Guide to Costa Del Sol

Beaches

With a name like Sunshine Coast, you'd expect the beaches to be pretty impressive. And they are. In fact, once you've seen the Costa's shores here, it's hard to tear yourself away. From dawn till dusk, they'll keep pulling you back to their soft sands like you're on an invisible thread. In Torremolinos and Fuengirola, the lure's especially strong if you love your beaches big and buzzing. In both resorts, cushiony pale sands extend for around seven kilometres, so there's always room to bag a space and stretch out. Better still, there are plenty of watersports and 'chiringuito' beach bars to keep you smiling. Benalmadena's beach is worth talking about, too. Here, the clay-colour sands are broken up by rocks and pebbles, and the prom bubbles with cafes and activities to keep you planted here all day long. The beaches in Estepona, Marbella and Puerto Banus are hot stuff as well, with quiet areas perfect for peaceful sunning and others right in the thick of the action. If you prefer your sands smaller and cuter, then Nerja will be right up your street. Here, rock-framed coves indent the coastline, so you can take your pick and switch your setting almost every day. And just east of the town, you'll find bigger sweeps of golden sand like popular Burriana beach with its cafe-filled promenade. One last thing - the sea along the Costa del Sol is something else, too. Whichever beach or cove you choose, you'll be greeted by gentle Mediterranean rollers perfect for paddling and swimming. And wherever you are, don't miss out on the watersports. From big game fishing to windsurfing, from sailing to water-skiing, the Spanish Med's made to measure for them all.

Eating out

• If you like your food familiar, you'll find homespun flavours along the Costa del Sol. In Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola for instance, the streets and promenades are choc-a-bloc with British-style pubs and expat-owned cafes. We're talking full English breakfasts, roast dinners and steak and kidney pies. There's a good share of British fare in Estepona, Torrox and other resorts, too. All on top of some great international cuisine, perfect if you find yourself hankering after chow mein, tikka or bolognaise. Of course, there's plenty in the way of Spanish food, too. Tapas - those tastebud-tickling titbits - were born in southern Spain. Nerja and Torremolinos' pretty La Carihuela quarter are especially good for early evening tapas treks. Expect slices of 'chorizo' – spicy sausage - 'albonigas' – meatballs in tomato sauce - 'jamon serrano' - salt-cured ham - and deep-fried, lemon-drizzled squid rings. All washed down with ice-cold sangria. The perfect start to a sunny evening. And make room for mains. 'Paella' is the classic – saffron-infused rice mixed with seafood or chicken. Then there's all the succulent fish and seafood plucked from the Med. Cue big juicy prawns. Char-grilled sardines. Tender swordfish and tuna steaks. Some of the best fish dishes can be had at the 'chiringuitos', open-air eateries right on the sands. And if you're hankering after country food, villages like Frigiliana have rustic hideaways specialising in home-cooked favourites like 'gazpacho' – chilled tomato, cucumber and garlic soup - and 'conejo' - tasty wild rabbit. And don't forget the top end of things. In Marbella and Puerto Banus, exclusive Mediterranean restaurants cloak the hillsides while upmarket pizzerias and Spanish eateries overlook the portside. As to drinks, the wines here are really good. For a real taste of the region, try Cordoba's Montilla-Moriles wines or the rich dessert varieties produced near Malaga. And it goes without saying that the sherry from Jerez is first class. Make sure you pop some 'cava', too – just being here's enough reason to crack open this fabulous Spanish fizz.
  
  
• Le Bodeguilla, Frigiliana – Tucked into a sidestreet, this is a gem if ever there was one. Feast on gazpacho and other farmhouse goodies on the quaint outdoor terrace.
  
  
• Casa Juan, Torremolinos - Dig into succulent seafood cooked in traditional Andalucian fashion at this ever-popular eaterie. It's great value, too.
  
  
• Casa Roberto, Fuengirola – This welcoming restaurant is a Fuengirola legend and rustles up treats like fish kebabs amongst others. You can't miss its flower-decked frontage on the Calle Espana.
  
  
• The Spanish Garden, Benalmadena – Steaming paella. Hunger-busting steak and kidney pies. And a kids' menu as long as Benalmadena's front. This Spanish-run favourite will keep the whole family more than happy.
  
  
• Villa Tiberio, Marbella - Bask in the A-lister glow of this prestigious Italian on Marbella's outskirts. Inside, it's like a Roman palace and outside, guests dine on specialities like lobster-stuffed wild mushroom in the romantic Italianate garden.

Nightlife

• Whether you fancy burning the candle at both ends or turning in after a starlit supper, you'll find everything you want on the Costa del Sol. In quieter resorts like Frigiliana, Marbella and Estepona, the vibe's made for laidback lingering and strolling. Nibble on tapas. Sip a sangria at sunset. And pull up a pew at a smart restaurant overlooking the sea. And if you fancy quickening the pace later on, take in a flamenco show or some live jazz. In Nerja meanwhile, quiet restaurants and lively bar shenanigans sit side-by-side, so you can party one night and take things easy the next – Tutti Frutti square's the place for some late night fun. For rip-roaring nightlife though, Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola raise the rafters higher than anywhere else. We're talking enough bars, clubs and pubs to keep even the most devoted socialite happy. In Fuengirola, the hub of the action's down by the waterfront. Here, British pubs, karaoke joints and clubs pumping out house and golden oldies keep the tempo bouncing along. The same's true in Benalmadena. Just make for the aptly-named 24-hour square. It's home to a clutch of dance spots and bars that'll keep you pounding the floor 'til dawn's a distant memory. And there's more of the same down in the marina. This is where the locals tend to head so it's got more of a Spanish vibe going on. And even if you're not geared up for grooving, there's plenty else in the way of sophisticated cocktail bars and quayside cafes. But if you thought Benalmadena was party king, think again. Torremolinos whips the nightlife trophies from right under its nose. After dark, Torremolinos is positively turbo-charged. Its fun-filled streets burst at their sequinned seams with cabaret shows, flamenco nights, karaoke dens and neon-lit disco bars. And there's a great gay scene here, too. And all along the Avenida Palma de Mallorca, warehouse-style palaces blast out house, hip-hop, techno and more. But wherever you lay your hat along this Costa, just remember one thing. The Spanish like to stay up late, so flamenco shows and clubs don't get going till at least 11 or well after midnight respectively. Just set that body clock back a bit and enjoy.
  
  
• Pepe Lopez ,Torremolinos – Strumming guitars. Clacking castanets. And quick-as-a-flash foot stomping. The nightly flamenco shows in this tavern-style venue are top-notch.
  
  
• Jimmy's, Nerja – Hip Spanish beats and European dance tracks reflect the mix of locals and Brits at this hot-to-trot disco. It's empty till 2.30am, so late nights are guaranteed.
  
  
• Torrequebrada Casino, Benalmadena – Don those gladrags for this Bond-like casino. With roulette, blackjack and an army of slots as temptation, you'll need to keep tight hold of your shirt. And there's a Vegas-style show here, too.
  
  
• Palladium, Torremolinos – The jewel in Torremolinos' clubbing scene, this monster-sized haunt has multi-level dancefloors, blinding strobes, go-go dancers and more. And when it all gets too much, you can cool down in the swimming pool.
  
  
• La Notte, Marbella – Strictly for Marbella's stylish, this ever-so-posh bar-restaurant-club is THE place to be seen. Designer-clad crowds bop to cool tunes from 11pm.

Shopping

Calling all shopaholics! Whether you're after bucket and spade bargains or big brand names, the resorts along the Costa del Sol do the lot. In Marbella and Puerto Banus for example, you'll find enough designer-name boutiques and glamorous fashion outlets to keep Victoria Beckham happy. In Torremolinos and Benalmadena, meanwhile, the shopping comes more from the cheap and colourful drawer. On every corner, you'll stumble across tourist traps peddling the Costa's holiday favourites – blue-and-white Andalucian dishes, soft leather bags, straw baskets and endless flamenco shawls, fans and twirling dolls. However, for a shopping mix that covers every base between chic and cheerful and back, Malaga wins bags down. Its marble-paved boulevards play host to famous Spanish department store El Corte Ingles, plus countless high-street fashion chains, antique dens and gift shops. Oh, and don't miss the famous market, the Atarazanas, either. Once a shipyard, this atmospheric jumble of stalls is all giant lobsters and big cheeses stuffed under Moorish archways. And talking of markets, most resorts stage weekly stall-fests hawking everything from fresh fruit to bric-a-brac. Fuengirola boasts the biggest and best. Every Tuesday, hundreds of traders set up shop at the town's Recinto Ferial drawing hordes of hopeful bargain-hunters. If you're after some true holiday treasures though, head inland to places like Ronda, Frigiliana, Granada and Seville. Crammed with authentic Andalucian shops and cottage industries, they're perfect for nabbing special one-offs like woven rugs, hand-painted plates and delicate glassware. And if you fancy something really evocative of Andalucian Spain, grab a bottle of vintage sherry from Jerez.