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31° / 17°
Summer peak / Winter day
32.5%
Foreign residents
€3,482
Avg €/m²
Updated 19 Sept 2026How we source our data →

Living in Riviera del Sol

Riviera del Sol is a large residential urbanisation within Mijas, set between Calahonda and La Cala de Mijas on the western Costa del Sol. It is a spread of apartment communities, townhouses and villas running inland from the beach side of the A-7 rather than a town around a single square. Daily life depends on the exact address, because some homes sit close to the coast and the commercial strips while others are tucked into quieter residential slopes.

On the coast side the urbanisation reaches its own stretch of municipal shoreline, staffed and equipped through the season. Inland the ground climbs past golf fairways and small commercial parades towards quieter residential streets, and the Calanova and La Noria courses also lie within Mijas. Between the two, the streets are mostly residential, with a mix of permanent residents and holiday homes.

The trade-off is space, beach proximity and a quieter residential feel in exchange for car-dependent errands and governance checks. Parts of the urbanisation have been moving through a formal handover of roads and green areas, so buyers should read their community accounts and ask which shared spaces are already under municipal maintenance.

The verdict

Honestly considered, both sides.

The upside is real. So is the downside. Both matter more than any brochure will admit.

The case for

  • Playa Riviera is a municipal beach of the urbanisation itself, so beach routines are part of daily life at lower addresses.

  • The spread of buildings gives buyers a choice between coast-side convenience and quieter inland pockets.

  • Golf is part of the everyday setting, with Miraflores inside the urbanisation and Calanova and La Noria elsewhere in Mijas.

  • Las Terrazas and the other commercial units in the urbanisation cover everyday shopping without driving to a town centre.

  • The municipal beach has a lifeguard post and adapted bathing equipment during the season.

The case against

  • Many streets are impractical without a car, especially for shopping, school runs and evenings out.

  • The A-7 and coastal road make access easy but bring traffic, noise and bottlenecks close to lower homes.

  • Shopping and eating out are spread across small centres rather than one walkable high street.

  • Some shared roads and green areas have only recently moved through formal handover, so maintenance responsibility needs checking.

  • Summer visitors and beach traffic can make the lower areas feel much busier than the inland streets.

Editor's note

Where you might be better off elsewhere

Riviera del Sol suits buyers who like the Mijas coast but do not need a traditional town centre outside the door. Compare it with Calahonda for a larger hillside urbanisation, with La Cala de Mijas for a compact seafront centre, and with Mijas for the municipality as a whole.

Riviera del Sol on the map

Lifestyle data

Climate

31° / 17°
Summer peak / Winter day
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Low 12°CHigh 26°C
Annual mean
18°C

Málaga municipality, station: Málaga Aeropuerto (6155A), 33 km north east

Average 1981-2010 · AEMET

Property market

€3,482
/m²
+16.1% year on year

Updated 1 Aug 2026

Access

MÁLAGA AIRPORT
Málaga-Costa del Sol · AGP
276+ direct routes
Top direct
LondonManchesterDublinAmsterdamBrusselsCopenhagen

Community

32.5%
Foreign residents

Mijas municipality, INE Annual Population Census, nationality basis, 1 January 2025

Amenities

0
Int. schools
0
Hospitals

Riviera del Sol FAQ

Honest answers to the questions buyers actually ask.

Is Riviera del Sol part of Mijas?+
Yes. Riviera del Sol is an urbanisation within Mijas municipality, on the Costa del Sol side between Calahonda and La Cala de Mijas.
Is Riviera del Sol walkable?+
Only in selected lower pockets. A home close to the beach side and commercial strips can work for short errands, but many inland streets make a car the practical choice.
How does Riviera del Sol differ from Calahonda?+
Both are hillside urbanisations, but Calahonda is larger and more established as a named area, while Riviera del Sol feels smaller and sits closer to La Cala.
Does Riviera del Sol have a town centre?+
No single town centre defines it. Buyers should think in terms of residential communities, local commercial strips, beach access and road position.
What should buyers check before making an offer?+
Check the individual community accounts, planned works, access to parking, road noise, slope, and whether the shared roads or green spaces for that pocket are under municipal maintenance.
Which beach is closest to Riviera del Sol?+
Playa Riviera is the clearest local beach reference, with the Calahonda and La Cala stretches close enough for regular comparison.
Who should choose Riviera del Sol?+
It suits buyers who want a residential base near the Mijas coast and are happy to trade a compact centre for space, parking checks and car-based routines.
What are the costs of buying property in Riviera del Sol?+
When buying property in Riviera del Sol, budget for property transfer tax (ITP) of 7%, plus roughly 3-4% in notary, land registry and legal fees. Agency commission is usually paid by the seller. On the mainland and the Balearics, new builds pay VAT (IVA) of 10% plus AJD stamp duty instead of ITP. Transfer tax is set by Andalucía rather than nationally, and reduced rates can apply for main homes and younger buyers.
What are the ongoing costs of owning property in Riviera del Sol?+
Annual property ownership costs in Riviera del Sol include IBI (property tax) of 0.4-1.1% of cadastral value, community fees (for apartments), rubbish collection tax (basura), utility bills, and property insurance. Budget approximately 2-4% of property value per year for all running costs. IBI is set by the town hall of Mijas within a national band, so it is municipal rather than regional.
What taxes do I pay when selling property in Riviera del Sol?+
When selling property in Riviera del Sol, you pay capital gains tax (plusvalía) on the profit at rates of 19-26% depending on the gain amount. Non-residents have 3% of the sale price withheld at completion. You may also pay municipal capital gains tax. Main residence exemptions may apply for residents over 65. Capital gains tax is national, so it is the same in Andalucía as anywhere in Spain. Plusvalia municipal is set by the town hall of Mijas and has had two calculation methods since the 2021 reform, so ask your lawyer which one is cheaper for you.
Can I still get a Golden Visa by buying property in Spain?+
No. Spain withdrew the Golden Visa property investment route in April 2025, so buying in Riviera del Sol no longer leads to residency. Non-EU buyers who want to live in Spain apply for a separate permit instead, most often the non-lucrative visa (proof of income and private health insurance) or the digital nomad visa (remote work for non-Spanish clients). Ask an immigration lawyer which route fits your situation before you buy.

Transfer tax rates as of August 2026. Rates are set per autonomous community and do change. Confirm the current figures with a Spanish lawyer or tax adviser before you budget.

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