The Costa del Sol has 126 excellent beaches spanning over more than 150 kilometres, theme parks, many family-friendly tourist accommodations, the famous city of Málaga, beautiful white villages and a rich gastronomy. Furthermore, the prices are very reasonable, something that is very much appreciated by families. In this publication we will tell you which are the best plans for you to enjoy with children on the Costa del Sol. 

The weather on the Costa del Sol is unbeatable, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of 24.3ºC. Although winters are cold inland, the coast is always pleasantly warm. And during spring and autumn you can enjoy both the coast and the mountains perfectly.

The best way to get there

Malaga has a modern airport located only 8 km from the capital, which is also the fourth busiest airport in Spain. 

If you are travelling with your family and have a lot of luggage, we recommend you take a taxi from the airport to your accommodation. There is also the possibility of taking a bus to the city centre, or the Renfe line C1 that will take you to the centre of Malaga and runs along the east coast to Benalmádena. 

Another option is the bus to the Central Bus Station of Malaga, which also connects with more Andalusian and Spanish cities. Malaga also has the Renfe María Zambrano train station, which can be reached by AVE train.

Family-Friendly accommodation

Hotel Globales Playa Estepona

This hotel is one of the best 4-star hotels on the Costa del Sol. It has very good deals for families, great-quality facilities and many leisure options. It has a spectacular water park full of colourful slides, spacious and newly renovated rooms, as well as a very professional staff.

H10 Estepona Palace

The H10 Estepona Palace is a 4-star Andalusian-style hotel with avant-garde design. It’s 2 km from the centre of Estepona. It has a mini-club and entertainment for children in summer, spacious rooms, a large swimming pool and a good restaurant service.

Hotel Sol Príncipe

This hotel is located in Torremolinos, on the beachfront of the Costa del Sol and has direct access to the Playamar beach. The hotel has a large Caribbean lagoon swimming pool with hydro-massages, water beds, a large geyser and night lighting. It also has a fun area for children where they can play sports and enjoy both artistic and culinary activities supervised by activity-leaders.

Holiday World Riwo

This 4-star all-inclusive hotel is located in Benalmádena, it’s a large resort made up of four hotels. It’s a 4-minute walk from the beach, and has themed rooms for children, a children’s pool and a large water park.

Los Patos Park Hotel

This all-inclusive hotel is located in Benalmádena, a 4 minute walk from the beach and 8 km from Málaga Airport. It has a water park, which includes a children’s pool with a large water playground and slides. The hotel also has a pirate themed MiniClub for children to enjoy.

Meliá Marbella

This 5-star hotel is located in the heart of Puerto Banús, 100 metres from the sea. The hotel has spacious and bright rooms with fun, themed decor for children, as well as a Kids & Co programme of activities and services for the little ones.  

Pierre & Vacances Resort Terrazas Costa del Sol

This Village apartment complex is located in Manilva and offers fully equipped flats which are inspired by the style of a typical Andalusian village. It has various facilities for children, such as a children’s pool, sports activities, children’s clubs and a play area. 

There is another complex like this one located in Benalmádena which is only 3 minutes away from the beach.

Best plans on the ‘Costa del Sol’ with children

1- Wild Dolphins

The coast of Malaga is a very popular spot for dolphins to breed and feed, which is why it’s considered one of the best places in Spain to see them in the wild.

If you want to enjoy this experience, we recommend the company Alborán Explorers. It’s an experienced agency, with a great reputation and respect for marine life.

The best times for sightings are early in the morning and late in the afternoon. It’s best to take advantage of the days when the sea is calm, but don’t worry, the company will advise you of the best times and always keep you informed.

2- Visit Castillo-Ejido Beach

If you want to escape from the crowded beaches of Fuengirola, we recommend the Castillo-Ejido beach, which is located at the foot of the Sohail Castle. This beach has an area for dogs, and activities such as zip-line or boat rides on the river Fuengirola.  

Also, while visiting Fuengirola, we recommend the Bioparc, which is an animal park dedicated to the conservation of tropical species.

3- Enjoy Benalmádena

There are endless activities and things to do in Benalmadena, here’s 6 of them:

•     Visit the Butterfly Garden: the largest in Europe. It’s a tropical Asian garden with waterfalls and colourful flowers where you can see more than 1600 exotic butterflies from all over the world.
•     Take the cable car: this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Benalmádena thanks to the spectacular views it offers. It connects Arroyo de la Miel with the top of Monte Calamorro, has a length of 5575 metres, a height of more than 700 metres and a duration of 10 minutes. 
•     Paloma Park: the largest park on the Costa del Sol. It’s a free public park with 210.000 metres of green areas and is very close to the beaches of Benalmádena. It has an artificial lake, paths, play areas and animals. 
•     Tivoli World: this is the best amusement park with shows in Malaga and is only open in summer. It has more than 40 mechanical attractions, as well as restaurants, shops, rides and fountains. There are also themed areas such as the Wild West or Pirates. It also has an open-air auditorium for more than 2,200 people where you can enjoy shows. 
•     Visit the Colomares Castle: Although it may not look like it, this castle is a modern construction that was built in 1994 to pay homage to Christopher Columbus and his arrival in America in 1492. 
•     Sea Life Benalmádena: This is a aquarium located in Puerto Marina, where you can see sharks, clown fish, jellyfish, seahorses, etc.. It also has a small interactive area for children. 
•     Benalmádena Beaches: These are some of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol, as well as the most beautiful and well-kept. Most of them run parallel to the promenade and offer a wide range of services.

4- Aqualand-Cocodrile Park

This water park, as well as having a children’s area, offers the possibility of visiting its exhibition of more than 200 crocodiles. To avoid the long queues, we recommend getting your tickets in advance or go on days when it’s not too busy, the tickets can also be quite costly. 

Taking advantage of your visit to Torremolinos, as well as visiting the water park, we recommend its fantastic beaches, specifically Los Alamos beach. Here you’ll find the Parque de la Batería, which offers a fun and different play area which the little ones are sure to love.

5- Visit the Laguna de Fuente Piedra Nature Reserve

This is the largest wetland in Andalusia. If you go in spring, you’ll be able to see the largest colony of flamingos in the Iberian Peninsula.

This is the perfect spot for nature lovers.

6- Visit Puerto Banús

For a family-friendly visit to Puerto Banús, we recommend visiting Aventura Amazonia, a tree-top park that offers 83 games in the trees and 20 zip lines. 

We also recommend Casablanca beach, famous for its clean waters, shaded areas, pedestrian promenade and landscaped areas.

7- Enjoy Nerja

One of the most beautiful towns on the Costa del Sol. We recommend getting lost in its streets and to visit the famous ‘Balcón de Europa’ and enjoy the wonderful view. 

The beaches of Nerja are rockier with many coves. We recommend the Burriana Beach, famous for the series ‘Verano Azul’. 

Another essential visit in Nerja are the Caves of Nerja, the most famous caves in Andalusia. A visit to the Caves lasts 45 minutes. We recommend buying your tickets in advance. Another option is to take the ‘Cuevatren de Nerja’, a tourist train that passes through the most emblematic sites of the town such as the Caves of Nerja, among others.

8- Visit the ‘Refugio del Burrito’

This sanctuary is located 40 minutes from Malaga, it’s a traditional Andalusian farmhouse used as a rescue centre for donkeys and mules. Children will be able to get up close to the donkeys and learn about their history.

9- Stroll around Mijas

This is a good option for those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. We recommend a walk along the coastal path of La Cala de Mijas that leads to the Playa de la Luna. 

Mijas also has 12 km of coves and beaches, and most of them have basic facilities. At Easter and in summer you can visit the Aquamijas water park.

10- Go to Selwo Aventura in Estepona

Selwo Aventura is a unique destination in Spain, it’s a zoo and theme park that emulates an African safari where you can see more than 2100 animals of different species while enjoying activities such as suspension bridges, zip lines, archery, etc.

 11- White villages route

• Frigiliana: This is a beautiful white Spanish-Arabic village where you’ll be enchanted by its details; the latticework of the windows, craft shops, whitewashed houses and colourful geraniums. 
• Ronda: This town has a great Moorish-Mudejar influence, and you can’t miss the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, the Puerta de Almocabar, the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the Iglesia del Espíritu Santo, the Puente Nuevo and the Iglesia Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación.
• Casares: Also known as the ‘suspended village’ due to the layout of its houses and steep pedestrian streets. This village offers culture and nature. 

Other villages that are also part of it are: Mijas, Atajate, Benadalid, Algatocín and Guacín.

12- Food tourism

In the cosmopolitan Costa del Sol you’ll find a wide variety of culinary offers (French, English, Italian, Arabic…) although above all, the Andalusian gastronomy and specifically that of Malaga is the highlight. To begin with, we recommend its rich vegetables, gazpachos, ajoblanco and salmorejo. We also recommend the olives, the first class olive oil, the migas and the delicious almonds. 

As for typical dishes, there are many highlights. However, we must recommend its fried fish dishes and seafood. And there is nothing more “malagueño” than enjoying a good skewer of grilled sardines on the beach.