The Costa del Sol, translated as “sun coast, ” is a long stretch of Mediterranean coastline in the Andalucia region of southern Spain. The name refers to the region’s sunny climate present on most days of the year and it is where my husband and I chose to take our 2023 winter break. It is one of the most important tourist areas in Spain, drawing mostly northern Europeans and Spaniards for its beaches, beautiful weather, and relaxed attitude.
Malaga serves as its gateway and this is where we flew into after connecting through Madrid. A 20-minute ride from the airport to our Tormellinos rental s and we started our winter break in Costa del Sol, Spain.
DAY 1- Arrive, Acclimate, and Explore
After dropping off our luggage, we headed out for some breakfast and to enjoy the sunshine.
Tormelllinos offers a beautiful promenade that spans more than five miles and continues for miles into other towns along the way. The Paseo Marítimo joins two ends of the municipality: from Saltillo beach to Los Álamos beach, at the most easterly point of Torremolinos.
The walk provides stunning views of the beautiful Mediterranean. The clear, shallow waters at Playa de la Carihuela, the largest of Torremolinos’ beaches are ideal for swimming. Like most of the beaches along this expanse of coastline, its dark sand is great for beach sports. Many restaurants and shops line the promenade offering visitors anything and everything.
Our tummies were grumbling so brunch was in order. Some research turned up The Cosy Corner and it checked off all the boxes. YUM!
Our walk also introduced us to the cats of Tormellinos. The cat colonies are taken care of by a team of volunteers who trap and neuter, provide all medical care, and feed the felines on a regular basis. Many volunteers use their own money to help these felines.
My husband and I thank you so much for your compassion and generosity.
After more walking and exploring and picking up some water, fruit, and snacks for our apartment, we headed back to our rental for check-in.
Some drinks and a late dinner (the Spanish eat later than most Europeans, with restaurants getting crowded after 9 pm) at the Beirut Restaurant. A perfect first day and a good night’s sleep to get ready for…
DAY 2 – Exploring Benalmadena
Fully rested, we were ready to soak up more Spanish sunshine and explore.
Our first stop was breakfast at La Tahone, a breakfast spot that we would revisit again on our vacation because it was so good.
Benalmadena was on our radar for the day. No streets to cross or cars to worry about. The beachfront promenade in Tormellinos extended right into this town.
The modern Puerto Marina was beautiful with its many moored yachts. In the traditional Andalusian old town lie the Castillo Monumento Colomares, a castle-style monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus and his discovery of America, and the Benalmádena Stupa, a large Buddhist temple.
For lunch, we ate at All Grill for some fantastic hamburgers.
Visiting Paloma Park was our afternoon plan. This park offers lush greenery, a cactus garden, art sculptures, walking paths, and more.
It was time to head back and along our route, we stopped at shops, had drinks, and just took it all in.
Reservations for a tapas dinner at El Gato Casablanca topped off our evening. In the city center square, a festive was being held.
A good night’s sleep was in order for our next day which included…
Day 3- Full Day Tour of Sentinel de Las Bodegas and Ronda
These two towns are two of the most beautiful of the white towns of Andalucia, a series of whitewashed towns and large villages in the northern part of the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga mostly within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.
Sentinel was the smaller of the two and we spent about an hour exploring it.
The next stop was Ronda, the most famous of these villages. Ronda is a mountaintop city that’s set dramatically above a deep gorge. This gorge (El Tajo) separates the city’s circa-15th-century new town from its old town, dating to Moorish rule. Puente Nuevo, a stone bridge spanning the gorge, has a lookout offering views. New town’s Plaza de Toros, a legendary 18th-century bullring, is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
Lunch at La Casa de Jambon was beyond amazing. Just look at those sandwiches in the pic above. Yum!
After a long day, we returned back to our apartment, and enjoyed drinks and views from our balcony. Pizza was on our dinner menu.
Day 4 – Malaga
After breakfast in our apartment, a 20-minute train ride whisked us to Malaga, the gateway city to Costa del Sol. Famous as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, it offers so much for its visitors.
Before exploring this city, we stopped for some chocolate and churros at Casa Aranda. YUM! This place is ALWAYS crowded. I don’t know how the waiters keep track of all the tables inside and outside.
Our stomachs happily satisfied, we set off to explore the Alcazaba, a palatial fortification built during the period of Muslim-ruled Al-Andalus. The current complex was begun in the 11th century and was modified or rebuilt multiple times up to the 14th century. It is one of the best-preserved alcazabas in Spain. A Roman theater is situated in front of it.
IMPORTANT TIP: After 2 pm on Sundays, entry to this and the neighboring Castle de Gibalfaro, ruins of a 1300s Moorish castle & fortress, are free. Warning: Walking up to it, however, is not for the faint of heart!
Our planned dinner fell through but we found Restaurant Mexico Tulum which satisfied us and then topped off the day with some delicious ice cream at Bico de Xeado.
Caught the train back home to rest up since we had another full day ahead of us including…
Day 5 – A Rock, Caves, and Monkeys
The Beatle’s song, The Ballad of John and Yoko, was where I first heard of the Rock of Gibraltar. Visiting Costa del Sol offered the perfect opportunity to visit it.
Although I’m usually an independent traveler, I chose to book a guided tour of Gibraltar. Why? I was concerned about the following: (1) passport control between Spain and Gibraltar and (2) the cable car operating if the weather was bad. Did we really want to walk up to the nature reserve on winding, narrow roads? Probably not. (It actually rained when we visited.)
Our tour bus from Tormellinos took us to the Spanish town of La Linea de Concepcion which borders Spain/Gibraltar. Since Gibraltar is a British territory, everyone goes through passport control. Luckily, there were no long lines and after being checked, we met another driver who would drive us around in a mini-bus.
The first stop was Europa Point, the southernmost point of Gibraltar where we were greeted with beautiful views of Africa.
Next was a visit to St. Michael’s Caves, a network of limestone caves located within the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. But the following stop was what everyone was waiting for – getting up close and personal with the famous Barbary apes or rock apes. Legend has it that when they leave, control will return to Spain.
Be warned. They are wild. Do not approach and try to pet. Also, keep any food in bags or knapsacks safely closed. These guys are known for their pickpocketing skills.
And, of course, when in British territory, lunch at a pub is a must. Fish and chips and some beer at the modern Star Pub were in order. After lunch, it was time to explore more of this small territory.
We wandered the side streets, walked down Main Street, and picked up some souvenirs for family back home. A must-stop for these Beatles fans was King’s Chapel where John Lennon married Yoko Ono and Sean Connery got hitched twice.
After some shopping, it was time to say “cheerio” to Gibraltar. Some tapas back in Tormellinos at Elas for dinner. What a perfect day!
Day 6 – Relax, Explore
This day was all about relaxing and enjoying this slice of heaven’s beaches, views, food, and parks.
Day 7 – Granada and Alhambra
This day introduced us to the city of Granada and the number one attraction in Spain- the Alhambra. We booked a tour that provided bus transportation to Granada where we had some free time to explore the city before heading over to Alhambra for our guided tour. Although I love to tour independently, I really recommend booking a tour of Alhambra and do not expect to buy tickets when you arrive. They sell out well in advance. Tickets are sold online or through tours since capacity is limited. Book before you leave home so you’re not disappointed. Also, a passport is required for entry.
Considered the eighth wonder of the world and the most visited monument in Spain, the Alhambra is located in the city of Granada. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world. Alhambra in Arabic means red house. It sits on over 50 acres with a beautiful complex of buildings and gardens.
After a full day, we headed back to clean and rest up and had a delicious Indian dinner at Bombay Grill.
Day 8 – Parc de la Bateria, Shopping, and Some Tears
Our last full day in this beautiful place gave us the opportunity to explore where many visitors may not go. After another delicious breakfast, we headed out to explore the Parc de la Bateria, a local residential park.
What a beautiful hidden gem! A bit difficult to find but it was worth it and the views from the tower were stunning.
It was time for a Spanish lunch and Secretos Ibericos was on the menu. Highly recommend their tapas and sangria. And take a look at this delicious octopus dish.
Italian food for dinner was on the menu and a final stroll on the promenade.
Day 9 – Depart for Home
A quick transfer to Malaga airport and we were off for home. Sadness and happiness enveloped us but we were grateful to have visited such a beautiful place. We plan on coming back next year!
For more Spain adventures, visit my blog post on Barcelona.
