Skip the motorway. The old coast road, the A-7, runs west from Puerto Banús through Estepona and Manilva with the sea on your left most of the way, and in the hour before sunset it is one of the prettiest drives in Spain.
The road
It is not a fast road, and that is the point. The limit changes often through the towns, and the joy is in the light, the sea and a car that sounds good at sixty. A grand tourer is exactly right.
Where to stop
- Estepona old town, for a walk through the flower-lined streets
- Puerto de la Duquesa, a small marina with fishing boats and simple seafood
- Sotogrande marina, for a drink on the water as the sun goes down behind Gibraltar
Coming back
Take the AP-7 toll road home in the dark. It is quiet, straight and quick, and the whole coast is lit up to your right.
