Costa del Sol Holidays: Resorts, Weather and UK Flights

This stretch of Andalusia suits British travellers who want sunshine without a long journey at either end. Families get very short airport transfers to Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Mijas, which matters with tired children after an early flight. Couples who like culture can base themselves in Málaga, where the Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of Incarnation, the Alcazaba, the Castle of Gibralfaro and the Museo Picasso Málaga sit within walking distance of each other.

If you prefer somewhere smaller and calmer, the eastern towns are worth a look. Nerja and Torrox each have fewer than 22,000 residents, against nearly 600,000 in Málaga, and Nerja has the famous Cueva de Nerja on its doorstep.

Torremolinos and Benalmádena are the closest resorts to Málaga airport, and Benalmádena adds the Castillo Monumento Colomares for a change from the sand. Fuengirola, home to the Castillo de Suel, is a larger town with plenty to see, while La Cala de Mijas and Mijas sit just along the coast. Further west, Marbella is the best-known name and home to the King Abdelaziz Mosque, with Estepona and Manilva beyond it towards Gibraltar.

East of Málaga, Rincón de la Victoria, Torre del Mar, Torrox and Nerja feel more like separate towns than one continuous strip. For a city break combined with a beach, Málaga itself has Playa de La Malagueta alongside its museums, including the Carmen Thyssen Museum and the Museo de Málaga.

The best months are April, May, June, September and November. April is one of the driest months of the year, with three rain days and highs of 23°C, rising to 25°C in May and 28°C in June and September. July and August are the hottest, at 33°C with barely any rain, which suits sunbathers but can feel intense for sightseeing.

October is the wettest month, with around ten rain days, and March is also changeable. Winter is mild rather than hot, with daytime highs of 17°C to 18°C from December to February, so it works for walking and city days. School-holiday weeks are the busiest and usually cost more, so booking early for the summer and Easter holidays gives you the widest choice.

Four airports serving this coast have direct flights from the United Kingdom. Málaga is the main gateway: transfers take about six minutes to Torremolinos, eight to Málaga city, ten to Benalmádena and thirteen to Mijas. Gibraltar is handier for the west, at 23 minutes to Manilva, 32 to Estepona and 51 to Marbella.

Granada airport suits the eastern towns, around 43 minutes from Nerja, 44 from Torrox and 50 from Torre del Mar. Jerez is a further option, about 73 minutes from Manilva. On a package, the transfer is arranged for you, so pick the airport closest to your resort when you compare flights.

A package holiday bundles your flight, hotel and airport transfer into one booking, and when sold as a package it is ATOL-protected. You choose the board basis that suits you, from room only or bed and breakfast through to half board or all inclusive. Families often book holidays to Spain on the Costa del Sol this way because one price covers everything, including the transfer.

On this page you can compare live deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach side by side. If you would rather build your own trip, perhaps around holiday lettings on the Costa del Sol, you can also check hotel prices, compare car hire and see tours and tickets for sights such as the Cueva de Nerja.