Area guide
Riviera del Sol & Miraflores are quiet residential areas, with relaxed coastal living, great access to everything, and lots of nearby golf courses.
Riviera del Sol & Miraflores sit right next to each other, part of the Mijas Costa area, right between Marbella and Fuengirola — about 20 minutes each way, and 35 minutes from Málaga airport.
You get quick access to both the free coastal road A-7 and the toll highway AP-7, so getting around is easy.
The nearest train station is in Fuengirola, with direct connections to Málaga city and the airport. The bus you'd take to both Fuengirola and Marbella is number 220.
This is a quiet, very established residential area. It has a mix of Spanish residents and expats, especially from the UK, Germany, Holland, and all of Scandinavia.
Most of Riviera del Sol and Miraflores are urbanisations with a complete mix of apartments, townhouses, and villas. Almost all of it is in that Andalusian-inspired style, mainly because the vast majority of the area was built in the 90s with that design in mind — whitewashed buildings, terracotta roof tiles, and arched terrace openings. The exception is the very upper part of Riviera above the AP-7 road, which is mostly from the early 2000s, along with some newer and ongoing developments.
Something unique about Miraflores specifically is the wide avenues with large palm trees — you almost get that Los Angeles vibe for a second. Something to be aware of: Riviera & Miraflores are fairly densely built, so you won't get the larger, more open plots you find in some other areas on the Costa del Sol. But that's also part of its charm — the area still feels green, especially in the upper parts, largely thanks to the golf courses.
In the urbanisation itself, you have the welcoming Miraflores Golf, an 18-hole course that's quite compact but especially unique as it's surrounded by the residential area — overall high quality, with a great restaurant and very friendly staff.
Just above Miraflores, you have Calanova Golf Club — a more modern 18-hole course with an upscale feel. It has wider fairways, better practice facilities, and a great clubhouse and restaurant. It's generally considered slightly higher overall quality.
There are also plenty of other golf courses to choose between within just a 5-15 minute drive, across all quality levels and price ranges.
One thing you should know about this area is that it's more hilly than many people expect. Most of the urbanisations sit up steep hills, so realistically, people living here need a car — not only to get around on the coast but also within the urbanisation itself. That said, there's a strong correlation between steep hills and beautiful views.
In the lower part of Riviera you have everything you need day-to-day — supermarkets, pharmacies, cafés, restaurants — which is one reason this area works really well for full-time residents or longer stays, not just as a holiday destination.
There's also a nice little commercial center in the mid part of Miraflores with a supermarket and great restaurants.
Riviera and Miraflores sit right next to Marbella East, and as of today, property prices are still much more affordable here — at least 25% lower compared to areas like Elviria — which is a big reason many first-time buyers end up here.
The beach is one of Riviera's biggest strengths. Playa de Riviera is wide, with golden sand, and much more relaxed than some of the busier beaches further along the coast.
You also have Max Beach right by the shore, a popular beach club and restaurant. And then there's the boardwalk, running along the beachfront for many kilometers, so you can walk or run long stretches of coastline right by the sea — very common with people in the early morning or after work.
If you're moving with a family, there are several international schools nearby in the Mijas and Marbella areas, and overall Riviera and Miraflores are very family-friendly.
Quiet residential living, easy access to Marbella and Fuengirola, a wide choice of golf, and beach and boardwalk right nearby — if that combination appeals to you, get in touch — I represent buyers only, so my job is to work for you, not the seller.
Questions
Yes. The area is hillier than most expect, so a car helps even for getting around within the urbanisation itself.
Yes. Several international schools are nearby in the Mijas and Marbella areas, and the area is considered very family-friendly.
Property prices in Riviera del Sol & Miraflores are currently at least 25% lower than areas like Elviria, making it popular with first-time buyers.
Miraflores Golf sits within the urbanisation itself, Calanova Golf Club is just above Miraflores, and several more courses are within a 5-15 minute drive.
Looking at more than one area? Compare them all in the Costa del Sol area guides, or see how buying works.