Are you considering a holiday in Torremolinos? Or perhaps just a day trip?
In this article, I will answer all the questions you might have about spending your holiday in Torremolinos!
Let’s jump right in!
Is Torremolinos Worth Visiting?
Short answer: No, it’s not a top choice for me.
BUT it might be a good fit for you if you’re looking one for one of the following things:
- cheap all-inclusive holiday package deals
- you want to stay on Costa del Sol with easy access to the beach and budget accommodation options
- easy and fuss-free access to and from the airport
- if you’re looking for a gay-friendly town and resort, with a lot of action, parties and experiences
- you don’t mind how the city looks like as you’re planning to stay on the beach or hotel only
- you need access to a water park if you’re coming with kids
Why I don’t like Torremolinos?
- the city looks very much like it’s stuck in the mass development era of 60s and 70s – old crumbling buildings, and dated apartment blocks that seem to spring out everywhere without any particular urban planning. The communist-looking buildings are set among newly added modern developments overlooking the coastline, and to me, the whole city just seems like it has no identity anymore.
- the above also translates to the overall lower quality of hotels and accommodations available
- very touristy-looking coastline with trashy beach shops and hamburger restaurants on most of the promenade strip
- while the city has an old town part, it looks very different from the whitewashed Andalusian village you would expect (like Mijas Pueblo, Marbella old town or Frigiliana). If you’re expecting a picture-perfect pretty village, you will be very disappointed
- in summer, the whole city looks like a Pride festival extended for a three-month period. While I don’t mind streets full of half-naked men in tight speedos, you might want to reconsider if you’re coming for a family holiday with kids =)
- the main reason why I would avoid Torremolinos is the fact that there are so many other beautiful destinations in Costa del Sol, and if you still want to see the city, you can easily come here for a day trip (in fact, you can walk to Torremolinos if you’re staying in the nearby town of Benalmadena)

What To Do in Torremolinos?
Torremolinos is mostly known for its beaches and gay-friendly atmosphere, not for the plentiful activities available.
However, there are some places you can explore within the city itself:
- Molino de Inca Botanical Garden – this is probably the only place I liked in Torremolinos, it’s located just outside of the city. Pretty botanical garden with water features and an old mill. Nice afternoon trip from the city.
- Torremolinos Water Park (Aqualand Torremolinos) – I tend to avoid these places, but if you’re coming with kids and need a break from the beach, you can test it out.
- Torremolinos Crocodile Park – I have not visited and not planning to, as the reviews were not great and I generally try to stay away from any animal theme parks (if you love animals, the only place I would recommend is the Bioparc in Fuengirola)
- Casa de los Navajas – Moorish palace from 1925 with nice sea views and some temporary exhibitions. Tried to visit twice and was closed on each occasion. Maybe I will get third time lucky.
- Parque de la Bateria – a green space on the edge of the city with a pond, boats, walking trails and a playground for kids. Easy access from the Montemar Alto train station next to it. Not exactly easy access to the town on foot (about 30 mins walk to the main train station in Torremolinos)
See Also: Most Popular Activities in Torremolinos
- Crocodile Park in Torremolinos: Entrance Tickets – live on the wild side and visit this popular animal attraction in the heart of Torremolinos
- Full-Day Tour of Seville from Torremolinos – visit the capital of Andalusia on a day trip from Torremolinos, with a guide in English and free time to explore the city on your own
- Caminito del Rey Guided Tour from Torremolinos – enjoy a relaxing hike in one of the most spectacular nature spots in Southern Spain, the famous ‘path of the King’ and admire stunning views of the gorges from a high vantage point! Certainly, a trip to remember!
- Gibraltar Sightseeing Day Tour from Torremolinos – day trip visit to The Rock, with free time for duty-free shopping, exploring Gibraltar or venturing out to the nature reserve with the monkeys.
- From Torremolinos: Granada and Alhambra Tour – marvel at the beauty of the ancient Alhambra palace on this day trip from Torremolinos, with Alhambra skip-the-line tickets and a tour guide included.

What Region is Torremolinos in?
Torremolinos is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia in Southern Spain. It belongs to the province of Malaga. It is the 6th biggest city in the province.
In terms of geographic location, Torremolinos is located on Costa del Sol, halfway between Benalmadena and Malaga.
READ MORE: Where is Torremolinos?
Which Airport do you Fly in for Torremolinos?
The closest airport for Torremolinos is Malaga Costa del Sol International airport.
From the airport, it’s a very short 10-minute car or taxi journey, or you can also take the local C-1 train in the direction of Fuengirola. The train journey is also around 10 – 15 minutes.
How Far is Torremolinos from Malaga Airport?
The distance between Malaga Airport and Torremolinos is about 8 km, which is a short 10-minute taxi or car journey.

How to Get from Malaga Airport to Torremolinos?
The easiest way to get to Torremolinos from the airport is the local taxi, or taking the local C-1 train. I have linked a detailed transport guide for the airport commute below. In there you will also find the price estimate and journey duration details.
READ MORE: Malaga Airport to Torremolinos transport guide
What is Torremolinos like?
Torremolinos is the first coastal fishing village that has been developed in the late 50s into a holiday resort town. There was a mass development of hotels and new apartment buildings in the 60s and 70s, and much of the town still looks like it is stuck in that era.
The town is divided into two parts – the older part of the town which was the original village located higher up on the hill, and the developed coastal areas by the beach.
In the summer, Torremolinos is considered to be the ‘gay capital of Costa del Sol’, with lots of activity in the beach bars and restaurants. It gets very busy and very fast, with the crowds leaving only as late as October.
Torremolinos is also known for its nightlife and as the place to go for parties in the summer.
With a long stretch of 8km of sandy beaches, it offers plenty of space for holidaymakers enjoying the nearly year-round sunny days.

Torremolinos Distances
- Torremolinos to Malaga: 24 km (14 miles)
- Torremolinos to Marbella: 47 km (29 miles)
- Torremolinos to Benidorm: 527 km (327 miles)
- Torremolinos to Gibraltar: 122 km (75 miles)
- Torremolinos to Mijas: 20 km (12 miles)
- Torremolinos to Fuengirola: 19.5 km (12 miles)
What is the Temperature in Torremolinos?
Torremolinos enjoys a mild climate with pleasant temperatures even during the winter months.
In the summer, the temperatures can reach up to 38C in August, and in the winter months, the lowest temperatures are around 12 – 15C.

Torremolinos: All in the Name
Torremolinos is a long name that’s not always easy to remember. I will add some common misspellings you will encounter for the city here:
- Torremelinos
- Torromelinos
- Torremolinas
- Torremalinos
- Torre molinos
- Tormelinos
- Terromolinos
- Torrimolinos
- Tormolinos
- Torromolinos
Torremolinos Transport Guides
If you’re planning to venture out of Torremolinos and explore nearby destinations, I have prepared detailed transport guides for the most popular options here:
Torremolinos to Fuengirola transport guide
Torremolinos to Seville transport guide
Torremolinos to Marbella transport guide
Torremolinos Popular Day Trip Options
Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada: Top Tips For 2023
Caminito Del Rey Day Trip From Torremolinos: Plan Your Trip & Book Online
Day Trip From Torremolinos To Ronda: Book Online + Local Tips
Day Trip From Torremolinos To Gibraltar: Book Online (With Local Tips)
Explore Around Torremolinos
Molino de Inca: A Hidden Oasis in Torremolinos
Is Benalmadena Worth Visiting? All Your Questions Answered!
Is Fuengirola Worth Visiting? All Your Questions Answered
Fuengirola Tourist Attractions You Shouldn’t Miss
15 Fantastic Things to Do in Benalmadena: Recommended by a Local
Yucas Mare Restaurant, Benalmadena
How to Spend a Day in Fuengirola
Tips from a Local Expat: The Best Restaurants in Fuengirola
Southern Spain Travel Tips
BEST CAR RENTAL
To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award winning price comparison site for car rentals.
BUS & TRAIN TICKETS
To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
LOCAL TOURS
Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
HOTELS
I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and it’s the best place to book your hotel.
LUGGAGE STORE
If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage in all the destinations in Spain.
LOCAL SIM CARD
If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.
Thanks for this article. My parents wanted me to visit this spot from their honeymoon decades ago and i was skeptical. Thanks for going over most of reasons why to go AND not to visit.
Thanks Ryan, good to hear it helped to make the decision!
I do not know who put together the ridiculous report of reasons why they do not like Torromolinos, I have travelled the world and have payed a lot more money for beach holidays that in my opinion do not come any where near to the beach prom from Torremolinos to Benaldamena, it is vibrant, clean, excellent eateries, is well Policed and very easy on the eye, so much so I wish I had discovered it earlier, than spent the money I have on far flung long haul holidays!
Hi Stephen, this is Lucia, the author of the article. Thank you for the comment, I appreciate you have a different opinion and the article reflected my own. I too have travelled a lot and even lived in Cyprus for a long period of time, so my opinion is not based on lack of knowledge or experience, rather my personal preferences.