Manilva Holidays: Beaches, Castle and Golf near Gibraltar
Provincia de Málaga · Andalusia · Spain · 13,813 residents · on the coast
Manilva is a small Andalusian town of around 13,800 people in the Provincia de Málaga, set 132 metres above sea level with the coast spread out below it. Within three miles you will find three family beaches, Playa de Sabinillas, Playa Cubanga and Playa de la Chullera, along with the Castillo de Sabinilla and a golf course. For British travellers the practical appeal is plain: Gibraltar airport, which has direct flights from the United Kingdom, is about 23 minutes away by car, and Málaga and Jerez are both within roughly an hour and a quarter. Summers are hot and almost rainless; spring and early autumn are milder.
Why go
- Three family beaches, Sabinillas, Cubanga and La Chullera, all lie within three miles of town.
- Gibraltar airport, with direct UK flights, is only about 23 minutes away by car.
- April to June and September bring highs of 23°C to 28°C with few rainy days.
Top sights in Manilva
Castle, Beaches and a Round of Golf
The most notable sight is the Castillo de Sabinilla, a listed cultural property about 2 miles from the town centre. It sits close to the shore, so it pairs naturally with an afternoon on the sand.
The beaches are the main draw. Playa de Sabinillas is the closest at around 1.6 miles, Playa Cubanga follows at about 1.7 miles, and Playa de la Chullera lies roughly 2.8 miles away. All three suit families. Golfers have a course about 2 miles out of town.
Tours and tickets for the area can be booked directly on this page, where you will find a selection of activities to choose from.
1castle
Playa de la Chullera
beach · 3 miles from the centre
Playa de Sabinillas
beach · 2 miles from the centre
Q2610980
golf course · 2 miles from the centre
Playa Cubanga
beach · 2 miles from the centre
Tours & tickets in Manilva
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Manilva can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Manilva
Hillside Town or Down by the Beaches
Manilva itself sits inland at 132 metres, while its beaches and the castle are spread along the shore between about 1.5 and 3 miles away. Staying in the town gives you a quieter, small-town base of under 14,000 residents; staying near Playa de Sabinillas or Playa Cubanga puts the sand on your doorstep and suits families who would rather walk than drive to the beach.
If you want a larger town around you, Estepona is only 7 miles along the coast. This page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options for your dates.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Manilva and the villages around it is a hire car from Gibraltar (GIB), about 23 min away.
Best time to visit Manilva
When the Weather Works Best
- 17°CJan51 mm
- 17°CFeb51 mm
- 20°CMar103 mm
- 23°CApr11 mm
- 25°CMay29 mm
- 28°CJun24 mm
- 33°CJul1 mm
- 32°CAug3 mm
- 28°CSept31 mm
- 24°COct131 mm
- 21°CNov62 mm
- 18°CDec16 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
April, May, June and September are the most comfortable months. Highs run from 23°C in April to 28°C in June and September, with only two to five rainy days a month, and April is especially dry at around 11 mm of rain.
July and August are the hottest months, reaching 33°C and 32°C with nights around 22°C to 23°C and almost no rain. October is the wettest month, with about 131 mm over 12 rainy days, and March is also damp at around 103 mm. Winter stays mild, with January highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17°C | 9°C | 51 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 17°C | 10°C | 51 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 20°C | 11°C | 103 mm | 9 h |
| Apr | 23°C | 14°C | 11 mm | 12 h |
| May | 25°C | 16°C | 29 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 28°C | 19°C | 24 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 33°C | 22°C | 1 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 32°C | 23°C | 3 mm | 13 h |
| Sept | 28°C | 19°C | 31 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 24°C | 17°C | 131 mm | 9 h |
| Nov | 21°C | 13°C | 62 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 18°C | 9°C | 16 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Long Drive
Three airports with direct flights from the United Kingdom serve Manilva. Gibraltar is the closest at about 17 miles, roughly a 23-minute drive. Málaga is about 47 miles away, around 1 hour 6 minutes by car, and Jerez is about 52 miles, roughly 1 hour 13 minutes. Car hire from any of them makes sense for exploring the beaches and nearby villages.
Driving from Calais takes around 25 hours at the wheel, so most people will split it over several days. The nearby ferry ports, Algeciras at 20 miles, Tarifa at 32 miles and Málaga at 52 miles, run routes to Morocco rather than the UK, which makes them useful for an excursion to Tangier or Ceuta rather than for the journey from home.
By air
- Gibraltar (GIB)17 miles, about 23 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Málaga (AGP)47 miles, about 1 h 6 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Jerez (XRY)52 miles, about 1 h 13 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 24 h 48 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Algeciras (20 miles), Tarifa (32 miles), Málaga (52 miles).
Manilva is good for
Around Manilva
Villages and Towns Within Easy Reach
Casares is the closest outing, just 5 miles away, and Estepona, a much larger town of around 67,000, is 7 miles along the coast. Inland, the small villages of Gaucín at 11 miles and Genalguacil at 12 miles, with a few hundred to under 2,000 residents each, make a contrast with the shore.
Castellar de la Frontera is also about 12 miles away, San Roque around 14 miles, and both Benahavís and La Línea de la Concepción roughly 16 miles. With Algeciras and Tarifa close by, a ferry day to Morocco is possible too.
Tips from Robin
Practical Points Before You Go
The town sits 132 metres up, and the beaches are 1.5 to 3 miles away, so plan on a car or local transport rather than assuming you can stroll down to the sea from the centre.
Manilva is small, at under 14,000 residents. For a wider choice of shops and evenings out, Estepona is just 7 miles away. If you are travelling in October, pack for rain: it is the wettest month by a clear margin, with around 12 rainy days.
Questions people ask
Which airport is closest to Manilva?
Gibraltar is the nearest, about 17 miles away and roughly a 23-minute drive, and it has direct flights from the United Kingdom. Málaga, about 47 miles and just over an hour away, and Jerez, about 52 miles and around 1 hour 13 minutes, also have direct UK flights.
Does Manilva have good beaches for children?
Yes. Three beaches suited to families lie close to town: Playa de Sabinillas at about 1.6 miles, Playa Cubanga at about 1.7 miles and Playa de la Chullera at around 2.8 miles. The Castillo de Sabinilla is also near the shore, about 2 miles away.
What is the weather like in Manilva in summer?
Hot and dry. July reaches highs of around 33°C and August 32°C, with nights of 22°C to 23°C and almost no rain. June and September are a little gentler at about 28°C, which is why they feature among the most pleasant months.
When is the rainiest time to visit Manilva?
October is the wettest month, with about 131 mm of rain over roughly 12 rainy days. March is also damp at around 103 mm. By contrast, April sees only about 11 mm, and July and August are almost completely dry.
Can I play golf near Manilva?
Yes, there is a golf course about 2 miles from the town centre, close to the coast and the Castillo de Sabinilla. It makes Manilva a practical base for a holiday that mixes golf with time on the nearby beaches.
What day trips can I take from Manilva?
Casares is only 5 miles away and Estepona 7 miles. Inland villages such as Gaucín and Genalguacil are 11 to 12 miles off, while San Roque, Benahavís and La Línea de la Concepción are all within about 16 miles. Ferries to Morocco leave from nearby Algeciras and Tarifa.