We’re less than 2 months away from spring at this point, but if you think that’s far too early to start planning your next Eurotrip, not every place across the pond is as rainy and damp as London well into July, mi amigo.
Costa del Sol is possibly the warmest destination in mainland Europe, and trust me when I say, if I were you, I wouldn’t touch it in summer with a ten-foot pole.
This coastal region in the South of Spain boasts summer-like temps as early as early April. I’m talking daytime highs of 73–75 °F, so unless you can run into the next AC-cooled room every 200 meters, I’d strongly suggest steering clear in July/August.
Now, if you’ve officially had it with the bleak weather and soul-sucking suburbia views back home, and you’re itching for an adventure bigger than, hem, a Caribbean all-inclusive, here are 5 incredible Costa del Sol spots to visit in spring for those Old World, Mediterranean vibes—without the usual buzzing crowds.
Marbella
There’s no bringing up the aptly-named Costa Del Sol without its sun-drenched darling Marbella: compact, pretty, and boasting a lively social scene, it’s the glamorous end of Andalusia, and the tourist trap you won’t mind splurging your hard-earned dollars on:
Perhaps not as traditional or quaint as the odd culture buff might expect, but sometimes, all you need is a stress-free long weekend, with plenty of tapas and sangria overlooking a yacht-packed harbor, and a postcard-ready, golden Playa de la Fontanilla.
My favorite part of Marbella, however, has to be Casco Antiguo, its walkable, timeless Old Town. From the orange-tree-dotted Plaza de los Naranjos, to the magnificent Baroque Iglesia de la Encarnación, and every pedestrian-friendly alley between them, you can cover all bases in a single afternoon.
By the way, you’re craving that Iberian jamón and ice-cold beer, preferably in a quintessentially-Spanish taverns, Taberna La Niña del Pisto is that cozy Old Town spot hiding in plain sight only locals seem to know about.
Nerja
One of those laid-back resort towns you either briefly drive past on your way somewhere, or you drop your bags and linger for a long, idyllic weekend, Nerja is where I typically go for sunset walks, hidden coves with only a small fraction of the Marbella crowds, and ‘chiringuito’ aperitifs.
A ‘chiringuito’ is a street-corner Andalusan bar serving cheap tinto de verano and grilled fish. If you ask me, the absolute best chiringuito in town is not the overpriced Chiriguinto Mauri, nor Ayo on Burriana, but Chiriguinto El Molino, set against dramatic coastal cliffs a 10 min drive east of town.
Speaking of beaches, the aforementioned Playa de Burriana is a long, scenic sandy stretch wedged between your usual zero-frills beach bars and an azure sea, and it’s all the R&R you need after a full day of sightseeing along the coast.
The town is also home to Balcón de Europa, or Europe’s Balcony, a cliffside lookout offering breathtaking views of Costa Del Sol and an open Mediterranean, and if you’re staying overnight, make sure you check out the Cuevas de Nerja, a system of prehistoric slactite caves covered in ancient paintings.
Frigiliana
A short drive 10 min drive inland from Nerja, nestled up in the verdant Andalusian hills, Frigiliana is, in my book, the prettiest of Costa Del Sol’s Pueblos Blancos, and an absolute must-see if you’re beach-hopping in the region in spring… even though, mind you, it’s not on the beach.
Not only does it boast a beautiful architectural ensemble—picture a maze of narrow cobbled streets lined with white houses and front porches decked out with elaborate flower pots—but it also holds a fascinating, yet largely unexplored history.
It just happens to be one of the best-preserved Moorish towns in the region (as in, Islamic-era Spain). The adorable ‘Barribarto’, a medieval core with its stone steps and winding alleys, is effectively a portal back in the time, and don’t get me started on all the picturesque plazas.
Every corner here is insanely photogenic, so my recommendation to you is that you simply get lost in the streets, take your time savoring some pitch-black coffee and dates in a café terrace, and take in the sights.
Estepona
The sweet spot between a bustling resort town with all the necessary amenities, and a laid-back coastal retreat that still feels lived-in and local-frequented, Estepona is the perfect alternative to a much-busier Marbella to the east.
They may be separated by a mere 30 miles, but the Casco Antiguo on this has the kind of whitewashed townhouses that have not been fully converted into seasonal rentals, with well-tended flowerpot-adorned windows, and those café-bordered plazas that never feel suffocatingly-busy.
The main highlight here is the beautiful wall art scattered throughout town, with unique artistic interventions that breathe even more life into the otherwise-monochromatic townscape. What can I say? I’m not immune to the Insta-worthy corners myself.
Oh, this is Costa Del Sol, after all. Of course the town is equipped with a long promenade, running parallel to a beautiful sandy beach, and seafood here doesn’t disappoint, I’ll tell you that much—for a life-changing arroz caldoso, pop by Restaurante El Pescador right on the waterfront.
San Luis de Sabinillas
On the quieter end of Costa Del Sol, with far fewer tourists than Marbella or Estepona, San Luis de Sabinillas has that authentically-Andalusian, low-key vibe you might be seeking towards the end of your holiday.
It’s not overbuilt, far from being flashy, and when locals smile at you, you know they’re warm and genuine. The main beach, named after the town itself, is one of my go-to spots for soaking up the sun when in Costa Del Sol: wide, extensive, and hugged by warm, shallow waters.
You’re far more likely to hear more Spanish being spoken than English or German, too, which believe it or not, is quite rare ’round these ends, and for the wine lovers like me, the coastal roads leading to San Luis are peppered with vineyards right by the sea.
Stop by Nilva Enoturismo and sample their award-winning Moscatel de de Alejandría, grown right on the hills overlooking the Mediterranean, or if you’re short on time, just hit one of the many chiringuitos—you know the word—on Paseo Marítimo, the palm tree-dotted boulevard running along the ocean.
Fly Nonstop To Costa Del Sol From The U.S. This Spring
I saved the best for last.
Unlike most European hidden gems that are multi-stop flights and long train journeys away, you no longer need to touch down in either Madrid or Barcelona, than travel all those hundreds of miles overland to reach Spain’s sunniest coast.
Starting April 30, 2026, Americans will be able to fly nonstop from Newark (EWR) to Málaga (AGP), the largest city on the coast, and the gateway to the paradisiacal beaches and those magical pueblos blancos:
Seeing you’ll already in Andalusia, why not take a little detour inland?
The incredible Seville, Andalusia’s inland capital, is only 2h by train from Costa Del Sol, and if you’re basing yourself in Málaga, you can even take day trips to the castle town of Granada (1h), or the ancient Ronda, with an iconic bridge spanning a deep gorge.
So which one is perfect for you? This quiz will tell you
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