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If you’re looking for things to see in Torremolinos, you’ll find a coastal town situated about 15 km from Málaga, known for its beaches and Calle San Miguel. It’s one of the liveliest destinations on the Costa del Sol and is easy to get around on foot, making it ideal for both a day trip and a longer stay.
In this guide, we’ve put together a list of 10 places that combine the old town, the seafront promenade, the beaches and a range of attractions for the whole family. We’ll tell you what each place has to offer, how to get to Torremolinos from Málaga, and what day trips you can take in the surrounding area to round off your visit.
Calle San Miguel is the main thoroughfare of the old town and the best place to start. It is a pedestrianised shopping street, lined with boutiques, souvenir shops, ice-cream parlours, outdoor cafés and tapas bars that keep it bustling all day long. It begins at Plaza Costa del Sol and ends near the Church of San Miguel Arcángel and the Torre de los Molinos, also known as the Torre de Pimentel: a 14th-century watchtower which is the oldest monument in the town and from which it takes its name.
Narrow streets and stairways branch off from the main street, such as the Cuesta del Tajo, a steep slope lined with craft shops that leads down to Bajondillo beach. Walking along it gives you a quick glimpse of the town’s atmosphere before you head towards the sea.
The promenade runs for several kilometres along the coast, linking Bajondillo Beach with La Carihuela Beach. It is a flat route, ideal for walking or cycling, dotted with beach bars where you can try fried fish and sardines on a skewer.
La Carihuela retains the layout of narrow streets typical of the old fishing district and is home to the best selection of seafood in the town. The Bajondillo area, which is more central, is home to bars, restaurants and shops. At dusk, it is one of the liveliest spots in Torremolinos, and from several vantage points you can see the coast and the skyline of Benalmádena.
Torremolinos boasts seven kilometres of dark sandy beaches and calm waters. El Bajondillo is the most central of these, situated at the foot of the old town and well connected to Calle San Miguel. La Carihuela retains the atmosphere of the old fishing quarter and is home to some of the best beach bars for dining by the sea. Further along are Playamar, with a lively atmosphere and water sports, and Los Álamos, at the end of the beach towards the airport.
They all have toilet facilities, showers and promenades, and are the main reason why many visitors choose to come to the town. If you’re only going to do one thing on the beach, make it eating a ‘espeto de sardinas’: sardines skewered on a stick and grilled over charcoal right on the sand, at any beach bar in Bajondillo or La Carihuela.
La Nogalera is a pedestrianised square just a short walk from Calle San Miguel, built around arcades lined with bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. By day it serves as a spot for tapas, and by night it is one of the town’s nightlife hotspots. It is also at the heart of Torremolinos’s diverse atmosphere, making it a regular stop for a drink in the old town.
The square is currently being refurbishment by the local council, as part of a project aimed at improving accessibility and adding greenery and shaded areas. It’s worth bearing this in mind if you’re planning to visit, as its appearance may have changed since the photos you see online were taken.
Parque de la Batería is a green space covering several hectares, built on the site of a former military base, from which it takes its name. It features an artificial lake where boats can be hired, a children’s play area, footpaths and green spaces for picnics, running tracks, a cycle path, an exercise area and a 15-metre observation tower from which you can see the whole bay.
Entry is free. It’s a great place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the beach and is particularly handy if you’re travelling with children.
The Casa de las Navajas is a small mansion built in 1925 for the Luque-Navajas family, on Avenida del Lido. It combines the Neo-Mudéjar style with Modernist elements, and its arches, tiles and gardens overlooking the sea are particularly striking. Now restored and owned by the local council, it is open to the public every day.
Inside, it features antique furniture and period chandeliers. Admission is free and it has become one of the most photographed buildings in the town, as well as a popular venue for weddings and events.
Aqualand Torremolinos is the largest water park on the Costa del Sol, featuring slides, wave pools and areas designed for young children. Among its attractions, the Boomerang slide and the Twister stand out.
It’s open during the summer season and is one of the most popular choices for a family day out when the heat is on. It’s a good idea to check the opening dates and times before you go, as they vary depending on the time of year.
Crocodile Park is next to Aqualand and is a park dedicated to crocodiles, where you can see specimens of different species and ages, including hatchlings and some of the largest crocodiles in Europe. It offers guided tours, live demonstrations and informative talks on their biology, behaviour and conservation.
It’s a short and unusual visit, particularly appealing if you’re travelling with children and looking for an alternative to the beach. As it’s right next to the water park, you can combine the two in a single day.
The Molino de Inca Botanical Garden covers some four hectares next to the springs that have supplied water to the area for centuries. It brings together species from different climates in themed areas, including a Japanese Garden, as well as a historic flour mill and a small bird park.
Admission costs €3. It’s a peaceful, shady spot, ideal for a mid-morning stroll before heading back down to the coast, and it makes for a great educational outing for the whole family.
Puerto Marina is situated on the border with Benalmádena and is one of the most recognisable marinas on the Costa del Sol thanks to its architecture, featuring islands and buildings built over the water. It is home to restaurants, terraces and entertainment venues, and boat trips set off from there to spot dolphins or explore the coast.
It’s a good place to round off the day, whether as the final stop on a visit to Torremolinos or as a link to the neighbouring town.
Torremolinos is very well connected to Málaga and the rest of the Costa del Sol. By train, the C-1 commuter line connects Málaga city centre and the airport with Torremolinos in under half an hour, with several services per hour. By car, there is direct access via the A-7 motorway, although during the high season it is advisable to allow plenty of time to find a parking space. There are also intercity buses from Málaga and from nearby towns.
For tapas, the two busiest areas in the town centre are Plaza de la Nogalera and Plaza Costa del Sol, both of which are home to a large number of bars, restaurants and cocktail bars. By the sea, the beach bars in La Carihuela and Bajondillo are the place to go for fried fish and skewers.
If you can choose your dates, the event takes place at the end of September San Miguel Fair, featuring musical performances, attractions and stalls selling traditional food. We’ll tell you all about the experience in our guide to the Torremolinos Fair.
Its central location means you can use Torremolinos as a base for exploring other parts of the coast. To the south-west, you have Things to do in Fuengirola, with its seafront promenade and castle, and nearby you can visit the Benalmádena Butterfly Farm, a convenient option for travelling with children. If you want to extend the radius, have a look at What to see in Andalusia.
And if you’d prefer to organise your visit without having to worry about transport or timetables, you can rely on our Day trips from Málaga and the Costa del Sol, including hotel pick-up and a local guide. Here are some of the most popular ones:
In a day, you can explore the old town, starting with Calle San Miguel and Plaza de la Nogalera, heading down the Cuesta del Tajo to Bajondillo beach and following the seafront promenade to La Carihuela for lunch by the sea. If you have time to spare, add a visit to the Casa de las Navajas or the Parque de la Batería before the day is out.
The most convenient way to get there is by the C-1 commuter train line, which connects Málaga city centre and the airport with Torremolinos in under half an hour, with several services per hour. By car, it takes about 20 minutes via the A-7 motorway, and there are also intercity buses from Málaga.
The two best-known beaches are Bajondillo, the most central one, situated at the foot of the old town, and La Carihuela, which retains the atmosphere of the old fishing district and is home to many beach bars. Playamar and Los Álamos are also worth a visit. All have dark sand, calm waters and facilities, and are linked by the seafront promenade.
From Torremolinos, you can visit nearby towns on the Costa del Sol such as Fuengirola and Benalmádena, as well as the city of Málaga itself. Its good rail and road links make it a convenient base, and there are day trips with hotel pick-up so you can explore the area without having to worry about transport.
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