11 Best Beach Towns You Must Visit in Southern Spain
Are you heading to the south of Spain, and looking for smaller and quieter beach towns to explore while there?
Well, we've got you covered!
With beautiful blue waters, and a long coast of golden sandy beaches, the south of Spain is home to some of Europe's most stunning beach destinations.
Choosing which towns to visit, however, can be tricky as there is so much on offer, from calmer and quieter locations to bustling towns with incredible sights and nightlife.
To help guide you on your next adventure in the beautiful country of Spain, we listed for you some of the many charming beach towns in Southern Spain that you should consider visiting, in no particular order!
These are just some of our favourite and prettiest towns that offer some of the best and most secluded beach experiences.
So, before you pack your beach bags and put your flip-flops on..
Let’s explore Southern Spain’s best beach towns!
Tarifa
Located in Costa de la Luz, facing the Atlantic Ocean, Tarifa is a beautiful coastal town known for its kite-surfing scene, and is also an absolute gem for water-sports enthusiasts.
It is home to an amazing food scene and restaurants, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options on offer, combined with a great nightlife and party atmosphere.
Being Europe's closest point to the African continent, on clear sunny days you’ll get some incredible views of Morocco from here. You can even hop on a ferry to Tangier from Tarifa as it takes only 1 hour, and it’s quite a popular route for travellers exploring both continents.
If you enjoy hiking or love going on scenic walks, you might want to check out some of Tarifa’s incredible trails, both in the surrounding mountains or by the coast.
These are some of the hikes that we would recommend you try out:
Faro de Camarinal (perfect hike for all fitness levels);
Ahumada - Sierra de Ojen - Tajo del Espino - El Palancar (moderate hike);
Sendero Colada de la Costa (moderate to difficult hike)
If combining a nature filled holiday with beautiful sandy beaches is your cup of tea, you should definitely add Tarifa to your holiday plans in Southern Spain!
Torremolinos
Just half an hour away from Málaga, Torremolinos is a vibrant beach town that has become increasingly popular over the years within tourists from all over Europe.
Here you can enjoy bathing and swimming in crystal-clear waters by the several beaches that surround the town. Playa del Bajondillo and Playa de la Carihuelaare are among the most popular ones, offering a range of facilities, including restaurants and great cafés by the shore.
When you want to get away from the most modern and touristy areas of Torremolinos, head to its historic center, also known as La Carihuela. Here you can explore its beautiful narrow streets with whitewashed houses, and get lost into the town’s authentic atmosphere.
If you are looking for a more modern beach town, with plenty of tourism infrastructure and younger crowds where you can just enjoy some drinks while in a dynamic and bustling environment, Torremolinos is definitely for you!
Benalmádena
Located just accross from Torremolinos, Benalmádena is another beautiful yet modern seaside town in Costa del Sol, known for its beautiful beaches and iconic marina (Puerto Marina in Spanish).
Benalmádena is the perfect destination for families, as it offers plenty of family-friendly activities and attractions, such as the Sea Life aquarium. If you are travelling with children you might want to consider taking them there, as it offers plenty of engaging activities and games that kids can play as they learn about the different animals.
As the sun goes down, Benalmádena comes alive with a vibrant nightlife scene. There are plenty of clubs and bars to choose from, especially around Puerto Marina and the coastline.
This beautiful beach town manages to offer something for every kind of traveler, making it the perfect destination for visitors with a broad variety of interests.
Conil de la Frontera
Located in the province of Cádiz, Conil de la Frontera is a charming beach town, known for its beautiful narrow streets and laid-back atmosphere.
Here you can visit the old Arab quarter, where you’ll feel almost like walking through a Moroccan medina. The narrow and entangled streets allow you to get lost, while admiring the beautiful architecture with its typical white buildings adorned with beautiful colourful flowers.
With 14km (about 9 miles) of coastline, it offers some unique and pristine beaches, as well as some beautiful hiking trails that you can enjoy by the coast. One of the most beautiful walks that you can take here starts at Cala del Aceite and goes all the way to the Cala del Puntalejo, both some of the most stunning beaches in the area.
If you love seafood, you’ll love visiting Conil de la Frontera! This area is known for its gastronomy and delicious Andalusian food, with fresh-caught fish often being the main dish.
Don’t forget to check out La Zapola for some delicious fried fish when you’re there, we highly recommend it!
Zahara de los Atunes
Also located in the province of Cádiz, Zahara de los Atunes is a charming coastal village, with breathtaking landscapes and beautiful sandy beaches at its door step.
The main and most accessible beach is Playa de Zahara. It is large enough for everyone to enjoy but, as with most beaches in the region, keep in mind that it can be quite windy.
You have to check out Playa de Bolonia while here, considered to be the 4th best beach in the whole of Spain! It has all of the facilities you need, including restaurants, parking and hotels, while making you feel like you are still isolated from the world. While there, we recommend that you take a look at the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia, the remains of an old Roman town that was discovered in 1917, and is located just behind the beach.
If you love nature, as well as beautiful pristine beaches, Zahara de los Atunes is for you! It is isolated, so offers a true peaceful and relaxing holiday.
Nerja
Known for its breathtaking costal views, Nerja has become a popular destination for those looking for a charming beach town in the South of Spain.
Approximately 50km east of Málaga and 100km south of Granada, Nerja can be easily reached from both cities. Because of its prime location, right in between the mountains and the sea, Nerja offers an ideal climate and receives tourists all year round.
The most popular beaches in the area are Burriana beach, Nerja’s longest sandy beach, as well as Torrecilla beach. With mountains as a backdrop, you can expect some fantastic views while bathing in the crystal-clear waters.
Even though Nerja has become a very popular destination, it has managed to retain its charm, with its beautiful streets and coastal promenade being the stars of the show!
If you are searching for a charming fishing town, with all of the comforts of bigger tourist destinations, Nerja might just be the perfect fit! You will be able to relax, while enjoying a modern but picturesque destination.
Isla Canela
Isla Canela is a natural island joined by a bridge to Ayamonte, a town with pure Andalusian charm, that is quickly becoming a popular destination.
Because of its location, right on the border between Spain and Portugal, it shares some of the charms of both the Algarve and the culture of Andalusia, making it quite a unique destination in Southern Spain, popular with both Portuguese and local tourists.
The spectacular coastal scenery with wide sandy beaches is one of the main reasons why visitors choose to stay in this area. For now it remains a fairly quiet destination for holidaymakers, but we believe it might develop into more of a tourist hot-spot over the next years.
If you are looking for a less explored area in Southern Spain, with the possibility of combining a visit to Portugal in your holiday plans, look no further!
Los Caños de Meca
You might have understood by now that we love the province of Cádiz, so of course this will be another destination that you must check out while there!
Los Caños de Meca is a small coastal village with no more than 300 residents. This small hidden gem consists of basically one street of bars, restaurants and hotels, parallel to the sea.
During the 1970’s this was a popular hippie destination, attracting people with its laid-back atmosphere and pristine beaches along the town’s road. The shore remains pristine to this day as not much as changed since then, and this area is so far not overly explored.
This village, like many of the surrounding towns, has a strong Moorish past that is still visible to this day. This includes the food served in some of the restaurants, and one great example is La Jaima Meccarola, a beautiful and romantic food venue serving authentic Arabic cuisine.
This destination is not just perfect for beach lovers, but also for active travellers that love to go on hikes! There are multiple trails inserted in the La Breña y Marismas del Barbate Natural Park, and they start right in Los Caños de Meca.
So, if you are more of an active and nature traveler you know where to go!
Almuñécar
Almuñecar is a beautiful coastal haven in the Costa Granadina, in the province of Málaga. It enjoys a privileged location between the sea and the mountains, making it a very picturesque destination on the coast!
This beautiful town offers quite a modern infrastructure along the beach, along with museums and historical landmarks. The mix of rich cultures, with the influence of the Moors and the Romans, make it a very historically interesting destination to visit. While there, definitely check out the Roman aqueduct, as well as the Moorish castle of Castillo de San Miguel!
If you’re big on nightlife, you’ll be happy to know that Almuñecar definitely comes alive when the sun goes down. There is a nice chill and outgoing vibe here, with crowds of all ages enjoying the fun atmosphere until late in the night.
As with other destinations on our list, Almuñecar offers a great tourist infrastructure, with modern amenities and plenty of activities for travelers of all ages. It is perfect if you are travelling in a larger group that shares a diverse range of preferences and interests.
La Cala de Mijas
La Cala de Mijas is an absolutely beautiful hidden gem along Costa del Sol in Southern Spain.
Located between some of the most well-known cities in the area, Marbella and Fuengirola, La Cala is the perfect low-cost base to explore the region.
This charming town is known for its incredible beaches, offering a wide range of water sports and other activities. With wide boardwalks along its coast, it’s the perfect place for you to enjoy scenic walks by the beach, and shop in the many stalls and local stores located by the main road.
When it comes to cafés and entertainment, La Cala de Mijas does not disappoint! There are plenty of incredible tavernas scattered throughout town offering amazing tapas and refreshing drinks, and at night the bars and clubs light up the streets along the beautiful coastline.
If you are looking for a bigger town with plenty of shopping opportunities and picturesque beach views, La Cala de Mijas is for you!
Estepona
Located in the beautiful Costa del Sol, Estepona is a picturesque beach town known for its narrow streets and traditional white buildings adorned with colorful flower pots.
Because of its beauty and Mediterranean charm, every year Estepona attracts tourists from all over the globe, and in fact its population of around 70.000 people is formed in large part by international communities.
The old town is a maze of cobble streets, with stunning architecture and old churches and no shortage of vegetation. There are so many picturesque areas that are perfect for Instagram-worthy shots, so we definitely recommend that you allow yourself to wander through the town freely with no time constraints.
As per any self-respecting Spanish town, you’ll see a new café with every two steps you take, so there is no shortage of food options in Estepona. This makes it the perfect destination for foodies, and travellers looking for a charming town with a relaxing and laid-back atmosphere!
We created this article to share with you the many beautiful coastal towns that are found throughout Southern Spain, sometimes overlooked by those exploring the biggest and most popular cities along the coastlines of the country.
There are so many beautiful secret towns and hidden gems all over Spain that are yet to be fully explored, and we’ll be sure to write more about them in the future!
Now that you know about a few of these places, where will you go first?
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