Page Text Content
Costa del Sol
Fabulous beaches. Family fun. And fashionista-fuelled nightlife. The Costa del Sol's really got it going on in the holiday department.
Thomson Destinations
reviews Video tour & customer on.co.uk thoms
Torremolinos, Marbella, Fuengirola - famous place names that trip off the tongue. Long-time favourite, the Costa del Sol still packs more sun-powered punch per inch than most other Mediterranean Meccas. More fun-packed entertainment than a flamenco dancing convention. And more celebrity glamour than a bumper issue of Hello magazine. It only takes one look at the beaches here to see why. From Estepona in the west to Nerja in the east, this scenic Costa's lined with golden beaches that'll send your sun-seeking urges into overdrive. Fuengirola boasts the longest, with seven kilometres of sand. Torremolinos follows hot on its heels. And in Nerja, picture-postcard coves cry out for your towel. Most of the resorts are backed with palmdotted promenades, family amusements and big bucks marinas filled with restaurants and cocktail lounges. And then there's the nightlife. From the bars and discos of Torremolinos and Benalmadena to the 5 star eateries and nightclubs of Marbella - not to mention flamboyant flamenco shows and casinos in-between. Things to see and do Alhambra Palace Wandering around this citadel-palace, you half expect to see a gaggle of veil-clad girls feeding grapes to a sultan. Back in the 14th century, the Alhambra was the heart of Moorish Spain. And it's impressive to say the least. Elegant columns and slender arcades reach for the sky. Mosaic-covered chambers and honeycomb ceilings shimmer in shafts of sunlight. All in all, an architectural beauty blitz deserving of its UNESCO World Heritage Site status, not to mention its moniker, the Eighth Wonder of the World. Seville Cities don't come much more Spanish than Seville. It's as though all the country's stereotypes have been distilled and fortified here. There are cape-wielding matadors. Castanet-clacking senoritas. And cubby-hole tapas bars serving up jamon Serrano. And the best bit? It's not laid on for tourists. This is quintessential Spain, pure and simple. And it's achingly beautiful. Orange trees lines the streets, cobblestone squares bask in the sun and there's a bevy of sights to choose from. Peek into the city's Moorish past at the Alcazar Palace. Marvel at the cathedral, which is home to Christopher Columbus' tomb. And tramp up the connecting Giralda Tower to coo over the city from above. Malaga Mention Malaga and you immediately think check-in desks and baggage carousels. But there's more to this place than just an airport. This seaside city's home to a treasure chest of an old town that's all winding backstreets and cobbled plazas. The star attraction, though, has to be the cathedral. The locals call it la manquita' - the one-armed lady. Reason being, the original plans called for two towers. However, money was tight and so only one turret was ever completed. Lopsided churches aside, don't miss Malaga's Moorish citadel. Dating back to the 8th century, the Alcazaba's wrapped in a curtain of fortified walls and gateways. Rounding off the list of things to do is the Picasso Museum - the great man was born here back in 1881. Ronda Perched on a mountain plateau, Ronda is cut down the middle by a gorge. A soaring stone bridge, the Puente Nuevo, straddles the town, connecting the two halves. Once you've absorbed the dizzying views, take a magical history tour around its Medieval streets and squares. * Cordoba Terracotta rooftops. Wrought-iron balconies. And alleyways too narrow for cars. That's Cordoba. The city's trump card is the Mezquita. Dating back 12 centuries, this mosque stands with the Alhambra as one of Spain's great Arab legacies. Although now a cathedral, it's packed with reminders of its Moorish past. The piece de resistance, has to be the Mezquita's 850 striped arches and columns - it looks like a maze of giant candy canes.
Loja
1669 Cerro de Santa Lucia
Morón de la Frontera Olvera Villamartín
Sierra de Yeguas Antequera
1369 Camorro Alto
Granada
Colmenar
1832
Vélez-Málaga Frigiliana Navachica Almuńécar Ronda Nerja Torrox 1919 Málaga Costa Maro Punta de la Mona Torrecilla La Carihuela Mijas Torremolinos Ojen Benalmádena l Puerto o Gaucin 1449 Banus Marbella Fuengirola S Calahonda San Pedro l Reales N de Alcantara e Estepona d
C
o
Alora
s
t
a
San Roque
Algeciras
Me
Gibraltar
Punta del Carnero
o f
di
te
rra
Costa del Sol
nea
n Se a
COSTA DEL SOL
15 km
© TUI 2005
i t S t r a
Punta Almina
Ceuta
MOROCCO
Beaches With a name like Sunshine Coast, you'd expect the beaches to be pretty impressive. And they are. In fact, once you've seen the Costa's shores here, it's hard to tear yourself away. From dawn till dusk, they'll keep pulling you back to their soft sands like you're on an invisible thread. In Torremolinos and Fuengirola, the lure's especially strong if you love your beaches big and buzzing. In both resorts, cushiony pale sands extend for around seven kilometres, so there's always room to bag a space and stretch out. Better still, there are plenty of watersports and chiringuito' beachbars to keep you smiling. Benalmadena's beach is worth talking about, too. Here, the claycolour sands are broken up by rocks and pebbles, and the prom bubbles with cafes and activities to keep you planted here all day long. The beaches in Estepona, Marbella and Puerto Banus are hot stuff as well, with quiet areas perfect for peaceful sunning and others right in the thick of the action. If you prefer your sands smaller and cuter, then Nerja will be right up your street. Here,
rock-framed coves indent the coastline, so you can take your pick and switch your setting almost every day. And just east of the town, you'll find bigger sweeps of golden sand like popular Burriana beach with its café-filled promenade. One last thing - the sea along the Costa del Sol is something else,. Whichever beach you choose, you'll be greeted by gentle Mediterranean rollers perfect for paddling and swimming. Don't miss out on the watersports. From big game fishing to windsurfing, from sailing to water-skiing, the Spanish Med has it all.
Average daily maximum temperature
30
80 70 60 50 40
25 20 15 10 5
London Costa del Sol
°F
Apr 6 5 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Average daily hours of sunshine 8 11 11 11 9 6 7 6 6 5 Oct 7 3
°C
192
Visit thomson.co.uk
More Hotels More photos 2,000 videos Customer reviews Google Earth
|
Save it »
inbro