Costa del Sol coastal drive

Málaga → Mijas → Marbella → Estepona along the coast

Pick up your car at Málaga Airport and aim to be heading west before 10:00: in July and August the coastal A-7 clogs quickly around Torremolinos and Fuengirola, and an early start buys you a free-flowing road and cooler air for the first top-down kilometres. You have two roads at your disposal all day. The free A-7 follows the old N-340 corridor and threads through every resort town, with sea glimpses and exits every few minutes; the AP-7 toll motorway runs slightly inland and simply gets you there faster. The rule of thumb is easy: stay on the A-7 while it flows, and switch to the AP-7 the moment your traffic app turns red. At Fuengirola, trade the coast for a short detour inland and climb the A-387 to Mijas Pueblo, a whitewashed village perched around 430 metres up the flank of the Sierra de Mijas. The bends are gentle enough for any car and, with the roof down, the climb alone justifies the convertible. Park in the panoramic multi-storey car park beside the village centre — its upper decks look straight down to the coast — then wander the flower-hung lanes and the miradores above the coastal plain. Back on the A-7, carry on to Marbella. Its Old Town is largely pedestrianised and street parking is scarce, so head straight for one of the signed underground car parks on its edge and walk the five minutes in to Plaza de los Naranjos for a coffee under the orange trees. Ten minutes further west, Puerto Banús is the coast's showcase marina: superyachts, designer windows and premium people-watching. Use the paid parking around the port, stroll the quays, and don't linger too long — the best of the day is still ahead. The final 25 km to Estepona are noticeably calmer. Its old town is the quiet triumph of the day: whitewashed lanes lined with colourful flower pots around Plaza de las Flores, with the Orchidarium's glasshouse a short walk away for a botanical half-hour out of the sun. Finish at a chiringuito on Estepona's long town beach — order espetos, the sardine skewers grilled over open coals, and time it so you swim before you eat. For the run home, take the AP-7 without hesitation: after a full day, the toll is cheap insurance against the evening crawl on the coast road.

Driving note: In July and August the A-7 between Málaga and Marbella can crawl from mid-morning — leave before 10:00 and switch to the AP-7 toll road whenever the coast road jams.