City and beach week in Spain in October. Malaga and Nerja?

[FiftyNotNifty]

Or Alicante and Calpe? Or some other combo I haven't thought of?
2 adults, 2 teens
We'd like a mix of beach time, pool time, tiny bit of shopping, culture and sightseeing.
1 week in October.
Hoping for short transfers/minimum travel time!
I don't know the area very well really but from what I've read it seems to tick the boxes? I'd like some heat but none of us cope well past late 20s, early 20s ideal!

If you went to Malaga you could just have beach time there rather than moving. I love Malaga, I think it is incredibly underrated as a destination (rather than just an airport)

I second Malaga. Very cheap and easy transfer from airport (around €2 on train) lots to see and do lovely beach

Thank you! Is it a decent sandy beach? I loved Alicante, is it similar?
Are there opportunities to travel along the coast for days out?

Although Nerja is lovely, I came to say that our get everything you wanted in Malaga alone. There’s so much to do, and easy to get the train to ither places alone the coast. We were there for 5 days, hired a car for 2 and went to Nerja and Marbella for the day.

otherwise Xabia and Alicante or Valencia?

Or Faro and Tavira

What about Seville then Nerja? Only a couple of hours driving apart. I've done this a couple of times and loved it

Thank you for all your suggestions! I'm going to enjoy browsing. Really like the look and sound of Malaga

You can get a green travel card from tobac in Malaga and travel on buses for something like 40 cent each and the buses go to all the nearby towns - Benalmadena port, fuengirola and lots of other places. Plus Malaga itself has the old and new, city and beach. Last October half term it was high teen/low 20

Seville and Cadiz

@MotherOfRatios this was a combo I liked the sound of v much! But wondered if it would be a colder sea temp round there?

@Theinfamousfive this sounds ideal! Thank you

Palma and Palmanova? We are doing beach and family hotel in Palmanova with a few days in Palma - old wooden train to Soller. Short transfer time from Palma airport (25 mins).

I funded it last year and I'm doing this year. Apparently Seville gets quite hot and Cadiz is quite nice because it gets a cool breeze.

Is it definitely going to be warm enough in october?

Malaga is great! Gorgeous beach at Cabopino with lovely beach restaurants. Old town is wonderful. Puerto Banus is a fun day out seeing how the other half live.

@Medstudent12 I don't think it's guaranteed lying by the pool heat like the Canaries would be, but as long as it's ok to walk about in shorts and t-shirts we'll be happy!

Just up the road from Malaga is Fuengirola, which has its Feria in first or second week of October- it's amazing, fab food, live flamenco music and dancing. Check the exact dates but make sure you visit at least one night.