Growing up I had an amazing privilege to spend most summers on the Costa Del Sol, mainly thanks to a family owned apartment in Torremolinos. While now the place feels so familiar it’s like home, we still have some amazing holidays there – it’s where I’ve just come back from.

Of course getting into the sunshine means a lot of relaxation on the beach or by the pool, but I always like to split the holiday up with a day out. There’s so much to see in the region, with whitewashed villages and mountainous hikes, however in the heat of summer we don’t tend to venture too far, especially if we’ve not planned car hire. Thanks to the public transport in the region, particularly the train line, which is our go-to way of getting around, it’s pretty easy to get to loads of places for amazing days and nights out. Here are a couple of my recommendations for what to do in the Costa Del Sol this summer!

Fun For All The Family

Aqualand – Torremolinos

Fancy making a splash? This waterpark just outside Torremolinos has something for everyone. There are areas suitable for small children, a sruf beach with artificial waves, a giant jacuzzi and 12 adrenaline pumping slides for thrill seekers!

What does it cost?

You can get tickets on the door but you can save a bit of money by prebooking online.

Adults are €30 on the door, Children (5-10 years old) are €21, and Toddlers (aged 3-4) are €11.

How do you get to Aqualand Torremolinos?

If you can get to Torremolinos by train or bus, it’s best to get a taxi as it’s a bit of a walk from the centre – about 25-30 mins. If you know the town, the park is around 10 minute walk from the big Hipersol.

Bioparc Fuengirola

This is possibly one of my favourite zoos to visit – years ago there was a really horrible zoo in the town, all concrete and sad animals – now Bioparc is dedicated to caring for their animals, which are housed in recreations of their natural environments, and they’re determined to rectify the mistakes of the old zoo. The exhibits are gorgeous – you can actually visit in the evening when it’s cooler which is nice (especially in the heat of summer) – the walkways are illuminated and it’s very atmospheric. Be sure to visit the Lemur island!

What does it cost?

Adult tickets cost €20.50, children (3-9 years old) are €15.50

How do you get to Bioparc Fuengirola?

The zoo is next to the bullring, around 10 minutes walk from the train station.

Shop Til You Drop

Plaza Mayor – Malaga

You get a lot of ‘Plaza Mayor’s around Spain, but this one rather than a city centre square is a shopping centre and leisure destination. There are two parts of the shopping centre, both full of shops such as H&M, C&A, Desigual, Mango, Nike. You can also find a wide range of restaurants and cafes – we often make a beeline to McDonalds for a gluten free big mac and free wifi! As well as shopping, you can also go to the cinema at the 20 screen Yelmo cinema, which does offer some films in English (look for VO on the listing and ask for version original),. There is also a bowling alley and entertainment centre with arcade machines.

Works are starting soon to build a McArthur Glen nearby (yep, the ones that own Cheshire Oaks – I’m excited for it!)

How do you get to Plaza Mayor Malaga?

This is easy as pie getting the train – the Cercanias Renfe line runs from Malaga Central to Fuengirola. Call us mad, but myself and my mum actually walk to it out of season – it’s about 45 minutes from Torremolinos town centre along the paseo.

Miramar – Fuengirola

Miramar Shopping Centre Fuengirola is a large shopping and leisure centre – it’s undergone a transformation over the years and is now home to loads of stores including Primark, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Superdry, Benetton, Tiger Store and many more. There’s also a Carrefour supermarket.

Miramar also has a 12 screen Cinesur Cinema which again offers Version Original films. There is also a great choice of cafes and restaurants. One place in particular, Pasapalo, offers a large choice of gluten free, vegetarian and halal options. There’s also fun to be had in Miramar with Go Karting and also a kids entertainment club called Isla Miramar.

How to get to Miramar Fuengirola

We always get the train to Fuengirola, and then it’s a 25 minute walk to the shopping centre – it’s a pretty easy walk and takes you past the zoo and bullring. You can also get the bus from the station I believe – bus lines 1, 4 and 5 of Fuengirola Bus Service go to Miramar.

Maria Zambrano – Malaga

Sometimes you just want a bit of air conditioning in the heat of summer, and this is often our go to for Malaga! Maria Zambrano in the heart of the city is a train station, shopping centre and cinema all under one roof! There are also a couple of places to eat, however if you go out of the station it’s a short walk to another large shopping centre, Centro Larios, with lots of eating facilities there and in the walk between the centres.

Shops include familiar brands from home such as H&M and Kiko, as well as Desigual, Bijou Brigitte and Cortefiel.

How to get to Maria Zambrano Malaga

Hop on the train and get off at the Maria Zambrano train station! From there it’s an easy walk to loads of cool places around the city – there are so many things to do in Malaga! Alternatively, why not consider a day trip further afield? From Malaga you can get trains directly to places such as Seville, Cordoba and Granada – why not consider a day trip or weekend trip by train for a holiday within a holiday?

Check out amazing deals for the Costa Del Sol!

Thinking of visiting the Costa Del Sol? It’s such a fun place to visit, whether you’re visiting for the summer holidays or out of the main tourist season, you’ll find so much to see and do!  For great deals and more ideas of what to see and do, check prices at Holiday Gems.