The 10 best beaches in the Costa del Sol
Don't expect golden or white sands – you need to head west to the Costa de la Luz for those, but do expect clean and safe beaches with reliable weather almost all year. Most also have facilities such as showers, toilets, restaurants and cafés, plus lifeguards and accessible bathing points (available in summer only).
The Mediterranean here is mostly friendly, but be aware of shelving beaches in some areas and occasional rip currents.
All our recommendations below have been hand-selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best beaches in the Costa del Sol. Find out more below, or for more Costa del Sol inspiration, see our guides to the hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs and things to do.
Los Boliches
Blue-flag status, shallow bathing and playparks make this mile and so (2 km) stretch a hit with families. This sea is home to a surprising variety of sea life, so pack goggles and a snorkel. Too windy or chilly? Admire the beach from the promenade as you stroll, run or cycle.
Insider tip: Visit on 16th July for the Virgen del Carmen celebrations, featuring a marine procession and fireworks.
Area: Fuengirola
How to get there: By train on the Malaga-Fuengirola line.
Burriana
One of Nerja's larger beaches, these fine shingle sands have blue-flag status and boast stunning views of the coast. A favourite with families – but watch out for the shelving beach; there's room to lay our towel, even in high summer. Watersports galore for all energy levels and wallet sizes.
Insider tip: Even if you don't fancy rice for lunch, peek into Restaurante Ayo to see possibly the world's largest paella pans bubbling on the stove.
Area: Nerja
How to get there: Park for free on the seafront or, if busy, on one of the adjoining streets.
Cala el Cañuelo
In a coastal nature reserve, this small cove is only accessible on foot or via a shuttle minibus that runs daily from June to mid-September; £1.90 (€2.25) return (cash only). The pebbled beach makes for clear waters and excellent snorkelling. The restaurant opens during the summer only.
Insider tip: it's a steep 20-minute walk down (longer up), so wear sturdy shoes.
Area: Nerja
How to get there: Park in Playa del Cañuelo car park off the N340 and follow the Sendero Bajada del Cañuelo.
La Carihuela
A classic since the 1960s, these blue-flag sands offer the quintessential Spanish day out at the seaside. Think sun beds and parasols, pedalos and water sports, fried fish at the beachfront restaurants and ice cream from the kiosks.
Insider tip: if you haven't got your own shade and don't want to rent a parasol, set up camp in one of the palm tree oases.
Area: Torremolinos
How to get there: Get off at Montemar on the Malaga-Fuengirola train.
Casablanca
Quieter than other central beaches in Marbella, these blue-flag sands flank the swanky mansions and luxury hotels on the Golden Mile. Keep things real by taking a picnic and your own shade; enjoy mountain and Morocco views by walking the Marbella Club pier or, if closed, the nearby breakwater, for free.
Insider tip: Include this beach on a seafront walk from Marbella to Puerto Banús (4.3 miles or 7km).
Area: Marbella
How to get there: Free parking on nearby streets.
La Caleta
Not as well-known as La Malagueta next door, but quieter and with better views of Malaga Bay, this blue-flag beach is perfect for a time out from sightseeing. Children will love the inflatable water park in the summer, and bathing is shallow year-round.
Insider tip: start your day with a Malaga-style breakfast (coffee and bread with olive oil and tomato) on the sand at Chiringuito Nuevo Mediterráneo.
Area: Malaga
How to get there: Walk from the city centre.
Peñón del Cuervo
At the eastern end of Malaga, this secluded cove is dominated by a rocky outcrop (squint to almost see the likeness to the crow it's named for). Snorkelling is good around the rock, and it's a top spot for a winter sunrise.
Insider tip: Hire a bike and venture further east along the cycle lanes to the resort of La Cala del Moral.
Playa de la Rada
These long blue-flag sands offer safe bathing, a long list of facilities and good restaurants serving some of the best fried fish and sardine skewers in town. In addition, their proximity to the town centre makes them an ideal pitstop before or after you explore central Estepona.
Insider tip: Discover all the beaches in Estepona by walking along the Sendero Litoral coastal path.
Area: Estepona
How to get there: There's free parking nearby or visitors can walk from the town centre.
Playa Real de Zaragoza/ Playa de Costa Bella
Easily the best sands on the Costa del Sol, these stretch for over 8 miles (13km) from the dunes in Cabo Pino almost to Marbella itself. There are reasonable facilities and safe bathing, plus perhaps the most eclectic collection of beach restaurants anywhere, from the cheap and cheerful Restaurante Las Flores to the uber-chic Nikki Beach.
Insider tip: Enjoy Cuban food and salsa Sundays at the Ranchón Cubano, mid-May to mid-September.
Puerto Banús
These blue-flag sands on either side of the marina suit everyone: families love the safe, shallow bathing, while beach bunnies hop to the west end to Ocean Club, with its younger vibe and famous themed parties, and La Sala by the Sea, with a more mature and sophisticated appeal.
Insider tip: Dress codes apply at most beach clubs; some have a minimum spend.
Area: Marbella
How to get there: Park in nearby car parks or bus from central Marbella.
How we choose
Every beach in this curated list has been expertly chosen by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of areas and styles, from popular city beaches to lesser-known corners, to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.
About our expert
Joanna Styles
I have been championing the Costa del Sol since 1990. When I'm not waxing lyrical about my forever home, you'll find me running on the Malaga promenade or catching up on new art in the city.
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The Guardian
30 minutes ago
- The Guardian
We're on safari … in the Netherlands
There is a moment on our first evening at the Beekse Bergen safari resort that stops us all dead in our tracks. The kids are wearing the khaki safari hats from the welcome packs left on their wooden bunk beds, and we are relaxing on the veranda of our hotel room, with panoramic views of the 'savannah'. From this elevated position, we're studying our neighbours on this 10-day holiday in the south of the Netherlands: Nubian giraffes, white rhinos, antelope, zebras and ostriches, all intermingling on the plain, metres in front of us. The light is fading and a heatwave is enhancing the African theme of Beekse Bergen. In the humidity, our impromptu animal quiz, aided by our in-room brochure, is halted by a low, menacing rumble. It takes a moment for context to overtake common sense. The thunder we think we're hearing is actually the roar from the pack of lions that live just behind our accommodation. We all fall silent, absorbing one of the primal sounds of nature. It may seem like an unusual place for a safari – close to the modest city of Tilburg and 20 miles west of industrial Eindhoven – but this is a safari holiday Netherlands-style, where you don't have to fly to Africa to get close to our planet's most impressive mammals. The 120-hectare resort is a group of interconnected sites, comprising a hotel, lodges, chalets and cottages overlooking several open plains full of wildlife; the safari park, which guests can explore on foot through a connecting gate from the resort; a lakeside resort with a beach, more lodges and a campsite for all budgets; and the Speelland theme park – with indoor and outdoor rides, slides and games. The resort has strong conservation credentials, with many species that are designated 'vulnerable' or 'extinct in the wild' protected here as part of a Europe-wide network of more than 300 zoos, aquariums and parks, including Chester Zoo in the UK. 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Highlights include a magnificent Amur (Siberian) tiger, freestyling ring-tailed lemurs shrieking close above our heads, blustering rhinos locking horns over food, and the quiet grace of the African elephant families. Small 'ferry' boats with guided tours (in Dutch) take passengers from zone to zone, via lakes where we get a rare sighting of two iridescent kingfishers – a personal highlight among the more spectacular beasts. By the end of our stay, a battered map covered in ballpoint pen ticks is hard evidence of two children brimming with memories. We love the birds of prey display, with vultures, eagles, owls and storks swooping low over our heads, catching food thrown for them in mid-air. There are scheduled lion-feeding sessions and we stumble across the seals' mealtime, laughing as the three blubbery mammals wriggle comically out of the lake and on to the sand. 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We visit the Speelland theme park a couple of times – a brilliantly wholesome outdoor and indoor activity centre with fairground-style rides, pedalos in the lake, go-karts and bouncy castles. We pop into nearby Tilburg (15 minutes by car; 25 minutes on a bike) for takeaway pizza, grocery shopping and a day perusing the shops and markets, visiting a traditional Dutch pancake house for lunch. There's also time for a day trip to Amsterdam (less than 90 minutes by train from Tilburg), where we wander over the canal bridges, meander along beautiful streets with vintage antique stores and hop on and off the tram. Our youngest decides she wants to move to the pretty Dutch capital so she can ride her bike to work every day. Back at the park, we split our stay between the hotel and the resort. Our first few days are in one of the hotel's Savanne rooms, geared to guests who want to eat at the resort's many à la carte, buffet or fine dining restaurants. 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