Spain's southernmost coastline has a simple but apt name: Sunny Beach, Costa del Sol. Tiny, sun-whitened houses, mountains shivering in the heat, a fragrant mix of pine and orange — this is the coast of the sun, sung by the poet Federico García Lorca, one of the best sons of Andalusia. It's also a favourite destination for celebrities and a great place to take your children on holiday in the Costa del Sol. You can find all the helpful information about family holidays in Sunny Beach in our overview.
Costa del Sol on the map of Spain
The Costa del Sol is the coastline of the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is situated in the south of Spain and is washed by the waters of the Alboran Sea (the westernmost part of the Mediterranean Sea). The sunny coast stretches from Gibraltar in the west to Nerja in the east. The region's main resorts are located west of the provincial capital, Málaga. The distance from Málaga to Torremolinos is 18 km, to Benalmadena 20 km, to Fuengirola 33 km, to Marbella 70 km and to Estepona 92 km.
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Photo:https://www.map-of-spain.co.uk/
The Costa del Sol is warm all year round, and many tourists come here in the winter for tours of old towns. But it is during the summer, when sunbathing and bathing are at their height, that Sunny Beach receives the most visitors.
Costa del Sol for Kids
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Travelling to the Costa del Sol is like chasing a dream. Hot summers, luxurious beaches, fashionable hotels and crowds of celebrities strolling along the beach or passionately playing golf - that's what Sunny Beach looks like in the advertising brochures. The exciting thing is that all this is true. And there are many celebrities, hotels are expensive, and the beaches are marvellous. But the Costa del Sol is where you can relax with your child in a serene, happy environment.
One only has to remember that during the peak season, the Malaga province's coast is flooded with tourists, and few quiet corners are left. For a holiday with a baby at this time, it is better to find a small resort without much entertainment but without the crowds on the beaches. Holidays in the Costa del Sol can be both lazy and busy. You can enjoy the comforts of a five-star hotel or the beach or travel all over Andalusia to see Moorish palaces, bullfighting and flamenco.
Little ones won't be bored in Sunny Beach, either. The Costa del Sol has plenty of attractions for children: water parks, animal parks and play centres. Many resorts have good museums, but most are concentrated in Málaga.
The only thing that can spoil a holiday in the Costa del Sol with children is the cold sea. It's not the same year yearly: sometimes the water gets warm, but sometimes the sea stays cold all summer.
Best time to travel
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The weather on the Andalusian coast is a gift for those who can't wait to sunbathe on the beach in May and aren't ready to say goodbye to summer in September. The beach season in the Costa del Sol runs from the beginning of May to the end of October, and there's no room for clouds or rain: the sun is at its best. And yet the choice of when to go to the Costa del Sol is not easy. On the one hand, it's undesirable to holiday with a child on this hot beach in July and August, when temperatures are off the charts.
On the other hand, it's not until July that the water in the sea gets relatively warm, so coming here in early summer is unprofitable. You can get around this weather discrepancy. Firstly, in May and June, the season's opening in Costa del Sol, water parks start working. Secondly, many hotels have swimming pools.
The ideal balance between water and air temperature is reached in September. The heat sinks and the sea stays relatively warm.
Spring, early summer or autumn is also the best time to visit Seville and Granada. That's because it's always hotter away from the coast; for example, while the temperature on the beach is around +30ºC, in Seville, it can be as hot as +40ºC.
The calendar of events shows that the resorts of the Costa del Sol are not just the hottest months. On 1 May, the town of Mijas hosts the Sardinada, the opening day of the sardine season. On 23 June, bonfires and celebrations are held all along the coast to mark St. Juan's Day. Carnival festivities are held throughout Andalusia during Feria del Rosario in October. It is mainly celebrated in Fuengirola.
Weather and Climate
Whichever time of year you check weather websites, the Costa del Sol weather forecast is laden with "sunny" icons like oranges.
The Costa del Sol's climate is generous with sunshine and warmth. There are 300 days of sunshine a year, with occasional frosty days in winter. Rainfall comes only in late autumn, winter and early spring, while rain is rare in summer.
Summer comes to the Costa del Sol as early as May. Daytime temperatures are around +23°C, and holidays in the Costa del Sol can be spent travelling to Granada and Seville or on excursions to Spain's African coast. Apart from a panama and sunglasses, pack some warm clothes in your suitcase, as night-time temperatures drop to around 13-14°C.
As early as June, the pleasant heat gives way to heat. When the thermometers don't rise above +27°C in early summer, you can visit the Costa del Sol with an infant. But July and August, when the temperature stays around +30-35°C, are less suitable for a holiday with a baby. Although the sea breeze cools the African-flavoured heat of the sun, it's advisable to hit the beach in the mornings when the thermometers show +25-27° C.
The best conditions for holidays in the Costa del Sol with children are in the first half of autumn. The heat comes down to a low of +28°C in September and +25°C in October. Occasionally it may rain, but this does not bother tourists at all.
November to March is the coldest time.
This means temperatures rise to +15-18°C during the day and drop to +6-7°C at night. It won't be until April that the weather starts to warm up: the nights will still be freezing, but daytime temperatures will rise to +20°C. It should be noted that Marbella and Estepona have a slightly different climate to the rest of the coast, with slightly cooler nights and fewer sunny days.
Sea Temperature
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Although the Costa del Sol summers are sweltering, the sea is never particularly warm. The nearby Atlantic Ocean brings cold currents, and even in summer, the water temperature in the Costa del Sol does not rise above +24°C during the summer months. Such warm water can only be experienced between August and September. During the rest of the year, the temperature does not exceed 20-21°C. Take a look at how the sea warms up between May and October (based on three years of meteorological observations):
- May — 17-20°C;
- June — 19-22°С;
- July — 20-23°С (the maximum was +26°С);
- August — 23-25°C;
- September — 21-24°C;
- October — 19-21°C.
Food
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Three meals a day in a hotel is not typical of Spain. Often hotels only offer breakfast, which can be convenient in the Costa del Sol: cafés and restaurants in the resorts don't open until 9 am.
As for lunches and dinners, they can be turned into more than just a meal and an introduction to Andalusian cuisine. The famous gazpacho and salmorejo soups come from, where jamón is as honoured as mojama (cured tuna), where sherry and malaga wines are produced. Not all Andalusian dishes are suitable for children, but it's easy to find something for the children's table, such as a Malaga salad (ask them not to add dried cod) or a potato tortilla.
Andalusians have a rather late dinner. While restaurants serve lunch from 1 pm to 3 pm, dinner is from 8 pm to 9 pm.
If you are going to cook on your own, you can buy all your food from the markets or shops. The markets open early, and the shops don't open until 9 am.
Getting Around
The Costa del Sol public transport is less popular than bicycles, taxis, or hire cars. Most resorts are small towns that are more pleasant to walk around than to drive. The only resort to public transport is Málaga and parts of Benalmádena and Torremolinos. Local buses cost approximately 1.30 Euros, and Malaga's high-speed tram costs up to 1.50 Euros, depending on the ticket type. There is no discount for children.
Buses in the Costa del Sol follow a strict timetable. They run every 10-15 minutes in Málaga and every 30-40 minutes in the other towns.
There are bus services between all resorts on the coast. But the intercity transport in the Costa del Sol tourists actively use. Practical routes are 110 (Malaga - Torremolinos - Benalmadena) and 120 (Torremolinos — Fuengirola). You can also take the train that connects Málaga, Benalmádena and Fuengirola.
Taxis can be used to get around the Costa del Sol. The cost of a taxi ride within the city is about 10-20 Euros. All taxis are equipped with meters. Look for the "Libre" sign behind the window to find out if a car is available.
If you want to travel a lot during your holiday and not suffer from the heat, renting a car makes sense. Rental companies have offices at Malaga Airport and in all resorts. A nice feature of the Costa del Sol is free parking near the beaches. If the free parking spaces are occupied, there are always spaces for a fee.