Best Costa del Sol Beaches 2024

Top 10 Best Costa del Sol Beaches 2024

The best beaches of the Costa de Sol contain some of the best from all around Spain. The Costa del Sol is located in southern Spain in the region of Andalusia. In this region, Málaga and Marbella are the best-known beach towns. Aside from these cities, there are also smaller and lesser-known cities with great beaches such as Nerja. Alle beaches of the Costa del Sol have unique features and it’s easy to find a beach that suits your travel style. There are almost 150 beaches in the Costa del Sol, and we have selected the 10 best for every type of traveler. 

Best time to visit the beaches of the Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is located in Andalusia and this region has a Mediterranean climate, which means hot summers and mild winters. This region is also the warmest place in Spain in winter. The Costa de Sol gets over 320 days of sun yearly, making it very popular among tourists. The temperatures are the warmest in July and August, but you can also take a dive in other months of the year. In winter you have to be aware that the water can be colder than in summer. 

Playa de Cabopino (Marbella)

This beach is located just east of Marbella and is one of the most popular beaches of the Costa del Sol. Playa de Cabopino is known for its tranquil surroundings, away from the main resort. This Costal del Sol beach is also one of the best if you like nature around the beach. It is one of the few beaches with sand dunes and a pine forest. There is also a big tower that watches over the beach that was once used for possible attacks from the sea. The sea is pretty rough at this beach, so it is not always possible to swim here, but it is great for sunning and walking. Playa de Cabopino is about 20 minutes away from Marbella. 

 

Playa de la Malagueta (Málaga)

This beach is located in the center of Málaga, which makes it one of the most easy beaches to go to in the Costa del Sol. From the city center, you can walk to this beach. This beach is arguably the best beach in Málaga, the beach is long and it’s great for swimming. Playa de la Malagueta is very safe for kids and is popular with families. On this beach, there are loungers to rent, but if you don’t want to spend money there is always a place to lay down a towel, even in summer. This beach has many different restaurants nearby due to its central location. Here you can enjoy lunch or go to dinner too. This beach is popular and also very busy during the summer months.  

Playa de Burriana (Nerja)

Nerja is a smaller but great place with nice beaches in the Costa del Sol. Playa de Burriana is the main beach of Nerja. The beach is full of beautiful palm trees, the beach is very long and has perfect water which makes it great to swim. The Playa de Burriana has a mix of sand and small pebbles, but it is still not too bad to walk on this beach. You can see the mountains of the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara, and Alhama Natural Park behind the beach which will give you beautiful views. You can easily spend a day at this beach and there are many different types of water activities that you can rent. 

Playa del Cristo (Estepona)

Another beautiful beach on the Costa del Sol is the Playa del Cristo in Estepona. Estepona is a city that is known for its historic center. Playa del Cristo is one of the two beaches that Estepona has, both these beaches are very beautiful and easily accessible. This beach is popular among families with smaller children. The beach has shallow waters and there are almost no waves. This means that is very swim friendly and this is what makes it popular among families. There are also loungers with shade available for rent. 

Playa de la Rada (Estepona)

As said before there are two great beaches in Estepona. This beach is called Playa de la Rada and is located on the other side of the marina. This beach is more than 3 kilometers long. There are many different types of watersports available on this beach. Playa de la Rada is closer to the historic center than Playa del Cristo. This means that Playa de la Rada tends to be more crowded and livelier overall. There are many great restaurants at this beach. 

Playa de los Boliches (Fuengirola)

Playa de los Boliches is located in Fuengirola and this place is between Malaga and Marbella. This beach is easy to walk through from the center of Fuengirola. There are many great aspects about this beach, the views are great, the sea is calm, and the sand is fine. From the beach, you can look back and have a great view of the city. This beach is popular with locals, students, and families. There are also sunbeds available for rent if you don´t want to lay on the beach. 

Playa de la Carihuela (La Carihuela)

This beach is located in La Carihuela this place is an area in Torremolinos. This beach is just south of the center. Playa de la Carihuela is quieter than the beaches in the center of Torremolinos. It is also a little bit more luxurious than the beaches in Torremolinos, on this beach there are many upscale beach clubs to be found. If you are staying in Torremolinos and want to go to this beach it is easy. Multiple buses are going to this place and this takes about 10 minutes. If you don´t want to go by bus it´s also optional to walk and this is about 30 minutes. 

Maro beach (Nerja)

Maro Beach is another great beach in the town called Nerja. It’s a true treasure for people who like watersport activities and adventure. What makes this beach different from others is its beautiful natural environment. The beach is surrounded by cliffs giving it a dramatic look. Many great kayak routes start from this beach, allowing adventures to explore the cliffs from the sea. For people who like to go snorkeling in the sea, this beach is also a great option. You can find an underwater world of rich biodiversity, and you can see many great things underwater here. It´s advisable to go early to this beach because the sunrises are beautiful at this beach. Maro Beach is one of the best beaches in the Costa del Sol for nature and adventure lovers.

Puerto Banús beach (Marbella)

Puerto Banús is one of the most luxurious beaches of the Costa del Sol. If you are into luxurious yachts, beautiful boutiques, and high-end restaurants this beach would suit you perfectly. Located near the luxurious marina, this beach is a must-visit to explore the true glamour of Marbella. There are also many great beach clubs at this beach. Aside from all the luxury, there are also many types of watersports that you can rent at this beach, such as boat rentals or jetskis. With all the luxury and watersport options it is no wonder that Puerto Banús beach is considered as one of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol. 

Playa Cabopino beach (Marbella)

This beach in Marbella is known for its natural dunes that offer and unique landscape on the Costa del Sol. This beach is pretty quiet and is more about enjoying the nature and peace of this place. You should also be aware that this beach has a nudist area, as one of the few on the Costa del Sol. This part of the best is isolated from the rest of the beach offering the people in this area privacy and tranquility. There are many beach bars and restaurants at this beach to enjoy some food and drinks. Sun loungers and umbrellas are also available at this beach.