2. Torremolinos<\/span><\/h3>\nTorremolinos is one of the most established resorts on the Costa del Sol<\/strong>, with a long sandy beach, a huge choice of restaurants and bars and plenty to keep you entertained for a week.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s more developed and touristy than M\u00e1laga, but recent investment has given parts of the resort a smart new feel.<\/p>\n
Who Is It for?<\/span><\/h4>\nTorremolinos has plenty of family-friendly activities<\/strong> and a long traffic-free promenade. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nThe trade-off is that it\u2019s also good for holidays with groups of friends, with loads of restaurants and nightlife within easy reach.<\/strong> It also has a well-established LGBT scene. Luckily, the kids and the clubbers seem to coexist.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s an easy place to visit without a car.<\/strong> The train from M\u00e1laga takes around 20 minutes, the airport is close by, and the resort is well connected by public transport. In fact, we\u2019d recommend leaving the car behind.<\/p>\n\nTorremolinos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTorremolinos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nOur Take<\/span><\/h4>\nTorremolinos works well if you want a straightforward beach holiday<\/strong> with plenty to do.<\/p>\nThe main attraction is the long, wide sandy beach, stretching for around 7 kilometres. A traffic-free promenade runs alongside it, with loads of chiringuitos. You could easily spend a week here and try a different place for lunch every day.<\/p>\n
The mountains rising behind the resort help break up the built-up feel. Torremolinos has a fun, holiday atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in for a few days.<\/p>\n
However, Torremolinos is very much a developed resort. High-rise blocks dominate parts of the town, and some of the original village character has been lost. The beaches can also get noisy and busy during peak summer.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Good About Torremolinos<\/span><\/h4>\n\nSomething for everyone:<\/strong> Families, groups of friends and LGBT travellers can all find their own scene without the resort feeling too divided.<\/li>\nEasy beach days:<\/strong> The wide beaches, traffic-free promenade and regular chiringuitos make it simple to spend the whole day by the sea without needing to plan much.<\/li>\nFamily attractions:<\/strong> Aqualand and Crocodile Park add some variety for the kids when you want a break from the beach.<\/li>\nLa Carihuela:<\/strong> The former fishing quarter has a more traditional feel, with seafood restaurants and old-style chiringuitos along the seafront.<\/li>\nWalk to Benalm\u00e1dena:<\/strong> The promenade continues south to Benalm\u00e1dena in one long stretch.<\/li>\nM\u00e1laga on the doorstep:<\/strong> The train makes it easy to get to M\u00e1laga without needing to hire a car.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWhat\u2019s Not so Good<\/span><\/h4>\nTorremolinos is developed and touristy, and the high-rise buildings are hard to avoid. Some of the original fishing-village character has disappeared as the resort has grown, and the beaches can be busy and noisy in the height of summer.<\/p>\n
Where to Stay in Torremolinos<\/span><\/h4>\nTorremolinos Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n3. Benalm\u00e1dena<\/span><\/h3>\nBenalm\u00e1dena is one of the more varied resorts on the Costa del Sol, with beaches, a buzzing marina and a whitewashed village in the hills above the coast.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s still busy and built up, but the three distinct areas of Benalm\u00e1dena Costa, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalm\u00e1dena Pueblo give it more variety than some of the larger resorts.<\/p>\n
Who Is It for?<\/span><\/h4>\nBenalm\u00e1dena is a good choice for families who want easy beach days<\/strong> with plenty of attractions nearby. There are also lots of restaurants, bars and entertainment around Puerto Marina, so it works well for couples and groups of friends.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s particularly good if you want a resort where you can mix up your days. You can spend the morning on the beach, wander around the marina in the evening, or head up into the hills to explore Benalm\u00e1dena Pueblo.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a good range of accommodation, from large hotels and resorts to apartments and holiday rentals, making it easy to find somewhere to suit different types of holiday.<\/p>\nMark at the Benalm\u00e1dena Marina<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOur Take<\/span><\/h4>\nBenalm\u00e1dena feels a bit more informal than Torremolinos. You can hire a sun lounger and umbrella from vendors on the beach, rather than at a beach club. There are also always more people just throwing a towel down on the sand. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Puerto Marina is great for nightlife<\/strong> with restaurants, bars and entertainment on a built-up, but attractive marina.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s plenty to do beyond the beach, including the cable car up Monte Calamorro, family attractions and parks.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Good About Benalm\u00e1dena<\/span><\/h4>\n\nParque de la Paloma:<\/strong> A large, landscaped park with a lake and gardens is a useful option when the kids need a break from the beach.<\/li>\nColomares Castle:<\/strong> A monument built in the style of a fairytale castle, celebrating Christopher Columbus and the discovery of America.<\/li>\nBil-Bil Castle:<\/strong> A neo-Arabic castle built in 1934 and now used for exhibitions and cultural events.<\/li>\nCable car to Monte Calamorro:<\/strong> The cable car climbs from Arroyo de la Miel to around 770 metres, with panoramic views over the coast.<\/li>\nFamily attractions:<\/strong> Selwo Marina has penguins and sea lions; Sea Life focuses on marine life and the butterfly park has more than 1,500 exotic butterflies.<\/li>\nBenalm\u00e1dena Pueblo:<\/strong> The hilltop village is the best place to see the more traditional side of Benalm\u00e1dena.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\nBenalm\u00e1dena Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBenalm\u00e1dena Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBenalm\u00e1dena Marina<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nWhat\u2019s Not so Good<\/span><\/h4>\nBenalm\u00e1dena is busy and built up, particularly around the coast. The three different areas also mean you need to choose your accommodation carefully, as staying in Benalm\u00e1dena Pueblo or Arroyo de la Miel gives you a very different experience from staying beside the beach.<\/p>\n
Where to Stay in Benalm\u00e1dena<\/span><\/h4>\nBenalm\u00e1dena<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n4. Fuengirola<\/span><\/h3>\nFuengirola is one of the most established resorts on the Costa del Sol, with around 7 kilometres of beaches, a long seafront promenade and a huge choice of restaurants, bars and accommodation.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s much less polished than the neighbouring resorts, and it has a large permanent population and an expat community<\/strong>. This gives Fuengirola a more lived-in feel than a beach resort.<\/p>\nWho Is It for?<\/span><\/h4>\nFuengirola is good if you want a relaxed beach holiday rather than somewhere glamorous.<\/strong><\/p>\nIt has an older demographic than Torremolinos and Benalm\u00e1dena, with retirees and long-stay visitors. The pace is slower, and it\u2019s missing the party atmosphere, although there are still plenty of restaurants and bars.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a huge choice of apartments, supermarkets and everyday services, while the train makes it easy to get around without a car. Basically, it\u2019s practical.<\/p>\nFuengirola<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOur Take<\/span><\/h4>\nWe wouldn\u2019t choose Fuengirola for the prettiest stretch of coast.<\/p>\n
The beaches are long and well serviced, but the sand is coarser and darker. The main road runs alongside parts of the seafront, so it all feels way more urban than Torremolinos or Benalm\u00e1dena.<\/p>\n
There are plenty of chiringuitos along the promenade, but it\u2019s dominated by fast-food chains and inexpensive international-style cafes.<\/p>\n
It feels more like a town where people live and work. The port is a working fishing port, rather than a tourist-focused attraction, and it definitely feels more like a place for locals and long-term stays.<\/p>\n
So, it\u2019s a bit tired in places, the hotels are generally older, and it\u2019s missed out on the development of the nearby areas.<\/p>\n
Of course, this could all be part of Fuengirola\u2019s appeal for many of you. It\u2019s cheaper, more laid-back, practical, and less touristy. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\nFuengirola<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFuengirola<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nWhat\u2019s Good About Fuengirola<\/span><\/h4>\n\nLos Boliches:<\/strong> The eastern part of Fuengirola has a more established neighbourhood feel, with traditional restaurants, independent shops and a large international community.<\/li>\nSohail Castle:<\/strong> The 10th-century Moorish castle sits above the western end of the beach and has views along the coast. It also hosts concerts and festivals.<\/li>\nBioparc Fuengirola:<\/strong> Naturalistic habitats designed around species including gorillas, tigers and lemurs.<\/li>\nTuesday market:<\/strong> Fuengirola\u2019s large weekly market is one of the biggest on the Costa del Sol.<\/li>\nLong-distance promenade:<\/strong> The flat seafront walkway runs for more than 7 kilometres from the Sohail Castle area towards Carvajal.<\/li>\nFacilities: <\/strong>Fuengirola has supermarkets, everyday services and good public transport so it\u2019s practical for longer stays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWhat\u2019s Not so Good<\/span><\/h4>\nFuengirola feels more dated and built up than some of the neighbouring resorts. The coastal road sucks out some of the atmosphere, and the seafront isn\u2019t as attractive as Torremolinos or Benalm\u00e1dena.<\/p>\n
The slower pace and large retiree and expat population won\u2019t suit everyone either. If you\u2019re looking for a lively, stylish resort with a strong holiday atmosphere, M\u00e1laga, Torremolinos or Benalm\u00e1dena are better for that.<\/p>\n
Where to Stay in Fuengirola<\/span><\/h4>\n\nFuengirola Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFuengirola Promenade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n5. Marbella & Puerto Ban\u00fas<\/span><\/h3>\nMarbella is the Costa del Sol\u2019s best-known luxury resort<\/strong>, but it also has an attractive old town, good restaurants, long beaches and a huge choice of places to stay.<\/p>\nPuerto Ban\u00fas, about 5 kilometres west of Marbella, is built around a large marina filled with luxury yachts, designer boutiques, restaurants and nightlife. This is where you come to be seen!<\/p>\n
Who Is It for?<\/span><\/h4>\nMarbella is where to stay if you want an upmarket resort with plenty of restaurants, shopping and nightlife.<\/strong> The old town feels like a pristine white village with lanes packed with tapas bars, restaurants across all scales and charming squares.<\/p>\nIt also works well for couples, groups of friends and families<\/strong> who want lots of choice. There are beaches, golf courses, water sports and plenty of high-end hotels, apartments and villas. Puerto Ban\u00fas adds a glamorous nightlife and designer shopping.<\/p>\n\nBONO BEACH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGOLDEN MILE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nOur Take<\/span><\/h4>\nIn Marbella\u2019s old town, whitewashed streets, small squares and traditional buildings cluster around Plaza de los Naranjos. We always go in at least once for dinner when we\u2019re in the area, but the shops are very touristy, and there seems to be a hell of a lot of doily boutiques.<\/p>\n
On the front, the character changes. The famous Golden Mile starts in Marbella<\/strong> and continues west towards Puerto Ban\u00fas, passing some of the most expensive hotels, villas and restaurants on the coast.<\/p>\nThe marina at Puerto Ban\u00fas is full of enormous yachts and surrounded by designer shops, bars and restaurants.<\/strong> The strip behind the marina is full of strip clubs, nightclubs and Irish bars with names like Pandemonium. \u00a0<\/p>\nThe downside is that Marbella can be expensive, and traffic and parking can also be a problem if you have a car. <\/p>\n
Puerto Ban\u00fas is not really our style at all, and the restaurants are overpriced, not particularly Spanish and generally pretty bad from our experience. But, if you want to flash your inheritance, Puerto Ban\u00fas is the place to do it.<\/p>\n\n