Torre del Mar sits in a useful position on the Costa del Sol — east of Málaga and west of Nerja — which makes day trips in either direction straightforward. Nerja, 20 kilometres east, is the obvious first choice: dramatic clifftop scenery, famous caves, and a more preserved old town than most resorts on this coast. Málaga city, 35 kilometres west, rewards a full day: the Picasso Museum, the Pompidou Centre, the Alcazaba, and one of Spain's best restaurant scenes.
The Axarquía hinterland is easily explored by car: the whitewashed village of Frigiliana (above Nerja), the hilltop village of Comares, and the wine-producing village of Cómpeta are all within 40 kilometres and make a rewarding inland loop away from the coast.
