Tourist - guide

From fairytale towns and medieval castles to waterfront villas and delicious cuisine, Europe is one of the coolest continents on Earth. Hop on a short flight or train ride and you’ll be transported to a different country with its own unique heritage, language, identity, and gastronomical scene

BEST THINGS TO DO ON THE COSTA DEL SOL
Part 4
Food and drink of the Costa del Sol
With so much to see and do along the Costa del Sol, you’re sure to be hungry for some local delicacies. Here you’ll ‘see food’ all day, much of it local seafood. Vegan and vegetarian travelers will have the best luck buying their ingredients at local vendor markets. While there has been a lack of good vegetarian restaurants, many are popping up. Terra Sana in Marbella is an old standby. Some dishes to note include ajoblanco (cold white garlic soup) and gazpacho (chilled tomato puree with olive oil and breadcrumbs).

BEST THINGS TO DO ON THE COSTA DEL SOL
Part 1
Marbella, Puerto Banus, and nightlife.
Marbella is known as the ‘Beverly Hills of Spain’. Though now an enclave for both down-home Andalusians and Europe and Spain’s super-wealthy, it started as a small fishing village. In the ‘60s and ‘70s it began to evolve into the home of the ‘jet-set,’ and now is a great place to see the best of the Costa del Sol!
A push of tourism that included an iconic hotel and a self-promoting mayor, Jesus Gil y Gil (who also owned the Atlético Madrid football team) jump-started the city’s popularity. Noteworthy figures from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia to Sean Connery and Prince, have visited or lived here. And now you can do the same!
Even now, super-upscale gated communities like La Zagaleta boast some of the world’s richest and most famous residents. Along with the rich, corruption arrived and affected local politics. In fact, mayors including Jesus Gil y Gil were investigated or even arrested for various scandals.
Furthermore, the real estate boom of the early 2000s eventually popped, leaving empty houses and skeletons of never-finished resorts. All this aside, it still retains its small-town feel. That spirit, plus a seafront boardwalk, make a destination that Spaniards and Europeans flock to in the summer for all of the best warm weather sights and activities.
Puerto Banus is an over-the-top port with supercars, flashy stores, oversized yachts, and dapper visitors. So it’s no shock that this hub attracts tourists and looky-loos alike. Also not surprisingly, its nightlife is legendary – Spain’s as a whole is incredible, but here it’s on another level.