Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol has everything to offer for holiday lovers, winterers and golf players. This is also why this coast is also known as the Costa del Golf!

Costa Del Sol

During wintertime you can even do some winter sports in the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains: Being able to go skiing in the morning and then following it up with a wonderful swim in the sea in the afternoon, is certainly something unique here. The new international airport of Málaga welcomes you! Underneath we give you an overview of what you can expect at this coast.

The Costa del Sol is a region in the south of the Spanish peninsula, in the community of Andalusia, between Gibraltar and Almería. It is situated in the provinces of Málaga, Cádiz and Granada. The Costa del Sol is situated between two lesser known coastal regions, the Costa de la Luz and the Costa Tropical in the area of Andalusia between Gibraltar and Almería. The area is sometimes called the Florida of Europe.

The Costa del Sol offers kilometres of beach that show a nice liveliness in the larger cities and resorts. Next to that, the coast also offers beautiful smaller bays.

The most popular beaches are

• Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo. Natural Site runs from Torre de Maro in Nerja to the Cazaida creek in Almuñércar (Granada).
• El Cristo. East of Nerja near the village of Maro. This is Esteponas beach carrying the blue environmental flag and is situated very favourably.
• Puerto Banús. Situated directly east of the prestigious marina of Puerto Banus. This beach is on the west side, which makes it very sunny and protected against the wind. At this beach it is all about to see and be seen.
• Cabo de Gata. This piece of Spanish coast has not yet been discovered by mass tourism.
• Cabopino. In a small bay about 12 kilometres east of Marbella you can find the Cabopino beach with beautiful white sand.
• La Carihuela. This beautiful beach is located south of Torremolinos alongside a boulevard with lots of restaurants and chiringuitos.
  The Costa del Sol also has some beautiful nude beaches.

From the Costa del Sol you can visit the beautiful cities of Andalusia, however also a trip to Morocco or the beautiful countryside is possible. Going to Gibraltar will show you the most southern part of Europe. From the highest point of the rock El Pan de Azucar, you will have a breathtaking view on Africa and oceans: the Strait of Gibraltar, the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean.

Although Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba and Málaga are not all that close to the Costa del Sol, there are still many tour operators, who offer trips to these famous cities. In Granada the Alhambra is a must-see, in Sevilla the cathedral and grave of Columbus. In Córdoba you can visit La Mezquita, a very special mosque in which a cathedral was built in the 16th Century. In Málaga on the other hand, you can take a tour through the old city and visit several monuments amongst them the cathedral.

Ronda, an ancient Roman city with several beautiful and interesting monuments. If you wish to visit two continents during your stay, you cross Gibraltar street by boat in 1,5 hour reaching Morocco. Would you like to discover the real Spain/Andalusia? You can visit several beautiful white villages and should not miss out on a real traditional Spanish meal, such as paella or tapas.

• Temperature: The average winter temperature is around 16ºC. Spring and autumn temperatures are around 20ºC. During summertime the average rises to about 35ºC.
  
• Time difference: There is a time difference of one hour compared to the UK (GMT+2h).
• Language: The formal language is Spanish, however, you can use English and/or German almost everywhere and sometimes even Dutch. To enter Spain you need a valid passport or ID.
  
• Wintering: When winter is around the corner, many people settle at the Costa del Sol, a beloved stay for the winter. In summertime life continues 24/7 and although in the winter it is quieter, there is still enough to do. Apart from the cities previously mentioned is there a lot more to see of course. A jeep safari through the inland or a visit to one of the many spectacular nightclubs is for example worthwhile. Not to forget the large number of beautiful golf courts where you can play every day. The Costa del Sol is the absolute Walhalla for the fanatic golf players. Think of the prestigious “Vadarama Golf Club” in Sotogrande, probably the most beautiful golf court in Europe.
  
• Shopping / Celebrations: All cities and villages have several shops for all your daily needs (drugstores, bakeries, tobacco shops and larger supermarkets). If you really want to spend a day shopping, you can go to Marbella or Malaga, which have large shopping centres. And let’s not forget Puerto Banús, where all prestigious world brands are represented. There are many celebrations and typical Spanish customs during summer time. Local celebrations with or without processions are always ended spectacularly with fireworks, since this is part of the Spanish tradition. And do not forget the “4 Walking Days in Marbella” in October.
• Cities: In the west of Malaga you can find the most popular cities like Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella, Mijas, Manilva, Benahavís and Estepona and on the east side Torre del Mar, Vélez-Málaga, en Nerja. Apart from this, is there a large market every day in all of the cities where the locals buy their daily groceries.
  
• Border formalities: A valid passport or ID
  
• Webcam: Webcam in Malaga