Torremolinos is where tourism on this coast began. The first foreign visitors arrived in the sixties, and the resort has reinvented itself several times since. What has stayed: kilometres of beach, a promenade that simply keeps going, hundreds of restaurants and terraces, and the open, welcoming feel the town is known for. All of it less than ten minutes from Málaga airport.
Beaches and promenade
The beaches at Torremolinos are long and wide, linked by a promenade you can walk from one end to the other. Playamar, Bajondillo and La Carihuela each have their own character, from busy and active to easygoing and family minded.
La Carihuela is the old fishing quarter on the western side and, for many people, the loveliest part of town. The low houses, the narrow streets and the run of restaurants along the water have kept their charm. This is where you eat the best fresh fish in the area, often literally on the sand, and the espetos are still grilled over a wood fire.
Lively all year
Torremolinos is never deserted. There are shopping streets, markets, terraces and a nightlife that carries on late. The town also has a distinctly open and tolerant character and is known as one of the most welcoming destinations on the Spanish coast.
For families there is more than the beach: water parks, a botanical garden with a remarkable cactus collection, and the well known Cuesta del Tajo steps linking the old centre with the shore. This is a good place to be with children, including on days when the beach has lost its appeal.
Something else sets Torremolinos apart, and that is the price level. Eating, drinking and shopping are noticeably cheaper here than in Marbella or Puerto Banús, while the beaches and facilities give nothing away. For families and for longer stays that difference adds up quickly.
Getting there and around
Torremolinos may well be the easiest place to reach on the entire coast. The local train stops in the centre and takes you to the airport in ten minutes and to Málaga in twenty. Heading west, the same line runs to Benalmádena and Fuengirola. Anyone who would rather not hire a car can fill a week here without difficulty.
That also makes the town well suited to short stays and to guests arriving late or leaving early. You can be at your holiday home within half an hour of the arrivals hall, with no traffic and no navigating. For families with a lot of luggage, or for anyone who would rather not drive in the dark, that counts for a lot.
Sights and tips
Make sure you walk through La Carihuela, ideally towards mealtime, and take your time over the fish. Follow the promenade west; you can carry on along the coast all the way to the marina at Benalmádena, a pleasant walk of just over an hour with plenty of terraces to break it up.
Visit the botanical garden for a quiet hour away from the beach, and use the train for a day in Málaga or Fuengirola. In summer Torremolinos is busy and full of life; in winter it stays comfortable and prices are a good deal friendlier, which makes it attractive for longer stays too.
For the town itself and the coastline the train is all you need. To see the white villages inland, Ronda or the Axarquía, a car is by far the easier option. We arrange one for exactly the period you need it. Everything about that is on our page about car hire.
Your holiday home in Torremolinos
A lively beach holiday with everything within reach and the airport around the corner. If you want to rent a holiday home or apartment in Torremolinos, our range is below.