Located on Andalusia’s sun-drenched Costa de la Luz, Islantilla is a laid-back seaside town near Spain’s border with Portugal. It’s renowned for its endless beaches and abundance of leisure activities, which include playing golf at one of Andalusia’s most picturesque courses.
Things to do in Islantilla
Spend a day relaxing on the wide sands of Playa Islantilla, a Blue Flag beach backed by palm trees. It stretches the entire length of the town and there are several “chiringuito” beach bars where you can grab food and drinks throughout the day, as well as a breezy promenade for enjoying the coastal views.
Golfers can book a round at Islantilla Golf Club, which features three 9-hole loops that can be played in various combinations. Framed by pine trees, its fairways offer stunning glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean and there’s a colonial-style clubhouse where you can socialise with the local members after your game.
Islantilla makes an excellent base for visiting the port city of Huelva, which lies where the Odiel and Tinto rivers spill into the Gulf of Cadiz. Local archaeological finds are displayed at the Huelva Museum while the bustling Plaza de las Monjas is watched over by a bronze statue of Christopher Columbus. If you continue driving east from Huelva, you’ll arrive at the whitewashed Hermitage of El Rocío, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Andalusia.
Getting around Islantilla
Islantilla is around 40 minutes’ drive from the Huelva railway station or 1.5 hours from Seville. Seville Airport is just over 1.5 hours away and has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Faro Airport in neighbouring Portugal is an hour’s drive from Islantilla. Buses are the main means of getting around Islantilla.