Before travelling to the Costa del Sol it’s a good idea to obtain information on safety, normal opening hours and other services.
The Costa del Sol: a safe destination for tourists
The Costa del Sol is a completely safe destination. If you have any problems, you can go to any of the 40 police stations located throughout the province or call 091, the number of the National Police, who are primarily concerned with public safety.
You can also seek assistance from the Local Police in any municipality. A number of coastal villages also boast Seafront Police, who have more specific duties. During the months in which the greatest number of visitors arrive, the number of officers overseeing public safety notably increases.
Normal opening hours on the Costa del Sol
Normal opening hours for dining
Spanish people generally lunch between 14:00 and 16:00 and have their evening meal from 21:00 onwards. However, restaurants serve food during a wider range of times and many operate a non-stop kitchen. It is common practice to eat tapas in bars, which are usually available at any time.
Normal opening hours for museums and monuments
The majority of museums are open between 10:00 and 20:00. The same opening hours apply to monuments. However, we recommend consulting opening hours beforehand, as they often offer visits and activities outside normal operating hours.
Commercial opening hours
On the Costa del Sol, premises open from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 20:30. Traditional establishments and smaller shops do not normally open all day, and are closed between 14:00 and 17:00. In contrast, shopping centres are open all day, from Monday to Saturday, between 10:00 and 22:00. Moreover, many also open on public holidays and in certain areas shops even open on Sundays, as is the case of many boutiques in Puerto Banús.
Religious services on the Costa del Sol
Whilst Spain is mainly a Catholic country, on the Costa del Sol religious freedom is enjoyed by all citizens. Each municipality boasts its own Catholic churches, although you will also find places of worship catering to all religious beliefs: Evangelist churches, Anglican churches and Jehovah's witnesses' halls.
There are also three large mosques in Málaga, Marbella and Fuengirola, along with Islamic centres in other places, such as Estepona. Buddhists will find centres in Vélez-Málaga, Málaga and in Benalmádena, which houses the largest Buddhist stupa in Europe.
