With popular destinations such as Marbella, Puerto Banus, Nueva Andalucia, Estepona, Sotogrande, Puerto Duquesa, Elviria Beach, Mijas Costa, Fuengirola, Benalmadena, Torremolinos and Malaga the Costa del Sol is one of the most visited regions in Spain.

The Costa del Sol is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, it’s miles of beautiful sandy beaches and fantastic weather which have kept tourists flocking back year after year to resorts like Marbella, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Mijas Costa. Its great diversity means that the Costa del Sol has something to offer for just about everyone, there is enough entertainment and variety to please both residents and tourists alike.

Marbella: Set against the stunning backdrop of the “La Concha” mountain Marbella is a mixture of old and new, with stylish apartments lining the seafront while typical Andalusia houses are to be found along the picturesque alleys of Marbella’s Old Town. A favorite area to visit is the beautiful Plaza de los Naranjos in the Old Quarter, meaning “Orange Plaza” it is aptly named and especially beautiful when the orange blossoms are in bloom. As one leaves the center of Marbella heading west one travels along the famous “Golden Mile”, so called for the palatial beach front villas that make the area some of the most expensive real estate in Europe. The “Golden Mile” is also home to the Marbella Club Hotel, founded in the 1950′s, the five star luxury hotel founded Marbella’s reputation as a playground for the rich and famous. Nowadays celebrities and dignities include the likes of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, who has a summer palace and mosque on the Golden Mile. Marbella has a distinctly cosmopolitan feel to it, more so than the other main towns on the Costa del Sol, local celebrities include Sean Connery, Melanie Griffith & Antonio Banderas (who originally came from Malaga). It’s not surprising then that it is often compared with the likes of Monaco and Portofino.

Puerto Banus: Puerto Banús is synonymous with wealth, fashion, glamorous parties and the ‘highlife & nightlife’. It’s reputation is high-class and high-price-tag. The “place to be” and “to be seen”, this is where the “in crowd” are to be found. The marina area is lined with designer boutiques, making shopping in Puerto Banus one of the main attractions. At night the area is popular for its restaurants, bars and clubs, including well-known venues such as Trader Vic’s and Salduba while other well venues such as Dreamers and Oliviá Valère’s nightclub are just down the road. The marina is home to large expensive yachts and smaller pleasure craft alike, Shaf - King Fahd’s boat is moored near the old tower and is a well-known point of reference. In terms of other leisure activities Puerto Banus is home to an Aquarium and a multi-screen cinema showing films in English.

Mijas Costa: The Mijas municipality covers an impressive 148 sq km and includes two major urbanizations, Sitio de Calahonda and Riviera del Sol. Both are very popular with foreign residents and tourists the area is almost like a home from home, with pubs, international restaurants and super markets that sell those hard to find home comforts. The sports center is also well equipped and includes an 18 hole golf course and thriving tennis club. The many complexes in Mijas Costa are home to many of the areas ex-patriot population, composed mainly of British, Germans and Scandinavians. The area is marked by lots of pretty coves and beaches with housing complexes (urbanizations) behind them.

Fuengirola: Probably most famous for its five miles of sandy beaches, with high-rise hotels and apartments offering magnificent views of the Mediterranean and the coastline. With a new wider promenade with plenty of palm trees interspersed with colorful flower beds and bench seating, Fuengirola sea front is a favorite place for tourists and local families alike. The beaches along Fuengirola, Los Boliches – Gaviotas and Torreblanca hold a European blue flag. Fuengirola is particularly popular with tourists with a wide variety of entertainment and restaurants to choose from. Andalucía traditional tapas (snacks bars) to local fish restaurants to the British Fry-up’s all make Fuengirola a popular choice for going out to eat. There is no shortage of things to do for holidaymakers in Fuengirola, ranging from such family fun activities as the Aqua Park, a trip to the zoo, a ride around town on “the little train” or on a horse-drawn carriage, right through to a host of water sports. When the package holiday boom exploded in the mid-80s, the Costa del Sol boasted a couple of pace-setters in Torremolinos and Fuengirola.

Benalmadena: Currently, Benalmadena is one of the main tourist destinations on the Costa del Sol, famous for its leisure facilities, including an amusement park, two aquariums, a casino, a cable car and one of the largest marinas in Andalusia. The outstanding Puerto Marina in Benalmadena is one point of attraction for all kinds of visitors during the day and during the night, with many shops, cafes and restaurants, bars and night clubs. The nightlife around this area is very animated and lasts until the early morning hours. Another famous place to dance the night away is the Plaza Sol y Mar, as well known as the 24-hour square, due to the fact that the clubs stay open all night. Benalmadena is a resort that has been stereotyped to within an inch of its life. Benalmádena is regarded as a sort of second-tier destination for tourists and holidaymakers that cannot afford the delights of booking their holidays in Marbella or Puerto Banus. Today, this modern resort is a forward-thinking destination that has added oodles of culture, style and charm to its incumbent ‘cheap ‘n cheerful’ holiday destination point.

Torremolinos: Torremolinos is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Costa del Sol, with extensive tourist infrastructure. Tourism in the Costa del Sol began in the 50′s when Torremolinos was then a small fishing village; like many other municipalities in the Southern Spanish coasts which are today among the most visited tourist destinations in Europe. The influx of foreigners and tourists during the 60´s and 70´s created a liberal and permissive atmosphere that still distinguishes the city from other towns in the Costa del Sol.
Then there’s the excellent location. Just a six kilometers from Málaga airport, Torremolinos is extremely accessible, and boasts arguably the coast’s finest stretch of beach and most certainly one of the busiest and most intriguing promenades in the region.

Malaga: Malaga in Spain, is a capital of Costa del Sol. It is situated in the extreme west of the Mediterranean, in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Malaga is a respectable economic and cultural center and possesses an important transport network thanks to the Malaga port, the second biggest in whole Spain, Malaga train station and Malaga airport, one of the most significant in Spain in terms of air traffic and tourists visitors. The city’s location at the foot of Sothern Spain ensures its weather is pleasantly warm all year round. In summer it gets hot, but not uncomfortably so like Seville, Cordoba or Granada, while winters are rarely cold. With extremely regular and affordable flights connecting all of northern, central and eastern Europe, it is surprising to see just how untouched Malaga has remained and no surprise why most people choose the city for their summer vacations or winter holidays.

Manilva: The original village is located about 2 km of the coast between green hills and large crops of vineyards. The surroundings of Manilva consist mainly of gentle hills separated by streams and valleys. The nuclei located on the coast are Sabinillas and El Castillo de la Duquesa, which are most important from the point of view of tourism. The municipality has a first class marina, Puerto Duquesa, which is the center of most tourist activity. It has bars, restaurants, shops and all marina related services. In its surroundings are situated many holiday homes, gated apartments complexes and hotels. Aside from the Manilva town center is the coastal resort of Sabanillas. The fantastic beach that lines the town lends it a laid-back air, while the promenade has an air of dilapidation to it, despite being equally rather charming at the same time. Alongside Sabanillas is the quaint fishing village of El Castillo and the rather smart port at Puerto Duquesa, which has become very popular for British and Gibraltarian people in recent years.

Estepona: Estepona on the Costa del Sol is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Jubrique and Juzcar, northeast with the municipality of Benahavis, to the east with the city of Marbella, southwest and south by the Mediterranean Sea in Malaga (Spain), to the southwest and west with Casares and northwest with township Genalguacil. Estepona extends over a fertile valley, with 23 km of coastline and soft climate throughout the year. In Estepona you can find plentiful bars and restaurants of local Spanish dishes as well as International cuisine, or burgers and pizzas, large and luxurious hotels and sumptuous beach clubs, the town then appears to retreat from view. The town is a former fishing village that has grown organically over centuries, rather than rapidly over decades. As a result, it has a settled air to it; a laid-back sense of contentment, a thriving business hub, a fully-functioning industrial network, an important fishing harbor and many luxury villas and apartments for holiday rentals.

Nerja: Nerja is the easternmost town on the Costa del Sol, located approximately 50 km from Malaga. Nerja has not suffered yet the consequences of massive building like on the western Malaga coast. Tourists to this relaxed municipality can still enjoy typical streets and squares of what was a fishing village many years ago. Nevertheless, holidaymakers will find a full range of amenities for leisure and nightlife. Especially in summer the town is quite animated with many bars and nightclubs in the old town. Surely the two most known attractions of Nerja are the “Balcony of Europe” and the Nerja Caves. Today, Nerja offers an excellent range of quality holiday accommodation and leisure time facilities. There are thirteen km. of beaches, including the internationally famous Burriana beach that has once again been awarded by the Blue Flag of the European Union and the small coves below the impressive cliffs of Maro, which have been the inspiration of numerous artists who have set up residence here.