The Costa del Sol, which literally means Coast of the Sun, is a renowned tourist destination in sunny Spain that spans over 150 km of Málaga province. With long hot summers and mild winters, the Costa del Sol is the perfect family destination with fancy resorts, calming coves and beautiful beaches. There are numerous well-kept beaches in Costa del Sol, many of which have been awarded the European Blue Flag award for high standards of water quality, cleanliness, safety and services and environmental management standards. Here are four beaches in Costa del Sol that currently have Blue Flag stature.  (Playa = Beach).

Playa Puerto Banús – Nueva Andalucia, Marbella: Stretching for more than 2 km, these two beaches are alongside the Jose Banús marina and are famous for their white, clean and soft sand. During summer, the area is jam-packed; during winter it is possible to see people of all ages enjoying a dip in the sea. With swings, slides, water sports and a beach club with a swimming pool and bars, this is an excellent destination for families to enjoy a day out at the beach.

Playa Puerto Banús – Nueva Andalucia, Marbella

Playa El Cristo, Estepona: This beach is situated in a sheltered cove, and faces west. This means that it gets longer hours of sunshine compared to most other beaches on the Costa del Sol, which face south, making El Cristo ideal for sunbathers. Furthermore, the protected cove ensures that the sea is warmer than surrounding waters, and it has a gentle slope, making it suitable for children.

Playa El Cristo – Estepona

Playa Burriana, Nerja: Another blue flag beach in Costa del Sol is Burriana, which is very popular with families as there is a play area for children. It is spacious and clean, even when it is busy, and it has various services such as showers, restaurants, as well as sun loungers and parasols to hire.

Playa Burriana, Nerja

Playa Carvajal, Benalmádena: This is another family friendly beach that is very busy with plenty going on. With beach bars, activities and several amenities available, this is a beautiful unspoiled beach that does not get too overcrowded.

Playa Carvajal – Benalmádena