WHAT TO DO?

SHORT  TRIPS FROM TORREMOLINOS

Aqualand, Torremolinos (open May to end of September) Aqualand is located only 10 minutes from the centre of Torremolinos. Aqualand is a place where you can spend a day having lots of fun with the best aquatic attractions you can imagine. Also, this year the park offers a new attraction: the“Boomerang” , plus relaxing green areas and 18-hole mini golf course. Not cheap but very good value. Get there early; the time goes quickly. www. aqualand.es   Save money by booking your tickets on line.

Fuengirola Zoo Fuengirola Zoo is well worth a visit and in July and August the Zoo is open until midnight for what it calls its “night time safari”. Its near to the Bull Ring (Plaza de Toros). Very attractive zoo and very good value for money.

Crocodile Park, Torremolinos,   Calle Cuba, 14. Situated in Torremolinos, in Crocodile Park you will find yourself in front of prehistoric monsters which have miraculously survived 200 million years of evolution, carnivores which knew the dinosaurs and use the same cold, merciless hunting techniques. From a distance of less than 2 metres, you can wonder at the gigantic crocodiles by silenty walking beside them, observing the secrets of one of the most fascinating creatures of our world.

Tivoli World, Benalmadena Tivoli World . It’ll be an experience to enjoy a fantastic dayout in an unique spot on the Costa del Sol . A world of magic to enjoy, with the whole family… You will enjoy exciting new rides, a large and varied program of shows in our different squares. Also Tivoli offers you a large range of bars and theme restaurants as you enjoy the mingle in the fabulous park environment. Excellent value for money: buy the Supertivolino armbands for the kids. There are plenty of rides for young children and adults too.    Check on opening times before you go. In summer they open later, so you will have to persuade the kids to have a siesta in the afternoon, so they can stay up late like Spanish kids do.

Sea Life, Benalmadena (by the Marina ) A unique exhibition in Spain . Slither into the mysterious hidden depths of the sinister Serpents of the Sea! SEA LIFE Benalmadena is a unique magical marine experience on the Costa del Sol. Discover Reef sharks, journey through the Amazon and meet the friendly rays. Its a touchy feely place not very big but interesting and you can visit the marina at the same time.

Selwo Safari Park, Estepona SELWO PARK , Estepona, Safari style park with many animals and birds on view. Its easiest to get there by car but you dont drive through the safari park. You are driven in large trucks. Not cheap but it is a full day out.www.selwo.es

Benalmadena Dolphinarium and Aquarium. A good afternoon trip for the kids.www.aquopolis.es

Science Museum (Centro de Ciencia ), Avenida Luís Buñuel nº 6
29011  MÁLAGA , Close to the Football Ground (Rosaleda). Its aimed at families with children and its all in Spanish but its good fun and the people there help you to take part. In any case its mostly visual. And its FREE. Kids, make sure you take Dad; you always wanted to electrocute him, didnt you?   www.principia- malaga.com/

The Castle, Malaga (Alcazaba) Plaza de la Aduana, Alcazabilla, Málaga. Free on Sundays but not expensive during the week. The Alcazaba or Moorish castle is in the centre of Malaga and close to the harbour. It does require a bit of walking within the castle but there is a lift up to the top from a separate entrance: ask about this at the main entrance. If you take the lift, your walking will all be downhill.

Picasso Birth Place, Malaga in Plaza de la Merced.

Picasso Museum, Malaga Not a museum really but an art gallery dedicated to the paintings of Picasso. The museum is housed in a beautiful old building and is air-conditioned in summer – a lovely cool place to spend a hot afternoon! Pensioners should take their passports to get reductions.

Parador de Golf, Torremolinos/ Malaga The Paradors of Spain are upmarket hotels which have a particular character. Many are situated in old castles or other places of interest. Golf is the particular interest in this one. It is located very close to the beach on the border between Malaga and Torremolinos.

Benalmádena’s cable car rises above a 700-metre slope in 12 minutes, reaching the Calamorro Peak, an exceptional natural viewpoint in the mountain range looming high above the Costa del Sol, in a scene of whitewash dotted with pine green. The place affords magnificent views stretching from the rugged eastern coast (to the left) to the Rock of Gibraltar and the namesake straits separating the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean (to the right). On very clear days, you can even see the Rif Mountains , on the coast of Africa . Get the train to Benalmadena and its just a short walk to the cable car. There is a cafe at the bottom and top of the cable car ride. There are a couple of attractions on the top and you can go for a walk or horse ride. Walking in the direction of Torremolinos is easier than going towards Mijas and probably prettier too once you get off the concrete track: but take plenty of water and sun cream.

Plaza Mayor Get the train to Plaza Mayor and visit the multiscreen cinema with one film in English every week. www.yelmocineplex.es  If you are an IKEA addict, their store is close to here. Plaza Mayor heeft all big names: Nike, Hennes and Mauritz, Jack and Jones, Zara, Springfield etc.

Malaga Shopping Malaga is great for shopping but do remember that most of the shops close in the afternoon (from 1.30pm to 5.pm) but they are open till about 8pm at night.  Shops don’t open after 1.00 pm when there is a fiesta.

Malaga Tapas Bars and Restaurants Malaga  is a great place for tapas bars and restaurants. But Malaga is more typically Spanish than the other coastal resorts and most restaurants open at 8.30 pm for evening meals. For real Spanish atmosphere with your drinks and tapas try Pimpi in calle Granada (no. 63);you will be glad you found it: it is quite a big place but the entrance is quite small, so you need to keep your eyes open.

Malaga Concerts in the Teatro Cervantes: classical and jazz. They also stage plays and a cinema festival but you need to have a good grasp of Spanish for those.

Markets Fuengirola has a market on Tuesdays and Torremolinos has one on Thursdays near the bull ring.   Also plan to visit the second hand markets on Sunday at Torremolinos and Wednesday in Benalmadena.   There is a continious market in Malaga not far from the train station.