The south of Spain includes the well-known Costa del Sol in the middle, the less famous Costa Tropical to the east and Costa de la Luz running up to Portugal. With resorts like Almuñecar, Nerja, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella and Estepona it is the classic Spanish property-buying destination.
The British are still the biggest buyers here, but there are also large numbers of Russians, Belgians, Germans and Scandinavians too, attracted by the unrivalled opportunities for fun, with golf and water sports for the energetic, along with great shopping and restaurants.
Hot in summer, warm in winter, open all year, if you want you can live here like in Essex or Rotterdam with sunshine; yet travel just a few miles inland and you’re straight back in old Spain, with its rough rural traditions and grand history in cities like Granada, Málaga, Córdoba, Seville, Jerez and Cádiz.
Source. THE AIPP/RICS/RDE Guide to buying a property in Spain