Top destinations in the Costa del Sol

Long stretches of sandy beaches and gorgeous sunshine are what attract so many people to stay in cheap hotels in the Costa del Sol. But, if you're searching for the best places to visit on Spain's sunny coast, take a look at these suggestions.

One popular destination among tourists to the country is Torremolinos, near the bustling city of Malaga. Here, you can enjoy sunbathing on the beach during the day, while also being able to take advantage of the town's vibrant nightlife when the sun goes down.

Staying in Apartment el Pinar could be a good option when visiting Torremolinos as the hotel is near sandy coves - perfect for sunworshippers. However, it is also on the outskirts of the town, meaning that you can escape some of Torremolinos' common tourist traps if you want to.

Or, if you prefer to be in the centre of things, Hotel Flamingo is another place to stay. Located near to Torremolinos' main shopping area, you'll never be short of a thing to do here.

Those who want to go further afield during a stay on the Costa del Sol may want to head to Antequera to see a stone fortress built on top of the hills called La Alcazaba de Antequera.

You can spend the day exploring the building, which dates back to the 11th century, learning more about the region's fascinating history.

And if you're interested in taking a look at monuments, then you might want to go to Duquesa Castle in Manilva, Castillo de la Estrella in Teba and Castillo arabe de Alora.

Here, you can see the Arabic influence over the architecture in the region, dating from their occupation in the Middle Ages.

A good place to get a feel for this is Castillo Bil Bil in Benalmadena - a red building set overlooking the sea. Fountains and glazed tiles are also features in the construction, which harp back to its Muslim heritage.

Your travelling companions may prefer to look at some of the Costa del Sol's natural wonders and, if this is the case, they should head to Paraje Natural Torcal de Antequera.

This site, set in 12 square kilometres, is covered in strange rock formations that have been established over 150 million years, making it a must-see destination for tourists with an interest in geology.

You might also want to head to Cueva de Nerja, where you can walk around the dark and eerie caves and see the long stalactites jutting out of the ceiling.

Of course, the most popular draw for people to Spain's coast has to be the beautiful seaside here and one of the best places to enjoy lying on the beach, as well as seeing many other attractions, is Malaga.

The city boasts golden stretches of sand, restaurants serving delicious seafood and plenty of bars for the evening time.

Marbella has also been growing in popularity recently and it's not hard to see why. Its backdrop of the Sierra Blanc mountains, its proximity to Malaga being only 56 kilometres away, as well as its range of historical monuments make a holiday here one that will be filled with things to see and do.

And indeed, once you've spread your towel on the beach and started soaking up the sun, you might find just what you've been looking for in the Costa del Sol.