Features of holiday on the Costa del Sol. Resort for independent and wealthy

Costa del Sol is the most southern Spanish coast in the Mediterranean Sea. It wonderfully intertwined ancient Muslim fortresses and European Gothic, simple fishing villages and luxurious villas of aristocrats, the sun-hot sand and cold waters of Gibraltar.

How to get to the Costa del Sol?

• The only international airport on the Costa del Sol is located in Malaga. Direct flights from Russia are only in the summer and only from Moscow and St. Petersburg. In other months and from other cities will have to travel with transplants. Full list of airlines that fly to Malaga, here

• Direct rail connection links Malaga only with the cities of Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Seville and Cordoba. From any other city in Europe, you can take the train to Malaga only with a transfer. You can find the right train to Malaga here

• By bus you can get from Madrid, Seville, other cities of Spain, as well as from France via Catalonia. Also, the bus is the main domestic means of transportation between the cities of the Costa del Sol. Long-distance flights are operated by two large companies: Daibus and Alsa. Schedule and prices you can find on the official sites of

. Features of recreation on the Costa del Sol

Costa del Sol is slightly different from the resorts of Catalonia( Costa Brava, Costa Dorada) and Valencia( Costa Blanca).

• Firstly, it's a very "English resort".It was the Anglo-Saxons who were the first to choose this coast and keep the palm tree among the holidaymakers until now. Therefore, the Costa del Sol has the most golf courses, the staff of hotels and local travel agencies are most "imprisoned" for English, and in local cafes and restaurants they most often take into account the English preferences

• . Another feature: Costa del Sol is considered a resort for aristocrats andwealthy people, which, of course, in some places affects the price level;here the offsprings of the most famous aristocratic families of Europe
• like to rest. Despite the fact that Costa del Sol is the southernmost Mediterranean coast of Spain, because of the peculiarities of the sea current, the water is warming up only by July. Comfortable water temperature( above 22 ° C) lasts only from mid-July to mid-September

Major resorts of Costa Del Sol

Marbella

Marbella is the most fashionable, the most glamorous, the most refined and bohemian resort on the whole coast. In this fashionable place, many world celebrities and aristocratic families have acquired private villas.

The beach line where their villas are located is called the "golden mile", and this is the most expensive stretch of the coast: renting umbrellas and sunbeds here will cost several times more than on other beaches.

The city of Marbella itself is a typical Andalucian settlement with white stone houses, orange trees and tiled roofs. There are many parks and cozy squares, beautiful boulevards and embankments.

A separate entertainment can be called the port of Puerto Banus - the largest parking lot of luxurious private yachts of the world elite resting here. By the way, in Puerto Banus there is a sculpture of the work of Zurab Tsereteli, which the locals nicknamed "Russian for the first time at sea".

Estepona

Estepona( Estepona) is a place for a leisurely and very relaxing holiday, in which the main entertainment is the beach and quiet walks along the seashore. But the beaches here are really first-class, and the service is impeccable. In Estepona, the old part of the city is very picturesque, there is the Museum of bullfighting and the Archaeological Museum.

In the local port you can taste fresh and perfectly prepared seafood. From Estepona, the closest you get to Cape Gibraltar( the southernmost point of Europe is the mandatory point for visits to the Costa del Sol) and to the Selva Aventura safari park( another mandatory place for visiting the coast).

Torremolinos

Torremolinos( Torremolinos) The is a typical beach town that is very suitable for families with children. This is the most democratic resort of Costa del Sol in terms of prices and the public. There are many inexpensive hotels, budget apartments and affordable entertainment.

Many youth night clubs and hostels in which European students prefer to settle. In general, this is the most populous resort of the coast. In Torremolinos, you can taste the most delicious chirigito in the district( fried sardines on a stick) and the famous Malaga wines with tapas( kind of snacks).

From the entertainment of Torremolinos you can find numerous discos, bars and traditional local restaurants, a crocodile farm and a botanical garden in the vicinity of the city, the vaulted promenade of San Miguel and the huge aqua park Aqualand on the outskirts of the city.

The city is located on the slope of the mountain, so when choosing a place of residence, pay attention to the location relative to the sea. Some streets have quite a steep descent, which can be a serious obstacle for prams and people with disabilities.

Benalmadena

Benalmadena( Benalmadena) is a city that borders closely with Torremolinos and is its natural extension. In contrast to the noisy Torremolinos, Benalmadena has a much more relaxed and measured rest.

The city is conditionally divided into three parts: a residential area( the quietest area where locals live and those who rent apartments), a hotel zone( here concentrated hotels and a huge number of tourists) and the area of ​​Arroyo de la Mjel - a kind of entertainment area thatoccupy shopping streets and entertainment facilities.

Benalmadena promenade promenade is decorated with mosaic, at the end of the promenade there is a castle in the Arab style of Biel-Bill, where often live concerts and small exhibitions are held. Also the castle is interesting with a collection of antique furniture and paintings.

Port of Benalmadena Puerto Marina is the center of all kinds of local restaurants, snow-white yachts and houses in Arab style. The tourists are very fond of gathering here, during the day you can feed the fish near the pier or go on a boat trip on one of the numerous excursion boats, and in the evenings live music is played here.

The cultural and historical sights of Benalmadena include Castle of Colomares( Castillo de Colomares) - a modern building erected in honor of the great travels of Christopher Columbus. In the castle there is an exposition telling about the history of the discovery of the New World, about the history and mores of Spain at the time of the conquistadors. Also interesting are the streets and churches of the old town of Benalmadena Pueblo.

From the entertainment of Benalmadena, the Sea Life aquarium, the small Paloma park, the Selwo Marina dolphin, the butterfly park, the Tivoli World amusement park are interesting. There is a cable car Telerifico de Benalmadena, which leads to the top of Mount Calamorro. At the top is the Orlov Park( you can see the view with these beautiful birds) and an observation deck with excellent panoramic views of the Costa del Sol.

Fuengirola

Fuengirola( Fuengirola) is a quiet, quiet resort that will not be very interesting for young people and active tourists, but it is ideal for families with young children and pensioners.

Here, unlike other cities of the coast, there is always a place on the beach, the coastal zone is equipped with a large number of playgrounds, and the local embankment is considered one of the most beautiful streets on the Costa del Sol.

Fuengirola is a fairly affordable resort in terms of prices. There are no luxury hotels, prices in local shops and restaurants are more of an average category, and in two huge shopping centers El Cortes Ingles and Miramar you can find all the most famous democratic clothing brands.

In general, Fuengirola is the best place for shopping on the Costa del Sol for people who do not consider themselves to be a mega-dependent person( the mecca of the oligarchs of Marbella is accessible only to the elite).In Fuengirola, the local Sunday market offers excellent local leather goods at very reasonable prices.

From historic sites, Fuengirola boasts an old Moorish castle Castilla-Socha, which has a small museum, and an exposition of the Historical Museum of the city, which contains unique manuscript documents of a thousand years ago. For family fun, you need to go to the Biopar's zoo and the Aquarico Mijas water park.

Nerja

Nerja( Nerja) is one of the most charming towns on the Costa del Sol. Its main advantage is that the tourist boom did not change the historical appearance of the old Andalusian city. This resort is not too famous for the bulk of tourists, the more valuable it is for tourists who are visiting the experts of Andalusia.

Nerja is known as a place where, in the 1950s, the ancient caves were accidentally discovered - the site of the first inhabitants of the Costa del Sol, who preserved unique artifacts and rock carvings of primitive people. There are several monuments of the times of the Arab domination( watchtowers, ruins of an ancient fortress).

In the vicinity of Nerja perfectly preserved the ancient Roman aqueduct Agila - a grand structure that supplied water to surrounding villages. The beaches of Nerja for cleanliness, comfort and developed infrastructure are not inferior to the coastal recreation areas of other cities of the Costa del Sol.

Malaga - the capital of the Costa del Sol

Malaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol and the largest city on the coast. This is a universal city, which is suitable for recreation for all categories of holidaymakers.

For connoisseurs of history there is an old city with characteristic narrow streets and medieval buildings. For mothers with children in Malaga enough children's playgrounds, wide promenade promenades, excellent sandy beaches;

for modern amateurs of great interest are numerous museums and exhibitions of contemporary art, various avant-garde and underground directions;for reckless young people the most interesting begins with the onset of darkness in numerous entertainment centers.

What to See in Malaga

Malaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, the locals value and take pride in this fact, so Malaga has two museums of the artist. The first museum Museo Picasso Málaga is located in the very center of the city in the ancient Buenavista mansion, in the permanent exposition of which the works of Pablo Picasso, including the world-famous canvases;in the basement of the museum you can see the antique walls, which were unexpectedly discovered during the next restoration of the mansion.

Museo Picasso Málaga

The second museum - house-museum of Pablo Picasso Casa Natal .In addition to paintings, you can see sketches and graphic works, sculptures and ceramics, as well as get acquainted with the life and personal belongings of Picasso.

House-museum of Pablo Picasso Casa Natal, Malaga

Fortress of Gibralfaro( Castillo de Gibralfaro) was built in the 10th century during the time of the Arab domination. The name of the fortress is translated as "the death of the pharaoh".Until the beginning of the last century, the fortress was an active fortification structure, in which the garrison was constantly present. At present, the military museum is opened in the fortress, telling about weapons of different epochs, uniforms and soldier's life, military maps and devices.

Castillo de Gibralfaro

Alcazaba de Málaga Fortress - translated from the Arabic "citadel" - a characteristic Moorish structure, one of the best preserved Arab fortresses in Spain. The fortress was erected to protect the city from raids by North African pirates, for a long time it served as the residence of local rulers. In the past few years, the fortress is undergoing constant archaeological excavations and restoration works, therefore some of the buildings are sometimes unavailable for visits.

Alcazaba de Málaga

Automobile Museum in Málaga( Museo Automovilístico de Málaga) is a modern museum, the basis of which is a private collection of rare cars. There are more than 80 cars from 1920-1960, and this is one of the most extensive and valuable collections of cars in the world. The big accent here is made on cars of rare or unusual complete set and tuning.

Museo Automovilístico de Málaga

Museum of Glass and Crystal( Museo del Vidrio y Crystal) is a private museum in which samples of crystal and glass objects from the Phoenicians are exposed to our days. The museum is interesting in that the exhibits are not stored in ordinary display cases and shelves, but in interiors characteristic of the era to which they belong.

Museo del Vidrio y Crystal, Málaga

The Museo Carmen Thyssen is another private collection of works by Spanish artists and antiques from the 19th century.

Museo Carmen Thyssen, Málaga

La Manquita Cathedral is one of the city's main cathedrals and the most popular church in the city. The name of the cathedral is translated from Spanish as a "one-armed lady", since only two of the towers originally designed in the 16th century have been built to the very end.

La Manquita, Málaga

Museum of the Holy Week( El Museo de la Semana Santa) .Holy Week, the Spanish call the Passion Week, which precedes the Easter holiday. The museum has everything that has to do with this holiday: church utensils, vestments of clergymen, paintings and sculptures on this theme, items that local residents use during the celebration and for the solemn processions around the city, dedicated to Easter. Since Catholics celebrate church festivals quite splendidly, many exhibits of the museum seem very curious.

El Museo de la Semana Santa, Málaga

Calle Marqués de Larios street is a pedestrian street in the center of Malaga, with a large number of shops and restaurants. Also, solemn processions and folk festivities are held here on national and local holidays. The street is a very beautiful promenade with mansions of the XVIII-XIX centuries.

Calle Marqués de Larios, Málaga

The Museo Taurino Atonio Ordoñez Museum The is located on Plaza de Torros and tells about everything related to bullfighting: from luxurious suits of matadors to advertising posters and photographs of famous battles. The museum bears the name of one of the most outstanding matadors of Spain, whose career was put in the basis of the plot of Hemingway's novel "Dangerous Summer".

Museo Taurino Atonio Ordoñez, Málaga

Jardin Botanico-Historico «La Concepcion» is a huge collection of plants from all over the world. In the garden, several thematic routes have been developed, which are equipped with convenient pointers and a color indicator. In addition to plants, there are fountains, gazebos, sculptural compositions and small mansions, which makes the botanical garden more like a romantic park than an exhibition space.

Jardin Botanico-Historico La Concepcion, Malaga

Buses Malaga City tour .If you want, you can take a ride on the tourist bus of Malaga. Unlike the numerous travel agencies of the city, which conduct excursions only in English and Spanish, there is an audio guide in Russian on the bus. More information about sightseeing buses can be found here.

Malaga City tour

Malagueta city beach( la Malagueta) is the central beach of the city, conveniently located relatively to public transport, near shopping areas. The beach is well equipped and very convenient for resting the whole family, including for the youngest visitors. The entrance to the water here is very gentle, and the shore is protected from high waves by special stone breakwaters, so the water here is always calm and comfortable for toddlers.

la Malagueta, city beach, Malaga

Activities for children on the Costa del Sol

Safari park Selvo-aventura, Estepona

In Safari park Selwo Aventura can be seen in the natural conditions of inhabitants of different continents andclimatic zones of our planet. Over a huge area contains over 2000 species. In total there are 3 zones in the park, two of them are allowed to walk, in a zone with predators you can move only by special transport.

Selwo Aventura, Costa del Sol

For the smallest, a large area with contact animals is provided. For the convenience of movement through the vast territory of the park, there is a special tourist transport. There are VIP-visit programs, which, in addition to the general excursion, include hand gibbon feeding, photos with a tiger and walks through the territory, closed from the rest of the visitors. More information about the park can be found here www.selwo.es

Selwo Aventura, Costa del Sol

Marine Park Selvo Marina, Benalmadena

Marine Park Selwo Marina is not just a dolphinarium, but a real nursery of marine animals, where, in addition to dolphins, fur seals, crocodiles and other aquatic inhabitants, there is an aviary with Arctic penguins. Every day there are colorful shows, for a fee you can swim in the pool with dolphins and fur seals.

Selwo Marina, Costa del Sol

The park is divided into several zones:

• Antilles - marine mammals, dolphins and fur seals, arena for daytime performances
• La Onondona( Gorge) - sea birds( pelicans, flamingos, herons), herethe daily show of parrots
• Amazonia - reptiles and amphibians( sea snakes, crocodiles, lizards), as well as predatory fish
• Isla de Jelo( "Ice Island") - a colony of real Arctic penguins

For more information about the park, see here.

Selwo Marina, Costa del Sol

Crocodile Park, Torremolinos

Crocodile Park( Crocodile Park) is built in the form of an African village. There are small crocodiles with which you can take pictures, and huge adults, the largest of which, Papa Paco, reaches about 5 meters in length.

Crocodile Park, Costa del Sol

The exposition of the museum here will tell you all the most interesting about the life of crocodiles. In the park you can watch reptiles in their natural habitat, especially the process of hunting and feeding. In addition to crocodiles, the park contains flamingos, turtles, ostriches and ducks. More information about the park can be found here.

Crocodile Park, Costa del Sol

Butterfly Park, Benalmadena

Butterfly Park( Mariposario del Drago) is a true tropics where luxurious specimens from all over the world live. Here you can observe all the stages of life of insects, the most exciting of which is the transformation of a dolphin into a butterfly. Strictly speaking, the Butterfly Park is a scientific object created by biologists for studying lepidopterans. In addition to the butterflies in the park, you can see other animals: chameleons, iguanas and kangaroos. The official site of the park is here.

Mariposario del Drago, Costa del Sol

Biopark, Fuengirola

Bioparc is a theme park of animals that is divided into 4 zones:

• Africa
• Madagascar
• Southeast Asia
• Pacific

The zones recreate the natural conditions of each region andcollected animals that live there. In the park there are no cells, in one territory different kinds of animals coexist, just as they coexist in a natural environment.

Bioparc Fuengirola, Costa del Sol

The creators of the park have tried to reproduce as accurately as possible all the natural ecosystems, so visitors of the park create the illusion of full immersion in the world of tropical flora and fauna. Also in the park are various representations with the participation of animals and circus artists. More information about the park can be found here.

Bioparc Fuengirola, Costa del Sol

Amusement park Tivoli, Benalmadena

Amusement park Tivoli World is the largest amusement park on the Costa del Sol. There is everything that relies on a large theme park: over 40 fascinating rides from baby carousels to roller coasters, breathtaking, restaurants and souvenir shops, national and themed shows, puppet shows and performances for the youngest. More details about the map of the park and learn all about its entertainment can be found here.

Tivoli World, Costa del Sol

Aqualand Aqualand, Torremolinos

Aqualand Aqualand is the largest water park on the coast, which is located in a large area near Torremolinos. In addition to a large number of water attractions, there are pools with an artificial sea wave, large Jacuzzi baths, a diving school and a special deep-water pool, artificial rivers and whole water small towns for kids. For more information, see the cost and purchase tickets here.

Aqualand Torremolinos, Costa del Sol

Aquapark Mijas, Fuengirola

Parque Aquatico Mijas is more modest in size than Aqualand, but it is cheaper and it has fewer queues. There is everything you need for a comfortable stay with the whole family: 10 attractions, a restaurant and picnic area, a games room for the little ones, a locker room and a souvenir shop. The park hosts shows and interactive performances. More information can be found here.

Parque Aquatico Mijas, Costa del Sol

Rope Park Aventura Amazonia, Marbella

Aventura Amazonia Marbella is the only one of its kind in the whole coast. There are 6 routes of different levels of complexity. The easiest route is laid for children 4-6 years old, the most difficult is laid at an altitude of 9 meters and includes, in addition to the standard hanging obstacles, a real tarson, a bridge of rope walkers and even air surfing.

Aventura Amazonia Marbella, Costa del Sol

All the routes of the park are equipped with the latest safety equipment, a well-thought-out carbine system gives a 100% safety guarantee, and before the beginning of the route there is mandatory instruction. In the park there is a children's club where parents can leave their babies under the supervision of experienced nannies. The Russian-language version of the official site is here.

Aventura Amazonia Marbella, Costa del Sol

Other parks Costa del Sol

• Wolfs Park Lobo park - watching the life of real wild wolves of Andalusia in vivo;www.lobopark.com
• Ankra Park( ANKRAA) - a nursery of unique donkeys of the Andalusian breed, www.ancraa.org
  The EI Refugio del burrito is a traditional Andalusian farm,website www.elrefugiodelburrito.com

Lobo-park, Costa del Sol

Where can I go from the Costa del Sol?

Lying at the resorts of the Costa del Sol, you can go to other famous cities of the province of Andalusia.

Seville, the capital of Andalusia

• Giralda - Moslem mosque of the 12th century with a viewing platform at the top
• Seville Cathedral , which houses the tombstone of Christopher Columbus and the unique canvases of Francisco Goya
• The Alcazar Castle is a delightful architectural monument that includes the Moorish walls,throne rooms, unique tapestries and art objects, as well as the famous Moorish gardens

• The old Jewish quarter Santa Cruz - the atmospheric part of the old citywith characteristic narrow streets and Gothic buildings
• The Plaza of Spain is one of the most beautiful squares in Andalusia - and the surrounding Maria Luisa park
  The Museum of the Archive of India, which collected a vast collection of items related to the period of the conquest of the Americas

Granada

• Alhambra is one of thethe most amazing castles of Andalusia in the era of Moorish rule
• The Alcázeria is a Muslim quarter and a covered market, a very colorful area that preserved the entire color of the Arabian era of the
• regionAbbey of Sakromonte - a monastery on Mount Valparaiso, beautiful architecture, interesting museum of religion and stunning views of the surroundings from the top of the mountain

• P Aion Albayzin - a typical medieval quarter, the oldest part of the city
• Science Park - modern interactive museum of natural sciences
• Madrasa - a monument of early medieval Arab architecture, in which before the reconquest was the Muslim University
• Palacio Dar-al-Orra ( in ArabicQueen's House ") - the residence of the Muslim rulers, then part of the Catholic monastery. The palace is noteworthy for its interior finishes and interiors from the time of the Arabian domination

Cordoba( Cordoba)

• The old Roman bridge - the pedestrian zone on the Guadalquivir river
• The Calahorra tower is a defensive building of the Arab times, in which nowadays there is a museumthree cultures( Muslims, Jews, Christians)
• The Alcazar is the former residence of the caliph, after the reconquest the residence of the Spanish kings, now a historical museum in which one can get acquainted with the amazingth history of the province, as well as look at the instruments of torture of the Holy Inquisition, which, according to historians, was most rampant in Spain,

• St. Mary's Cathedral - a former mosque converted to a Christian temple - a unique combination of Muslim and Catholic religious architecture
• The Krodov synagogue is a rare medieval religious structure of Jews in the Mudejar style that has survived to us in a well-preserved form
• The Museum of Fine Arts - a large collection of sculptures, drawings, paintings, religious objects of the Renaissance. The main decoration of the collection is the works of Francisco Goya

• The cathedral of Mesquite is a unique cult place where the temple of veneration of the Roman gods, the Moslem mosque and finally the Catholic church were located alternately. Mesquite is notable for the fact that each subsequent religious structure was built around existing walls. Thus, both the mosque and the remains of the Roman temple can be seen today behind the facade of the Catholic Church
• Khuderia - the former Jewish medieval quarter, Europe's largest and best preserved medieval quarter;very interesting for walks with its patio courtyards and labyrinths of tangled streets

Transport and meals on the Costa del Sol

Car rental on the Costa del Sol

Most holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol prefer to travel in a rented car. Since all the main transport hubs are located in Malaga, it is there that the bulk of the rolling offices are concentrated in any taste and purse, and most of them are located at the airport. In the city center, the number of offices where you can rent a car is much less. In small offices prices are lower than in large European holdings. Long-term rent( from 5-6 days) is given a discount. The highest level of prices - not peak demand, in the summer.

In order to make a car rental, you need to have a plastic bank card, money to deposit a deposit( the amount of the mortgage depends on the rental period, the cost of the car, the type of insurance, etc.), the international driving license. The lease agreement can be concluded by a person older than 21-23 years( the exact age depends on the specific rental company), having a driving experience of at least 1.5-2 years. Also, you will have to arrange insurance;insurance options, coverage area and insurance cost depend on the company's internal conditions.

It is important to know that in Spain there are very high traffic penalties. The most common types of violations committed by foreign tourists: parking in an unauthorized place, exceeding the permissible speed, violation of traffic rules, for Russians, fines for the absence of a safety belt are typical.

Kitchen Costa del Sol

The cuisine of Andalusia, which includes the Costa del Sol, combines Arab and Mediterranean dishes. Seafood is very popular on the seaside, in remote mountainous regions they prefer pork grown on special forages.

Traditional dishes of Andalusia that are worth trying on vacation

• Gaspacho is a cold tomato soup, although in some areas of Andalusia it is made from bread and onions
• Espectos - sardines strung on a special skewer roasted on coals
• Mohamedo is a kind of tapas,the main ingredient of which is sunless tuna
• Akhoblanko - cold soup made of water, butter, garlic and bread

• Tortilla - fried potatoes with onions, meat and spices, filled with eggs
• Pescato fritoni - this dish has many varieties, the main essence is fried fish( the frying method is any) with the addition of a garnish
• Paella - seafood with ham and rice
• Pestinos - honey anise donuts, a heritage of Arabs
• wines popular from wines ( sweetfruit wine), sherry ( white wine), as well as of Cordoba wine and Granada

Video. Malaga, Costa del Sol

Video. Cordoba, Andalusia. Spanish Guitar

Video. Flamenco of Granada and Seville