The Costa Tropical, town by town
Granada’s short stretch of Mediterranean coast mixes cliffs and coves, seaside towns with real history and long beaches near Motril.
✓ Facts checked on 8 November 2026
Good to know. Many beaches on this coast are made of pebbles or coarse grey sand rather than fine sand. Water shoes are useful, especially for children.
The main towns, from west to east
Almuñécar
A historic seaside town with the remains of a Roman aqueduct, the San Miguel castle and the El Majuelo botanical park, built around the ruins of an ancient fish-salting factory.
La Herradura
A horseshoe-shaped bay between two headlands, popular with divers and for water sports.
Salobreña
A white village climbing a rock crowned by a Nasrid castle, with beaches on either side of the Peñón, a rocky outcrop on the shore.
Motril
The largest town and port of the coast, with long beaches such as Playa Granada and Playa de Poniente, and a museum on its sugar-cane past. It is the nearest town to Vélez de Benaudalla.
Calahonda and Castell de Ferro
Quieter villages to the east, with smaller beaches and coves at the foot of the mountains.
From Vélez de Benaudalla
Vélez de Benaudalla is inland from Motril, at the end of the A-44. The coast is the nearest of the three landscapes you can explore from the village — the mountains and Granada are the others.
Guides in preparation
Detailed guides to individual beaches — access, parking, facilities and the best time to go — are being written and checked on site. We only publish practical details once they have been verified.
Sources · Facts checked on 8 November 2026