Guide to Torremolinos
Six interesting facts about Torremolinos
- Torremolinos is a Spanish city and municipality in the province of Málaga.
- Torremolinos is one of the oldest holiday destinations on the Costa del Sol.
- The town has more than 70,000 inhabitants.
- The airport is only 15 minutes away by car and 10 minutes by train.
- The town’s mayor is Pedro Fernández Montes.
- In the 1960s, tourism grew enormously in Torremolinos.
The city’s history
The town’s name, Torremolinos, comes from Torre de Los Molinos, the name of a well-known tower until the 16th century. Today the tower is called Torre de Pimentel, named after a soldier who helped the two Catholics, Ferdinand and Isabella, conquer Málaga at the end of the 15th century.
Torre de Pimentel was built over 700 years ago, around the 13th century. At this time, the city was under Moorish rule. Torre de Pimentel is situated between Calle San Miguel and Cuesta del Tajo. Calle San Miguel and Cuesta del Tajo are two streets where cars are forbidden. These two beautiful streets lead down to the famous beach, El Bajondillo. The tower is 12 metres high and built of stone, consisting of adobe; a kind of clay formed from a mixture of sand, mud and straw. In ancient times, the tower was used as a lookout tower to guard against attacks from the sea. It is Torremolion’s best-known street and is teeming with people and activity throughout the day.
Take a trip down these beautiful streets and you will find small family-run cafes, local restaurants and delicatessen, as well as small shops selling colourful ceramics, jewellery and fashionable clothing. The roads are filled with fragrant flowers along the walls.
Torremolinos used to be a small and old fishing village before it became the first holiday destination on the Costa del Sol in the 1950s.
Tourism started in the late 1950s when the luxury hotel Pez Espada opened, and celebrities from Hollywood came to stay here. The hotel was visited by stars such as Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Anthony Quinn, Brigitte Bardot, and Grace Kelly. They were captivated by the excellent and beautiful beaches.
Back then, it wasn’t normal to see American celebrities wearing bikinis or enjoying themselves, dancing and having a drink. However, it was not frowned upon as Americans were wealthy and good at spending their money, resulting in that money being contributed to the local community.
Since then, Torremolinos has grown both in population and in tourism. The Europeans also began to travel south, which meant that the city expanded and built more hotels, restaurants, bars and services to cater for the many visitors.
More recently, the construction of private apartments began as visitors sought to rent or buy holiday homes which offer more privacy and freedom.
Torremolinos was the first place in Spain to open a gay bar; Toni’s Bar, which opened back in 1962. Subsequently, the Spanish government began to accept homosexuality.
Torremolinos today
Torremolinos is today one of the most visited resorts on the Costa del Sol. Due to the fabulous beaches and the beautiful and well-maintained beach promenade, which is used extensively for walks along the sea or visits to the cosy beach bars and restaurants. It is primarily a popular holiday destination for the Irish and English.
The city centre is high up, and from there you have a fantastic view of the sea. The streets are filled with colourful flowers and small local shops from the beach to the city centre. It is worth taking a walk through the small and winding roads. The city has everything the heart, soul and palate desires. You will find restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shopping opportunities and small cosy cafes where you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the southern sun.
If you are looking for more shopping opportunities, we recommend you take either the car or train to Plaza Mayor or the centre of Málaga. If you do not have your own car, you can rent from a car rental company such as Helle Hollis. (https://www.hellehollis.com/dk)
Parking is free at Plaza Mayor. In Málaga, free parking is possible, although you do have to pay in most places. If you choose to take the train, it stops both in Plaza Mayor and Málaga and costs around 4 euros for an adult.
There are also shopping opportunities in Torremolinos, but there are more small local shops. There are no significant and well-known chains such as Mango, Zara or H&M. For these, you can instead go to Plaza Mayor or Málaga, as mentioned above. Plaza Mayor also has a Designer Outlet, where, among other things, are well-known brands such as Prada, Guess, Ralph Lauren and Adidas.
Torremolinos is a city that never sleeps. There are activities all year round. The town’s municipality is good at organizing a lot of cultural activities. There are events and festivals with live music, gastronomic experiences, town parties, markets, processions and exhibitions throughout the year.
To experience the Spanish lifestyle, you must visit El Calvario, located behind the centre. El Calvario is an older and charming district where the local Spaniards go about their everyday lives. Here they make use of the local cafes and shops. Everything happens calmly and slowly, so if you are curious about the Spanish lifestyle, this is an excellent place to explore.
Torremolinos is one of the older tourist attractions on the Costa del Sol, so the town’s appearance also varies. You will find everything from new buildings to older, charming buildings, winding streets, new boulevards, new pedestrian streets, and attractions. The city contains both patina and nostalgia, but at the same time also shines with renewal and modernization.
Places worth visiting
Casa de Los Navajas
You will find this beautiful building in the middle of Torremolinos. The house was established back in 1925 and belonged to the Luque-Navajas family. Three generations had lived in the house until 1991 when they chose to make it a historic building.
Today the house has become a museum, where it is possible to come in and see it from Tuesday to Sunday between 10.30 and 18.30, but it is a good idea to be aware of the siesta. The entrance is free, so you don’t have to carry your wallet.
Casa de Los Navajas is also used for various ceremonies; for example, weddings are popular events to be celebrated here.
It is absolutely worth seeing. Click here and enter the location directly.
Parque de La Batería
This beautiful green area is worth visiting if you want to escape the city’s noise. The park covers over 74,000 square meters, suitable for sports, leisure and family fun and is open every day from 07:30 to 22:00.
The lake is one of the park’s main attractions. It is an artificial lake of 9,000 square metres in the park. Here it is possible to rent a small boat through the boat rental company located by the lake. The boats and the carousel are open from Friday to Sunday from 11:00 – 14:00 and 16:00 – 18:00.
The carousel contains 50 figures in the form of giraffes, horses, carriages and tiny houses – all to the children’s delight. There is also a large playground area.
There is an exercise area, a cycle track and a running track for older children and adults.
In the park, you will also find a lookout tower with a height of 15 metres.
The park is located north of La Carihuela and right next to the train station, Montemar Alto. If you are driving, there is also an associated car park. Remember that animals are not allowed in the park.
Aqualand
Visiting a water park in high season usually means many visitors, many of whom are tourists. There are three top-rated water parks in Málaga province. The one in Torremolinos is the largest of the three water parks and the most popular. It is part of a chain of 13 water parks, which are spread around Europe—run by Aspro Ocio, a Spanish company.
Torremolinos Aqualand is just five minutes from the centre. It covers over 70,000 m2 and contains gardens, swimming pools, a wave pool and 34 water slides, 19 for adults and 15 for children. Here you will also find one of Spain’s highest water slides. It is 22 metres high, is called Kamikaze and is not for the faint of heart.
There is also the option of using the three restaurants to buy burgers, pizzas or sandwiches. One of the restaurants offers a buffet with a large selection for both children and adults. It is also permitted to bring your own food and eat outdoors, but you may not bring anything in glass containers.
A good tip is that if you buy your tickets online, you can save some money. You can see the prices by clicking here.
The water park is closed in winter from the end of September to the beginning of April.
Crocodile Park
In Torremolinos, visitors can visit the well-known crocodile park and get an opportunity to meet crocodiles and other smaller animals. There is also the option of getting a tour with a zookeeper. Here it will be told how the crocodilians survived the Triassic, a geological period extending from 251.0 to 199.6 million years ago.
In 1999, precisely on 5 March, the crocodile park welcomed Paco. Paco comes from one of the largest crocodile farms in South Africa and originates from the Nile crocodile species, the second largest of the four species in South Africa.
Paco was 5 metres long and weighed 600 kilos. Among the locals, he was called Big Daddy. He died in the crocodile park in February 2018. Paco almost reached 20 years old. Today he is on display in the crocodile museum in Crocodile Park, so all visitors can still say hello to Paco.
The park is open all year round, so there is no excuse not to drop by the crocodiles. In the high season, July and August, the park is open an hour longer, so instead of the opening hours being 11:00 – 17:00, it is 11:00 – 18:00 in these two months.
A good tip: Some money will be saved if you buy your tickets online. You can see the prices by clicking on the link here.
Playamar
On the beach, Playamar, there is the opportunity to do sporting activities and relax in the sun. It is possible to windsurf and play volleyball on the 50-metre-wide and one-kilometre-long beach.
There is plenty of space to be active, but there is also space to lie under a parasol and enjoy the warmth of the Spanish sun.
El Bajondillo Beach
This beach is one of the best beaches on the Costa del Sol. It is located in the heart of Torremolinos and is 40 meters wide and one km long. It is centrally located and is, therefore, one of the most visited beaches by city residents and visitors. The beach was artificially constructed in its time. If you get hungry, there is plenty of opportunities to enjoy tasty food from one of the many restaurants along the coast.
El Bajondillo is located between the other two beaches, La Carihuela and Playamar.
Restaurants recommended by us
Ibiza Restaurant
You will find the restaurant Ibiza in the neighbourhood of Pueblo Blanco. The restaurant has a colourful interior, and the decoration is inspired by the many colours you see on the beautiful island of Ibiza. It is possible to get inside or outside seating.
The restaurant offers everything from Mediterranean cuisine to European and grilled dishes. If you have any dietary requirements, are vegetarian, vegan or gluten allergic, don’t hesitate to inform the staff about it, and they will find a solution in the kitchen.
The prices are approx. between €6 – €30. Click here, and you will be taken directly to their menu card.
BelGuNa
This is a restaurant and bar. According to TripAdvisor, it is the number one rated restaurant in Torremolinos. They offer Belgian and European dishes, as well as some drinks that are Belgian.
They will be happy to show you matches if you are interested in football. They use Facebook to let their guests know which matches they are offering.
Tiki
Tiki is a Japanese and Asian-inspired restaurant. Here you will find some of the most delicious sushi. While you sit and eat, you can enjoy the view of the sea on the other side of the street. They make vegetarian and vegan dishes, so there is something for everyone.
We recommend booking a table in advance, as it can quickly become fully booked during the evening. The restaurant offers a take-away service if you are unlucky enough that it is already fully booked and you want food from there. In terms of price, it is on the expensive side, as you are paying for the quality but it is worth the money.
Living in Torremolinos
Torremolinos is a lovely city, and living here is worthwhile. There are many beautiful beaches, and on the city’s outskirts, you will find beautiful forest areas with freshwater springs and barbecue facilities. In the summer, many people, such as those who live further inland, look for the coast to escape the heat. A lot of tourists also visit Torremolinos in the summer months.
In the centre of Torremolinos, you will find many tall apartment buildings, as well as a lot of hotels. A little further away from the centre, these large apartment buildings will be fewer, and there will be more independent houses.
The hottest month in Torremolinos is August when temperatures rise over 30 degrees. The weather is perfect for swimming at the beach, as the temperature of the Mediterranean sea is around 24 degrees. The coldest month is January when temperatures can drop below 10 degrees. The wettest month is December when it is possible to get up to 100 mm of rainfall. July is the month that gets the most amount of sunshine. You can get up to 11 hours of sun.
In Torremolinos, there is a large selection of Spanish schools. You will also find an English International school, Sunny View School. The school was founded over 40 years ago and welcomes all nationalities aged 3 to 18 years.
The school’s program is structured according to the English National Program, and the teachers are experienced, qualified British graduates.
