The ever popular resort of Torremolinos was the first of The Costa del Sol’s former fishing villages to be developed for tourism which led to the area’s tourist boom in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Today it consists mainly of high-rise hotels and apartment blocks spread out in all directions. In spite of the ‘concrete jungle’ feel to the place it has an excellent infrastructure for tourism which attracts repeat visitors year after year.
Modern day Torremolinos can be thought of as two distinct areas consisting of the town centre is a busy commercial area which historically was the first part of the town to be developed. Then there’s the more attractive area of La Carihuela to the west which is popular with many visitors at it has much more of a ‘Spanish feel’ to it. Particularly quaint are the charming fishermen’s cottages which have survived the test of time and the traditional houses with their bougainvillea covered patios. A nice way to get a feel for the place is to join the many other holidaymakers walking along the promenade (‘Paseo Maritimo’) which runs all the way along the seafront from Playamar to La Carihuela. The walk is flat and offers lovely sea views along the way, time it right and you can stop for lunch at one of the highly recommended seafront fish restaurants which you’ll come across along the way. If you’d like to walk further you can continue on as far as the marina at Benalmadena.
Things to do in Torremolinos
For the more adventurous holidaymaker there are plenty water sport activities available all along the beaches including water skiing, windsurfing and even paragliding. From the beach back to the town centre is a bit of a climb so it is a good idea to make use of the numerous beach hut restaurants (chiringuitos) at lunch time and be sure to sample some of the local specialities of sardines done on the barbeque, paella and fried fish (pescaitos fritos).
Other activities which are available in the area are pony trekking and mountain biking in the hills, a huge aquapark with water slides, artificial waves and swimming pools, the Sea Life aquarium in Benalmadena and the nearby Tivoli world amusement park. There are also many world-class golf courses around the area making this the ideal spot for a golfing and beach holiday.
Famous for its great weather, Torremolinos is sheltered by the Sierra de Mijas mountains creating a micro climate of over 320 days of sunshine per year and an average temperature of 22ºC which means that even in winter there is not a lot of need for heavy jumpers and coats. Summer temperatures seldom fall below about 30ºC.
Nowadays Torremolinos is very much associated with the idea of fun in the sun and it has enough variation to suit more than just the young set looking for night clubs, pubs and discos. In summer it is also a place which appeals to families. Many holiday companies offer very cheap deals in the winter months which gives the more mature people the opportunity to enjoy the mild weather and escape the northern European winter.
For those wishing to explore the area by public transport there is a half-hourly train service between Malaga and Fuengirola and an efficient bus service along the coast in general.
Torremolinos Beaches
The beaches around Torremolinos are clean and sandy and tend to be wider and longer than many others on the Costa del Sol which has helped contribute to its popularity as a resort. To the west end of town is La Carihuela which still has some fishermen’s cottages and which is famous for having some of the best fish restaurants on the Costa del Sol and to the east stretches Playamar beach. Whilst they do tend to get busy during the peak summer months of July and August there is always some space to be found for the sun worshippers to lie and soak up the sun.
Our Recommended Hotels in Torremolinos
Torremolinos offers the wide range of hotels you would expect to find in any Spanish holiday resort ranging from 4 star luxury hotels to the cheaper budget options. One consideration you must have is whether you want to be in the town centre or nearer the beach. The town centre hotels have the advantage that they are near the train station which means they are are very accessible from the airport and provide an ideal location for exploring Torremolinos and for shopping. They will however be about 800 or 900 metres from the beach.
The long established and ever popular Hotel Sol Don Pedro is a 4-star establishment which is part of a trio of hotels operated by the same group. It is located right on the seafront with easy access to the main resort. Popular with families thanks partly to the excellent entertainment provided for adults and children alike. Another member of the trio is the Hotel Sol Don Marco which is equally well situated with very good facilities. And last but not least is the Hotel Sol Don Pablo which is another beachfront hotel well suited to family holidays.
Located near the train station in the commercial centre of Torremolinos is the Gran Hotel Cervantes which offers large comfortable rooms with balconies overlooking a main square. The hotel has two swimming pools including one on the roof. A nice option in the town centre of Torremolinos is the Roc Hotel Flamingo which has a swimming pool surrounded by a lovely sun terrace a restaurant overlooking the Avenida.
