Things to do in  Costa del Sol

The enormous prehistoric Nerja Caves (Cuevas de Nerja) boast extensive grottoes, archaeological remains, and the world’s largest column, rising 105 feet (32 meters) up. The cave formations look like organ pipes, and the area’s evidence of human habitation stretches back 25,000 years to the Paleolithic Period. Galleries display artifacts, paintings, and skeletons unearthed since the caves were discovered in 1959.

Extending from the foothills of Sierra de Mijas Mountains to Spain’s Costa del Sol, Benalmádena is a town in three parts. The whitewashed mountainside pueblo offers a glimpse into old Andalusia, while Benalmádena Costa features sunny beaches and a lively nightlife. Arroyo de la Miel comprises the residential area in between.

History and culture come together in Almuñécar, one of the Costa Tropical’s most appealing destinations. Admire the ruins of a Roman aqueduct, stroll through a Phoenician necropolis, and visit the 16th-century San Miguel Castle, before lounging on one of the town’s two dozen beaches or hiking into the surrounding hills.

Celebrated for its Insta-worthy rocktop setting overlooking the Mediterranean, Salobrena is one of Andalucia’s prettiest pueblos blancos (white villages). With its whitewashed Old Town and Moorish castle perched above a modern strip lined with beaches, this spot on Spain’s Costa Tropical offers the perfect mix of sun, sea, and classic Andalucia.

If you want a break from Marbella’s beach resort scene, head to the Casco Antiguo (Old Town) to see Marbella’s traditional side. Boutiques, restaurants, and souvenir shops line pretty streets full of whitewashed buildings and colorful blooms. It's the ideal spot for a leisurely wander, tapas, or ice cream minus the Marbella bling.

Medieval Frigiliana is a typically Andalusian pueblo blanco (white town) in the hills east of Málaga above the vacation paradise of Costa del Sol. Guarded by the remains of the 9th-century Moorish Lízar Castle, the village rises from its cliffside promenade and offers far-reaching panoramas of the Mediterranean coast.

Selwo Aventura brings a bit of Africa to Spain’s Costa del Sol. A departure from a typical zoo, this wild animal park—the largest in Spain—houses animals in naturalistic habitats. Among the park’s residents are lions, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, gazelle, elephants, monkeys, and several bird species in Europe’s largest aviary.

When in Marbella, join the locals in going for a stroll along Paseo Maritimo, a wide path that extends along the coastline. Ocean views plus restaurants, shops, arcades, and people watching all draw sunseekers to this waterfront promenade. It extends for about 4 miles (6 kilometers) out from the fishing port of Marbella toward Puerto Banús. Expect to see sandy beaches, boats bobbing in the harbor, and landmarks such as Marbella’s lighthouse.

Home to more than 200 species, Bioparc Fuengirola provides visitors with an illuminating and immersive journey around the endangered wildlife of the world’s continents. More wildlife reserve than a zoo and focused on conservation and education, the park is composed of recreated natural animal habitats, so you can see them almost as if in the wild in forest, bushland, and jungle settings.