THINGS TO DO
The best beaches on the Costa del Sol
The best sand on the Costa del Sol is spread out, and the prettiest spots reward a short drive. Here are our favourites, from family-friendly resorts to wild, dune-backed bays.
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Cabopino, Marbella
Golden dunes and a natural, low-rise feel beside a pretty marina — Marbella's nicest beach.
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Playa de la Fontanilla & Puerto Banús
Central Marbella sand and the buzzy beach clubs around the marina.
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Carvajal, Fuengirola
A relaxed Blue Flag beach with a train stop and good chiringuitos — easy for families.
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La Carihuela, Torremolinos
Old fishing-quarter beach famed for grilled-sardine espetos right on the sand.
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Burriana, Nerja
The east coast's best beach, with clear water and watersports below pretty Nerja.
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Bolonia, near Tarifa
Wild, dune-backed Atlantic sand with Roman ruins — worth the longer drive west.
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Frequently asked
For the old town and Puerto Banús you can walk. But the best beaches sit between towns, and the white villages and day trips — Ronda, Mijas, Gibraltar — are awkward by bus. A compact automatic handles the coast road and the climbs comfortably and pays for itself over a few outings.