Features of rest on Costa del Sol. Resort for independent and wealthy

Costa del Sol is the southern Spanish coast on the Mediterranean Sea. Here, the ancient Muslim fortresses and the European Gothic, simple fishing villages and luxurious villas of aristocrats, the sun -hot sand and the cold waters of Gibraltar, were surprisingly intertwined.

How to get to Costa del Sol?

• The only international airport for the entire coast of Costa del Sol is located in Malaga. There are direct flights from Russia only in the summer and only from Moscow and St. Petersburg. In other months and from other cities, you will have to get with transfers. A full list of airlines that fly to Malaga, here

• Direct railway communication connects Malaga only with the cities of Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, \u200b\u200bSeville and Cordodian. From any other city in Europe, you can only get to Malaga by train with a transplant. You can choose the right train to Malaga here

• The bus can be reached from Madrid, Seville, other cities of Spain, as well as from France through Catalonia. Also, the bus is the main internal vehicle between the cities of Costa del Sol. The intercity flights are carried out by two large companies: Daibus and Alsa. You can find the schedule and prices on the official websites of companies

Features of rest on Costa del Sol

Costa del Salt is somewhat different from the resorts of Catalonia ( Costa-Brava, Costa of Dranda) and Valencia ( Costa Blanca).

• Firstly, this is very "English resort." It was the Anglo -Saxons that were the first to chose this coast and hold the palm of the championship among vacationers so far. Therefore, the Costa del Sol is the most golf fields, hotels and local travel agencies are most “imprisoned” for the British, and in local cafes and restaurants most often taking into account English preferences

• Another feature: Costa del Sol is considered a resort for aristocrats and wealthy people, which, of course, affects the price level in some places; The offspring of the most famous aristocratic families in Europe love to relax here
• Despite the fact that Costa del Sol is the most southern Mediterranean coast of Spain, due to the features of the marine current, water is warming up only by July. The comfortable water temperature (above 22 s) is kept only from mid -July to mid -September

The main resorts of Costa del Sol

Marbella

Marbella (Marbella) - The generally recognized most fashionable, most glamorous, most refined and bohemian resort on the entire coast. In this fashionable place, many world celebrities and aristocratic families acquired personal villas.

The beach line where their villas are located is called the Golden Mile, and this is the most expensive section of the coast: renting umbrellas and sunbeds here will cost several times more than on other beaches.

The city of Marbella itself is a typical settlement for Andalusia with white -stone houses, orange trees and tiled roofs. There are many parks and cozy squares, beautiful boulevards and embankments.

Separate entertainment can be called Poero-Banus port-the largest parking lot of private yachts of the world elite who is resting here. By the way, a sculpture of the work of Zurab Tsereteli, which the locals called "Russian for the first time at the sea," was installed in Puerto Banus.

ASTEPON

Estepona (Estepona) - This is a place for a leisurely and very relaxed rest, in which the main entertainment is a beach and quiet walks along the seashore. But the beaches here are really first -class, and the service is impeccable. The old part of the city is very picturesque, there is a Museum of Corrida and the Archaeological Museum.

In the local port, you can taste the freshest and perfectly cooked seafood. The closest to get to Cape Gibraltar (the southern southern point of Europe is a mandatory point for visiting to Costa del Sol) and to the Safari Park Selva Agentura (another mandatory place on the coast).

Torremolinos

Torremolinos (Torremolinos) - A typical beach city, which is very suitable for relaxation with children. This is the most democratic resort of Costa del Sol against prices and the public. There are many inexpensive hotels, budget apartments and affordable entertainment.

Many youth night clubs and hostels, in which European students prefer to settle. In general, this is the most crowded resort of the coast. In Torremolinos, you can try the most delicious in the Chirirlito district (fried sardins on a stick) and the famous Malag wines with tapas (type of snacks).

From the entertainment of Torremolinos, you can note numerous discos, bars and traditional local restaurants, a crocodile farm and a botanical garden in the vicinity of the city, a vowel of San Miguel and a huge Aqualand water park on the outskirts of the city.

The city is located on the slope of the mountain, so when choosing a place of residence, pay attention to the location relative to the sea. Some streets have a rather steep descent, which can be a serious obstacle to children's strollers and people with disabilities.

Benalmaden

Benalmadena (Benalmadena) - The city, which is closely bordered by Thorremolinos and is its natural continuation. Unlike noisy torreolinos, Benalmaden has a much more calm and measured rest.

The city is conditionally divided into three parts: the residential area (the most quiet area where local residents and those who rent apartments live), the hotel zone (hotels and a huge number of tourists are concentrated here) and the Arraio de la Miel area - a kind of entertainment zone that occupies Trade streets and entertainment institutions.

Benalmaden’s walking promenade is decorated with mosaics, at the end of the promenade there is a Bil-Bil castle, where live concerts and small exhibitions are often held. The castle is also interesting to a collection of antique furniture and picturesque canvases.

The port of Benalmaden Puerto Marina is the focus of all kinds of restaurants of local cuisine, snow -white yachts and houses in the Arabic style. Tourists are very fond of gathering here, during the day you can feed the fish near the pier or go on a boat walk on one of the many excursion boats, and live music sounds here in the evenings.

Benalmaden’s cultural and historical attractions include Castillo de Colomares-a modern structure erected in honor of the booped travels of Christopher Columbus. The castle contains an exposition telling about the history of the discovery of the New World, about the history and mores of Spain, the times of the conquistadors. The streets and church of the old part of the city of Benalmaden Pueblo are also interesting.

From the entertainment of Benalmadena, the Sea Life Aquarium, a small Paloma park, the Selwo Marina Dolphinarium, the Butterfly Park, the Tivoli World entertainment park. There is a Tlerixo de Benalmadena cable car, which leads to the top of Mount Kalamorro. At the top there is a park Orlov (you can see a performance involving these beautiful birds) and an observation deck with excellent panoramic views on the coast of Costa del Sol.

Fuenhirola

Fuengirola (Fuengirola) - A calm quiet resort that will not be very interesting to young people and active tourists, but is ideal for families with young children and pensioners.

Here, unlike other cities of the coast, there is always a place on the beach, the premier zone is equipped with a large number of playgrounds, and the local embankment is considered one of the most beautiful streets on Costa del Sol.

Fuenhirola is a fairly affordable resort in terms of prices. There are no fashionable hotels here, prices in local stores and restaurants are more likely to the middle category, and in two huge shopping centers El Cortes Ingles and Miramar you can find all the most famous democratic clothing brands.

In general, Fuenhirola is the best place for shopping on Costa del Sol for people who do not relate themselves to megasial people (Mecca of the oligarchs of Marbella is available only to the chosen ones). In Fuenhirol, in the local Sunday market, you can purchase an excellent leather of local production at very acceptable prices.

From the historical objects, Fuenhirol boasts an old Mauritan castle of Castilla-Soha in which there is a small museum, and the exposition of the historical museum of the city, where unique manuscript documents are stored. For family entertainments, you need to go to the Biopars zoo and the Aquarico Mijas water park.

Nerch

Nerha (nerja) - One of the most charming towns on Costa del Sol. Its main advantage is that the tourist boom did not change the historical appearance of the old Andalusian city. This resort is not too famous for the bulk of tourists, the more valuable it is for the vacationers here experts in Andalusia.

Nervha is known as the place where in the 1950s, ancient caves were accidentally discovered-the parking lot of the first inhabitants of Costa del Sol, who retained unique artifacts and the cave paintings of primitive people. There are several monuments of the times of Arab domination (patrol towers, ruins of the ancient fortress).

In the vicinity of Nerchi, the ancient Roman aquarter Agila is perfectly preserved - a grandiose structure that supplied the surrounding villages with water. Nerch beaches in cleanliness, comfort and developed infrastructure are not inferior to the coastal recreation areas of other cities of Costa del Sol.

Malaga- Capital Costa del Sol

Malaga is the capital of Costa del Sol and the largest city on the coast. This is a universal city that is suitable for relaxation to all categories of vacationers.

For connoisseurs of history, there is an old city with characteristic narrow streets and medieval buildings. For mothers with children in Malaga, there are enough playgrounds, wide walking embankments, excellent sandy beaches;

for fans of modernity, numerous museums and exhibitions of contemporary art, various directions of avant -garde and underground are of great interest; For reckless youth, the most interesting begins with the onset of darkness in numerous entertainment centers.

What to see in Malaga

Malaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, local residents are very valuable and proud of this fact, so in Malaga there are as many as two museums of the artist. The first museum Museo Picasso Málaga Located in the very center of the city in the old Buenavistan mansion, in the permanent exposition of which the works of Pablo Picasso, including the famous canvases for the whole world; In the basement of the museum, you can examine the antique walls that were unexpectedly open during the next restoration of the mansion.

The second museum - house-Museum Pablo Picasso Casa Natal. In addition to picturesque paintings, you can see sketches and graphic works, sculptures and ceramics, as well as get acquainted with the life and personal things of Picasso.

Gibrallo de Gibralfaro fortress Built in the X century during the time of Arab rule. The name of the fortress is translated as "death of the pharaoh." Until the beginning of the last century, the fortress was the current fortification, in which the garrison was constantly present. Currently, a military museum is opened in the fortress, telling about weapons of different eras, uniforms and soldier’s life, military maps and devices.

Alcazaba de Málaga fortress) - Translated from Arabic, “Citadel” is a characteristic Moorish structure, one of the most well -preserved Arab fortresses in Spain. The fortress was erected to protect the city from raids of North African pirates, for a long time it served as the residence of local rulers. In the past few years, constant archaeological excavations and restoration work have been underway in the fortresses, so some of the structures are not available from time to time for visits.

Museum of Cars in Malaga (Museo Automovilístico de Málaga) - A modern museum, the basis of the exposition of which is a private collection of rare cars. There are more than 80 cars 1920-1960, and this is one of the most extensive and valuable collections of a car in the world. A large emphasis here is placed on machines of rare or unusual configuration and tuning.

Museum of glass and crystal (Museo del Vidrio Y Crystal) - A private museum in which samples of crystal and glass objects are exhibited from the Phoenicians to the present day. The museum is interesting in that the exhibits here are not stored in ordinary windows and racks, but in the interiors characteristic of the era that they belong.

Museum Carmen Carmen Thyssen) - Another private collection, in which the canvases of Spanish artists and antique objects of the 19th century are represented.

La Manquita Cathedral of La Manquita - One of the main cathedrals of the city and the most popular church among tourists. The name of the cathedral is translated from Spanish as “one -armed lady”, since only one of the two -originally designed in the XVI century was built to the end only one.

Museum of the Holy Week (El Museo de La Semana Santa). The Spaniards call the Holy Week a passionate week, which precedes Easter's church holiday. The museum contains everything that has been related to this holiday: church utensils, the vestments of clergy, paintings and sculptures on this subject, objects that local residents use during the celebration and for solemn processions in the city dedicated to Easter. Since Catholics celebrate church holidays rather magnificent, many museum exhibits seem very curious.

Calle Marqués de Larios Street) - A pedestrian street in the center of Malaga, on which a large number of shops and restaurants are concentrated. There are also solemn processions and festivities on the days of national and local holidays. The street is a very beautiful promenade with mansions of the XVIII-XIX centuries.

Antonio Taurino Atonio Ordoñez Museum Located on Plaza de Torros and talks about everything connected with Corrida: from luxurious costumes of matador to advertising posters and photographs of famous battles. The museum bears the name of one of the most outstanding Matadors of Spain, whose career was the basis of the plot of Roman Hemingway "Dangerous Summer."

Botanical Garden of La Concepcion - This is a huge collection of plants from all over the planet. Several thematic routes have been developed in the garden, which are equipped with convenient signs and color indicator. In addition to plants, there are fountains, arbors, sculptural compositions and small mansions, which makes the botanical garden like a romantic park rather than to an exhibition space.

Buses Malaga City Tour. If desired, you can ride on a tourist bus of Malaga. Unlike numerous city travel agencies, which conduct excursions only in English and Spanish, the bus has an audio guide in Russian. You can find out more about excursion buses here.

City Beach Malageeta (La Malagueta) - The central beach of the city, conveniently located relative to urban transport, near trade zones. The beach is perfectly equipped and very convenient for relaxing with the whole family, including for the smallest visitors. The entrance to the water here is very gentle, and the shore is protected from high waves with special stone wave cutters, so the water here is always calm and comfortable for kids.

Entertainment for children on Costa del Sol

Safari Park Selvo-Aventure, ASTEPON

In Safari Park Selwo Aventura) You can see in the natural conditions of inhabitants of different continents and climatic zones of our planet. A huge territory contains over 2000 species. In total, there are 3 zones in the park, two of them are allowed hiking, in the area with predators you can only move in special transport.

For the smallest, a large corner with contact animals is provided. For the convenience of traveling in the vast territory of the park, special tourist transport is circulating. There are VIP-synopement programs, which, in addition to the general tour, include hand gibbon feeding, photographs with a tiger and walking around a territory closed from other visitors. More information about the park can be found here www.selwo.es

Sea Park Selvo-Marina, Benalmaden

Sea park Selwo Marina (Selwo Marina) - Not just a dolphinarium, but a real nursery of marine animals, where, in addition to dolphins, sea cats, crocodiles and other water inhabitants, there is an aviary with Arctic penguins. A colorful show passes here daily, for a fee you can swim in a pool with dolphins and sea cats.

The park is divided into several zones:

• Antille Islands - sea mammals, dolphins and sea seals, arena for daytime performances
• La Ondonada (“gorge”) - sea birds (pelicans, flamingos, heron), there is also a daily show of parrots
• Amazonia - reptiles and amphibians (sea snakes, crocodiles, lizards), as well as predatory fish
• Isla de Yelo ("Ice Island") - a colony of real Arctic penguins

See more detailed information about the park here.

Crocodile park, torremolinos

Crocodile Park (Crocodile Park) Built in the form of an African village. There are small crocodiles that can be photographed with, and huge adult individuals, the largest of which, Pope Paco, reaches about 5 meters in length.

The exposition of the local museum will tell you all the most interesting about the life of crocodiles. In the park, you can observe reptiles in the natural habitat, the process of hunting and feeding is especially impressive. In addition to crocodiles, the park contains flamingos, turtles, ostriches and ducks. You can find out more about the park here.

Butterfly park, Benalmaden

Park of butterflies (Mariposario Del Drago) - These are real tropics where luxurious specimens live from all over the planet. Here you can observe all the stages of insect life, the most exciting of which is the conversion of the doll into a butterfly. Strictly speaking, the butterfly park is a scientific object created by biologists for studying the scabs. In addition to butterflies in the park, you can see other animals: chameleons, iguan and kangaroo. The official website of the park here.

Biopark, Fuenhirola

Bioparc (Bioparc) - Thismatic animal park, which is divided into 4 zones:

• Africa
• Madagascar
• Southeast Asia
• Pacific region

In the zones, the natural conditions of each region are recreated and the species of animals that live there are collected. There are no cells in the park, different species of animals coexist in one territory, just like they are adjacent to a natural environment.

The creators of the park tried to reproduce all natural ecosystems as accurately as possible, so that visitors to the park create an illusion of complete immersion in the world of tropical flora and fauna. Also in the park, various ideas are held with the participation of animals and circus artists. You can see more about the park here.

Entertainment Park of Tivoli, Benalmaden

Park of attractions Tivoli World (Tivoli World) This is the largest entertainment park along the entire coast of Costa del Sol. There is everything that relies on a large thematic park: over 40 fascinating attractions from babies to American slides, breathtaking, restaurants and souvenir shops, national and thematic shows, growth dolls and performances for the smallest. For more details, consider the park of the park and find out everything about its entertainment can here.

Water park Aqualend, Torremolinos

Aqualand water park (Aqualand) - This is the largest water park on the coast, which is located in a large territory near Torremolinos. In addition to a large number of water attractions, there are pools with an artificial sea wave, large jacuzzi baths, a diving school and a special deep-sea pool, artificial rivers and entire water towns for babies. Find out additional information, see the cost and purchase tickets here.

Water park Mikhas, Fuenhirola

Water park (Parque Aquatico Mijas) Modest in size than aqualand, but it is cheaper and there are fewer queues in it. There is everything you need for a comfortable rest with the whole family: 10 attractions, a restaurant and a picnic site, a game room for the smallest, a locker room and a souvenir store. In the park, shows and interactive performances are held. Detailed information can be found out here.

Cable Park Aventure Amazonia, Marbella

Cable Park Aventura Amazonia Marbella) - This is the only one in its kind park on the entire coast. There are 6 routes of various levels of complexity. The lightest route is laid for children of 4-6 years old, the most difficult is paved at an altitude of 9 meters and includes a real tarzanka, a bridge of trousers and even air surfing, in addition to standard suspended obstacles.

All routes of the park are equipped with the most modern safety equipment, a thoughtful carbine system gives a 100% security guarantee, and before starting the route, mandatory briefing is carried out. There is a children's club in the park where my parents can leave the kids under the supervision of experienced nannies. Russian -speaking version of the official site here.

Other parks Costa del Sol

• Park Volkov Lobo Park (Lobo Park) - observation of the life of real wild wolves of Andalusia in natural conditions; night excursions are organized; site www.lobopark.com
• Park Oslov Ankraa (Ankraa) - nursery of unique donkeys of the Andaluz breed, website www.ancraa.org
  Donkey shelter (Ei Refugio del Burrito) under Malaga - a traditional Andaluz farm among a picturesque nature, site www.elrefugiodelburito.com

Where can I go from Costa del Sol?

Resting at the resorts of Costa del Sol, you can go to other famous cities of Andalusia province.

Seville, the capital of Andalusia

• Hiralda - Muslim mosque of the XII century with a sighting site at the top
• Cathedral of Sevillein which the tombstone of Christopher Columbus and the unique canvases of Francisco Goya are stored
• Alkasar castle - A delightful architectural monument, which includes the Moorish walls, throne rooms, unique tapestries and objects of art, as well as the famous Moorish gardens

• Old Jewish quarter Santa Cruz - the atmospheric part of the old city with characteristic narrow streets and Gothic buildings
• Spanish area - one of the most beautiful squares in Andalusia - and the park surrounding her Park Maria Louise
  Museum Archive India, which has gathered an extensive collection of objects related to the period of conquering both America

Granada

• Alhambra - one of the most amazing castles of the Andalusia of the era of Mauritan domination
• Alcasseria - Muslim quarter and indoor market, a very colorful area that retained the entire flavor of the Arabic era of the region
• Abbey Sacromont - A male monastery on Mount Valparaiso, a beautiful architecture, an interesting museum of religion and amazing views of the surroundings from the top of the mountain

• R aion Albaysin - typical medieval quarter, the oldest part of the city
• Park of Sciences - Modern interactive museum of natural sciences
• Madrasah - Monument to early medieval Arab architecture, in which Muslim University was located before the reconkist
• Palaceio Dar al-Orra (Translated from the Arabic “Queen’s House”) is the residence of Muslim rulers, then part of the Catholic monastery. The palace is remarkable in that it has perfectly preserved interior decoration and interiors since the time of Arabic domination

Cordoba (Cordoba)

• Old Roman bridge - pedestrian zone on the Guadalquivir River
• Kalaorra tower - defensive construction of Arab times, in which in our time the museum of three cultures (Muslims, Jews, Christians) is located in our time)
• Alcazar - The former residence of the Caliph, after the reconkista residence of the Spanish kings, is now the historical museum, in which you can get acquainted with the amazing history of the region, and also look at the instruments of torture of the holy Inquisition, which, according to historians, was most rampant in Spain of Spain

• Cathedral of St. Mary - The former mosque converted to a Christian temple is a unique combination of Muslim and Catholic religious architecture
• The synagogue of the Krodov - This is a rare medieval religious structure of the Jews in the style of “Mudehar”, which has reached us in a well -preserved form
• Museum of Fine Arts - A large collection of sculptures, graphics, painting, religious objects of the Renaissance era. The main decoration of the collection is the work of Francisco Goya

• Cathedral Cathedral Meskin - A unique cult place in which the temple of veneration of the Roman gods, the Muslim mosque and finally a Catholic temple were alternately located. Meskin is noteworthy in that each subsequent religious structure was built around existing walls. Thus, both the mosque and the remnants of the Roman temple can be seen today behind the facade of the Catholic Church
• Khudoria - former Jewish medieval quarter, the largest and most preserved medieval quarter of Europe; It is very interesting for walking with its patio-patio and labyrinths of confusing streets

Transport and food for Costa del Sol

Car rental to Costa del Sol

Most vacationers on Costa del Sol prefer to move in a rented car. Since all the main transport nodes are located in Malaga, it is there that the bulk of the rental offices of every taste and wallet are concentrated, and most of them are at the airport. In the city center, the number of offices where you can arrange the car rental is much less. In small offices, prices are lower than in large European holdings. For long-term rental (from 5-6 days), a discount is provided. The highest price level is not the peak of demand, in the summer.

In order to draw up the rental of a car, you need to have a plastic bank card, funds for the deposit (the size of the deposit depends on the lease, the cost of the machine, the type of insurance, etc.), the driver’s license of the international model. The lease may conclude a person over 21-23 years old (the exact age depends on a specific rental company), having a driving experience of at least 1.5-2 years. It is also necessary to draw up insurance; Insurance options, the coverage area and the cost of insurance depend on the internal conditions of the company.

It is important to know that Spain has very high fines of traffic rules. The most frequent types of violations that foreign tourists commit: parking in the wrong place, exceeding the permissible speed, violation of traffic rules, Russians are characterized by fines for the absence of a seat belt.

Kitchen Costa del Sol

The kitchen of Andalusia, which includes the coast of Costa del Sol, combines Arabic and Mediterranean dishes. On the coast, seafoods are very popular, in remote mountainous areas they prefer pork, grown on special feeds.

Traditional dishes of Andalusia, which should be tried on vacation

• Gaspaccio - cold tomato soup, although in some areas of Andalusia it is prepared from bread and onions
• Espetos - Sardins strung on a special skewer, fried on charcoal
• Mohamo - Type of tapas, the main ingredient of which is dried tuna
• Ahoblanko - Cold soup made of water, oil, garlic and bread

• Tortilla - fried potatoes with the addition of onions, meat and spices flooded with an egg
• Peskato Frito - This dish has many varieties, the main essence is fried fish (a method of frying - any) with the addition of a side dish
• Paella - seafood with ham and rice
• Pestenos -honey-anise donuts, legacy of Arabs
• From wines are popular sangria (sweet fruit wine), sherry (white wine), and also cordobes and Granada's fault

Video. Malaga, Costa del Sol

Video. Cordova, Andalusia. Spanish guitar

Video. Flamenko Granada and Seville