Torremolinos

Probably the most famous coastal town of them all, Torremolinos was the very first town on the Costa del Sol to be developed for tourism during the mid-20th Century.

Like many coastal towns in this region, Torremolinos was originally a fishing village. Now it has become a resort town, with endless amenities.

The town is made up mostly of high-rise apartments. Although the town offers a spectacular climate, it isn’t the most family-friendly destination on the Costa. As a resort town, the hotels, bars, restaurants and nightclubs are always lively, especially during the summer months.

Down by the beach, Torremolinos offers a beautiful promenade, and the chiringuitos are famous for their seafood, including fried fish, sardines cooked on barbecues and traditional paella.

Torremolinos was that pace-setter. In the fledgling days of the package holiday, the resort grew from a quaint and simple fishing village into a thriving holiday resort for the first waves of tourists arriving
fresh off the planes at the nearby Málaga airport. The town's immediacy to Málaga, its 7km of beach and its beautiful climate ensured it quickly became something of a favourite among Northern Europeans; less than a three hour flight away for most, Torremolinos offered tangible tropical-ness, almost year-round warmth and an intriguing peek into the Spanish way of life.

By the 1980s, Torremolinos was most certainly one of the liveliest resorts in Europe, but the proliferation of low air fares and more air routes opened up a greater range of choice for the consumer, and Torremolinos soon fell out of favour with the average holidaymaker seeking fun in the sun. So it set about re-inventing itself. Firstly, the infrastructure was modernised, followed soon by bigger and better hotels and a greater choice of attractions. Soon, Torremolinos became a popular gay resort (it still is) and has, in recent years, augmented itself further, adding family-friendly attractions, traditional charm and a wider choice of commercial and investment opportunities than before.

Then there's the excellent location. Just a couple of kilometres from Málaga airport, Torremolinos is extremely accessible, and boasts arguably the coast's finest stretch of beach and most certainly one of the busiest and most intriguing promenades in the region.