Lifestyle

You actually won’t feel like you’ve been on a great vacation until you do two things: go shopping and go out. The Costa del Sol offers a wealth of opportunities and will meet these desires in every detail.

Whether you are browsing through a lively market hall such as the Atarazanas in Málaga or the Mercado in Fuengirola; whether you take in the delights at the large weekly markets in Fuengirola, San Pedro or Marbella, or the smaller ones in the suburbs; the Rastro in Puerto Banús – if you are a fan of (weekly) markets, the Costa del Sol will be heaven for you.

The stands offer a virtual cornucopia of fresh foods from local gardens, fields, plantations, from the ocean – and it’s all much less expensive than it would be in the often gigantic supermarkets. You'll even be able to score deals on clothing – from shoes to socks, pantyhose, and underwear to outerwear.

Some booths offer handicrafts, antiques and kitsch, others furniture, eyewear and other useful as well as totally useless objects. The main objective of going is to have fun and remember: here you can wheel and deal to your heart’s content.

Shopping malls and mass merchandisers can be found in all larger towns. The most popular are department stores such as the Corte Inglés in Marbella, Fuengirola and Málaga. Corte Inglés actually operates two stores in Marbella; the larger one is located in Puerto Banús and boasts a huge designer floor featuring the fashion creations of Pal Zileri, Loewe, Armani, Gucci and other famous Italian and Spanish labels considered the very top of the line.

At most department stores, shopping malls and centers, on every shopping street you will also find an entire budget priced fashion sections and chains that produce and successfully sell fashionable mass merchandise. Most of these creations are of Spanish origin, and the most popular labels are Zara, Armand Basi, Springfield, Pull and Bear and many others.

For those who like to get high on designer shopping sprees, will have tons of fun in Puerto Banús. Against a backdrop of luxury limousines and yachts that cost millions a certain level of purchase power is evident here. A world class shopping scene has established itself in this neighborhood and if you’re prone to adrenaline rushes, this place is sure to get you all charged up. All fashion czars with any claim to fame in the luxury segments are likely to be found on location: Jimmy Choo and Gucci, Versace and Dior, Prada and Ferré, Louis Vuitton and Bodega Veneta and the list goes on…

Many of the boutiques on the port frontline actually stay open around the clock during the summer season.

Obviously there are plenty of super expensive venues that offer drinks at prices that will make you drunk before you even order anything. However, spending an evening at one of the down-to-earth bars or pubs in the neighborhood can be just as much fun and does not have to cost you an arm and a leg. Hardly anyone even sets a foot into a club or disco in this region before one a clock at night.

The top addresses for nightlife at its finest are Marbella (Old Town and the Yacht Harbor Puerto Banús), Torremolinos and the Puerto Marina Yacht Harbor in Benalmadena.

In Marbella and Puerto Banús, venues like Sinatra's, Salduba, Nikki-Beach, Suite Lounge, Ocean Club, Dreamer's, News Café, Pangea or Olivia Valere have made names for themselves as flippy and cool places to go in a scene that is considered chic. Most of the clubs have a glamorous appeal and get very crowded, especially in the summer. On the frontline in the yacht harbor you will of course also have the opportunity to see an Aston Martin, the occasional Ferrari or Rolls Royce carrying the rich and beautiful on a cruise through the nighttime crowds.

In Benalmádena's Puerto Marina Yacht Harbor, on the other hand, you will score if you’re looking for house music, drinks and fun. Torremolinos is the venue where the large clubs are, drawing the night owls like moths to the flame. The names and attractions change frequently, so consult the Internet before you waste your time looking for a place that might have closed.

The coast offers plenty of venues that accommodate more mature audiences as well. Bars, respectable piano bars and calmer, elegant lounges are your best bets for a romantic evening.