Best beaches in Malaga | Beach tour of Andalusia
The Costa del Sol is one of the best coastlines in Europe. This is a list of the top 10 best beaches in Malaga. Andalusia will count about 300 days of sun per year, the opposite amount you have in London. That’s why you will call this part of Spain the Sun Coast. The Malaga coastline is blessed with some of the best beaches in Spain, with the finest sand and long beaches. Discover the beaches of Andalusia, travelling to Torremolinos, Marbella, and Fuengirola from Malaga.
It is worth visiting Malaga, even just for a weekend. Some of the best Costa del Sol beaches are in Malaga and around. Discover the best Malaga beach Resorts on Playa la Malagueta or La Misericordia Beach. Travel easily from Malaga to Nerja beach, enjoy the Waterfall in the Sea and the nature of Southern Spain. Those are the best beaches in Costa del Sol.
The list of the top 10 beaches in Malaga and around
- HOW TO REACH PUERTO BANÚS
- PLAYA LA CALETA
- PLAYA MISERICORDIA | Malaga Spain Beaches
- PLAYA DE HUELIN | Also called as Playa de San Andrès
- PLAYA DE GUADALMAR
- PLAYA DE CHULLERA | Best Spanish beaches
- CABOPINO | Best beach in Spain
- MARO BEACH | Beaches in Spain
- BURRIANA BEACH | Best beaches in the South of Spain
- BIL-BIL | Malaga beaches photos
- ESTEPONA | Best beaches in Malaga
- Nerja beach | Waterfall into the Sea
Discover the beaches of Andalusia, travelling to Torremolinos, Marbella, and Fuengirola from Malaga. Spend your spring break in Malaga. Some of the best Costa del Sol beaches are in Malaga and around. So take your drink and run to the beach. The temperature in Costa del Sol is high, especially in the summertime.
This is the top list of the best cities in Andalusia. If you love Spain, you will also love our list of the best beaches in Ibiza and the off the beaten track itinerary of Ibiza. We tried to fill a complete list of the best nightclub in the Spanish Isla Bonita.
In the list of the top 10 beaches in Malaga, there is Playa la Malagueta, Playa la Misericordia, and the area of El Palo. Around Malaga, you can visit Torremolinos, Marbella or even Puerto Banus, all easily reachable by train from the city centre of Malaga. The station is Maria Zambrano.
Is it your first time in Malaga? Book your free walking tour here.
Malaga has some of the best beaches of Andalusia
We always talk with our friends about our best road trip in Spain. This one was epic and had rich memories. It has made us want to come back to Andalusia, and we did it. We’re now living in Spain, acting like locals and staying on the beach. This list is a way to share with you our life abroad and see the finest beaches of Malaga with the eyes of the locals and not anymore like tourists. We often answer questions like “Which are the best beaches in Malaga?”.
We always answer with two of them, Playa Malagueta and La Misericordia. Even if in Malaga, some other beaches are fantastic such as El Palo or La Caleta. A few kilometres away from Malaga, there’s Nerja, where you can see one of the best natural phenomena. Visiting Nerja, you can’t miss seeing the Maro Waterfall, the river’s end into the Sea.
In deep guide of the best beaches in Malaga
If you want to contribute to this guide, send us an email. Please give us your personal reviews on some beaches or upgrade this list. We are always open, and also we are delighted to help you plan your trip there.
It has been tough to choose the 12 best beaches in Malaga for us. However, all the Costa del Sol is excellent and has some of the best beaches in Europe for us.
Now is time for a drink. Do you know how to ask for a beer in Spanish? Una Cerveza por favor!
Malaga Best Beaches Map
TOP TEN BEACHES IN MALAGA
PLAYA LA MALAGUETA
Playa la Malagueta is the nearest beach to the city centre. It is the first beach on our list because when you are talking about Malaga in Summer, you mean to the city’s main beach. Malagueta beach in Malaga is the central coastline of the town. La Malagueta is the most beloved Malaga beach where everyone is going after work. The sandy promenade is crowded in the summer. Planning your Andalusia Itinerary, you need to include this beach. It could be your first place to visit, especially in the summertime when the temperatures go over 30 degrees.
Walking through the white seaport of Malaga, Muelle 2, then head over to the Lighthouse and find the fantastic beach of La Malagueta. Even if you plan a weekend in Malaga, visiting la Malagueta will be the best way to enjoy your short holidays.
The closest beach to the city centre of Malaga
La Malagueta is close to the city centre. In just 10 minutes, going through the seaport and the harbour, you will find the finest sand. The locals love this beach, a strip of sand of over 1Km length. Suppose you don’t like to be too many hours under the sun. You can find a spot under the palm trees. Just on the side of the beach, there are a few spots like an oasis in the desert. Malagueta is the first in our list of top 10 beaches in Malaga. It looks like a South American beach and is rich in beach bars. Just one minute away from houses, restaurants, and resorts.
How to reach Playa La Malagueta from the City Centre?
As we said before, Playa La Malagueta is easy to reach from the city centre. You don’t need to rent a car or take public transport. From Plaza de la Constitucion, the main square of Malaga, follow the main street, towards the seaport. Once you see the Lighthouse, you must follow the harbour shopping way. Enjoy the view.
If you rent a car and want to park it close to the beach, try to go just in the direction of the Gibralfaro. Here you can find a spot for your car in the many tiny streets. It’s easy to understand the directions, point yourself behind the buildings on the seaside. The parking cost just 1 euro, but it is not easy to find a spot. The parking is until 8 pm, and you can park for free everywhere. From 2 to 4 the parking is free as well.
For a lot of people, Malaga is comparable to Barcelona. It is a paradise for expatriates.
PLAYA PUERTO BANÚS | Best beaches Spain
The beach of Puerto Banus is close to Malaga. Situated in the city of Marbella, it is one of the reach parts of Andalusia. As the locals call the beach, it is playa Puerto Banus. Here you will find a lot of yachts, and it seems to be the Montecarlo of Spain for the concentration of millionaires. Puerto Banus is unique and needs to be on the list of the top 10 beaches in Malaga. The beaches are well organized with all kinds of water sports. Stroll around the coastline and visit it at sunset for the best landscape ever.
Stop by one of the dozens of chiringuitos on the promenade. But, be ready to pay a little more, the prices are a bit inflated due to the reputation of the area and the visitors.
HOW TO REACH PUERTO BANÚS
In your Andalusia itinerary, you need to plan a visit to Puerto Banus because it has some of the best beaches in Andalucia.
It is easy to arrive in Puerto Banus from Malaga. It will take you just 15 minutes from the city centre by car. You can reach Marbella by public transport as well. One way with the bus will cost you just 1 euro and 50 cents. If you are on a budget, we advise you to visit just Purto Banus for a nice swim and a great walking on the promenade. Then, come back to Malaga for lunch or dinner; it could be hazardous for your wallet.
Best Spain beaches
PLAYA LA CALETA
Between Baños del Carmen and La Malagueta is another beach awarded the blue flag. It is not away from the city centre of Malaga and is rich in beach bars and restaurants. This beach is also not that far from Malagueta, the first beach on our list. All around the sandy beach, there is the Pablo Ruiz Picasso promenade. Over the years, it has been regenerated. It is a long beach of dark sand. The beach is around 1 Km long.
La Caleta beach Malaga is very close to the city centre. Just a few minutes away from the old quarter of the city. The beach is equipped with sunbeds and some watersports. Around the beach, you will find luxury villas, mansions, and fabulous resorts. It is on the list of quiet beaches near Malaga, and you will find a lot of families.
Every summer on this side of Malaga, there is a kind of Sea Theme Park, with water games open to everybody and adults. If you are looking for a fun way to spend your summer in Malaga, Playa la Caleta has some unusual activities.
PLAYA MISERICORDIA | Malaga Spain Beaches
The Misericordia beach Malaga is 10 minutes away from the city centre, it is on the Carretera de Cádiz in Malaga. If you follow Playa de Guadalhorce, you will find it between the Playa de Huelin. Playa Misericordia is another blue flag beach in Spain. It is a long beach with a small width, just 30 meters, and often has a swell tide. Because this beach is close to the Malaga Seaport, locals have known it for the big waves as “La ola del Melillero”.
Head at the Misericordia beach Malaga if you want to try the watersports and enjoy the rental services for hammocks and parasols.
PLAYA DE HUELIN | Also called as Playa de San Andrès
This is a tiny beach compared to the closest beach of La Misericordia. The Playa de Huelin, located in the named Quarter of Malaga, is also called Playa de San Andrès. This beach strap is the closest one to the seaport of Malaga, and because of that, the water is not always as good. In the late afternoon in summer, people commonly start to build a beach volley pitch. There are many bars and restaurants along this beach, about 200 metres from the shoreline. Check some information more on the official website of the beaches of Malaga.
PLAYA DE GUADALMAR
The Playa de Guadalmar is a local beach that just locals know. It is tough to find tourists in this area due is across an industrial and commercial district of Malaga. It is just on the Coast of the Airport, so it is so easy to get an aircraft flying over your head while on the beach. The Playa de Guadalmar is also one of the wildest beaches in Malaga. If you are willing to discover some of the best secret beaches of Malaga and Costa del Sol, visit Playa de Guadalmar.
You will also find two other zones over the regular beach in this area. First, there is a nudist area that indicates before the entrance. The other area is reserved for Kitesurfing; this area will be perfect for photographing landscapes on a windy day. Did you read about our guide on Kitesurfing in Tarifa?
PLAYA DE CHULLERA | Best Spanish beaches
This fantastic beach is in Manilva municipality, in the provinces of Cadiz, just between this city and Malaga. It is not a long beach, mainly stony and amongst rocky outcrops.
This is on the list of the top beaches in Spain because of the clear waters ideal for snorkelling and spearfishing. Popular among locals because really quiet and without tourists. It is an ideal spot for relaxing, especially during the weekdays or the weekend. It could be loads of locals and families in summer. Add this place to your Malaga beaches map and visit it as soon. It has just one chiringuito, serving as restaurants as well.
FUENGIROLA BEACH | Beaches near Malaga Spain
Thirty minutes away from Malaga, there is the small town of Fuengirola. This little town becomes very popular during the summertime, on the planned holiday time in July and August. Fuengirola has the best beaches in Southern Spain and has one of the best beach towns in Spain. Over 7 Kilometers of sand divided into seven beaches.
It has similar amenities to South American beaches with many Chiringuitos, shops, and restaurants. You will find all kinds of water sports and do a lot of activities. The promenade of Fuengirola is one of the longest in Spain, and it has the best beach in front of the region. Try to find the best beaches Marbella are really lovely, and if Fuengirola beaches are crowded, you can find your spot just a few minutes away.
CABOPINO | Best beach in Spain
The new five-star beach on the Malaga coastline. Cabopino beach is becoming one of the most popular destinations in Spain, in Summer, it is overcrowded, and the beach is just 1.5 Km long. Fine sand and fabulous dunes give the sensation to be away from Spain. The dunes of Cabopino has been declared a national monument, and we suggest you check it out as soon. On the dune section, there is a nudist beach. Less than one hour divide Malaga to this beach, you can reach Cabopino from Marbella or Fuengirola in just 15 minutes, also by bus.
We know it is tough to find this beach on the touristic guide of Andalucia. Plan your Andalusia itinerary carefully. This is in the list of the best beaches in Andalucia, and not all the Tour Operator are working in this area because of the lowest amount of accommodations. Give space to Cabopino on your Tour Andalusia bucket list.
Best beaches in Malaga
Torremolinos
We invite you to visit Torremolinos, not just the beach, but also the town. It has one of the beautiful landscapes in the South of Spain. The beach in Torremolinos is a stretch of Sand of 7 Km divided into six beaches.
Torremolinos is a town resort, and it is also one of the oldest and well-known towns favourite by Americans and English tourists. On the promenade of Torremolinos and all around the rocks, there is a wide range of hotels and restaurants with a beautiful sea view. In the hottest months of July and August, it is overcrowded, and the price is going up and finding park space is difficult. If you are planning to spend a day trip here, be ready. Torremolinos need to be on your list of day trips, walking through the paseo marítimo or taking just a minute walk.
TIPS | parking is tricky if you rent a car and plan to head to Torremolinos driving. Try to find a parking space at the top of the hill.
The best coast line in Spain
There are some small streets, close to the residential area where finding parking is relatively easy (not in summer, obviously), and somewhere you need to pay for the ticket, just 1 euro for an hour until 9 pm. There are white stripes on the surface in some other streets where the parking is free of charge all the time.
Plan to go to Torremolinos by bus, it will take just a bit longer, but you don’t need to think about parking space and ticket fee, and you will enjoy all the fantastic seaside landscape along the Malaga coastline.
The bus ticket will cost you just 1.50 euro and pick you up from the central train station and bus station, close to Malaga city. The bus is running until 11 pm, with some changes just at the weekend where they will run until late at night.
MARO BEACH | Beaches in Spain
This fantastic beach is close to the town of Nerja, is the favourite among locals. So if you like to do snorkelling, this is the place for you, but be careful, fishing in this area is banned, and thanks to this law, the site is abounding of marine sea life, ideal for discovering the deep Mediterranean water.
If you want to dedicate your holiday to water sport, the beach of Maro has a lot of opportunities. Kayaks are rentable, ready to take you around the alluring craggy coastline. It is considered one of the best beaches in Malaga, even if it is like 1 hour away from Malaga city.
You can plan to visit Maro on a day trip from Malaga to the coastline in the direction of Almeria. Maro beach is just a few minutes away from Nerja Malaga beaches. The tour Andalusia could have here a couple of days off because it is one of the quiet places on the Malaga side.
BURRIANA BEACH | Best beaches in the South of Spain
Just a few minutes away from Maro beach, there is Nerja. Plana full day trip to the best beaches in South Spain in Nerja. The little town of Nerja has some of the best beaches in the Malaga province. Burriana beach is one of the most popular, and it is just less than 1 km long with a fantastic landscape looking at the Sea and the back on a mountainous backdrop.
Burriana beach is also one of the most equipped Andalusia beaches, with an extensive range of watersports available. You can easily rent pedalos, Kayaks and also Jet skis. You can rent even boat visits and guided travel from here. There is an enormous range of choices on the promenade, where also you can find a wide selection of restaurants, bars and tapas places.
Stop in Burian Beach, one of the Best Beaches in the South of Spain. Eat the best paella with Sangria and relax on the sandy beach for an hour.
BIL-BIL | Malaga beaches photos
It is just 12 km away from Malaga city; it has a recognizable Arabic style. That’s why the strange name of this beach. Bil-Bil has a dark sand beach and is small. You will find the Arabic Castle where the beach takes its name on the rock.
BIL- BIL is located in the town of Benalmádena
Bil-Bil is around 20 minutes away from Malaga and is the quietest even in summertime, where beaches as Torremolinos or Marbella are overcrowded. You have some excellent options of where to eat, with many good restaurants with Spanish specialities.
This place is also not on the Tour Operators list, but you need to put it in your bucket to experience the best of this part of the Southern Coast of Spain has to offer. It is inevitably on the list of best beaches in Andalucia and on your Tour Andalusia pathway. So take your beach chairs and enjoy the sun.
ESTEPONA | Best beaches in Malaga
This place answers the most common question about “which is the best beach in Malaga”. Estepona Beach is the best and most organized. Estepona Beach is a long beach a few minutes away from Malaga city. It is a sandy beach with some parts of it full of shingles. However, Estepona is not just a fantastic beach but also one of the prettiest towns on the Malaga Coast.
The wide range of fish and prepared seafood dishes make it the best option for delicate palates.
All the chiringuitos on the beach will cook fresh fish and seafood; the popular dish is the barbecued sardines, served fresh fished by local fishermen. Estepona beach is top-rated among locals, and it has been known by travel tourists and people coming from the internal area of Granada. You can get here by car from Malaga city in about an hour, or using public transport with a direct bus from the city centre.
Nerja beach | Waterfall into the Sea
This is one of the most suggestive beaches near Malaga. The Waterfall into the Sea close to Nerja Beach is a must-do in your Costa del Sol visit. It is a proper waterfall, going directly into the Sea. A spectacular natural landscape, unique and extraordinary. You can reach the Waterfall of Nerja, renting a Kayak to the near beach. In the summertime, this place is crowded but worth to be visited. Take your go pro or camera with you.
If you think this list is not complete enough, we are on the same vision; there are always new places that can participate in the list of the best beaches in Malaga. Cutting some of the best beaches in Malaga was hard, but we have tried to give some direction to who is planning the first trip to Andalusia.
It could be cheap if you don’t plan to rent a car, there is efficient public transport, taking you just from Malaga city bus station. The bus ticket price is low, some of it just cost 1,50 euro. The food is also really cheap. Suppose you don’t plan to eat in an exclusive restaurant in Marbella or Torremolinos or more worst, Puerto Banùs. Feel free to ask for advice and suggestions about planning your road trip, and don’t forget to read our guide on how to organize your road trip.
Best places to stay in Malaga
Where to stay in Malaga Spain
OLD TOWN | ROOFTOP BAR
Hotel Larios is the perfect place to stay in Malaga. Located in the heart of the city centre, a few minutes away from the Cathedral and many important sights, Hotel Larios is the best place to stay in. It has got a rooftop bar where you can enjoy a drink at the end of the day!
If you’re looking to stay longer and wish to have your own space, La Casa de la Alameda is the right place for you. Spacious and comfortable, you can reach the main shopping street within seconds.
MORE ITINERARIES ABOUT MALAGA
What to see in Malaga | Discover all the things to do and see in Malaga
Malaga VS Seville | In-Deep guide of which Spanish city you should visit
Reasons why Malaga is worth visiting | Here, we explain all the reasons why you should visit Malaga
Best day trips from Malaga | Explore the surrounding area of Malaga
Malaga free walking tours | Visit Malaga for free
Photos that will inspire you to visit Andalusia | Explore the south of Spain with our photos
Spain Bucket List | All the experiences you should do in Spain
Suggested Link | https://www.globosurfer.com/best-beginner-stand-paddle-boards/
I love the country of spain and have been to a vast portion of it. However, I have never been down to the Costa del Sol/ Malaga area. That is crazy that they have 300 days of sun…I love summer and am definitely a child of the sun! I often talk with my family up in Leon, in Northern Spain and they are always talking about Maro Beach so I am definitely going to have to explore that amid all of the other best beaches in Malaga that you mention!
I have only spent 1.5 days in Spain (in Barcelona), so I have never had the pleasure of visiting what appears to be some truly amazing beaches! They all look like an amazing place to relax and play in the water. My kids would really enjoy this area.
It really looks amazing and especially with kids, it’s a quiet area where families can enjoy.
Those are definitely amazing beaches. I wouldn’t be surprised if I can’t control myself and just rush into the water. Hehehe! We have some similar beaches like that here in the Philippines.
Yes, I can completely understand if you want to rush into the water. We are thinking to do a trip to Asia, and the Philippines look nice to come.
I can’t believe I haven’t explored much of Spain, especially with it being so close to the UK. Just a hop, skip and a jump! The long stretch of sandy beaches are beautiful and so accessible too. 300 days of sun … did I read that correctly! What’s incredible about these beaches, is that they’re not even crowded and look so relaxing. I can just imagine finding a quiet spot by the beach with a cocktail and watching the sun go down. 🙂
I am not a huge “sit on a beach” girl, but I love looking at beaches. I also love the cafes and bars and ice cream stores that seem to be all around European beaches, especially in the south of Spain. As I look out my window at the 7th day of rain, I would love to visit just one of these beaches. The photos are beautiful.
Very helpful post, especially for those who plan to visit Spain in summer. Among all the beaches you mentioned which ones are far from the civilization? I love to swim and sunbathe without seeing any building!
These are some really beautiful beaches. The only one I’d heard about before is Torremolinos because it was featured in James Michener’s novel, The Drifters.
Oh, those look lovely, but unless I am very tired and want to relax, I cannot stay on beaches long. Prefer to do something active.
Wow, so many beaches! It would make a fantastic road trip, jumping from one beach to the other. Burriana beach looks stunning with that soft beach and mountain backdrop!
Wow. Plenty of beaches around Malaga area. Would love to get there, get a beer, relax, sunbathe and watch the sunset throughout the day.
Last year in August I was there in Andalusian region driving through the white villages. Well I was driving from Granada to Seville I took a detour and I reached Malaga. While in Malaga I made sure to visit the best beach as you have mentioned the Malagueta Beach. I was not having much time so I just spent the day or two near the beach and then I headed to Seville. However I love the list that you have shared here, I was not aware of most of these beaches.
Oh wow. So many beautiful beaches. I dont think I could choose just one to go ti
This has put me in the mood for summer again! I love Spain, and not seen enough of Malaga. Torremolinos is a lovely beach, but so is Cabopino by the looks of it!
Yes, Andalusia is great, look amazing for a summer escape but also for the Winter. The Sierra Nevada is really close to Malaga, is just down Granada.
Woah, have you actually visited all of them? That’s great! Not sure I could handle 300 days of sun tho! Being a Brit though, I’ll complain about the weather whatever the situation 😉
We love to be on the beach with the sun! We can understand your point of view.
I have always heard about the sea and sand in Spain, but it is for the first time I read about such a detailed guide about the beaches. All the beaches look gorgeous, but the Burriana beach and Playa De Chullera caught my fancy. Would love to explore all of them.
Thank you for passing by. You definitely need to go there and enjoy the beaches!
Quite an interesting list of best beaches in Spain. Haven’t been to this part of Spain, I would love to explore Malaga though. The sunny pristine beaches is always a dream come true for me.
Spain is amazing! Malaga is absolutely a city looking at the future!
I think I need to get a passport soon. I want to check out these amazing beaches.
Absolutelly, go and check those amazing beaches by yourselves. Spain is amazing and the weather is always nice. 360 days of sun in Costa del Sol.
I am so jealous you have visited all these beaches and they look so beautiful. I need to start reconsidering my next trip, Spain looks like my next destination.
Spain is one of our favourite destinations.
I went to Andalusia 11 years ago and I miss it, it’s an extreme place full of warmth and beauty, you made me want to come back!
You have to come back Cristina!
I vote for my favorite local beach, in La Cala! 🙂 Even if I live near Fuengirola, I have actually never been to the beach here, only to the cafes along the promenade. Malagueta is the beach to go to in Malaga. 🙂
We will see you in Malaga soon!
I’ve never been to this location before. However, I would loooove to visit and one day get to see all these beaches in person.
Alexandra you have to go! Absolutely!
Some great beaches to visit there. We are spoilt here in Queensland with so many good ones too
Oh, great! We will check out Queensland, thank you.
I love discovering new beaches around the world. It’s amazing how different they all can be.
Yes, we love it too. Costa del Sol have some of the best for us.
Seems that you have the complete list already. The beaches and scenery is super lovely. I think I know where to go this summer already.
Yes, Malaga is full of amazing beaches. Go there, we kindly advice it.
OMG! Look at that beaches!! That’s paradise right there. I’m in love!! Already planning my next vacations.
Xo
Candace
I love Spain and went there last Dec, simply stunning and was fascinated by the food and the culture and the buildings. However, one thing I didn’t really explore are the beaches, what a shame. Only been to a beach called Peniscola. Would very much love to explore Malaga. Probably another time as I feel I will certainly go back for another slower pace visit.
Sounds like a perfect Summer destination to visit! Thank you so much for sharing these amazing list of wonderful places.
I loved Malaga when I went! This post makes me want to get back to Costa del Sol as soon as possible!!!
Living on the coast most of my life I love visiting different beaches. Thanks for so many great ones to consider.
These beaches look heavenly. Especially sitting in this brutal cold climate. I so want to be here!
Oh my goodness! These are looking paradise! I love these beaching you share with us and I am totally in love with that! I will surely visit one of those beaches. I love this post ♥
All of these beaches make me realize how much I need a vacation! You give such a great run down of the best available in Malaga and I am adding this area to my bucket list!
What a great list! My favorite beach is in Benalmadena, close to the Bil-Bil. It is still quiet while pretty. And it is nice and close to my place.
La Carihuela is also very nice in Torremolinos, but really busy.
Yes, we will review this list. We will update with other beaches that we have discovered recently.
I am so jealous you have visited all these beaches and they look so beautiful. I need to start reconsidering my next trip, Spain looks like my next destination. Thanks for sharing with us.