Town Guide
Málaga
Population: 570,000!
It is fair to call Málaga the capital of the Costa del Sol. The city offers shopping, entertainment and culture, just like any other big city in Europe and it has managed to retain its original, Spanish charm with beautiful streets and restaurants where you can enjoy some of the Andalusian specialities like paella, Serrano ham, and local wine.
Pablo Picasso, who was born here, and peoples such as the Arabs and Romans, who once ruled here, have left their signature on the architecture, culture and art in Málaga.
Just behind the main street, the Alameda Principal, in an impressive building that was once a shipyard, is the popular market, most definitely worth a visit and a wonderful place to shop for food.
The port is also an attraction in itself, after extensive refurbishment a few years ago. It is both a peaceful and vibrant place with museums, shops, and restaurants. Cultural events take place here on a regular basis.
Málaga is easy to access from the airport, either by train, by bus or by car.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Mondays at Barriada de La Luz and Barriada de las Campanillas
- Tuesdays at Puerto de la Torre
- Wednesdays at Huelin and De la Paz
- Thursdays at Parque Juan Jurado
- Saturdays at Huelin and El Palo
- On Sundays there is an art market Galería de Arte de Muelle Uno (11 am – 4 pm)
Festivals / Ferias
- Carnival - February
- Easter, Semana Santa – The first full moon in the spring (after 21/3)
- Midsummer San Juan Evening of the 23rd, and day of the 24th of June
- Certamen Malagueñas – 3rd of August
- Feria de Málaga – On the evening of the second Friday in August, but it really starts on Saturday and runs until the following Saturday.
- Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales – 28th of December
Torremolinos
Population: 67,000!
Torremolinos is one of the oldest travel destinations on the Costa del Sol. Its reputation has not always been flattering but a lot has happened in recent years. The city is continuously being innovated and renovated and the centre is now pedestrianised. Here you will find a wealth of shops, restaurants and bars and there are often events in the central square.
The city has both a water park and a crocodile park and of course the sea, the sand and the beach promenade, which reaches as far as the eye can see.
The city enjoys the privilege of being close to both Málaga and the airport and both can be accessed by the local train.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Thursdays & Sundays at Recinto Ferial (The Feria Square)
Festivals / Ferias
- Carnival - February
- Verdiales – February
- Baile Retro – February / March
- Cruces de Mayo - May
- Midsummer San Juan Evening of the 23rd, and day of the 24th of June
- Feria del Carmen - July
- Festival Flamenco – July / August
- Tourists Day Día del Turista – 1st Thursday in September
- Día del Pescaíto – 1st Thursday in October
- Romería de San Miguel – The Sunday before Feria de San Miguel
- Feria de San Miguel – 25th – 29th of September
Benalmádena
Population: 67,000!
Benalmádena can be divided into three areas:
Benalmádena Pueblo
A beautiful, typical Andalusian village with narrow streets and old townhouses, 280 m above sea level. There are many attractive, small restaurants and the village provides spectacular views of the coast.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Fridays at Plaza del Alguacil
Arroyo de la Miel
The central part of Benalmádena with lots of small restaurants and shops. In the middle of this area is a very popular attraction park called Tivoli World, which was set-up many years ago by a Dane. Beside the Tivoli there are cable cars that will take you to the top of the mountain, where you will have a magnificent view of the sea and the coast and where you can attend the daily feeding of birds of prey in the eagle sanctuary.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Fridays at Tivoli
Benalmádena Costa
The coastal area, which extends over several kilometres. Here you will find a casino, a golf course and glorious sandy beaches. This is a vibrant place in the summer. Puerto Marina, which has been voted Europe's most beautiful port on several occasions, is the icing on the cake, giving you a feeling of "Arabian Nights".
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Wednesdays at Parque de la Paloma
Festivals / Ferias
- Carnival - February
- Corpus Christi 2 weeks after Easter
- Midsummer San Juan Evening of the 23rd, and day of the 24th of June
- Veladilla del Carmen 16th of July
- Feria Benalmádena Pueblo 15th of August
- Romería de Benalmádena - August
- Tourists Day Día del Turista – 27th of September.
Fuengirola
Population: 77,000!
Fuengirola is the terminal destination for the popular, local train that runs along the coast from Málaga and is one of the most popular cities for Scandinavians. Here is everything you could wish for to facilitate a modern lifestyle. In the centre of Fuengirola is the main square. Twice a week this becomes a gigantic market and during the annual Summer Feria the whole town is transformed. The main attraction is probably the beach promenade, which is almost 10 km long. Here you will always find people walking, jogging and cycling and there are often activities on the beach such as volleyball, fitness and yoga. There are ample opportunities to eat at the chiringuitos (beach bars) where the smell of freshly-smoked fish welcomes you.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Tuesdays at Recinto Ferial (The Feria Square)
- Fridays - Flea market at Recinto Ferial (The Feria Square)
- Sundays at Miramar, Calle Méndez Núñez
Festivals / Ferias
- Feria Internacional De los Pueblos Middle of March
- Midsummer San Juan Evening of the 23rd, and day of the 24th of June
- Fiesta del Carmen 16th of July
- Romería The Sunday before 6th of October
- Fiesta Nstra. Sra. del Rosario 6th – 12th of October
Mijas
Population: 78,000!
Mijas Pueblo
Mijas Pueblo is a beautiful village in the mountains, about 5 km inland. Here you will find traditional, whitewashed houses, cobbled streets, Arab courtyards and colourful flowers in pots hanging on the walls. Mijas boasts an absolutely spectacular view of the Costa del Sol.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Saturdays in Las Lagunas (Calle Antonio Garcia Bueno, Calle Benajarafa and Calle Alfarnate)
Festivals / Ferias
- Feria (Las Lagunas) – The first fortnight in June
- Feria (Virgen de la Peña) The first fortnight in September
- Fiesta del Carmen 16th of July
- Romería The end of October
Mijas Costa
Mijas Costa covers approximately 7 miles of coastline and is a haven for golfers. Although it is not far from Mijas Pueblo, life here is more modern and twenty-first century.
Within Mijas Costa there are two important areas: La Cala de Mijas and Calahonda.
La Cala de Mijas:
The small, pleasant town of La Cala is located right by the beach. When you have finished your lunch at one of the many restaurants you can benefit from a relaxing walk along the newly-built part of the promenade that will be approximately 150 km long at some time in the future. It already stretches as far as Calahonda.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Wednesdays in La Cala de Mijas
- Sundays at the racetrack Hipódromo Costa del Sol
Festivals / Ferias
- Feria (La Cala) – The last fortnight in July
Calahonda
Calahonda has grown so successfully that you could consider it to be a town itself but in fact it is still a part of Mijas. The area is especially popular with golf lovers, as within a radius of 10 km there are 10 golf courses. If you are not into golf there are tennis courts, fitness clubs and sandy beaches, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy all kinds of water sports. There is also a wide variety of culinary possibilities including restaurants, cafes, bars and chiringuitos.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Thursdays at Calypso
- Sunday Flea market at Calypso
Marbella
Population: 140,000!
Marbella is the second biggest town in Málaga province, after Málaga itself.
Marbella is subdivided into the following important areas, and also contains the village of San Pedro de Alcántara.
Marbella East
From Calahonda to Marbella town.
A popular residential area, stretching approximately 7.5 miles (12 km)
Here you will find 5 golf clubs, numerous beach bars (chiringuitos), and restaurants of all ethnic origins.
Known for having the best natural, sandy beaches and protected dunes in Marbella. Also well-known for its pine forests.
Here are some of the major urbanisations:
Cabopino / Puerto de Cabopino
On the east side of Marbella, you find Cabopino with its own port, often missed out because it is not visible from the road. The port has its very own Mediterranean style with good restaurants and bars. The beaches have natural dunes that are now protected by law.
Elviria
Going towards Marbella you find Elviria. A very popular area, due to the sandy beaches, within walking distance of several well-known 5-star hotels, Nikki Beach, the beach and the shopping centre.
Los Monteros
A very well-known beachside urbanisation with its luxurious villas, Los Monteros Hotel and La Cabane Beach Club.
Las Dunas de Marbella
Constructed during the '90s, a beachside community with a good mixture of villas, townhouses and apartments.
(Golf) Rio Real
This is part of the Los Monteros complex, and contains the famous Rio Real Golf Club. It has a number of attractive developments on the north side of the A7/N340, still only a couple of hundred metres from the beach. Here you find the Rio Real Playa development, and El Trocadero Restaurant.
Marbella Town
Marbella is an international city, with a large local population. It is also a favourite destination for the rich and the famous. Here you have the sea, the beaches, the promenade and almost every type of gastronomy you could wish for. If you visit the old town, you will find narrow, cobbled streets, souvenir shops, boutiques, galleries, bars and, not least, the famous Plaza de Los Naranjos. For avid shoppers there is La Cañada shopping centre, with its multitude of fashion shops, cinemas, restaurants, and a large supermarket.
Within the town border and its surroundings, we have the following urbanisations and areas:
The Golden Mile
The Golden Mile is the stretch from "El Pirulí" (The Copper Tower) in Marbella centre to Puerto Banús. This is a luxury area, containing some of the oldest urbanisations of Marbella. The German aristocracy started developing this zone in the late ’60s with the 5-star hotels, Marbella Club Hotel and Puente Romano, and of course the millionaire-lifestyle villas on the beach.
Nagüeles
One of the old urbanisations, where many villas are being reformed or totally rebuilt in contemporary style.
Sierra Blanca and La Cascada de Camoján
Two, neighbouring, luxury areas, with mainly villas, and a few developments containing up-market apartments or townhouses.
Marbella Hill Club
A very large development, with a multi-national clientele coming from all over the world.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Mondays at Recinto Ferial (The Feria Square)
Festivals / Ferias
- Carnival February
- Easter Semana Santa The first full moon in spring (after 21/3)
- Cruz de Juanar 3rd of May
- Feria de San Bernabé Saturday to Saturday, where the 11th of June is included.
- Midsummer San Juan Evening of the 23rd, and day of the 24th of June
- Virgen del Carmen 16th of July
- Fiesta del Tostón 1st of November
Marbella West
From Marbella town to the Rio Guadalmansa River, along the Benahavís road.
Puerto Banús
Puerto Banús is where you wander around dreaming that you are on one of the huge yachts in the harbour and look at the exclusive cars driving slowly by. It is not unusual to spot a celebrity or a reality star. The rich and the famous come here for the beaches, the clubs and the nightlife.
Nueva Andalucía
On the mountain side of the A7/N340 you will find one of the biggest urbanisations in Marbella. This is a very popular area due to its proximity to Puerto Banús. Every type of property is represented here: from small apartments to multi-million, front-line golf villas. Nueva Andalucía also offers some very well-known golf courses!
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Saturdays around the Centro Plaza shopping centre
San Pedro de Alcántara
At the foot of the beautiful Sierra de Ronda mountains you find this interesting little town with narrow streets, lots of shops, cafés and bars, and an attractive church on Plaza de la Iglesia. The town is refreshingly unspoiled and is located west of Marbella and Puerto Banús, about 10 minutes from Estepona.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Thursdays at Recinto Ferial (The Feria Square)
Festivals / Ferias
- Feria 14th – 19th of October
Guadalmina Baja & Alta
A very popular and luxurious urbanisation, particularly Guadalmina Baja, on the beachside, with its opulent villas, many of which have celebrity owners. Guadalmina Alta, on the mountain side of the coastal road, has a number of villas, apartments, and townhouses, but it’s the three golf courses that make up Guadalmina Golf that draw attention. Everything is built around the green area, which stretches along both sides of Guadalmina Baja, from the beach halfway up to the toll motorway and Valle del Sol.
Estepona
Population: 67,000!
Estepona is a fairly large and very typical Andalusian coastal town that has managed to retain the charm and atmosphere of an old fishing village. Some of the streets are so narrow that they are better suited to horses rather than cars and there are numerous tapas bars serving traditional Spanish specialities. The town benefits from approximately 325 days of sunshine every year and an average temperature of about 18 degrees, thanks to the mountains that protect it against the cold from the north. The beautiful weather once attracted the owners of Disneyland, though in the end, as we all know, they chose Paris.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Wednesdays at Avenida Juan Carlos I
- Sundays at the harbour
Festivals / Ferias
- Carnival February
- San Isidro 15th of May
- Midsummer San Juan Evening of the 23rd, and day of the 24th of June
- Feria y Fiestas mayores 1st week in July
- Virgen del Carmen 16th of July
- Tourists Day Día del Turista 15th of August
Casares
Population: 5,700!
Casares is picture postcard-worthy. This traditional, white village is beautiful in itself but the views over the Mediterranean, Gibraltar, and across to Africa, are nothing short of phenomenal. Here you will find two renowned golf courses and the first man-made Crystal Lagoon in Europe.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Fridays in Calle de la Carrera
Festivals / Ferias
- Ntra. Sra. del Rosario del Campo The last week of May
- Feria de la Barriada Secadero The end of June
- Feria The beginning of August
- Patrona The first week in September
- Feria del Cristo September
Duquesa
Part of Manilva Municipality. Population: 14,000!
Besides an 18-hole, championship golf course Duquesa is probably best known for its beautiful harbour. Here you can make use of the full harbour service or rent jet skis, wakeboards or paddle boards or even go scuba diving. On both sides of the harbour there are wide, sandy beaches.
Market days from 8 am - 2 pm
- Fridays in San Luis de Sabinillas at Paseo Marítimo
- Sunday Flea market in San Luis de Sabinillas at Paseo Marítimo
Festivals / Ferias
- Feria Manilva / Sabinillas 6th – 9th of August
Sotogrande
Part of San Roque Municipality. Population: 29,000!
Sotogrande is one of the most luxurious residential areas on the coast. Some of the richest and most powerful European families have holiday homes here. Sotogrande is especially known for its five excellent golf courses. Valderrama Golf has hosted both the Volvo Masters and the Ryder Cup. Other sports facilities include a golf academy, tennis, rugby, horse racing and 6 world-famous polo fields. Sotogrande marina is definitely worth a visit and offers a water taxi service in the summer to other towns on the Costa del Sol.