The Costa Tropical was given its' name due to the unique tropical micro climate that exists in this part of Andalucia. This climate is an ideal environment for the growth of subtropical plants, especially species of Palm.

The Costa Tropical is made up of the coastline of Granada Province. Moorish influence is clear across the province, especially in Granada city, where much of the cities' architecture remains true to that of past centuries. With so much history left behind, many museums exist to preserve and show visitors important artifacts.

The Archaeological Museum also known as the 'Cave of 7 Palaces' is, perhaps surprisingly, not located within a cave in Almuñécar, but instead represents the largest section of the Roman Palace. Hieroglyphics found within the 'cave' date back to the time of the reign of Pharaoh Apofis I cerca 1500 BC.

The building of the museum is found within the San Miguel Castle and dates back to the 18th century. The museum contains many of the archaeological findings that are common in the area and there are various models of Almuñécar showing how it would have looked at different periods in time during the Phoenician, Arabic and Roman eras.

Ronda is home to some of the most beautiful villas in Andalucia. Usually located in the scenic countryside surrounding the town, villas in Ronda offer spectacular views and often come with private swimming pools and on-site parking. 

Almeria has an abundance of restaurants, tapas bars and cafés offering delicious food and snacks at reasonable prices. Like many places in Andalucia, a lot of tapas bars in Almería serve a small tapas dish with every round of drinks or drink ordered. Restaurant quality in the city can vary.

Just like most large cities in Spain, Cordoba has a rich variety of restaurants, tapas bars and cafés. Among them are some hidden gems, serving some of the best food in Andalucia. The vast majority are centrally located near the business and cultural districts of the city.

Granada is home to a wide variety of restaurants. The roots of a lot of the gastronomy here lie in Moorish hands, with influences taken from Arabic dishes. As well as the many tapas bars which, traditionally, serve free tapas with every drink ordered, there is a huge selection of restaurants serving delicious food!

Located right next to the Doñana National Park, Sanlúcar gets visitors all year round, but especially during the summer season. There are many self-catering options in and around Sanlúcar de Barrameda, including apartments and villas, offering more a bit more privacy and independence during your holiday.

Primarily an industrial port town, Algeciras is always busy with people passing in and out of it. There are numerous luxury hotels, namely the Hotel Reina Cristina, as well as a number of smaller, cheap hotels - perfect for an overnight stay. 

Castillo del Aguila (Eagle's Castle) in the Moorish hilltown of Gaucin, consists of a series of fortifications built across a rocky ridge above the village. The castle, which is of Roman origin, and was reinforced by the Moors, is located on top of a hill whose east and south slopes are practically impregnable; the best way to reach this magnificent, historic building is by walking up Calle Larga.  

Take a look at which 13 Costa Tropical beaches were awarded a Blue Flag in 2024 and check progression of awards since 2014. Destinations are listed along the coast from West to East.

Take a look at which 11 Costa Almeria beaches were awarded a Blue Flag in 2024 and check progression of awards since 2014. Destinations are listed along the coast from West to East.

Estepona’s Route of Artistic Murals is an iniciative of the local council and the mayor, Jose Maria Garcia Urbano that was started in September 2012. It now consists of about 70 murals in the town centre and near centre districts.

Here is an informative page regarding taxis in Estepona. Estepona Taxi are white in colour with the oficial logo on the side door. They also bear the small 'SP' plate. A taxi with a green light on the roof is available for hire. It is not normal to hail a taxi on the street in Estepona. Either book one by telephone of go to a taxi rank.

Estepona is a rare coastal destination - one of the few towns on the Costa del Sol to have retained its character and traditional feel, despite the influx of tourism in this part of Andalucia. The casco antiguo (old town) is what you'd expect from a picturesque Andalucian town - narrow, cobbled streets lined with beautiful stone houses and plazas, and walls ablaze with vibrant colour from the large variety of flora.

Motril's coastal strip has several beaches, the two closest to the town itself being Playa Granada and Playa Poniente. The latter is better developed, but the area is not aesthetic enough for discerning international tourists. The Gran Hotel (****) is the best on the coast, very comfortable and reasonably priced but its location lacks inspiration. Ideal for a night halt or a business meeting.

In addition to the abundance of hotels, high-rise apartment blocks, hostels and guest houses dotted around Torremolinos, there is also the possibility of camping. Camping Torremolinos consists of a mixture of bungalows and mobile homes built to accommodate lone travellers, couples and families alike.

Nerja is one of the last destinations on the Costa del Sol before the Costa Tropical and is situated east of Malaga City. It is one of the few destinations that has not experienced a large influx of high rise accommodation blocks, like other tourist destinations, but instead has retained a tradition Andalucian feel.

We've put together a top ten list - if you're short of time in Granada and you can't decide where to go and what to see in this historic city, just follow our tips. Explore the city's rich cultural, religious and architectural past and enjoy some extra musical, literary and scientific delights.