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Guide to the Costa del Sol

Introduction

Spain’s Costa del Sol represents everything that is good and bad about the overseas property market. The most famous of the Costas, comprising over 75km of Andalucian coastline, has the weather, the beaches, the glamour, the golf, and some of the most amazing properties you will ever see. At the same time, some people find it gaudy, brash and overcrowded, and there is little doubt it hasn’t helped its reputation for slightly dodgy-dealing with the recent planning permission scandal, which went right to the top of Marbella town hall.

If you are able to see beyond this, you will find there are charming villages, exciting nightlife, and a real Spanish character surviving beside the neon signs and hordes of tourists.

While you can no longer find an apartment overlooking the beach for the price of a family car, there are still well-priced properties to be found, provided you know where to look, and are patient.

The region

Marbella – The centre of the social and property scene in the area, Marbella is rich, flashy, exciting and one of the most beautiful towns on the Mediterranean, and it is on this model that many of the other towns on Costa del Sol have built up. You have to pay for the privilege though, but are rewarded with some of the best bars, restaurants and shopping in Spain.

Málaga – The regional capital and home to the international airport, Malaga also has a relaxed atmosphere and a wide, sweeping bay that has seen the city gain favourable comparisons to Naples.

Along the coast are the towns of Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Puerto Banús, Estepona, Sotogrande and Nerja – all of which share some of the characteristics of the major conurbations around them, and a good proportion of property for the British market.

A few minutes inland you will find the smaller and more authentic mountain villages and what are known as the ‘white’ villages (pueblos blancos), with narrow, winding cobbled streets and traditional houses.

Climate

This is one of the warmest parts of Spain, while often maintaining a slight cooling sea breeze. Annual average temperatures are around 24 deg C, while during the summer temperatures in the high 30s are common. The temperature rarely drops below 10 deg C, even in the winter evenings, and there are typically over 320 days of sunshine per year.