Malaga is a major city and holiday resort, which is the capital of the Province of Malaga in Andalucia in southern Spain. It lies on the Mediterranean Costa del Sol ("Sunshine Coast") and is the southernmost of the large cities in Europe.
Many of the beaches are sandy and family-friendly, and offer sun beds and umbrellas, and life guard duty, especially during the main swimming season. Numerous beaches outside the Malaga promenade can get pretty crowded during the summer months, but these also offer a significant amount of entertainment, with good restaurants and sporting and water sports facilities nearby, and nightlife in some cases.
There are also a few secluded beaches in the region and a couple of beaches with zones that are frequently occupied by naturists. In addition, there are many beaches at nearby Torremolinos, Mijas and Benalmádena, some of which have been awarded the blue flag.
Malaga's wonderful weather makes hitting the beach a must. Here's some of the best...
Family friendly
Banos del Carmen is located at the Malaga sea front, and is a good family-friendly beach, offering a restaurant and a nearby wooded area, and it has security and lifeguards. There is a large range of family-friendly facilities on offer. El Palo beach as well as good facilities for fishing and scuba diving, and breakwaters have been constructed along the coast making it attractive for bathing. The La Malagueta Beach is a popular and spacious beach, which is manmade and is ideal for relaxing, jogging and strolling, plus there are some seafood restaurants nearby. At nearby Benalmádena, one good lively family-friendly beach is the Torre Bermeja Beach which has a wide range of facilities. There is a beach football pitch to set up, with goalposts, and volleyball is also possible. There are also good facilities for boating, sailing, fishing and jet skiing, and there are several beach bars and restaurants nearby to choose from.
Lively beaches
The El Chanquete beach is situated in the El Palo area and is a city beach with a promenade and restaurants, and can get quite crowded in the summer. Pedregalejo Beach is a sandy beach parallel to the Malaga promenade and boasts numerous restaurants nearby, as well as a playground. It is one of the partying hotspots overnight, particularly in the summer half-year. Torre del Mar beach is very extensive and includes sporting facilities, and barbeques and restaurants along the sea front. There are also some good lively beaches at nearby Torremolinos. La Carihuela lies between the rock wall of Bajondillo Beach and the Marina and offers a swimming zone and many activities are held here during the summer months. Saltillo Beach is popular with surfers and has many restaurants, hotels and bars nearby and is close to the Benalmadena port. There are other services including a volleyball net and a children's playground. The Playamar Beach lies adjacent to numerous apartment buildings and is a popular site for shows and performances during the summer months. It also provides facilities for the disabled and is quite family-friendly, with a large expanse of sandy beaches and some palm trees.
Blue flag
The nearby Malapesquera Beach at Benalmádena has been awarded the blue flag, and is good for fishing, sports and entertainment, and contains a cafeteria and restaurant, so it has facilities to cater for most tastes. There are other beaches at Benalmadena which have been awarded the blue flag, including the relatively secluded Santa Ana beach and the family-friendly Los Melilleros Beach Nearby Mijas has a few blue flag beaches too including the lively and busy La Butibamba beach, adjacent to an area of intensive urban development, and the Calahonda Beach, which contains a wooden jetty which is ideal for fishing and diving.
Good for water sports
La Caleta beach is approximately 1400m long and runs alongside the Paseo Maritimo de Pablo Picasso. It is an especially popular beach for sunbathing in the summer months and also offers good facilities for windsurfing and speedboat racing. El Candado beach offers a good view of the coast and is protected by two water barriers, and is ideal for windsurfing, diving, snorkelling and sailing. Another very good beach for water sports is La Misericordia Beach, which is particularly good for windsurfing, kite flying and sailing. It is a quiet and simple beach with good views of the coast and various facilities that make it welcoming and family-friendly.
Off fishing
The Banos del Carmen is located at the Malaga sea front, and it has an attractive wooded area close by and a restaurant. It is particularly popular for fishing. El Palo Beach is a favourite with locals and has good opportunities for fishing and scuba diving. San Andres beach is located next to the outskirts of Malaga, and is good for a range of activities including fishing as well as windsurfing, kite surfing and sailing.
Secluded & naturist
There are some reasonable options available for naturists in the Malaga district. Guadalmar beach is quite secluded and unspoilt and has a prominent nudist zone. Probably the most reliable option is San Julian Beach, which stands beside the Parador National and a golf club, and has a section that is frequently occupied by naturists.
Guadalmar beach is largely unspoilt, close to a golf course, and is largely unaffected by urbanisation. There are various facilities including sun loungers and umbrellas for hire. La Arana beach has a big rock, cove and watchtower, from which you can enjoy spectacular views over the sea. Penon del Cuervo beach is quite well secluded and is divided into two swimming areas by a large rock, although it can still get busy during the summer months.