The great variety of historical and cultural entertainment on offer is one of the most attractive things about the Costa del Sol. Recommended excursions include Malaga Cathedral, the Picasso Museum and the Alcazaba, a trip to Ronda, situated on the famous gorge, Seville Cathedral and Granada. Gibraltar is only an hour´s drive away and boasts great shops and duty free goods. Other interesting excursions include Mijas (a typical Spanish white village in the nearby hills above Fuengirola). For the children there is the fabulous Selwo Nature Reserve at Estepona, Tivoli World amusement park in Arroyo de la Miel, Fuengirola Zoo and Sea Life at Benalmadena and off road 4x4 mountain trips to Marbella and Ronda.

Shopping

The best shopping area closeby is the Avenida Ricardo Soriano – the main street in Marbella where designer labels abound and small boutiques and clothes shops are situated in and around Orange Square. Commercial centres also include La Cañada on the Ojen road.

Puerto Banus is also a haven for shoppers looking for high quality goods in a fantastic location. El Corte Ingles is often compared to Harrods in London, and offers many departments and a restaurant and cafeteria.

Fuengirola also boasts many shops, bars and restaurants along it´s main paseo maritimo, and souvenirs and gifts can be picked up cheaply here. Dunnes Stores and Myramar Commercial Centre are also located close to Fuengirola.

The highlight of any shopping trip to Malaga has to be the Larios Centre and the Plaza Mayor – offering every type of shops and restaurants imagineable.