The Spanish Costas have definitely earned their destination stripes. Literally meaning ‘coast’, the Costas have got the sun, sand, sea (and sangria) covered for those who don’t want to travel too far or spend too much for their summer holidays. But which Costa should you choose for your Spanish holiday? We take a look at what’s cool about the Costas so you can have the best beach break of the bunch, but whichever you choose, we can guarantee one thing that won’t be cool and that’s the weather! Check out our cheap holidays in Spain and you can afford to go Costa crazy and try all four!
COSTA BLANCA
The name of this coastal stretch gives a big clue as to one of the reasons why it’s so popular – its white sands! Throw in a few swaying palms and a rum cocktail and you could almost imagine yourself in the Caribbean.
Benidorm is the big hitter on the
Costa Blanca, and first timers are often surprised by the gleaming sands and soaring mountains that the skyscrapers of this livewire resort are wedged between.
One thing you won’t be is bored in Benidorm. This popular resort is fully geared up for us Brits, with the beach buzzing by day and the bars buzzing by night. Thrill seekers will also love that Benidorm has its own themepark, Terra Mitica, and a wildlife park, Terra Natura, as well as waterparks for cooling off in the Spanish sunshine. Brilliant for families and party people – anyone who likes their holidays on the fun and lively side! If you've been to Benidorm before but don't want to miss out on the beaches, attractions and nightlife -
why not try our alternative destinations instead?
Alicante offers a similar prospect, but with more cultural and historical offerings to blow Benidorm’s perfectly pleasant old town out of the water. Here things are a tad more traditional, with a castle, old quarter and museums, but there’s still loads of life in Alicante both when the sun’s shining and after it’s set. A good choice for those who want to sample authentic (and great value!)
Spanish holidays without skimping on a vibrant party atmosphere.
COSTA BRAVA
It’s definitely a case of Bravo for the Costa Brava, as this northernmost stretch of coastline serves up some of the most exciting destinations in the whole of Spain. The Catalunyan capital of Barcelona is a real force to be reckoned with, mixing the best bits of a beach break with the best bits of a
city break to create one mesmerising whirl of holiday options. Here you can step into a city fairy tale with the magical architecture of Antoni Gaudi and the city’s Gothic labyrinth, or hit the beaches or the trendy bar-scene. If you want to mix in some sightseeing with your sunlounging, take a look at our
cheap holidays in Barcelona and get ready to check-in!
Just an hour away from cosmopolitan Barcelona you have two brilliant Blue Flag beach resorts, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar. This double delight serves up seven sand or shingle stretches in total, with a beach for everybody. You can also take a trip inland to historic Girona, where pastel buildings seem to topple into the Onyar River, and art, architecture, history and culture combine.
COSTA DEL SOL
With 320 days of glorious golden sunshine per year, it’s easy to see why beach lovers choose the 'sunshine coast' as a safe bet for sun on a short haul holiday.
Marbella has become a bit of a buzzword with young, trendy types, offering cool cocktail bars, fashionable clubs and gleaming sands on its Golden Mile, which stretches down to the swish marina at Puerto Banus – a great place for yacht-spotting!
Families have also got a trio of fantastic sun-drenched resorts to pick ‘n mix from on the Costa del Sol, Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos. This three do a great line in beaches and bars with a family-friendly feel, and can be hopped between with ease. Between them they’ve got a mountain range to explore, a biopark, waterparks, butterfly park, castles, aquariums, a theme park and lashings of Andalusian charm.
Better still, you can bag a holiday to the Costa del sol for
under £100!
COSTA DORADA
Take a guess at what’s waiting for you on Spain’s ‘golden coast’…yep, never-ending golden sands and lots of sunshine to go with them! Salou draws those with kids to keep entertained – it’s a one stop holiday shop for fun in the sun. Here you’ll find the fantastic
Port Aventura themepark and waterpark, just minutes from the brilliant beaches. The family-friendly nightlife is pretty good too.
A little calmer is La Pineda, which boasts shallow waters, Blue Flag sands and a quieter nightlife, making it ideal for those with little ones. If building sandcastles on the beach gets a bit boring however, the
Aquopolis waterpark is in the centre of this resort, and Port Aventura and the fun of Salou are just next door.
But it’s not all rollercoasters and flumes on the
Costa Dorada – the port city of Tarragona is crammed with Roman ruins and Medieval charm. Visit the cobbled heart of the Old Town, marvel at the gothic cathedral and turn back time in the ancient amphitheatre. The nearby old fishing village of Sitges is also a seafront charmer with traditional vibes.
With golden sunshine, white sands and everything from Roman ruins to rollercoasters on offer, all just couple of hours from the UK, it’s easy to see why people go back to the Spanish Costas year after year. Why not choose your favourite for an easy, fail-safe holiday this summer?