Coín (pronounced KO-IN) is an inland town located 30 kilometres north of Marbella and 30 kilometres west of Málaga. For a town of about 22,000 inhabitants, it looks smaller than it actually is, mainly because it is spread out over sprawling suburbs and rural areas. Together with Monda and Alhaurín el Grande, Coín forms part of a triangle of towns, sharing several resources.
When the A-355 road was opened, travelling time to Marbella was drastically reduced to 20 minutes, increasing Coín’s popularity significantly. The trip from Coín to Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport now takes approximately half an hour.
Alongside the ubiquitous olive trees you find just about everywhere in this part of the country, the area around Coín, as well as Alhaurín el Grande and Alora, also features citrus plantations (oranges and lemons) and almond groves.
The Coín town centre is adorned with cobbled streets depicting a bygone era, complete with traditional-style buildings surrounding the town square.
As you enter the town, you will notice the shopping centre on the right-hand side: La Trocha, considered to be the largest commercial centre inland in Málaga province. The architecture is slightly different to that of other retail centres – and its internal cascade feature is marvelled at by many visitors.
Inside La Trocha, you will find an excellent variety of shops including hair stylists, mobile phone outlets, travel agents, a supermarket, bars and restaurants. On Sundays, look out for the car boot sale, a popular venue for locals, visitors and expats to seek out a good bargain.
Coín has a comprehensive industrial estate with a wide range of businesses trading from there, including mechanics, building merchants, furniture manufacturers and other useful companies.
Photo credit: Jordan van Bergen