Guide to Torre del Mar

Torre del Mar is located on the coast of Málaga within the municipality of Vélez-Málaga in the Axarquia region. 

The town is the second largest in Vélez-Málaga according to the number of inhabitants, and it is also still an important tourist destination. It is located only 28 kilometres east of Málaga, making it very easy to get to and from the capital. 

The history of Torre del Mar

Like many parts of Málaga, this area was once the site of Phoenician and Roman settlements, with the first settlers arriving in 800 BC. Archaeological finds like smelting ovens, metal slags and burial sites prove that there was a community here many centuries ago. 

When the Moors came during the 10th century, they made Torre del Mar the coastal defence of their main fortress in Vélez-Málaga. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the town evolved into one of the most important medinas in the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. During this time, the communities of Benajarafe, Benamocarra, and others were founded. Eventually, the Catholic Monarchs drove the Moors out of the town after ruling the region for many centuries. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Catholic Monarchs replaced all Moorish architecture with Christian buildings. 

In the 18th century, one of the most significant naval battles in the war of the Spanish Succession took place on the coast of Torre del Mar. The war did not end with a clear winner, but the sheer number of vessels used by the French-Spanish and English-Dutch fleets made it one of the most memorable navy battles of all time. 

In the 20s, tourists began to notice the beautiful beaches of Torre del Mar, and it was then that the community started to enjoy a boom in the tourism industry. Hotels, pubs, bars, restaurants, and supermarkets were opening – and even a shopping centre too. 

Torre del Mar as of today

Torre del Mar is one of the main tourist resorts east of Málaga. It is a typically Spanish area. During July & August, it is resident to Spanish families flocking to their holiday homes by the coast, trying to escape the inland heat. 

Torre del Mar and its neighbouring communities are gifted with naturally gorgeous beaches; amongst them are Playa de Torre del Mar, Playa Naturista Almanat (a nudist beach), and Playa de la Victoria. Along the beachfront you will find the extensive promenade, which is divided into two: The Paseo Maritimo de Poniente and the Paseo Maritimo de Levante. Both are adorned with palm trees, fountains and circular pathways that lead through green areas. Both sides of the promenade are filled with lots of people during the summer. There are live music events and summer night markets. If you follow the promenade along the coast, you eventually reach the Marina of Caleta de Vélez. The marina has not yet been developed as a tourist attraction but remains a working port. There is just one bar/restaurant overlooking the marina, although several restaurants are to the right of the port entrance. 

Torre del Mar has a lot of atmosphere and local flavours, with numerous shops, restaurants, and bars. The town offers a great selection of shops and boutiques selling everything from avocados to shoes. You can also find some real gems at the weekly market every Thursday. If you plan a day full of shopping, go to El Ingenio – the local shopping centre.

If you are looking for decent restaurants in town, you’ll have no problems. Torre del Mar offers a good choice of places to eat. You’ll mainly find many traditional Spanish restaurants, but you can also find a variety of different cuisines, including Chinese, Indian and even Brazilian restaurants. On the seafront, you will find several Chiringuitos and other beachside restaurants serving incredible seafood. Perhaps the most popular restaurants are the freidurias which there are many of in Torre del Mar. Here you will be served delicious fresh fish, either fried or grilled.

Torre del Mar also offers a good selection of bars and nightclubs, mainly located on the Paseo Maritimo and on the eastern side of Paseo Larios, which don’t get much going before midnight but stay open until the early hours of the morning (mainly at weekends.)

Tourism is the leading productive sector in the municipality of Vélez-Málaga, followed by agriculture. Traditionally sugar cane was the primary cultivation, but more and more farmers are converting to subtropical crops such as mangoes, avocados, kiwis, and salad crops. 

Attractions we recommend

Aquavelis Water Park

Water parks in Spain are nearly as popular as the beaches in the summer months. Aquavelis is no exception – it is the place to be for hours of fun in the sun. It’s the perfect place for families to relax and have fun. The park offers seven different types of slides, including all of your favourites. 

Aquavelis is located on the road down to Torre del Mar against a backdrop of mountains with brightly coloured slides and pools, inviting you to come in and cool down. 

The park consists of slides, a wave pool, a spa area, a virtual reality park and restaurants serving food and cocktails. For younger children, two areas will have them laughing and playing all day long. Both sites have smaller slides and play areas which are perfectly safe for children. 

The park is open from June to September every year. The opening hours depend on the month – it usually opens longer in July and August. The prices you can find on the park’s official website.

El Ingenio Shopping Centre

One of the biggest shopping centres to the east of Málaga, El Ingenio is the perfect place to spend a day away from the heat (or the rain in the winter). 

You’ll find popular shops like Mango, H&M, Kiko, Bershka, Dunnes, Media Markt, The Body Shop etc. 

If you’ve had enough shopping but are not ready to make your way back to your holiday home, then there is also a cinema. Here you can watch movies in both Spanish and English while you snack on some popcorn. 

There are also plenty of restaurants to choose from when you feel hungry. You’ll find the usual fast-food chains such as Burger King, KFC, and Dunkin’ Coffee, but other restaurants also serve Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. 

There are plenty of free parking opportunities, and the shopping centre offers free Wi-Fi, an outdoor park for children, areas to charge your phone and much more. 

You will have a well-spent day here.

Visit the official website here.

Torrenigma Escape Room

If you want to try something different, we recommend giving this Escape Room a go. It is a fun experience for the whole family. Designed and created by filmmakers to make you feel like you are inside a real story. The games are intended to be as entertaining as possible, and with the staff’s enthusiasm, it isn’t easy not to get wholly involved in the puzzles. 

The wholesome, fun and safe experience suits groups of friends, families and coworkers. This Escape Room is more complex than the average Spanish Escape Room; therefore, we wouldn’t recommend it to children under the age of ten.

Torrenigma has two different rooms – 2 different games – with a 3rd one coming very soon. All three games have a time limit of around 1 hour, and you will need to be at least two people. 

To learn more, click HERE.

Other attractions

The attractions listed above are amongst the most popular attractions in Torre del Mar. However, there are many more sights to discover. It is worth going outside of the city and exploring something different. Take a trip to Málaga, Nerja or Rincón de la Victoria and discover another town. You can find in-depth guides here: Guide to Málaga, Guide to Nerja, and Guide to Rincón de la Victoria.

Bars and restaurants we recommend

Mind

Our top favourite restaurant in Torre del Mar is Mind. It only opened in April 2022 but has already had lots of success. It specialises in Asian fusion gastronomy, and its motto is: “imagination never dies”. This motto comes to life through its menu, where they have attempted to create delicious and unique meals. 

The restaurant has received excellent reviews and is popular with locals and tourists. It is open every day except for Tuesdays and is located close to the beach. It is a good idea to book a table before you visit.

See more on their website.

Berebere

Another favourite of ours is the beach bar and restaurant Berebere. It is not only a bar and restaurant. Since it is located directly on the beach, it also works as a beach club where you can relax on sun loungers while listening to amazing tunes and enjoying delicious cocktails. When you are ready for lunch or dinner, you can sit in the outdoor restaurant. You can also take a seat inside if it’s a cloudy day. The menu is extensive and has something for everyone.

Enjoy Parilla

The last restaurant we want to recommend is this Argentinian steak restaurant. Here you can enjoy an incredible steak cooked to perfection. The portions are very generous, and the staff is friendly. It is difficult to find any negative reviews about this restaurant as everyone loves coming here for a meal. You can only go right.