26 Best Hotels in Costa del Sol and Costa de Almeria, Spain

In the heart of the old quarter, early-19th-century architecture is paired with comfortable and up-to-date amenities in this boutique hotel with strong design features. Spacious rooms come with exposed stone walls and photos of the city and surroundings, while acrylic and chrome fittings combine with antique furniture. The upstairs terrace (April–October) is great for views of the city while sipping cocktails, and the underground 15th-century Arab baths (included in some rates) continue the relaxation theme.

At the far western end of the Golden Mile (and a few minutes’ walk from the beach and Puerto Banús), Boho Club offers a chilled vibe in Scandinavian-style surroundings. Rooms (nine are suites in separate bungalow-type buildings) are spacious, with gold and green touches in the rich fabrics and decor; some have partial sea views while the quietest enjoy panoramic vistas of La Concha mountain peak. Guests have the choice of two pools (one with live music and bar), both in exquisitely manicured gardens where two Richard Hudson sculptures blend into the pretty Mediterranean flowers and shrubs. The hotel's restaurant offers Mediterranean dishes with creative touches and a substantial brunch, favored by locals.

This quaint family-run hotel comes with a pink-and-white neo-Moorish facade, a choice location next to the beach and near the botanical park, and comfortable rooms that are all different. All the rooms have either private balconies or large picture windows with superb views: their modern fittings contrast with antiques and the occasional four-poster bed. The restaurant specializes in traditional cuisine, such as migas (bread crumbs fried with sausage and spices), grilled meats—try the lamb—and paella.

Fully restored to its full 1930s neo-Mudejar glory, this castlelike hotel is one of the city’s most atmospheric and romantic—a Málaga version of The Arabian Nights. Moorish decor runs through the communal areas, all rooms, and gardens that contain ruins of the 17^th-century fortress and have Alhambra-style paving and fountains. Panoramic views of the city and bay are standard in many rooms, where you’ll find exquisite attention to detail. Splurge on a suite for a private terrace with your very own sea views. If you don’t have your own transport, use the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service to the beach and city center.

With panoramic views of San José and the wide bay, these modern self-catering apartments make the most of their elevated position at the far west end of the village. All accommodations have exceptional sea views and come fully equipped and spotlessly clean. Choose from one-, two-, and three-bedroom modules—the largest have private terraces. Guests have use of the generously sized pool and garage, and the on-site bar and restaurant provide good food (looking over the same views). The beautiful Playa de los Genoveses beach is a 10-minute walk down the nearby cliff.

Perched up on a hill just outside the white village of Riogordo, this Belgian-run establishment offers boutique bed and breakfast in traditional rustic surroundings, with possibly the best views in the area. Rooms, all named for the seven nearest villages, are spacious, with crisp white linen, and complimentary tea and coffee, and most enjoy vistas. All but one have a terrace area, and the Alcaucin suite has a private balcony. Outside, guests have use of the good-sized swimming pool, where you'll find the best views, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Fragrant lemon trees flank the pretty patio and there's an impressive cactus garden. The homemade breakfast includes daily cake and pastry specials, as well as fresh seasonal fruit. 

Right off the main plaza and near the beach, this deservedly popular family-run hotel has bright and comfortable but small rooms; guests return year after year, particularly during the October feria (fair). Most rooms have their own small balconies, and there's also a larger sun terrace for catching rays. The hostal is surrounded by restaurants and bars, so finding a breakfast destination is no problem. If you're here during Christmas, the owners display one of the most impressive belenes (model Nativity scenes) in town.

This low-rise, white, blocky building with blue trim is nothing fancy—what you're paying for is the location, within a stone's throw of the beach on a charming bay, with superb, relaxing sea views. The rooms are plain but comfortable (book one with a sea view if available), and the downstairs restaurant serves excellent seafood.

Housed in a beautifully restored historic mansion, this family-run hotel offers cozy accommodations off a stunning central patio. The period rooms come with lofty ceilings, traditional beams, and eclectic furnishings. Rooms with exterior balconies are lighter and airier than those facing the patio and look out across the town center. The location could not be more convenient with Estepona’s charming old quarter and the beach on the doorstep. Guests have access to complimentary refreshments, snacks, and Nespresso coffee.

Down a side street near the center of town but still near the sea, this British-owned boutique hotel combines a great location and views with comfortable, pleasant rooms. You'll find shelves of books, antiques, and cozy overstuffed sofas in the downstairs sitting room. Colorful oil paintings by the local artist David Broadhead are showcased throughout the property. The excellent Restaurant 34 serves contemporary and traditional dishes such as scallops in lemon and ginger, and roast pork; you can dine on the extended terrace with sea views. For a lighter bite, try Tapas Bar 34, with a street-side terrace. The hotel is usually closed from December through February, but check exact dates.  Rooms with sea views are well worth the extra cost.

This centrally located and gracious hotel has well-priced rooms that are small but functional, with double glazing to block out any late-night street revelry—those facing the side street or the interior patio are the quietest. The owners are friendly, although they don't speak a lot of English.

Enjoying a quiet location at the north end of the casco antiguo, this 17^th-century mansion is one of the resort’s longest-established boutique hotels, fully refurbished in 2020. Named for the French opera singer Claude Devoize, who lived here in the early 1970s, the hotel has many original features in marble and stone, particularly in the central patio, bedecked with original artworks including a giant hanging fish sculpture. Each of the seven rooms takes an Andalusian province as its decorative theme—Granada, aka the Chic Suite, is particularly grand. The intimate rooftop terrace has lovely views of the old quarter and makes a romantic spot for an evening drink.

A touch of Asia comes to Torremolinos at Spain's only Japanese hotel, tucked away at the western end of the resort and a few minutes' walk from La Carihuela. Most of the spacious rooms are functional and European style, except for the Japanese Suite, with its futon and Furo tub (six times larger than a regular tub). The small gardens and pool area provide ideal relaxation space away from the crowds at the beach. Extras include free parking (a big bonus in Torremolinos) and daily newspapers. Japanese food is served at all meals (including breakfast).

Two blocks from the beach and a short walk from the casco antiguo stands one of Marbella's oldest hotels, which had a total overhaul in 2019 to elevate it to a four-star property. Additions include a gym and small rooftop pool. Rooms are large and light; the corner rooms are the largest.

On the beach at the far end of La Carihuela, in one of the most pleasant parts of Torremolinos, this low-rise resort hotel has a loyal following for its friendly and homey style and comfortable, bright rooms. A tropical theme runs throughout: purple passionflower climbs cover the brickwork, exotic plants and bamboo furniture decorate the common areas, and warm color schemes and dazzling white fabrics make the guest rooms cheerful. Note that there's a minimum four-night stay in July and August. The beachfront restaurant has a good selection of meat and fish dishes.

The spacious rooms at this restored 16th-century mansion in the heart of the spectacular village of Vejer de la Frontera overlook the coast and the countryside with white villages speckling the horizon. Original features abound—exposed beams, stone arches, and the fine columns on the patio—and sit in harmony with modern touches such as polished cement floors, super-soft linens, and roll-top tubs. All rooms include antique furnishings alongside local sculptures, but no TV. The rooftop terrace offers stunning views as well as a heated plunge pool (open Easter–October) and sun loungers. Don't miss the spiral glass staircase that takes you down to the massage room housed in the original stone water deposit.

Surrounded by lush subtropical gardens and fronting the beach, the Hurricane is one of the best-loved hip hotels on this stretch of coastline, famous for its Club Mistral wind- and kitesurfing school and its horseback-riding center. Rooms are upbeat and simply furnished, making good use of white, cream, and natural terra-cotta tiling, and fit in well with the surroundings. Those facing the highway are cheaper but can be noisy with traffic.

This luxury resort, between the coastal highway and the sea, looks like a cross between a Moroccan casbah and a take on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with tropical gardens and a succession of large swimming pools meandering down to the beach. The spacious rooms continue the North African theme, and all have balconies overlooking the Mediterranean. Nightly live music can be enjoyed during the summer, and there's a Sunday jazz brunch. Half-board plans are available.

On one of Marbella's prettiest plant-filled pedestrian streets, this small hotel has a warm, homey feel, and the rooms are lovely. The lobby feels welcoming, with turquoise-and-blue tiles; bright, Andalusian-themed paintings—painted by the owner—hang throughout the property. The rooms are furnished with wood beams, terra-cotta tiles, wrought-iron headboards, and exquisitely tiled bathrooms in warm earth tones. Breakfast, which features organic products and natural juices, is served in the cozy dining room, and the boutiques and the beach are just a short stroll away.

With friendly Dutch owners and rooms with lots of traditional Andalusian features and even a few Moroccan touches, this hotel makes a perfect rural retreat. Built around a central courtyard like that in a Moroccan riad, the hotel was formed out of five village houses; some rooms have terraces with views over Ojén, and they're all atmospheric and restful. Flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi keep you from feeling too cut off, however, and the heated pool is a big plus.

This glossy hotel, refurbished in 2023, has a sophisticated edge on its high-rise neighbors, with light and airy rooms and private terraces overlooking the port and surrounding beach. Expanses of glossy marble in the lobby are crowned by a stained-glass dome, and glass elevators give dramatic views of the coast and mountains en route to your room. The rooms have pale parquet floors and pleasant floral fabrics. Service is generally excellent. 

The grande dame of Marbella hotels offers luxurious rooms, tropical grounds, and sky-high rates; the sense of seclusion is emphasized by its lofty palm trees, dazzling flower beds, and a beachside tropical pool area. It was a creation of the late Alfonso von Hohenlohe, a Mexican-Austrian aristocrat who helped turn the town into a playground for the rich and famous. The bungalow rooms vary in size, but come with fully fitted kitchens and their own gardens, and some have private pools. The main restaurant has a classy, eclectic menu of modern Mediterranean cuisine; if you don't want to eat here, stop by for a cocktail in the piano bar (open in the summer).

Value is the overriding attraction of this comfortable and elegant modern hotel, which has slick, bright rooms and the kind of amenities you'd expect to come at a higher price. The 24 rooms in the Torreluz Centro Hotel next door are cheaper, and the nearby apartments give you more space for the same price as the main hotel.

Within a few minutes' walk of the historic center, this parador provides a welcome oasis of calm for relaxing after sightseeing, and panoramic vistas of the Peña de los Enamorados can be seen from the gardens, restaurant, and some rooms. The style is reminiscent of a typical Andalusian estate, but with a modern edge, with steel and sharp contour details. Rooms are spacious and minimalist, with white and beige touches. Plenty of lounge chairs surround the pool in the manicured gardens.

The attractive rooms at this cozy, gray-stone parador are some of the best in Málaga, with spectacular views of the city and the bay, so reserve well in advance. Furnished with blue curtains and bedspreads and woven rugs on bare tile floors, the rooms feel classic, and they all have terraces to take advantage of a location that's on top of the Gibralfaro hill, 3 km (2 miles) above the city and surrounded by pine trees. The restaurant excels at classic Mediterranean dishes plus local specialties like fried fish and gazapachuelo (soup with monkfish and king prawns). On hot days, you can take in the views while cooling off in the rooftop pool.

On the central Plaza de la Constitución, in the middle of a sophisticated shopping area, this elegantly restored 19th-century building holds luxuriously furnished rooms. They have spacious black-and-white marble bathrooms, and several also have balconies overlooking the busy shopping street below. The rooms also have carpeting throughout and king-size beds. The separately owned roof terrace bar (open evenings in spring and summer) has stunning views of the cathedral. Book a street-side room during Easter week for a bird's-eye view of the processions.