Costa del Sol, Spain
Experience the beauty and passion of Spain. Discover stunning architecture, endless sunshine, magnificent beaches, off the beaten path towns, white washed houses, and the Mediterranean sea.
Visitors to the Costa del Sol will be seduced by its attractive towns and villages, many with quiet coves, kilometers of clean sand unusual natural settings and the Mediterranean Sea. Malaga, capital city and birthplace of Pablo Picasso, is a cosmopolitan town with a coastal atmosphere and flourishing social scene. Dotted along the Costa del Sol (Sunshine Coast), you'll find sparkling resorts, spectacular views and never ending entertainment.
Airport: Fly into Malaga International Airport.
Weather: With average annual temperatures of 18 degrees Celsius and over 300 days of sunshine per year it isn't difficult to understand why Spain is a top vacation destination.
Things to Do in Costa del Sol
Golf: Faced with more than 40 places to take a swing on the Costa del Sol, golfers are often overwhelmed by the choice of courses, many of which are championship venues.
Top 3 courses in Costa Del Sol: San Roque Club, Urbanizacion San Roque, Carretera A-7 Km 127, Sotogrande-San Roque, was created by two Englishmen, former Ryder Cup players Tony Jacklin and Dave Thomas, on the grounds of the summer palace of the Domecq sherry dynasty. The back 9 features two of the finest holes along the coast.
Club de Golf Valderrama, Av. de los Cortijos s/n, Sotogrande-San Roque is in our view numero uno among the golf courses of continental Europe. This course was first designed by the grand old man himself, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Steve Ballesteros (the "Arnold Palmer of Spain") designed the notorious 17th hole, which Ryder Cup players describe as "one of the most strategically challenging holes in the world." Pines and cork trees keep this par-72 course wickedly challenging.
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Paseo del Parque, Sotogrande, is a par-72 course also laid out originally by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Its 11th hole is buffeted by two prevailing winds blowing in different directions. Many of the fairways are 40 to 50 yards long, and the course is riddled with shimmering lakes evocative of Florida.
Snorkelling & Diving: The sea life that can be viewed off the coast of Spain is excellent. Some choose to snorkel, which requires a minimal amount of equipment. Others choose to scuba dive in any one of many dive sites located near Costa del Sol. There are several natural and artificial reefs that are home to fish and many other underwater animals.
Shopping: The region around Málaga produces artfully rustic pottery, which makes a nice gift or souvenir. A handful of appealing outlets are scattered throughout the city's historic core. Ceramica La Vistillas, is located about 2km (1 1/4 miles) from Málaga's center.
Daily: Marbella Old Town. Surrounded by the remains of the old Muslim walls, Marbella Old Town (or casco antiguo) is a maze of picturesque winding streets and charming little plazas, with plenty of outdoor bars where you can sample typical Andalusian cuisine. At the heart of the intricate pattern of Marbella Old Town's alleyways is the Plaza de los Naranjos, with the 16th-century town hall on its northern side and a 17th-century fountain on the south.
Other interesting Marbella Old Town sights include the Church of La Encarnación, whose construction began in the 16th century but was later modified to suit the new baroque style, and the Moorish castle walls that encase the old town centre.
Daily (except Sunday): The Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engravings (Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo) is housed in the former Bazán hospital, a whitewashed building in the heart of Marbella's historic centre. The collection includes engravings by Spanish contemporary artists Picasso, Dalí and Miró. The museum traces the history and development of the art of engraving from the 15th century to the present day.
The permanent collection includes a wide variety of media, from etchings and aquatints to copperplates and woodcuts, illustrating the versatility and variety of engraving art. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, presenting the work of contemporary local artists.
The Costa del Sol claims many attractions beyond the beach and from hill villages to ancient cities, a day in the Sierra is full of rewards. Combining a beach holiday with day trips in the southern Sierra is easy since many top attractions are found within an hour or so from the coast. Drives are spectacular, past orchards and olive groves in the east, or hidden valleys and rugged hills in the west. Foxgloves and gorse splash colour at the roadside and there are fabulous views from Andalusian white villages sprinkled in the hills to the glistening Mediterranean, sometimes all the way to the Rock of Gibraltar and the African coast.
Marbella Old Town: (Daily) Surrounded by the remains of the old Muslim walls, Marbella Old Town (or casco antiguo) is a maze of picturesque winding streets and charming little plazas, with plenty of outdoor bars where you can sample typical Andalusian cuisine. At the heart of the intricate pattern of Marbella Old Town's alleyways is the Plaza de los Naranjos, with the 16th-century town hall on its northern side and a 17th-century fountain on the south. Other interesting Marbella Old Town sights include the Church of La Encarnación, whose construction began in the 16th century but was later modified to suit the new baroque style, and the Moorish castle walls that encase the old town centre.
The Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engravings: Open Monday –Saturday. Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo is housed in the former Bazán hospital, a whitewashed building in the heart of Marbella's historic centre. The collection includes engravings by Spanish contemporary artists Picasso, Dalí and Miró. The museum traces the history and development of the art of engraving from the 15th century to the present day. The permanent collection includes a wide variety of media, from etchings and aquatints to copperplates and woodcuts, illustrating the versatility and variety of engraving art. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, presenting the work of contemporary local artists.
Full day trip to Sierra: Nestling in the Sierra at 700 metres, the ancient city of Ronda is breathtaking, split in two by the spectacular gorge of the Guadalevin river. Houses cling to the edge of the rocky platform while the 18th century bridge spans the chasm, stunning from every direction. The cleft boulevard leads to the most scenic vantage point, looking beyond the gorge to hills and mountains. Among the top monuments are the imposing church of Santa Maria la Mayor, Mondragon Palace housing the Ronda Museum and the House of San Juan Bosco with its beautiful mosaics and hanging garden. There are Moorish Baths and ramparts, a bullring where top events are held and lots of fine restaurants near the town square.
Full day trip to Granada: Granada is roughly an hour from Malaga on the motorway, depending on traffic. For those who make the effort, it's the highlight of any holiday on the Costa del Sol. Most organized tours will allow time to explore the city with its leafy squares and fountains, its medieval hostel, sumptuous cathedral and Moroccan-style souk full of embroidered clothes, jewellery, ceramics and rugs.
Full day trip to Alhambra: The famous Alhambra sits high above it all on the hillside, vast, magnificent, heavily fortified, once protecting a whole city and palace within its walls. Courtyards, fountains, archways and stucco work as fine as lace, it's a wonderful sight enhanced by surprising views through latticed windows. Lovely extensive gardens complete the picture with orange trees, roses and fragrant hedges of myrrh and box.
Picasso Museum Malaga: In the old quarter of the city, a short walk from Picasso's birthplace, a museum has opened displaying some of his important works. The new museum combines a restored 16th-century mudéjar palace, Palacio de Buenvista, with a series of modernist buildings that evoke the Pueblos Blancos in the hills above Málaga.
Gibralfaro Castle: On a hill overlooking Malaga and the Mediterranean are the ruins of an ancient Moorish castle-fortress of unknown origin. It is near the government-run parador and might easily be tied in with a luncheon visit.
Malaga Cathedral: This 16th-century Renaissance cathedral in Málaga's center, built on the site of a great mosque, suffered damage during the Spanish Civil War. However, it remains vast and impressive, reflecting changing styles of interior architecture. Its most notable attributes are the richly ornamented choir stalls by Ortiz, Mena, and Michael. The cathedral has been declared a national monument.
Alcazaba: The remains of this ancient Moorish palace are within easy walking distance of the city centre, off the Paseo del Parque. Plenty of signs point the way up the hill. The fortress was erected in the 9th or 10th century, although there have been later additions and reconstructions. Ferdinand and Isabella stayed here when they re conquered the city. With orange trees and purple bougainvillea making the grounds even more beautiful, the view overlooking the city and the bay is among the most stunning on the Costa del Sol.