Torremolinos has developed more in the last 40 years than in the last thousand. It does have a long history.

Prehistoric human skulls have been found in the limestone caves that litter the mountain behind the town. One of them known as the Tapada cave yielded evidence of Bronze Age inhabitation in the shape of a Bell Beaker burial of around 1500BC. Just to the north under the aeroplanes flightpath is the location of Cerro de Villar which was the site of the island city in the Phonecian period.

Torremolinos first attracted the crowds in 1498 when the Catholic kings and their vast number of troops camped here during the siege of Málaga. The original name was "Molinos de la Torre" (the mills of the tower). In 1502, it came under the rule of Málaga with the name of "Torres de Pimentel" (the towers of Pimentel), in honour of Rodrigo Pimentel, Count of Benavente to whom most of the lands were given in thanks for his cooperation with horses and food during the siege of Málaga. The town evolved as a thriving centre for fishing, primarily centred around La Carihuela; an area just east of town where a few bona fida fishermen still remain, and some of the best seafood restaurants can be found.

Bars and restaurants opened by the dozen and visitors came from all over the world and included well known writers and artists, as well as starlets, aristocrats and seasoned travellers.