Best Sandy Beaches in the Costa del Sol and Andalusia
We rank the 10 sandy beaches in the Costa del Sol and Andalusia. Los Genoveses Beach (Spain) comes first with 4.6 / 5, followed by Playa de Monsul, Playazo de Rodalquilar.
The sea reaches about 22 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 8 of the 10 have easy access, and 2 are hidden gems.
1Los Genoveses Beach
Cabo de Gata, Almeria, Spain · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °CA broad, undeveloped sandy bay inside the Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park, backed by dunes and low hills.
2Playa de Monsul
Cabo de Gata, Almeria · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °CA wide golden beach of fine sand backed by dunes and a striking volcanic rock, set inside the Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park.
3Playazo de Rodalquilar
Rodalquilar, Cabo de Gata-Nijar, Almeria · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °CEl Playazo is a long beach of sand and fine gravel near Rodalquilar, in the Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park in Almeria, with the ruined Castillo de San Ramon at the north end.
4Playa Burriana
Nerja, Costa del Sol, Andalusia · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °CThe most popular beach in Nerja, about 800 m long and backed by beach bars and restaurants.
5Playa de Cabopino
Marbella, Costa del Sol · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °CA sandy beach on the Costa del Sol beside the small Cabopino marina and an old watchtower, backed by pine woods and dunes.
6Playa de la Rada, Estepona
Estepona, Costa del Sol · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CPlaya de la Rada is the main beach of Estepona, a wide, gently shelving strip of dark sand and fine pebbles with a palm-lined promenade.
7Playa de Mojacar
Mojacar, Almeria · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CMojacar Playa is a long beach of sand and fine gravel along the Almeria coast, below the white hill village of Mojacar Pueblo.
8Playa de Calahonda
Nerja, Costa del Sol, Andalusia · 4.2 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °CA small cove in the old town of Nerja, reached through a little arch behind the Balcon de Europa and a zigzag of steps down to the sand.
9Playa de la Carihuela
Torremolinos, Costa del Sol · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °CLa Carihuela is a long flat beach of dark sand in Torremolinos, backed by a promenade and the former fishermen quarter.
10Torre del Mar Beach, Velez-Malaga
Torre del Mar, Velez-Malaga, Malaga · 4.1 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CTorre del Mar is a long beach of dark grey sand on the eastern Costa del Sol, with a wide promenade, palm trees and the mountains of the Axarquia behind.
Quick comparison
| # | Beach | Country | Score | Water | Best season | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Genoveses Beach | Spain | 4.6 | 22 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 2 | Playa de Monsul | Spain | 4.6 | 22 °C | May–October | Moderate |
| 3 | Playazo de Rodalquilar | Spain | 4.5 | 22 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 4 | Playa Burriana | Spain | 4.4 | 22 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 5 | Playa de Cabopino | Spain | 4.4 | 22 °C | May–October | Easy |
| 6 | Playa de la Rada, Estepona | Spain | 4.3 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 7 | Playa de Mojacar | Spain | 4.3 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 8 | Playa de Calahonda | Spain | 4.2 | 22 °C | May–October | Moderate |
| 9 | Playa de la Carihuela | Spain | 4.2 | 20 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 10 | Torre del Mar Beach, Velez-Malaga | Spain | 4.1 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
How we picked these beaches
Included when the shoreline is mostly of this type, then ranked by our editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the top-rated sandy beaches in the Costa del Sol and Andalusia?
Our top three are Los Genoveses Beach (4.6 out of 5), Playa de Monsul (4.6 out of 5), Playazo de Rodalquilar (4.5 out of 5). Scores are editorial ratings from the EuroShores team.
When is the best time to visit these beaches?
Most are at their best from June to September. Water temperatures average about 22 degrees C in season. Each beach page lists its exact season.
Which of these beaches are easiest to reach?
Los Genoveses Beach, Playazo de Rodalquilar, Playa Burriana, Playa de Cabopino, Playa de la Rada, Estepona and 3 more have easy access. The others need a walk, stairs or a rougher road, so check the access note on each page.
More lists
- Best Family Beaches in the Costa del Sol and Andalusia
- Easiest Beaches to Reach in the Costa del Sol and Andalusia
- Hidden Gem Beaches in the Costa del Sol and Andalusia
- Best Sandy Beaches in Europe
- Best Pebble Beaches in Europe
- Best Rocky Coves in Europe
- Best Sandy Beaches in Spain
- Best Pebble Beaches in Spain