Costa del Sol Guide

The Costa del Sol is one of Spain’s most desirable coastal regions, known for its warm climate, beautiful beaches, and luxury lifestyle. This guide is created for people who are planning to move to the Costa del Sol, buy a holiday home, or want to understand the lifestyle of each area. Here you’ll find the best places to live, property prices and main attractions you will find in Costa del Sol.

Where is the Costa del Sol?

The Costa del Sol is the name given to the Mediterranean coast in southern Spain between Sotogrande in the west and Nerja in the east. The Costa del Sol forms the southern stretch of the region of Andalusia. The city of Malaga is its capital.

What’s the Costa del Sol like?

Dotted with lots of well-known resorts, the Costa del Sol is one of the most popular places to holiday in Spain as well as one of Europe’s favourite relocation spots. Highlights include its wonderful climate all year round, the lovely Costa del Sol beaches, lots to do and see, great communications and plenty of affordable property.

Areas in Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol stretches for 150km along the Mediterranean coast. High mountain ranges along most of the coast have limited development further inland. Roughly speaking, you can divide the Costa del Sol into three areas:

Western Costa del Sol

(Sotogrande – Marbella)

This area includes Manilva, Estepona, Marbella, San Pedro, and the inland white villages of Benahavís, Casares, Istán, and Ojén.
It is known for:

• The most prestigious resorts in Spain
• Luxury villas and gated communities
• High-end marinas and golf clubs

Areas such as the Golden Mile, Puerto Banús, and La Zagaleta are located here.

Central Costa del Sol

(Marbella – Malaga)

This is the most densely developed part of the coast and includes Mijas Costa, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, and Torremolinos.
It has:

• Long beaches
• Family-friendly attractions
• Busy tourist zones
• A wide selection of apartments and holiday homes

Eastern Costa del Sol

(Malaga – Nerja)

Quieter and less commercial than the west, this area includes Torre del Mar, Torrox, and Nerja.
It offers:

• A more traditional Andalusian feel
• Relaxed beaches
• More affordable property options

What’s the Population of the Costa del Sol?

The official population of the Costa del Sol is over 1 million. The smallest of the 11 municipalities that make up the Costa del Sol is Istán, with a population of just 1,500, while the largest resort is Marbella with an official population of over 147,000. Malaga is home to more than 578,000 inhabitants.

How Many Foreigners Live on the Costa del Sol?

Officially, nearly 300,000 foreigners live on the Costa del Sol, around 18% of the population. In some resorts, such as Mijas and Marbella, foreigners make up nearly half the inhabitants. Two-thirds of foreigners on the Costa del Sol are Europeans, with British nationals forming the largest group – over 75,000 British have made the Costa del Sol their home.

What’s the Weather like in Costa del Sol?

The weather on the Costa del Sol is one of its biggest attractions. It enjoys over 320 days of sunshine a year (and that’s guaranteed), low rainfall and pleasant temperatures all year round. It can be hot in the summer when the thermometer can easily top 30 degrees, but winter temperatures are mild and rarely drop below 16 degrees during the day.

How to Get to Costa del Sol (Malaga & Gibraltar Airport)?

Extremely easily, especially if you’re travelling to the Costa del Sol from a European city. Malaga Airport ranks as the third busiest on the Spanish mainland and welcomes in excess of 15 million passengers a year.

Malaga Airport serves over 100 airports worldwide, including the largest cities in Spain, most European capitals and further abroad, such as Dubai (in the summer season). Around 70 airlines provide services year-round.

If you’re staying at a resort on the western end of the Costa del Sol and flying from the UK, it may be worth looking at flights to Gibraltar Airport (see below).

How long does it take to get to the Costa del Sol by plane?

Time to get to Malaga Airport by plane:

• From the UK, Ireland and France: flights to the Costa del Sol take between 2.5 and 3 hours.
• From central Europe: flights from Germany to the Costa del Sol take at least 3 hours.
• From the US: flights from Malaga to New York take 7 to 8 hours.

How far is it to Malaga Airport from the Costa del Sol?

Distance and time from Malaga Airport by car:

How far is it to Gibraltar Airport from the Costa del Sol?

Gibraltar Airport is around 30km from Manilva, 48km from Estepona and 76km from Marbella. Add at least 30 minutes to your journey time to allow for crossing the border between Gibraltar and Spain.

Things to Do in Costa del Sol: Beaches, Golf & Culture

There’s a long, long list of attractions, and this Costa del Sol guide covers some of them.

Beaches

The beaches on the Mediterranean are one of the main draws, and resorts on the Costa del Sol offer a range of beaches to suit everyone. Beach clubs are also a major draw, and Marbella has some of the best in southern Europe.

Sports facilities

Next on the attractions list are the leisure options, and like the Costa del Sol beaches, there’s something for everyone. Sports enthusiasts can choose from over 60 golf courses (some on the Costa del Sol rank among the best in the world), blue-flag marinas and tennis and racquet clubs, as well as countless opportunities to practise outdoor sports such as climbing, hiking, canyoning… And of course, skiing in nearby Sierra Nevada, just a 2-hour drive from the resorts on the Costa del Sol.

Family-friendly things to do

Family activities on the Costa del Sol range from safari excursions at Selwo Aventura to visiting one of the world’s top zoos in Fuengirola; from water park fun in Torremolinos and Mijas to riding a cable car up to the top of a mountain in Benalmadena. Not to mention Tivoli World theme park, Sealife, Butterfly Park, Music Museum and dolphin spotting.

Amenities for residents

As well as lots of tourist attractions, the Costa del Sol also offers plenty for residents. Resorts have excellent health facilities, amenities and schools, including many international schools giving children the chance to experience education in another language as well as Spanish.

Beaches in Costa del Sol?

The 150km of coastline lends itself to lots of different types of beaches. Along the Costa del Sol, you’ll find long sands, pebbled bays, naturalist spots, family-friendly beaches, happening beach clubs and secluded coves that you’ll probably have all to yourself. Costa del Sol has 45 Blue Flag beaches right now.

What Cultural Activities are there in the Costa del Sol?

There’s plenty more to the Costa del Sol than just beaches and leisure activities, and most resorts have a year-round cultural programme offering theatre, music, art and dance. Malaga stands out as a cultural centre in southern Spain with over 35 museums, including the world-class Picasso Museum and Pompidou Centre. The city is also home to a Philharmonic Orchestra, several theatres and concert halls.

Outside the capital, Marbella holds an annual art show and its summer Starlite Festival attracts big-name performers – Santana, Tom Jones, El Divo and Estrella Morente all featured in Starlite Festivals. Jazz festivals take place in Mijas and Alhaurin de la Torre, while the Nerja Festival, held in the resort’s world-famous caves, offers top concerts and ballets.

Traditional festivals

True to Spanish tradition, fairs and festivals form an essential part of life on the Costa del Sol. Every resort, town and village celebrates at least one big event a year in honour of the local patron saint. The most famous festivals on the Costa del Sol include:

• Holy Week – the solemn processions in Malaga, Marbella and Velez-Malaga are of special note.
• 16 July, festivities in honour of the Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of fishermen, are celebrated in all the resorts on the Costa del Sol.
• Malaga Fair in mid-August, famous as southern Spain’s biggest summer party.
• Fuengirola Fair in early October.

Want to know about the public holidays in Spain? Read our article about national and regional holidays in Spain.

What about Costa del Sol Restaurants?

Any Costa del Sol guide would be incomplete without mentioning food! The Costa del Sol is something of a foodie paradise with venues and cuisine to suit all tastes (and wallet sizes!). There are literally thousands of restaurants on the Costa del Sol to choose from, ranging from humble bars serving traditional tapas to gourmet dining experiences on a par with the best in New York or London.

Discover the best restaurants in Marbella

International cuisine

Reflecting its large foreign population, the Costa del Sol offers cuisine from the world over. Spanish cooking takes pride of place and includes local dishes like fried fish and gazpacho as well as Mediterranean staples such as paella and fresh fish. Just about all European gastronomy is represented up and down the Costa del Sol, where you’ll find plenty of English-style pubs, Italian eateries, French bistros, and Swedish restaurants. Food from further afield also has a big part to play on the Costa del Sol, where you’ll find restaurants serving Indian, Thai, Mexican, Persian, Chinese or Japanese food.

Discover the best restaurants in Estepona.

How about Shopping in the Costa del Sol?

The Costa del Sol is a great shopping destination, and you’ll find a great choice of shops and larger stores in many resorts.

Best Shopping Centres on the Costa del Sol

There are several, including:

• La Cañada in Marbella – one of the largest shopping centres in southern Spain and home to most high-street brands as well as stores such as Apple, FNAC, Guess and Habitat.
• Miramar in Fuengirola – one of the most popular shopping centres on the Costa del Sol, with a good choice of well-known brand stores plus a selection of smaller shops.
• Centro Larios in Malaga – a favourite with locals and tourists, this shopping centre includes Primark and Dunnes Stores and has the added advantage of being next to Vialia, another large shopping centre.
• El Ingenio in Velez-Malaga – the best shopping centre on the eastern side of the Costa del Sol with a good choice of shops, a hypermarket and a cinema.
• El Corte Inglés – the flagship Spanish department store has several large shops on the Costa del Sol, including two in Malaga City, one in Fuengirola and one in Marbella.

Best High-Street Shopping on the Costa del Sol

The best places to go are:

• Calle Larios in Malaga – the city’s central street, plus the adjacent Calle Nueva, are packed with well-known stores and brands.
• Avenida Ricardo Soriano in Marbella – the main street is home to big-name Spanish stores such as Zara, Massimo Dutti and Mango, and near the old quarter, packed with little unusual shops.

Best Luxury Shopping on the Costa del Sol

If you fancy treating yourself to a luxury purchase, Marbella offers the best choice at:

• Puerto Banus – second only to Madrid and Barcelona for luxury shopping in Spain, Puerto Banus is home to the world’s best-known fashion and accessory brands. Italian, French and American fashion houses all have boutiques here, and even if you’re just window shopping, this is a great shopping destination.
• El Corte Inglés – the Puerto Banus branch of this department store specialises in luxury brands throughout the shop, from the supermarket to the furniture department.

Costa del Sol Real Estate Market

The Costa del Sol property market remains strong in 2025, with sustained demand from international buyers and a steady rise in prices. Each area offers different price points and lifestyle advantages. For your convenience, we are sharing market insights for some of the areas in Costa del Sol.

Marbella

Marbella continues to lead the luxury segment. Areas such as the Golden Mile and Sierra Blanca often exceed €8,000/m². It remains the most secure choice for long-term capital appreciation and strong rental returns.

Estepona

Estepona has become the centre of new-build development on the coast. Apartments and villas attract buyers wanting modern design at a better value than in Marbella. Prices have risen approximately 10% year-on-year but still remain competitive.

Mijas Costa & Fuengirola

These are strong options for price-sensitive buyers. Their excellent transport links, especially the train line to Malaga Airport, make them reliable holiday rental markets.

Benahavís

Home to ultra-exclusive communities like La Zagaleta, El Madroñal and La Quinta. Buyers here prioritise privacy, security and panoramic mountain-and-sea views, often on larger plots.

To check all the available properties in these areas, visit our dedicated listing page for properties in Costa del Sol.

Conclusion

As our Area Guide has shown, the Costa del Sol is extremely varied. That means it can be difficult to know which is the right place for you. To help you find the resort and area that suits you and your family, get in touch with our friendly team. We’ve been living and working on the Costa del Sol since 1992, and so have excellent insider knowledge. We’d be more than happy to share it with you!