Torre del Mar

Torre del Mar is a family friendly seaside town with an international melting pot of residents built along a long sandy beach front.

Originally a Phoenician and then later a Roman village built around the mouth of the river Velez, Torre del Mar was a successful trading port for fishing and agriculture for centuries. From 1796-1991 it was a major sugar producing area with a working mill and sugar factory that is now an industrial heritage site, museum and exhibition centre.  It also served as a bastion against naval attack; there are no less than 5 watchtowers of Moorish descent standing tall today.

These days most people come for the beach. A 4 kilometre stretch of straight, palm-lined, pale sand that offers everything a family could need.  There is disabled access, a children’s playground, fitness areas, a wide range of chiringuitos, water sports facilities, deckchair hire and lifeguards.

It is complemented by the Paseo Maritimo beachside promenade, which stretches all the way to the marina at Caleta de Velez. This walkway is brimming with restaurants, cocktail bars, market stalls and unique shops. Behind it, in the summer, a night market operates until the early hours and a row of clubs and bars on El Copo plays music into the small hours.

The Weekend Beach Festival starts in early July. This contemporary music festival draws crowds of up to 40,000 revellers to the town. For those that want to get away, the rural beaches of Chilches and Benagalbon are tucked behind craggy rocks. Caleta de Velez has a fish market and boasts a host of traditional seafood restaurants. The Baviera golf course is well known for its beautiful views and shoppers can find international high street stores in El Ingenio Shopping Centre. Explorers might appreciate trips to Malaga, Nerja, Torrox and the town of Velez-Malaga.