star hotels, super-luxury entertainment complexes, and each villa has its own parking for several yachts

Torremolinos(Torremolinos) - the closest resort town to Malaga, located only 12 km. This city is considered the heart of the Costa del Sol.

The coast of Torremolis is divided into two parts: carihuela beach(Cariuela) and Bajondillo beach(Bajondillo). These wide picturesque beaches are separated by a small rock.

This city is famous for the abundance of hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants where you can enjoy traditional Spanish cuisine, namely the cuisine of the southern regions of Spain, which is rich in seafood dishes. Nightlife in Torremolinos is distinguished by its brightness and richness, since it is the abundance of nightclubs and discos that is an important factor in attracting young people. Connoisseurs of medieval architecture can get acquainted with the old part of the city, which has been perfectly preserved to this day. But in the central part of the city there is the famous tourist area in Torremolinos - San Miguel Street, along which only pedestrians can move. On this street is the famous Pepe Lopez tavern, where visitors can see the fiery flamenco traditional for Spain on the day of St. Michael (or San Miguel) - the patron saint of Torremolinos. This holiday is celebrated on September 29, when on the street you can see many wagons with pilgrims, which are brightly decorated with flowers. And after the solemn service, a fair opens in the city, which lasts 3 days, which are among the most fun of the year: songs, dances, fireworks and treats. During the fair, another holiday is celebrated, which has already become traditional in Torremolinos - Tourist Day, which is accompanied by various sports competitions, a sailing regatta and other spectacular competitions. But each of these fun days is also famous for bullfighting, which many want to watch and participate in.

Aqualand water park daily attracts many tourists of different ages. Extreme slides and other water attractions can make even the most restrained people glow with delight.

benalmadena(Benalmadena) - another picturesque coastal town on the Costa del Sol, which is famous for its spacious gray sand beaches, stretching for 9 km along the coast. Being near Torremolinos, Benalmadena can be considered a part of it, since during the existence of these cities their borders have almost been erased, which very often happens with nearby resort towns. Benalmadena is divided into three parts: Benalmadena Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmadena Costa.

benalmadena pueblo(Benalmádena Pueblo) is a typical Andalusian village located on a hillside. It offers a magnificent view of the sea and the surrounding picturesque landscapes, as well as historical monuments: the majestic castle of Colomares and its surroundings. On the square in the center of the village is the fountain "Girl from Benalmadena", which is a symbol of the city.

Arroyo de la Miel(Arroyo de la Miel) is a busy commercial and residential area of ​​Benalmádena. There is also a famous amusement park here. Tivoli(Tivoli World).

Benalmadena Costa(Benalmádena Costa) - the coastal part of the city, where numerous hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes are located. Luxurious wide beaches stretch along the coast for almost 5 km, only occasionally intersected by small rocks.

Benalmadena is a small town in terms of the number of attractions, however, in terms of the possibilities for spending a pleasant and unforgettable vacation, this city occupies one of the first places on the Costa del Sol. From almost every hotel you can quickly walk to the sports port Puerto Marina, in which, in addition to sports centers, there are a large number of discos, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

Theme park Selvo Marina(Selwo Marina) in Benalmadena, dedicated to the wildlife of South America, is another extraordinary place that is worth a visit. The park itself is divided into four zones. In the zone of Las Antillas - "Antilles" there is a huge glass dolphinarium and sea lions live, with whom you can swim if you wish. In the La Hondonada zone, you can see a stunning show of exotic birds that live in the Amazon River Valley. The "Amazonia" zone presents all kinds of fish and reptiles that inhabit the Amazon. But on the island of Isla de Hielo, under conditions of artificially created cold, penguins live. Also here you can visit a unique 3D cinema.

cable car Benalmadena (Telecabina (Teleférico) delivers tourists to the top of Mount Calamorro (Monte Calamorro), from where a magnificent view of the coast opens. In good clear weather, you can even see the coast of Africa and Gibraltar.

Fuengirola(Fuengirola) - no less famous resort than Benalmadena or Torremollinos. It is located 35 km south of Malaga and 25 km from Marbella. Here are wide beautiful beaches, along which there are numerous hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Fuengirola also has a sports port with more than 200 anchorages.

In addition to a large market, a yacht club and a fishing harbor, Fuengirola has a famous along the coast zoo(Zoo Fuengirola). This is a modern zoo, which was built in 2001. In it you can see vegetation and animal world tropical forest. It should be noted that this zoo is the only one of its kind in Europe. It consists of three zones: "Madagascar", "Equatorial Africa" ​​and " Southeast Asia", in each of which the atmosphere of those places is incredibly conveyed.

However, the entire tourist infrastructure of Fuengirola is aimed at visitors with somewhat conservative views, so this resort is an ideal place for people who prefer calm resorts to relax.

ronda(Ronda) - one of the most picturesque cities of Andalusia - stands on the edge of a deep (more than 100 m) Tagus gorge. The town with a population of 35 thousand inhabitants attracts millions of tourists thanks to its history and the title of the capital of bullfighting.

Gibraltar, Nerja and Mijas are small resort towns on the Costa del Sol, each of which will take no more than one day to tour. Each city has its own rich history and traditions that are carefully preserved by the locals.

Booking a boat trip Atlantic Ocean in Dolphin World (Giblartar) will help you get an unforgettable experience of watching the graceful inhabitants of the ocean - dolphins and whales.

The water park Mijas Acuatic Park in Mijas can also give a sea of ​​​​delight and excitement from visiting the most modern water attractions and slides.

Costa del Sol- a truly unique resort, visiting which you can see many interesting and unforgettable places, and most importantly - discover such a different and wonderful Spain with its incendiary dances, fun holidays and love for traditions.