Guide to Torremolinos

It was the Costa del Sol’s first and most famous package holiday resort. While the rich and famous flocked to neighbouring Marbella in the swinging sixties, ordinary mortals descended in their droves on Torremolinos.

This once sleepy fishing village became the party playground of mass market summer sun seekers. Marbella was synonymous with style and serious money but Torremolinos was soon top of the pops in terms of fast-paced, affordable fun.

The development of Torremolinos

The resort’s huge popularity among foreign visitors was a trigger for the development of the nearby airport – a former air base which became Malaga Airport in 1965. The next four decades saw an explosion in the number of low cost flights bringing millions of holidaymakers to the Costa del Sol’s burgeoning seaside resorts. And Torremolinos held its own as the No.1 holiday hot spot for package holidaymakers from all over northern Europe.

The resort is still one of Spain’s favourite holiday destinations, attracting about two million of the 60 million tourists who visit the Spanish mainland and islands each year. It’s easy to see why. Torremolinos has some of the best sandy beaches on the Costa del Sol, one of the liveliest night scenes of any Spanish coastal resort, a wealth of entertainment facilities and a huge range of good quality, low-cost accommodation.

The resort’s reputation was sullied somewhat in the 1980s and 90s when uncontrolled development and the arrival of Brat Pack Brits earned it the nickname “Terrible Torrie”. Torremolinos was in danger of losing its crown as king of the Costa del Sol’s summer crowd pleasers until town planners woke up to the fact that it was time for a major facelift. In recent years tighter building regulations have been introduced along with new pedestrianised areas, beautifully landscaped parks and gardens and an impressive seafront promenade extending all the way to the western neighbouring resort of Benalmadena.

Torremolinos today

These days Torremolinos is back on top with more than its fair share of swish four-star hotels and international restaurants competing for customers along with the fish and chip shops and burger bars which typified the old Torrie of the 60s and 70s. Even those who like to “go native” and enjoy a taste of the real Spain won’t be disappointed by the superb fresh seafood served in the old fishermen’s district of La Carihuela.

After dark, Torremolinos really comes into its own with enough music bars, mega discos and live cabaret shows to satisfy the most demanding revellers. The later the hour, the raunchier it gets. The resort was one of the first recognised gay holiday haunts in Spain and still has a thriving gay scene today.

By day there are a vast array of sports and leisure activities for kids and adults alike. The resort boasts the Costa del Sol’s biggest Aquapark, all manner of water sports and the ever popular Crocodile Park (Cocodrilos Park Torremolinos) where visitors love having their photos taken while holding a baby croc.

For an awe inspiring display of Andalusian horsemanship, visit the El Ranchito riding centre which holds regular equestrian shows as well as offering lessons and countryside rides both for beginners and experienced riders.

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