Things to do in Torremolinos
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Torremolinos
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best months, warm sea, everything open, late September adds the Feria de San Miguel.
Good shoulder months, cooler evenings and some rain risk in October.
Peak heat, prices and crowds, worth it only for the July and August festivals.
Quietest and wettest trade off months, scene is weekend focused and many beach clubs close.
What's on
- Rockin' Race Jamboree Early February
1950s rock and roll festival with vintage cars and gigs across town.
- Carnival Late February to early March
Street carnival before Lent, mostly free.
- Semana Santa March or April
Holy Week processions, dates move with Easter each year.
- Torremolinos Pride Late May to early June
Parade, concerts and parties centred on La Nogalera, book hotels months ahead.
- Noche de San Juan 23 June
Bonfires and midnight swimming on the beaches for midsummer.
- Feria del Carmen Mid July
La Carihuela patronal festival, the Virgin carried to sea, quarter at its fullest.
- MadBear Beach Early to mid August
International bear week filling gay hotels, beaches and venues.
- Matrix Sun Festival Late August
Large gay circuit festival with parties across the Nogalera scene.
- Feria de San Miguel Last week of September
Town patronal feria with Romeria, daytime centre party and night fairground.
- Christmas Wonderland Mid December to early January
Winter fairground event with low cost rides over Christmas and New Year.
Best things to do in Torremolinos
La Carihuela
Former fishing quarter with the best fish restaurants, chiringuitos and promenade swimming in town.
Casa de los Navajas
Moorish revival palace from 1925 with tilework, gardens and sea views above Bajondillo beach.
Jardín Botánico Molino de Inca
Botanical garden around historic mills with waterfalls, a Japanese garden, a labyrinth and birds.
Parque La Batería
Large local park on a former artillery battery with a boating lake, shade, play areas and a viewpoint tower.
Calle San Miguel
Pedestrian main street of the old town, best as a stroll linking the centre, church and Pimentel Tower.
Chamber of Secrets
Intimate family cabaret of magic, comedy and illusion, the best reviewed night out in Torremolinos.
Aqualand Torremolinos
Largest water park on this coast, best on a weekday at opening with tickets and fast pass planned.
Crocodile Park
Close up crocodiles including a giant specimen, worth it in warm months timed for a guided talk.
Where to stay in Torremolinos
La Carihuela and Montemar
food, beach life and a village feel
Best fish restaurants and chiringuitos, low rise streets, marina walk west and Bateria Park inland.
Bajondillo and Centro
first trip, all round base and day trips
Beach below the old town, station and Calle San Miguel in minutes, widest hotel choice at every price.
La Nogalera and Centro
nightlife and the gay scene
Dozens of gay bars and clubs on the doorstep, Pueblo Blanco nearby, beach a short walk down.
Playamar and Los Álamos
families, space and beach clubs
Wider beaches, larger resort hotels and the Los Alamos beach clubs, further from the centre and west end.
Think twice about
- Far eastern Los Alamos all-inclusive strip
Isolated resort strip under the flight path, far from town restaurants, station and old town on foot.
- A-7 and Calle Cuba inland corridor
Cheap listings by the motorway and Aqualand with a long walk to sand and nothing around at night.
- Plaza de la Nogalera immediate blocks
Avoid for noise if you sleep lightly, venues run to 3am and clubs later during festivals.
- Centre apartments without confirmed lift or air conditioning
Cliff top centre plus summer heat plus stairs is a recurring complaint, confirm lift, floor and air conditioning.
Best restaurants in Torremolinos
Casa Juan Los Mellizos
Carihuela fish institution for fritura, grilled sole and seafood paellas, booked out at weekends.
Miguel Cerdán Restaurante
Espetos and grilled fish under the Bajondillo cliff, the local guides pick at this end of town.
El Gato
Creative Mediterranean dining on Calle Casablanca, the most ambitious kitchen in Torremolinos.
Meatina Steakhouse
Steakhouse splurge on the Carihuela side, a change of register after days of fried fish.
Guerola
Traditional bodega restaurant near the centre keeping strict Spanish hours and a local clientele.
Anca Joaquín
Chef led creative tapas bar inside the Nogalera complex, the food reason to arrive early.
La Bodega
Pescaito frito and seafood tapas on Calle San Miguel itself, fairly priced for its prime street.
Bar Los Valles Torremolinos
Neighbourhood Spanish bar for mollete breakfasts and simple local lunches at local prices.
Outdoor things to do in Torremolinos
Paseo Marítimo de Torremolinos
Flat seafront promenade linking Los Alamos, Bajondillo, La Carihuela and Benalmadena Marina for walking and cycling.
Playa de los Álamos
Wide eastern beach with the towns beach clubs, DJs and water sports and a younger local crowd.
Puerto Marina Benalmádena
Marina departure for dolphin sightseeing boats into the Alboran Sea, a short promenade walk from La Carihuela.
Parador de Málaga Golf
Oldest course on the coast, flat and walkable parkland and links holes beside a quiet beach.
Lauro Golf Resort
Forgiving 27 hole resort course inland, the mid price full golf day from Torremolinos.
Golf Torrequebrada
Premium hilly parkland round near Torremolinos with sea views and strong conditioning.
Caminito del Rey
Gorge boardwalk day trip from Torremolinos, thrilling but safe, with tickets that sell out weeks ahead.
Teleférico Benalmádena
Cable car to Mount Calamorro summit trails and the best viewpoint on this stretch of coast.
Best hotels in Torremolinos
Meliá Costa del Sol
Flagship beachfront hotel on Bajondillo with pools, spa and rooftop sea views.
Hotel Pez Espada by Medplaya
Historic first luxury hotel of the Costa del Sol, in gardens on the Carihuela promenade.
MS Amaragua
Beachfront hotel with spa and direct sand access, a short walk from Benalmadena Marina.
Sol Torremolinos - Don Pablo
Large resort complex on Bajondillo with extensive pools, reliable for families and groups.
Hotel Ritual Torremolinos - Adults Only
Adults only flagship of the gay scene with pools and a large spa by the Nogalera venues.
Fénix Torremolinos - Adults Only
Adults only centre hotel with pool and spa, a short walk from the station and Calle San Miguel.
Sol Príncipe
Large Playamar family resort with lagoon pools and gardens serving the eastern beaches.
Hotel Apartamentos Bajondillo
Self catering seafront apartments praised for location, value and spotless upkeep.
Is Torremolinos expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | €60 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | €110 a person |
| Splurge | €260 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Chamber of Secrets: a few days ahead
- Aqualand Torremolinos: a few days ahead
- Meliá Costa del Sol: a few days ahead
- Playa de los Álamos: a few days ahead
- Puerto Marina Benalmádena: a few days ahead
- Parador de Málaga Golf: weeks ahead
- Lauro Golf Resort: weeks ahead
- Golf Torrequebrada: weeks ahead
- Hotels for Pride, MadBear, Matrix and Feria de San Miguel fill months ahead.
- Caminito del Rey tickets sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn.
- Chamber of Secrets, Casa Juan, El Gato and beach club beds need booking in season.
Is Torremolinos safe?
- Pickpockets in festival crowds, late Nogalera venues, trains and on beaches, never leave bags to swim.
- Use the station taxi rank or a booked car late at night.
- Emergency number throughout Spain is 112.
Torremolinos travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Picture menu seafront restaurants on Bajondillo and Playamar, eat fish in La Carihuela instead.
- Fish priced by weight without a stated price per kilo, leave if it is not shown before cooking.
- Calle San Miguel as a destination, it is a pleasant tourist street to walk, not to schedule.
Getting around Torremolinos: public transport and more
- Cercanias C1 train links airport, Torremolinos, Malaga and Fuengirola about every 20 minutes.
- Walk the promenade end to end and use the Bajondillo lift between centre and beach.
- Hire a car only for golf, Ronda or the Sierra villages, parking in Carihuela is scarce in summer.
Who Torremolinos suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Torremolinos your trip
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