The Costa del Sol - the coast of Andalucía, Spain - Your Guide
Running along 300 km of some of the most breathtaking and vibrant coastline on the European continent, Spain’s Costa del Sol has long set the standard for quality Mediterranean living. For decades, the coast stretching from the regional capital of Málaga to the lush sportsman’s paradise of Sotogrande has drawn visitors from across the world to its shores, with a unique blend of traditional Andalucian culture and contemporary seaside living.
Click here to read our recent article on the Costa del Sol's constantly improving infrastructure >>
Read more about the Costa del Sol's regional areas using the links below, or scroll down the page for more tourist information on the Costa del Sol...
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Offering the best of both worlds, the Costa del Sol is comprised of a myriad of residential and commercial areas, which vary from tranquil mountain villages to bustling urban centres boasting all the luxuries and amenities one would expect from such a popular coastal resort. Sheltered by the Sierra Bermeja mountain range, which creates the area’s unique micro-climate, the Costa del Sol is also blessed with gloriously temperate weather throughout the whole year.
Growing and expanding through the last five decades, the villages and towns along the Costa del Sol have made the most of the region’s rich heritage and beautiful natural surroundings, helping the Coast become the continent’s most popular destination.
The evolution of this region has drawn innovation and investment from across the globe, helping the Costa del Sol develop into a vastly diverse and cosmopolitan community offering something for virtually everyone. This diversity is evident in every aspect of the community’s cultural and architectural landscape, providing a selection of activities and property options for every taste and budget. Ranging from quaint private apartments to lavish Mediterranean villas, the Costa del Sol’s residential selection allows the opportunity for everyone to call the Costa del Sol home. (See our property search)
While known to many as a centre of golfing excellence, which has earned it the second moniker, the Costa del Golf, the opportunity to play on some of the finest courses in the world is far from the only draw to this warm weather playground. Indeed, the Costa del Sol's endless selection of activities and events provides enough options to fill anyone’s schedule, whatever their tastes may be. In addition to the region’s endless and diverse beaches and secluded private coves, the Costa del Sol is home to a number of amusement parks, shopping centres, sports facilities, cultural landmarks and a large concentration of award-winning leisure marinas, offering moorings for vessels large and small. With all of these facilities comes an array of shops and outlets where you can buy anything from golf equipment to diving gear, and usually at lower prices than the UK.
Eating out on the Costa del Sol in also a delight with literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from. With award-winning restaurants in Marbella right through from Fuengirola down to Sotogrande, we are also seeing an influx of quality beach clubs up and down the coast from small intimate clubs through to exclusive beach clubs like Nikki Beach Marbella.
The Costa del Sol's many leisure activities are balanced by a wide selection of medical centres and schools, providing many international educational opportunities to non-Spanish students and helping to create an ideal environment for families hoping to settle in the south of Spain from the rest of the world.
For more mature visitors to the area, the Costa del Sol is also home to one of the exciting and consistent social scenes in Europe. From the trendy marina in Puerto Banús to Benalmádena’s selection of night clubs and bars to the refurbished neighbourhoods of Málaga’s Old Town, the Costa del Sol provides a busy social calendar all year round. Situated a short drive from some of Spain’s most important cultural capitals, such as Granada, Ronda, Sevilla and Córdoba, the Costa del Sol also provides the opportunity delve into the country’s rich and exciting cultural history whenever the mood might strike. During the winter months, you can even spend the morning skiing in the nearby resort of Sierra Nevada in Granada, then head down to the coast in time for dinner on the beach!
The Sierra Nevada offer skiers of all levels fantastic value skiing and it's just 2 hours drive from the Costa del Sol
Far from dormant, the Costa del Sol's growth appears to be hitting high gear with a series of expansion and improvement plans underway which will prepare the Costa del Sol for the future. Acting as the gateway to the Costa del Sol, Málaga’s Pablo Ruíz Picasso Airport is currently expanding and will be able to handle up to 20 million travellers a year upon the completion of its new terminal. Meanwhile, the city itself will soon welcome a new underground metro system and has recently seen the opening of a brand new rail station complex, which provides commercial and hospitality services to the more than 24 million people who travel through the station each year. The Málaga train station also saw the arrival of the high-speed AVE train in 2007, halving the travel time to Spain's capital Madrid, as well as offer access to the coastal train line, which is also set for expansion, extending service from the existing last stop in Fuengirola to its new final destination, Sotogrande.
The Costa del Sol will also soon see changes as the Málaga port will continue to expand both its commercial and leisure facilities, putting it on track to be one of the Mediterranean's busiest marinas. In addition, the Costa del Sol will witness the arrival of a new marina in La Cala de Mijas as well as expansions of several other leisure ports including Fuengirola.
See our Costa del Sol resources for things like Costa del Sol removals, Costa del Sol guide and Spanish Airport Information or if you are moving to the Costa del Sol take a look at our recommended websites for jobs in Spain and car shipping to Spain. On the Costa del Sol every possible service can be found in your native language even things like Costa del Sol locksmiths who are expats themselves.
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