Destinations
Places worth the drive, with parking and access notes.
Three towns in one — a pretty pueblo, a busy beachfront and the playful Puerto Marina — plus a mountain cable car and a fairy-tale castle. A varied, family-friendly stop close to Málaga airport.
Volcanic coast and dirt-road beaches. Best by car — a compact handles it, but mind the unpaved sections.
Free parking at El Chorro entrance. Book the walk in advance.
Mosque-Cathedral and Jewish quarter. Park on the riverside and walk in — old town is one-way and tight.
The 'Garden of the Costa del Sol' keeps a genuinely Spanish old town — flower-filled lanes, a famous mural route and an easy, walkable centre — west of Marbella with long, uncrowded beaches.
Steep narrow streets. Park at the edge of the village.
A relaxed, family-friendly resort midway between Málaga and Marbella, with a 7 km promenade, a Moorish castle and one of Spain's best small zoos — and very easy parking.
Mountain backdrop, Moorish Alhambra and tight medieval streets. Park outside the Albaicín, never inside.
The capital of the Costa del Sol mixes an Andalusian old town with a glossy marina and 27 km of beaches — and it's the perfect base for the western coast and the white villages inland.
Whitewashed hilltop with Costa del Sol views. Easy 30-min drive, paid parking on the edge.
Beach town with the Balcón de Europa lookout. Park on the edge — old center is one-way.
Marbella's superyacht marina is pure Costa del Sol glamour — designer boutiques, waterfront restaurants and a beach on each side. It's an easy 10-minute drive west of Marbella.
Mountain road from Málaga. Easy parking outside the historic center.
Park on the outskirts and walk in. White village built into a rock.
Cathedral and Real Alcázar. Park outside the ZBE and walk — the historic center is for residents and walking.
Mountain park with the highest road in mainland Spain. Snow chains in winter — many rentals don't include them.
Wind-swept beaches and a working medina. Best by car — public transport is sparse.
The original Costa del Sol resort, just minutes from Málaga airport, pairs long sandy beaches with the old fishing quarter of La Carihuela — famed for its beachfront seafood. The handiest first or last stop of a trip.