Costa del Sol & Andalucia Region Of Southern Mainland Spain

Costa del Sol Resorts, Towns & Cities

The Costa de Sol begins near Estepona and stretches east to Torremolinos. A little further to the east is Málaga which is both a city and province. Marbella is another popular city here with lies west of Málaga. Lining the coastal areas are many popular tourism towns and villages. Mijas, Fuengirola and Benalmádena are among to top areas to visit. We already touch on Estepona and Torremolinos which we go into more detail about below.

Region Of Andalucia & 8 Provinces

The masive region of Andalucia accounts for the vast majority of southern Spain. There are 8.5 million inhabitants here which is the largest of the 17 Autonomous Regions of Spain. Andalucia covers an area of 87,268 km2. This is the second largest region for landmass behind Castile and León which covers 94,223 km2.

2019 saw Andalucia welcome 12.1 million visitors. This was an increase of 3.5% on the previous year. Not all would have been heading to the Costa del Sol mind you. Forming Andalucia are 8 provinces, One of which is Málaga next to the Costa del Sol. The other 7 are Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, and Seville. The Costa del Sol does se it´s fair share of visitors which is usually at least 5 million per year. Seville is both a province and the Capital City of Andalucia.

Málaga: The Capital Of The Costa del Sol

As we mention above, Málaga is both the major city and one of the 8 provinces of Andalucia. Many consider this city to be the Capital City of the Costa del Sol. Marbella may also wish to claim that title which is in the heart of this coastal area. Málaga is also where the major airport here is so you will probably pass through this location. Pablo Ruiz Picasso airport in Málaga is one of the busiest airports in Spain. This is due to how close the airport is to the touristy areas of the Costa del Sol.

Marbella

Marbella is the second largest city along the southern Spanish coastline. There are around 140,000 permanent inhabitants here. This is quite a bit smaller than the larger city of Málaga which has 600,000. Despites it´s smaller size, Marbella attracts far more tourism than Málaga. This pretty city often welcomes more than 5 million people per year.

Adding to the beauty of Marbella is the Sierra Blanca mountain range. This range surrounds many of the beautiful beaches here. In total, there are more than 20 beaches to top up the tan when you visit.

Interactive Map & Coastline

Below is the map of the main areas of the Costa del Sol. This coastline covers a distance of 150 km and contains some of the top beaches in Spain.

Fuengirola

Fuengirola lies east of Marbella and west of Torremolinos. This town is another that has seen a big boom in the population. There are now some 75,000 people living in this popular location on the southern coastline.

Fuengirola saw major improvements to attract tourism in the 1960´s. This is very much the case for most tourist hotspots along the southern coast of the Costa del Sol. There is a lot of history and ancients building dating back to the Moorish occupation. Sohail Castle is the best example which dates back to AD 956.

Present day Fuengirola does boast many modern attrractions apart from the beaches. Biopark, Costa Water Park and Sould Park are among the super attractions here.

Mijas

Mijas is beautiful white village and one of the most beautiful places in southern Spain. Set 430 metres above sea level, Mijas is mountainous which offers stunning views.

Many refer to Mijas Pueblo as the “White Village” due to colour of the properties here. This town is very striking indeed, much like the popular Frigiliana which is to the east. Be sure to check out the beautiful cobbled pavements and streets which you are here.

Nerja

Nerja is actually some distance east of the Costa del Sol but deserves a mention here. The ancient caves of Nerja are one of the longest and oldest cave systems in Spain.

One of the most picturesque spots in southern Spain is here in Nerja. The Balcony of Europe (Balcón de Europa) boasts spectacular views of the coastline. Adding to the beauty on offer are the surrounding mountains. If you visit Nerja then a visit to Frigiliana is a must.

Did You Know?
The city of Malaga is most southern of mainland Europe. There are many more major cities which are much further south which most do not consider mainland Europe. These include Las Palmas and Santa Cruz which are part of the Canary islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

More Costa del Sol Towns & Resorts

Benalmádena

Benalmádena is another top resort on the Costa del Sol which sees high tourism each year. This super location is famouse for it´s 10 km’s of golden sandy beaches. Fuengirola lies to the south of here with Torremolinos to the north.

Like the surronding towns, Benalmádena’s population has seen a big increae recently. There are now around 65,000 inhbitants spread over it’s 27.5 landmass. The stunning marina and floating hotels are among the most eyecatching things to see. This area also boasts lots of popular attractions and things to do. Tivoli World, Jardín de las Águilas and the Butterfly Park are great things to check out here.

Puerto Banús

Puerto Banús is the luxury marina and shopping complex in Nueva Andalucia, Marbella. Since it´s construction by Jose Banús in 1970s, Puerto Banús became the spot for the rich and famous. This remains the case still today.

Moored in the incredible marina are some of the yachts of the super wealthy. Everything here is elegant and usually expensive. There are many luxury hotels here and expensive shops. You will often see the top car makers showcase their new vehicles here. This is not the sort of location to visit if you are short on money so make sure you bring plenty.