Polynesia Costa del Sol: Resorts, Sights and When to Go

This is a long, built-up holiday coast with a proper city at its heart. Málaga, home to nearly 600,000 people, gives the region its cathedral, museums and Moorish fortresses, while the resorts strung along the shore either side range from lively Torremolinos to Marbella and the quieter whitewashed feel of Nerja to the east.

When people ask about things to see on the Costa del Sol, the answer is more varied than a beach list. You have the Alcazaba of Málaga and the Castle of Gibralfaro above the old town, the Roman Theatre of Malaca at their foot, the Cueva de Nerja in the east, Castillo de Suel in Fuengirola and the Castillo Monumento Colomares in Benalmádena. It is easy to mix lazy beach days with a morning of culture.

For the places to go on the Costa del Sol, start with location. Torremolinos and Benalmádena sit right by Málaga airport and suit short breaks and families who want a quick transfer; Benalmádena adds the Castillo Monumento Colomares. Fuengirola, with its Castillo de Suel, and La Cala de Mijas, below the town of Mijas, are popular with British travellers staying a week or a fortnight.

Further west, Marbella is the best-known name on the coast, with the King Abdelaziz Mosque among its places of interest, and Estepona and Manilva are calmer and closer to Gibraltar. East of Málaga, Rincón de la Victoria, Torre del Mar, Torrox and Nerja feel more relaxed, and Nerja's cave is one of the region's most visited sights.

If you want culture as much as sand, Málaga city itself is a strong base: Museo Picasso Málaga, the Carmen Thyssen Museum, the Museo de Málaga and Playa de La Malagueta are all within reach of the centre.

Measured at Fuengirola, the best months are April, May, June, September and November. April and May bring highs of 23 to 25°C with only three or four rainy days, and September holds at 28°C. July and August are the hottest, around 33°C with barely any rain, ideal for pool-and-beach holidays but warm for sightseeing.

October is the wettest month, with around 117mm of rain over ten days, so pack a jacket. Winter stays mild: December and January highs sit at 17 to 18°C, which makes the coast a fair choice for a Costa del Sol New Year or New Year's Eve break, with December averaging just four rainy days. School holidays push up demand, so booking early for summer and half-term is sensible.

All four airports serving this coast have direct flights from the United Kingdom. Málaga (AGP) is the main gateway and the closest to most resorts: around 6 minutes to Torremolinos, 8 to Málaga city, 10 to Benalmádena and 13 to Mijas.

For the western end, Gibraltar (GIB) is about 23 minutes from Manilva, 32 from Estepona and 51 from Marbella, while Jerez (XRY) is roughly 73 minutes from Manilva. Heading east, Granada (GRX) puts you about 43 minutes from Nerja, 44 from Torrox and 50 from Torre del Mar. On a package holiday the transfer is included, so these drive times are effectively your journey from arrivals to your hotel.

Most British travellers book flight, hotel and transfer together, choosing a board basis from self-catering to all inclusive. On this page you can compare package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach, so anyone searching for Jet2 Costa del Sol holidays can see them side by side with the alternatives.

You can also check hotel prices if you prefer to book separately, browse tours and tickets for sights such as the Alcazaba or the Cueva de Nerja, and compare car hire if you want to explore beyond your resort.