Sightseeing and Attractions in Costa Del Sol

[positivethoughts1]

Hi all,

We have booked our first holiday as a family of 3 for this summer, LO will be 11 months old, we are flying in to Malaga, hiring a car and staying in MedPlaya Hotel Bali, Benamaldena.

Normally, we like to go around and explore, not really lie by the pool type of people... so I'm asking MumsNet, what cities/attractions would you recommend on the Costa Del Sol for 2 adults and an almost 1 year old??

Thanks in advance

There’s quite a bit to do in Benalmedena - a lovely butterfly park, the cable car to the top of Mount Calamorro which amazing views and a birds of prey show, an aquarium and Parque de La Paloma.
Bioparc Fuengirola is really good and there’s also loads to do in Malaga - the Alcazaba, Gibralfaro Castle, cathedral, Mercado Central etc..

@Forgottenmyphone Thank you!! This is great - exactly the type of thing I'm looking for c

Really good modern train line up that coast which goes south to Fuengirola and north to Malaga.
From Malaga you can take the train to Cordoba in an hour.

Using hire car visit Ronda.
If you’re prepared to securely carry LO go to the Caminita del Rey. But not if you don’t like heights. Book online in advance. We did both on the same day out in the car.

We’ve had a one night stay in Seville whilst staying a week in Benalmadena. Great city to walk about. Was 2 hour drive ish from Benalmadena.

The biopark in Fuengirola isn’t cheap, we chose not to do it for that reason.

The Biopark is very good. We visited it with a 2 year old in 1986, and it was an awful zoo. Never forgotten a member of staff poking a sleeping tiger to get it to move for us. Since then, it has been totally renovated, the tiger is still there, but in a much bigger compound. You can go into the lemur compound, with a guide, telling you all about lemurs. They have a programme of presentations about various animals, and is much more geared towards conservation. Also recommend the cable car and bird show. The beach is good, so time on the beach with your youngster should be good, you can buy buckets and spades in any of the myriad of shops. Paloma Park is lovely, a large lake with fish and turtles, rabbits, goats, and birds wandering about. A boat trip from the marina is good, with a good chance of seeing dolphins. If you fancy a less built up beach, hop on the bus to Marbella, and hop off at Cabopino, a smaller marina, and a small natural area. Mijas is a lovely white village a short bus ride inland. Wander up to the area by the church and bull ring, there is a small park area and it is away from the buzzy centre.

The outlet mall one train stop from the airport is nice and has a great kids play area. Sealife in Benalmadena wasn't great but check what's open. I second everything everyone else has said. I absolutely love that area and your hotel is an excellent base for exploring. You can walk to the station and marina and I think the Mijas bus stops at your hotel.

Mijas is a must. Local bus ride up there.

We're going with our mUch older kids soon so this is a great thread, thanks OP

Just to add to pp, Mijas pueblo up in the hills is worth a visit ( by bus )
plenty of cafes and restaurants up there so have a drink and meal too.

Thank you thank you thank you @tanstaafl @Lincslady53 @Whsthappensnow @Ridiculous24

Your posts are all exactly what I'm looking for!! Really grateful!

@ChocoChocoLatte you are welcome 🤗

Malaga is a lovely city shops and restaurants etc and a beach😊

Just for information - the cable car isn't operational yet and the wall fully booked while we were here but currently sitting in Mijas Pueblo enjoying lunch and some sunshine

There's a really good crocodile park in Torremolinos. Since you've got a car, definitely recommend Rhonda, but I'd go in the afternoon when the coach trips have left. Marbella is lovely too, especially the old town. My boyfriend loved Gibraltar especially the apes, I thought it was ok for a few hours. Mijas lovely too. Benalmadena itself has a lovely Marina.

I wasn't keen on Peurto Banus as it's not really my kind of thing (and not rich enough).

Grenada is a great place to go too, as well as Alhambra, but might be a bit hot with a baby. My kids were older and moaned the whole way round that!

Love the bioparc in fuengirola, took our 3yr old last September and he still hasn't stopped talking about it
Soud Parc on the front is also good for littleuns
Sealife in benelmadena has already been mentioned we didn't get there unfortunately but did have a wander around the butterfly gardens.

Thank you @Rawrrawr1 and @Fallenangelofthenorth

What about Puerto Banos was not your thing? Just wondering if it's worth a visit of not...

So glad I posted, all of this is so helpful!!!

Puerto Banus is boring, your 1 year old will have nothing to see. Avoid at all costs!

Torremolinos (next to Benalmadena) has a fun small fairground-type place. I second Parque de Paloma, we spent most of our time there when DS2 was a toddler. The beach at Benalmadena is also fun.

I usually go to Gibraltar from the Costa del sol fir a day trip. Its about 1 hour 45mins from Benamaldena and there's nice places to stop on the way if you want. You can drive up or get rhe cable to see the monkeys. ( I don't think they are monkeys but can't think what the animals are called!(

Do you mean the playground in the Parc de la Batteria ? That area is really nice - not far from Benalmádena Marina .

There is a proper small fairground in Fuengirola - although I think Fuengirola itself is quite ugly .

Malaga is an easy day out on the train.

Second all these suggestions- we have had lots of lovely holidays in the Benalmadena area. Just to let you know though, virtually all the animals have gone from Parque de Paloma. We went there as usual last October and after hunting around for a while realised there were no rabbits or even chickens to be found. Just loads and loads of pigeons and parakeets.

Puerto Banus is a Marina with big yachts, designer shops and a few restaurants. Plus a few highly expensive cars parked in the non-traffic areas near the yachts . Depends whether that's your thing or not!

The old town in Marbella is lovely, also in Estepona. Depends on how far you want to travel from the place you are staying really - if you are going in the summer it's likely to be quite hot .

I just found Peurto Banus boring - as others have said it's just a purpose built resort for rich people, so a marina with lots of expensive boats (bigger than Benalmadena), designer shops, lots of expensive cars etc. I do know people who've gone there and loved it, but they've gone for the party.

The beach below the red castle building in Benalmadena has some rocks and fish around them so a bit more fun for young ones than the sandy beach.

We like to go inland to the Embalse Conde Guadalhorce which is three lakes - one has pedalos and you can swim and it's gorgeous maps.app.goo.gl/eM2jCoJRpZoarykX7

In Málaga there is the Museum of Imagination and the Museum of Music which are both great for kids. The kids can try out the musical instruments in the second one.

Enjoy your holiday!