Welcome to the Spanish Costas and islands website. We are a leading resource that provides useful travel tips and guides all about Spain. The main focus of this website is the coastal areas and islands of this beautiful country.
If you would like skip our introduction, please use the quick links below to navigate to the area that interests you.
The Spanish coastline contains many diverse Costas. Each coastal area has their own incredible things to experience and enjoy. The Costa del Sol for example is the best known for tapas whilst the Costa Blanca is famous for it’s white beaches and super resorts.
Below we have compiled a list of the main Spanish Costas for tourism and popularity. You can access full individual pages about each coastal area by clicking on the orange text links. We also feature some of the most popular costas at the bottom of this page.
Below is an image that highlights most of the main coastal areas of Spain with both major island groupings. There are many more smaller areas to consider but our focus is on the main tourism locations.
In Spanish
Visit our Spanish site Costas de España for all the same content in the Spanish language.
Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca lies on the southeastern coastline of mainland Spain. This is a very popular area with expats which also secures a big chunk of tourism each year. Some of the top areas here are Benidorm the ever popular city Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa.
The literal translation of the Costa Blanca is “White Coast” which is a reference to it’s beaches. Along the 200 km’s of coastline are some of the leading golden and white sand beaches in the country.
Climate
The climate of the Costa Blanca is excellent with mild winters and hot summers. This part of Spain often remains warm until Christmas with the evenings cooler. Among it’s many qualities, the super weather in Benidorm is better than much of the Costa Blanca. This city also has many of the top attractions and liveliest nightlife in eastern Spain.
During the summer the Spanish mainland is always the warmest place to visit. This is certainly the case for the southeast and southwest areas. July and August see temperatures that approach 45 Celsius which may be too hot for some.
The Canaries boast the hottest weather in winter and spring as most of Europe freezes. The sub-tropical climate makes these islands the top destination for a winter break.
Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is another of the leading Spanish Costas. The literal translation of this costa is “Sun Coast”. This popular tourism haven makes up 150 km’s of the southern Spanish coastline. Málaga is both the province and capital city of this part of Spain.
This Spanish coastline stretches from Estepona in the west to Nerja in the east. Málaga and Marbella are the two major cities here with the former also being the capital. The top tourist towns here include Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola and Mijas. This area is popular for it’s golden sand beaches and nightlife.
Below is a quick reference list of the top costas in Spain with their meaning in both English and Spanish.
Costa Brava
The Costa Brava stretches 60 km’s from the town of Blanes to the French border. This Spanish Costa was one of the first to undergo mass tourism re-development in the 1950’s. This part of northeastern Spain belongs to the province of Girona.
The literal translation for this coastal area is the “Rugged Coast”. Among the top tourist destinations on the Costa Brava is Lloret de Mar which is famous for it’s amazing beaches. The pretty town of Tossa de Mar lies to the north of Lloret. The medieval castle in Tossa and Sa Palomera Rock in Blanes (picture above) are must see attractions.
Costa Dorada
The Costa Dorada coastline is one of the longest of the Spanish Costas. This area makes up 215 km’s of northeastern Spain. Consisting of 20 tourist towns, this area stretches from Cunit in the north to Alcanar in the south.
The literal translation for the Costa Dorada is “Golden Coast”. This is a reference to the golden colour of the sand when the sun reflects off the beaches here. The town of Salou is the top holiday destination here. Salou is home to PortAventura and 30 stunning beaches. Close to 5 million visitors spend their holiday here each year.
Contrary to popular belief, all the islands of Spain help to form the Spanish Costas. The translation of “Costa” is “Coast” which all 11 major islands have or they would not classify as such. Below are the names of the two major archipelagos.
Forming the Canaries are 7 main islands and several islets. The main islands are Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. This archipelago is famous for it’s beautiful beaches and tropical climate. The warm year round weather make them a top destination in winter and spring.This is also the case for Autumn when the children are back at school. One of busiest periods here is October in Tenerife which attracts the most tourism.
Costa Cálida
The Costa Cálida stretches for over 250 km’s of the southeastern coastline. This Spanish Costa boasts over 150 beaches. The translation for this area is “warm coast”. This is testament to the hot arid climate here.
The Costa Cálida belongs to the province of Murcia. This area extends from El Mojón in the north to Águilas in the south. Murcia and the naval city of Cartagena are the major cities here. The top tourism resorts here include La Manga del Mar Menor, Mazarrón and Los Alcázares.
Forming the Balearics are 4 main islands and over 100 islets. The main islands are Majorca (Mallorca), Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Palma is the capital city on the island of Majorca, another top holiday destination.
If you are looking for wild nightlife and boat parties then Ibiza is the place for you. All the Balearic isles boast magnificent beaches and turquoise Mediterranean Seas. If you are looking for hot weather and plenty to do for families then Majorca in May will be ideal. These islands are very much warm weather locations unlike the Canaries.
Costa del Azahar
North of the Costa Blanca is the Costa del Azahar which stretches for 115 km’s of the eastern coast of Spain. Vinaròs is the most northern point of this Costa, Almenara is the most southern. The “Orange Blossom Coast” once translated to English is part of the province of Castellón. This is one of the quieter Spanish Costas. The Costa del Azahar stretches for 115 km’s of the eastern coast of Spain. Vinaròs is the most northern point of this Costa, Almenara is the most southern. The “Orange Blossom Coast” once translated to English is part of the province of Castellón. This is one of the quieter Spanish Costas.
