marbella family holiday

Make the most of your Marbella family holiday with this guide to all the best destinations in the region.  Marbella is of the most beautiful destinations in the Costa del Sol, and while it’s very popular with travellers, the region is full of exciting destinations that are just waiting to be discovered.

Your Marbella family holiday doesn't have to end at the end of the Marbella county line. Some of most beautiful and enjoyable areas are just a tad further afield. Three of these destinations can be found just 30 minutes by car from the city, and they are home to some of the best beaches around Marbella; Estepona, Benalmadena and Torremolinos. Here is a quick roundup of just some of the activities that children, both young and old, and their parents, no matter what their age is, can indulge in while on Marbella family holiday in this highly recommended part of the Costa del So, in the south of Spain.

Estepona

Renowned for its beaches, and, crucially, its microclimate, which gives the area an impressive 325 days of sunshine every single year, Estepona is a beautiful fishing town on the coast. Although it is popular with tourists, it still maintains a very quaint and authentic Spanish charm, which complements its picture perfect good looks.

One of the most popular sites for travellers to visit is Estepona Port, which is where a number of the town’s restaurants and bars can be found. The port is also the site of the Estepona street market, where you can pick up textiles and leather goods to bring back home as souvenirs.

Estepona is also very well known for its many festivals and other social events that take place throughout the year. Older children will love Estepona Fair in the first week of July, which has rides, parades, good times and lots of dancing and eating, while younger children may appreciate the Easter celebrations in March, where there is a children’s procession.

benalmadena

Boasting a well-equipped marina, Benalmadena’s beaches are some of the best in the region, and are just perfect for sunbathing. Elsewhere, Colomares Castle, known locally as Castillo de Colomares, is a monument that is built in several influential architectural styles, including Gothic and Byzantine. It was built to celebrate the discovery of the New World, or the Americas, as they are more commonly known now, and as it covers an area of 1500 metres it is the biggest monument of its kind in the world.

In a similar vein, visitors can also go to Benalmadena Stupa, a 33 metre tall Buddhist monument, which is the largest of its kind in Europe.

One of the most memorable aspects of Benalmadena, besides the exceptional beaches, is Teleférico Benalmadena, the local cable car service. These cable cars can take tourists to the peak Mount Calamorro, which is more than 771 metres high and offers hiking trails and views of the Costa del Sol. Here you can you can see Gibraltar and even the African Coast on clear days.

As a special treat, visitors should head to the Valley of the Eagles, which hosts daily exhibitions that celebrate birds of prey that can be found nearby, including eagles, owls and falcons.

torremolinos

One of the most well-known holiday destinations on the Costa del Sol, Torremolinos, is home to a number of attractions that are just perfect for families.

Located very close to neighbouring Benalmadena, you can choose to walk between the two towns, by taking along the seafront promenade, known as Paseo Marítimo, which extends as far as the marina in Benalmadena. All in all, the journey takes about 40 minutes to walk, and the entire promenade is flat, so it’s a very easy trip to make. Alternatively, you can hop on the local train service that runs between Torremolinos and Benalmadena, which costs around £1.50.

From the beach that measures nearly 8 kilometres long, which has lifts, and a wheelchair accessible path, the sun and the sea provide some of the best highlights in the town.

Kids will love the aquaparks in Torremolinos, and perhaps the best one is Aqualand Torremolinos. This is not just the largest aquapark in Marbella, but the largest one in the entire Costa del Sol. There is so much for children and their older siblings to do there, and with 19 water slides for adults, 15 children’s slides and a mini golf course, you can spend hours having fun.

Since the early 1960s, Marbella has been recognised as a prime destination for families wishing to book Spain holidays, thanks to its climate, beaches and places to see. However, the surrounding areas, including Estepona, Benalmadena and Torremolinos, offer lots of activities that children of all ages and their parents can enjoy, too.

From the unique annual festivals, to local attractions like the Torremolinos aquaparks and the Teleférico Benalmadena, this part of the Costa del Sol is just waiting to be discovered, so, what are you waiting for?

Images by: noksokoivisto, DorteF, Andy_Mitchell_UK and kainet, used under Creative Commons licence.

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