Torre del Mar - locality

Torre del Mar is a town and seaside resort on the eastern Costa del Sol, in the province of Málaga, Spain. It belongs to the municipality of Vélez-Málaga, the capital of the Axarquía comarca. This former fishing village is now an important tourist destination in the summer season for national and foreign tourists. It also has a sizeable retired British and Central-European population.

Understand

Locally it is referred to as Torre. It grew rapidly from a small fishing village in the 1970s thanks to tourism, although not as explosively as in other coastal towns. It is a famous summer destination for Spaniards from Madrid, Jaén or Granada and to a lesser extent for foreigners, especially British and Germans.

Despite its considerable size — over 22,000 people in 2018 — Torre del Mar doesn't have its own local government. Instead, it belongs to the municipality of Vélez-Málaga, a larger town located 4 km inland. There is a popular political movement which calls for the independence of Torre del Mar from Vélez-Málaga.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airport is Málaga Airport (IATA: AGP), located 40 km away. A taxi from the airport to Torre del Mar will cost around €70.

By bus

Buses to Málaga, Granada, Nerja and other villages in the area are operated by ALSA and run from the Estación de Autobuses de Torre del Mar 📍 (C/ Pintor Cipriano Maldonado, 7; +34 952559100 ).

By car

Torre del Mar is served by the A-7 motorway and crossed by the N-340 national road, both of which follow the Mediterranean coast from Algeciras to Barcelona and the French border.

Get around

By bus

The municipality of Vélez-Málaga has a bus network with four lines connecting Torre del Mar to Vélez, Almayate and Caleta de Vélez (map). Single tickets cost €1,30 and can be purchased directly from the driver. A list of schedules can be found here.

By car

In summer, traffic jams in the roads of Torre del Mar are very common. Parking can also be complicated. Some hotels have private parkings and cars can park for a fee in the public underground car park Aparcamiento Las Yucas 📍.

See

• Faro de Torre del Mar, P.º Marítimo de Poniente, s/n, 36.736667°, -4.094167°. A 26-metres-high lighthouse painted blue and white. Free 2022-04-12
• Antigua Azucarera, C/ Ntra. Sra. del Carmen, 2, 36.74678°, -4.08859°. A 19th-century sugar factory which belonged to the Larios family. Now, it is the venue of a cultural centre where art exhibitions and conferences are held. 2022-04-12
• Villa Mercedes, P.º Larios, 11, 36.74109°, -4.09244°. This building is the last example of 19th-century regionalist architecture conserved in the Paseo de Larios. It cannot be visited on the inside. 2022-04-12

Do

Beaches

• Playa de Torre del Mar, 36.7393°, -4.0909°. A 3-km-long urban Blue Flag beach. It has a promenade and lifeguard from June to September. 2022-04-12
• Playa de Río Seco, 36.74777°, -4.07746°. Urban beach located between Torre del Mar and Caleta de Vélez. 2022-04-12
• Playa del Mortero o Playa Canina, 36.72735°, -4.10481°. Natural beach located outside of the town, next to the Río Vélez mouth. Dogs are allowed on this beach. 2022-04-12
• Playa de Almayate, 36.7253°, -4.1109°. Seminatural beach located near the village of Almayate, west of Torre del Mar. Nudism is practised on this beach. 2022-04-12

Amusement parks

• Aquavelis, C/ Ruta del Pomelo, s/n, 36.75257°, -4.09523°, +34 952542758. Jun and Sep 11:00-18:00, Jul and Aug 11:00-19:00. Outdoor water park with slides, pool and a restaurant. €25 2022-04-12

Sports

• Golf — there is only one golf course in the area, located in Caleta de Vélez: Baviera Golf, Urb. Baviera Golf, s/n, 36.75919°, -4.06804°, +34 952555015. 2022-04-12.
• Nautical sports — water sports such as sailing, windsurf or paddle surf can be practised at the Club Náutico de Torre del Mar, C/ las Melosas, s/n, 36.74501°, -4.08454°, +34 952540436. 2022-04-12.

Buy

Eat

Budget

• Café-Bar La Rosa, Av. Condado de Huelva, 2, 36.74466°, -4.09838°, +34 952965860. Tapas and Mediterranean cuisine. 2022-04-12
• Pizzería El Horno, C/ del Mar, 74, 36.73981°, -4.09303°, +34 952545002. 13:00-00:00. Pizza and pasta restaurant. 2022-04-12

Mid-range

• Bar Los Pescadores, P.º Marítimo de Levante, s/n, 36.7437°, -4.08714°, +34 609369926. Fried fish and seafood. 2022-04-12
• Chiringuito Varela, P.º Marítimo de Levante, 11, 36.74255°, -4.08797°, +34 951081160. Beach bar serving fried fish, seafood and salads. 2022-04-12
• Restaurante Negri, P.º Larios, 16, 36.74092°, -4.09303°, +34 952540090. Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine, seafood and tapas. 2022-04-12

Drink

Many pubs and nightclubs are concentrated in the area known as El Copo 📍, located next to the promenade at the end of the Paseo de Larios.

• Batu Cocktail Wine Bar, P.º Marítimo de Levante, 9, 36.74188°, -4.09020°. 2022-04-12
• Larios13, P.º de Larios, 13, 36.7408°, -4.09222°, +34 952545331. 2022-04-12

Sleep

Camping

• Camping Torre del Mar, P.º Marítimo de Poniente, s/n, 36.73426°, -4.09991°, +34 952540224, info@campingtorredelmar.com. 2022-04-12

Budget

• Hostal Mediterráneo, C/ Bernabé Fernández, 2, 36.74199°, -4.09314°, +34 952545228. Small hostal in the centre of Torre. €45 2022-04-12

Mid-range

• Hotel Mainake, C/ Fenicios, 1, 36.73578°, -4.09808°, +34 952547246. 4-star hotel located 400 metres away from the beach. With swimming pool and parking. €75 2022-04-12
• Hotel Torremar, C/ Saladero Viejo, 15, 36.74036°, -4.09284°, +34 952547057. 4-star hotel located 2 minutes away from the beach on foot. €70 2022-04-12

Stay safe

Go next

• Vélez-Málaga — a market city with a Moorish old quarter and a ruined castle, 4 km inland of Torre del Mar.
• Nerja — a non-overcrowded seaside resort with promenades over the cliffs and home to the famous Caves of Nerja.
• Frigiliana — a small village with whitewashed buildings and narrow streets, acknowledged multiple times as the most beautiful village of Andalusia.
• Málaga — a bustling city with Roman and Moorish remains and with an extensive museum and cultural offer.