Costa del Sol

Málaga city, the mainland's mildest winters and golf around Marbella.

357 homesFrom €213,000

The Costa del Sol is the coast of Málaga province and the best-known foreign-buyer region in Spain, with a busy airport, a real city at one end and a line of resort towns running west. It has the mildest winters on the mainland and the broadest international mix of any Spanish coast. It generally costs more than the coasts to the east, especially around Marbella, although Andalusia's resale tax, 7% as a guide, is the lowest of these coasts.

Living here

This coast does not close in winter. Mild weather and a large resident population keep restaurants, shops and golf courses going all year, and Málaga has its own museums, university and business life. Summer traffic is heavy, and the towns between Torremolinos and Fuengirola feel busy most of the time.

Owners come from the UK, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany and France, as well as the US, the Middle East and Latin America, so you will find clubs and international schools for many nationalities. English is in everyday use around Marbella and Estepona and in the main expat areas. Private clinics are easy to find, and public healthcare is there for those who qualify as residents.

Towns to know

Málaga
A city with a busy port, museums and a growing tech scene, for people who want urban life and flights on the doorstep.
Torremolinos
A long-established resort with sandy beaches close to the airport, popular with British, Scandinavian and Dutch owners in the mid-range market.
Benalmádena
A town in three parts, with a marina, a beach strip and a white hillside village, popular with second-home owners from northern Europe.
Fuengirola
A flat, walkable seaside town with a long promenade and a train to Málaga, home to many Scandinavian and British residents all year.
Mijas Costa
A coastal area of urbanisations and golf below the old white village of Mijas, chosen by families and retired buyers who want more space.
Marbella
The coast's international luxury market, with gated urbanisations, golf and an old town, for buyers looking for high-end homes.
Puerto Banús
Marbella's marina, known for yachts and designer shops, for people who want to be at the centre of the summer scene.
Estepona
A mid-to-upscale town with a flower-filled old town and a long beach, chosen by buyers who want a calmer alternative to Marbella.

Climate

The Costa del Sol has the mildest winters on the Spanish mainland, with daytime temperatures of around 16 to 20°C on most winter days. Summers are hot and sunny, and usually more comfortable by the sea than inland. Most rain falls between autumn and spring, often in short, heavy bursts. Full central heating is rare, so ask what heating a home actually has.

Getting here

Málaga airport is the big advantage here, with direct flights across Europe and beyond. It is about 15 minutes from Málaga city and Torremolinos, 25 minutes from Fuengirola, 45 minutes from Marbella and around an hour from Estepona. A local train runs from Málaga through the airport to Fuengirola, and high-speed trains link Málaga with Madrid in under three hours. West of Fuengirola you rely on the A-7, the AP-7 toll motorway and buses.

What you can buy

Flats are the usual purchase in and around Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola, and you will find townhouses and villas in the urbanisations around Mijas Costa, Marbella and Estepona. New developments are mostly on the hillsides and around Estepona and Mijas, while town centres are mainly resale.

Check community fees carefully, since gated urbanisations with security and several pools cost far more than a plain block. If you plan to let, parts of Málaga have stopped issuing new tourist licences and communities can vote to ban short lets. Rural houses in the hills behind the coast can have planning problems, so your lawyer should confirm the legal status in writing.

Work out the buying costs here

Who it suits

Buyers who want a mild winter and an international community around them for most of the year.
Remote workers and young professionals who want Málaga's city life and flights across Europe.
High-end buyers looking for a gated villa and golf near Marbella.

Questions buyers ask

Is this coast only for luxury buyers?

No. Marbella is the high-end market, while Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola have mid-range flats and long-established foreign communities.

Can I let my home short-term?

It depends on the town and the building. Parts of Málaga have moratoriums on new tourist licences and communities can ban short lets, so check both in writing before you rely on rental income.

Do I need a car?

In Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola you can manage without one thanks to the train. West of Fuengirola and in the hillside urbanisations, a car is close to essential.