In short: Montemar is a residential neighbourhood in the south-west of Torremolinos, between La Batería Park, La Carihuela and the old N-340, now Avenida Carlota Alessandri. It was born with the first steps of tourism on the Costa del Sol: the Parador de Montemar, one of the first hotels in the area, opened here in 1934. Today it is a quiet neighbourhood of villas, hotels and apartments, with its own beach, a Cercanías train station and Puerto Marina 12 minutes away on foot.
Many visitors pass through Montemar without knowing they are in one of the places where Costa del Sol tourism began.
It does not have the bustle of central Torremolinos or the fame of La Carihuela, but it does have a fascinating history, a privileged location and a calm atmosphere that wins over those who stay here.
In this guide we tell you the neighbourhood’s history, what to see, where its beaches are, how to get around and why more and more people choose Montemar for their holidays.
We write it from Caliu, at Av. de España 18, where we have been serving dinner to residents and visitors for 14 years. Montemar is our neighbourhood, and we like to talk about it.
Where Montemar is
Montemar is in the south-west of the municipality of Torremolinos. It borders La Batería Park to the north, La Carihuela to the east and Avenida Carlota Alessandri, the old N-340 road, which crosses it from east to west.
To the west, very close by, Benalmádena Costa begins. The border between the two municipalities is almost invisible to visitors: the promenade continues without interruption to Puerto Marina.
In practical terms, the neighbourhood is usually divided into two parts:
- Montemar Alto: the area above Avenida Carlota Alessandri, with the train station and La Batería Park.
- Lower Montemar: the area between the avenue and the sea, which connects with the western end of La Carihuela and its beaches.
Caliu is in this lower part, a few steps from the promenade.
The history of Montemar: where tourism began
Unlike El Bajondillo, La Carihuela or El Calvario, the three original centres of Torremolinos, Montemar is a recent neighbourhood. Its layout is the result of the early days of the twentieth-century tourism boom.
La Batería: a defensive past
Long before tourism, the hill now occupied by La Batería Park had a military use. In the eighteenth century the Torremolinos coast strengthened its defences with Santa Clara Castle, built in 1763, and with a cannon battery high up in Montemar.
From that past, the cannons and two bunkers can still be seen in the park today.
Carlota Alessandri and the Parador de Montemar
The great protagonist of the neighbourhood’s history is Carlota Alessandri, an Italian living in Málaga considered one of the pioneers of tourism on the Costa del Sol.
In 1934 she bought the Cucazorra farmhouse, at the time practically wasteland, and turned it into a small seven-room hotel she called the Parador de Montemar.
Getting it going was not easy. She had to solve problems with water, access and supplies in a place where there was almost nothing. But the result was a quality hotel that attracted travellers, artists and intellectuals.
According to various sources, even Salvador Dalí stayed at the Parador during one of his visits to the coast.
Carlota Alessandri, mother-in-law of the film director Edgar Neville, also promoted the founding of the Carmelitas de Montemar. She died in May 1972, and today the neighbourhood’s main avenue bears her name.
The Parador de Montemar no longer exists, but it is considered one of the first great tourism milestones on the Costa del Sol, together with Santa Clara Castle and the Hotel La Roca.
Villas, hotels and famous faces
During the forties, fifties and sixties, Montemar filled with villas and mansions, and became the home or summer retreat of various well-known figures.
With the tourism boom came hotels too. In the sixties establishments such as the Playa Montemar, the Aloha Montemar and the Lloyd opened, helping to shape the neighbourhood we know today.
While other areas of Torremolinos grew upwards, Montemar largely kept its residential character, with quiet streets, gardens and low houses.
From country estate to neighbourhood: how Montemar has changed
It is hard to imagine today, but less than a century ago Montemar was an area of farmhouses, orchards and almost empty land between the sea and the hills.
The arrival of the Parador in the thirties paved the way. Then came the summer villas, the first hotels and, with the improvement of the coast road, steady growth through the sixties and seventies.
The arrival of the Cercanías train, with Montemar Alto station, and the opening of La Batería Park in 2007 completed the shape of today’s neighbourhood: residential, well connected and with a quality of life much appreciated by residents and visitors.
Even so, Montemar has kept something of that original spirit: a quiet place by the sea, made for resting and enjoying the Costa del Sol climate.
La Batería Park
It is the neighbourhood’s great green lung and one of the most beautiful parks on the Costa del Sol. It opened in 2007 and covers about 74,000 square metres.
It has a large lake of more than 9,000 square metres, play areas, meadows, walking routes and a 15-metre viewing tower with a lift, from which you can see the whole bay.
It also preserves the cannons and bunkers that recall its defensive past. It has parking for about 150 vehicles and is right next to Montemar Alto station.
It is a perfect plan for a morning with children, a sunset walk or a boat ride on the lake.
Tip: go up the viewing tower at the end of the afternoon. The views of La Carihuela and Puerto Marina in the sunset light are among the best in Torremolinos.
Montemar’s beaches
The western stretch of the Torremolinos coastline has several beach areas with a quieter feel than the centre of La Carihuela.
Montemar beach
It is the natural continuation of La Carihuela to the west. Dark sand, moderate waves and a relaxed atmosphere, with beach bars and fish restaurants nearby.
El Saltillo beach
At the western end of the municipality, it is one of the quietest beaches in Torremolinos. Ideal if you want to escape the bustle of the busiest areas.
Both beaches are connected by the promenade, part of Málaga’s Senda Litoral.
If you want to get to know the whole of La Carihuela beach, we have a complete guide: La Carihuela beach.
Things to do in Montemar
Montemar is not a neighbourhood of big monuments, but of relaxed, well-located plans. These are the essentials.
- Walk along the promenade: east to La Carihuela; west to Puerto Marina.
- Visit La Batería Park: lake, viewpoint and play areas.
- Swim at Montemar and El Saltillo beaches: quieter than those in the centre.
- Walk to Puerto Marina: about 12 minutes from Caliu.
- Take the train to Málaga or Fuengirola: from Montemar Alto, on the C-1 line.
- Watch the sunset: from the promenade, looking towards the bay of Benalmádena.
Walking distances from Montemar
One of the neighbourhood’s great advantages is how well connected it is. These are approximate walking times from Caliu.
| Destination | Approximate walking time |
|---|---|
| Promenade and beach | 1 to 2 minutes |
| Hotel Ocean House | 6 minutes |
| Hotel Arcos de Montemar | 9 minutes |
| Puerto Marina | 12 minutes |
| Hotel Palmasol | 12 minutes |
| Centre of La Carihuela | 15 to 20 minutes |
Times are approximate and depend on your pace. In general, everything important in the neighbourhood is less than a quarter of an hour away on foot.
How to get to Montemar
By train
Montemar Alto station, on the C-1 Cercanías line, connects the neighbourhood with the airport, Málaga, central Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola. It is next to La Batería Park.
By car
Avenida Carlota Alessandri is the neighbourhood’s main road. In summer, parking in the streets near the sea can be tricky, so allow time.
From the airport
Málaga airport is about 15 to 20 minutes away by car or taxi. By train, simply take the C-1 line towards Fuengirola and get off at Montemar Alto.
On foot
From La Carihuela or Puerto Marina, along the promenade. It is the most pleasant way to arrive.
You will find all the details on our page how to get to Caliu.
Staying in Montemar: the advantages
More and more visitors choose Montemar as their base for holidays on the Costa del Sol. These are the most common reasons:
- Peace and quiet: less noise than central Torremolinos or Puerto Marina.
- The beach on your doorstep: most accommodation is a few minutes from the sea.
- Two towns in one: La Carihuela on one side and Puerto Marina on the other, both on foot.
- Good connections: the Cercanías train and the nearby airport.
- Green spaces: La Batería Park is right next door.
The area has hotels of different categories, aparthotels and holiday apartments. It is a good option for families and couples alike.
Food in Montemar
Montemar shares La Carihuela’s seafaring tradition, although with a calmer atmosphere. In and around the neighbourhood you will find beach bars, fish restaurants, neighbourhood bars and Mediterranean restaurants.
Caliu is at Av. de España 18. We open for dinner only, from 7 pm to 11:30 pm, with produce-led Mediterranean cooking and seasonal dishes. We are rated 4.8 on Google with more than 650 reviews.
From 7 pm to 9 pm you can order our 28 € daily menu. And if you prefer to choose, here is the full menu.
To find out more about having dinner in the neighbourhood, visit our page restaurant in Montemar. And to compare options across the whole town, see the guide to the best restaurants in Torremolinos by area.
A perfect day in Montemar
If you are staying in the neighbourhood or spending the day in the area, this plan makes the most of everything Montemar has close at hand, without a car.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 9 am | A walk or run along the promenade, with the sea calm. |
| 10:30 am | A morning on the beach in Montemar or El Saltillo. |
| 2 pm | Fish lunch in La Carihuela. |
| 5 pm | Visit La Batería Park and go up the viewing tower. |
| 7 pm | Walk to Puerto Marina to watch the sunset among the boats. |
| 9 pm | A relaxed dinner at Caliu and a walk back by the sea. |
If you prefer something more active, replace the afternoon with a trip on the Benalmádena cable car, just one train stop from Montemar Alto. We explain it in our guide to things to do in Benalmádena Costa.
Montemar with children
Montemar is one of the easiest neighbourhoods in Torremolinos for a family holiday. The streets are quiet, the beach is very close and La Batería Park offers huge space for children to run.
- La Batería Park: play areas, a lake with boats and lots of green space.
- Quiet beaches: El Saltillo and Montemar are less crowded than the centre.
- Puerto Marina: 12 minutes away, with the Sea Life aquarium and boat trips.
- The train to everything: Aqualand, Crocodile Park and Selwo Marina are a few minutes away.
For dinner with children, it helps to choose restaurants that open early. At Caliu we open at 7 pm.
Montemar through the year
Spring and autumn
For many, the best times to visit the neighbourhood. Pleasant temperatures, quiet beaches and an uncrowded promenade.
Summer
The neighbourhood livens up with families and visitors, although it keeps a much more relaxed feel than central Torremolinos. On 16 July, the Virgen del Carmen festival fills La Carihuela with life, a few minutes from Montemar.
Winter
It is the season of residents and long stays. With mild winters, the promenade is still a pleasure and on many days you can have lunch or dinner on a terrace.
Services in the neighbourhood
As a residential area, Montemar has supermarkets, pharmacies, cafés and small shops along Avenida Carlota Alessandri and nearby streets.
For bigger shopping trips, central Torremolinos and Arroyo de la Miel, in Benalmádena, are a few minutes away by car or train.
Many of our regular guests are Montemar residents or seasonal residents who come back year after year. For them, the neighbourhood is almost a second home: they know its corners, its hours and its unhurried pace.
It is a neighbourhood where everyday life is easy, something much valued by those who spend long periods on the Costa del Sol.
Montemar compared with other areas of Torremolinos
| Area | Atmosphere | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Montemar | Residential and quiet | Families, couples, long stays |
| Central La Carihuela | Seafaring and lively | Fish lovers and promenade strollers |
| Centre | Urban and commercial | Shopping, tapas and nightlife |
| El Bajondillo | Beachy and busy | Those who want beach and atmosphere |
| Playamar and Los Álamos | Hotels and leisure | Beach clubs and big hotels |
Curious facts about Montemar
- Avenida Carlota Alessandri, the neighbourhood’s main road, was for decades part of the N-340, the great road along the Mediterranean coast.
- The Parador de Montemar opened with just seven rooms.
- Bunkers and cannons from the old coastal defence system are preserved in the neighbourhood.
- Torremolinos regained its municipal independence from Málaga in 1988. Until then, Montemar was administratively a neighbourhood of Málaga.
- Some of the sixties hotels that shaped the neighbourhood had Montemar in their name.
Frequently asked questions about Montemar
Is Montemar in Torremolinos or Benalmádena?
Montemar is a neighbourhood of Torremolinos, although it is on the border with Benalmádena Costa.
How far is Montemar from Puerto Marina?
About 12 minutes on foot along the promenade from the Caliu area.
Does Montemar have a beach?
Yes. Montemar and El Saltillo beaches, at the western end of the Torremolinos coastline.
Which train station is in Montemar?
Montemar Alto, on the C-1 Cercanías line, next to La Batería Park.
Is Montemar a good area to stay?
Yes, especially if you want peace and quiet, a nearby beach and good connections with La Carihuela and Puerto Marina.
Who was Carlota Alessandri?
A pioneer of tourism on the Costa del Sol who in 1934 founded the Parador de Montemar, one of the first hotels in the area.
Conclusion
Montemar is a neighbourhood with history, even if many people do not know it. Costa del Sol tourism started to be written here, and today it keeps a calm, residential character that makes it special.
It has a beach, a park, a train station and Puerto Marina a stroll away. It is, quite simply, one of the best corners of Torremolinos to enjoy the sea without the crowds.
And if you are in the neighbourhood, we are waiting for you for dinner. Book your table at Caliu.
