One week road trip in Costa del Sol

At the beginning of June we took a vacation and flew off on Andalusia region, south of Spain. After renting a car from Malaga we drove to Benalmadena, where we stayed in a pretty and cozy studio with Airbnb, overlooking the coast and the sea.

Since it was only one week trip, I planned it in advance in order to manage to visit as much as possible of Andalusia, and also have some time for the beach.
The whole week was spent exploring surroundings, taking shorts dips into the cold water and visiting Marbella, Estepona, Nerja, Frigiliana, Ronda and Mijas.

Marbella

Our first stop was in the lively and colorful Marbella. Here we found it all: sandy beaches decorated with palm trees, the beautiful Old Town, shops and fun. After spending the morning on the beach, we went to explore the Old Town and discover some places less popular. The colorful trees seem to spill out of everywhere, the houses covered in colorful ceramic tiles, the Orange Square and Carmen Street. Time passed slowly and pleasantly.

Estepona

It is difficult to choose a favorite town in Andalucia region, since they all have that Spanish charm and beauty, but Estepona was one of my favorite. Located 30 minutes drive away from Marbella, it’s a white village beautifully decorated with colorful doors and flowers, lively terraces and restaurants, being a truly bliss to explore.

Nerja

It was my favorite town for going to the beach. It is a lively place with a good atmosphere, its main attraction being the Balcony of Europe, a seafront palm-lined promenade offering breathtaking views over the cliffs and the sea.

The beaches in Nerja are surrounded by cliffs, that’s why I liked it so much. The most popular beaches in Nerja are Burriana Beach, Calahonda Beach and Carabeillo Beach.

Frigiliana

I had a crush on this little hilltop town. Frigiliana is a charming “Pueblo Blanco”, situated in the Sierra Almijara Mountain, overlooking the sea. Its cobbled alleyways and whitewashed houses, resplendent with flowers are overwhelmingly beautiful.

In the morning we drove to Nerja, where we stayed at the beach. At the noon we drove 7 km north to visit Frigiliana and, in the afternoon we come back to Nerja were we spent the evening.

Ronda

Perched on an El Tajo Gorge, Ronda is one of Spain’s oldest towns. It was my favorite stop during our Andalusian road trip, and it is among the most beautiful villages in Andalusia. The charm of Ronda stays in the mix of history, culture and romance.

Artists like Hemingway found inspiration there, Plaza de España being famous by his novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls”.

We started our idyllic walk at Balcón del Coño, overlooking the gorge and the surrounding countryside. Then we arrived at Puente Nuevo which is the main attraction of Ronda, offering a beautiful view over El Tajo Gorge. From there we walked down along the Camino de los Molinos to see the gorge from below because it has the best view for photography.

Time passed as we explored the narrow streets, found some beautiful secret gardens, arrived in Plaza Duquesa de Parcent where we stayed for a while. We found a pretty terrace with little tables outside in a shady and tranquil square. It was an ideal spot to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Mijas

The hilltop white village, Mijas keeps the typical Andalusian charm and vibe, being a pleasant place to spent one day by exploring its narrow streets beautifully decorated with flowers while trying the local food.