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Fuengirola
Fuengirola is 21kms from Málaga airport. This resort is slightly less developed and more family orientated than Torremolinos, although it has been a popular since the 1960s. Fuengirola is most famous for its five miles of sandy beaches that offer stunning views of the Mediterranean coastline. The beaches in Fuengirola are well kept, clean and silhouetted by an infinite variety of vivacious bars and restaurants. Busy and cosmopolitan, Fuengirola is home to a melting pot of nationalities and ideal for families. There's a fine sea front, sandy beaches stretching for 8 km, and a main plaza that's been recently rebuilt with pleasant pedestrian-friendly streets, lots of green areas and fountains. Nightlife is varied with a lively expat scene.
Fuengirola comes alive with the arrival of the summer. This already densely populated town plays host to throngs of visitors both Spanish and foreign, but in particular British. The entertainment in Fuengirola is diverse but with a distinctly English feel. The bars sport names such as The London Pub and Linneker's Bar. Indeed, the English community in Fuengirola is large enough to support a fully developed programme of activities and local groups.
Although Fuengirola is a comparatively developed resort, it does also have a number of historical sites and open parks. The path along the Paseo Maritimo leads to Los Boliches, where the remains of a Roman villa can be found. The central square in Fuengirola, named Plaza Constitucion, has been recently totally refurbished, complete with underground carpark. Fuengirola's port is divided into two sections, the old and the new. Fuengirola's old port is still used by the Spanish fisherman in the town, while the new port is equipped with a full range of facilities and can accommodate up to 226 berths with lengths from 8 to 20 metres.
Benalmádena
Benalmadena is located 19kms from Malaga and just 9kms from Torremolinos. It is another of the Costa’s home-grown tourist resorts. The municipality is actually divided into three separate smaller districts.
The first is Benalmadena Pueblo (village), which is located on the mountain side. It is a typical Andalucian village with heavy Moorish influences characterised by winding narrow streets and white-washed homes. It has a wide variety of amenities including museums, a castle, sports centre, shops, bars and restaurants. One of the most popular attractions in Benalmadena Pueblo is the unique Castillo de Colomares, the town’s lookout castle. It represents architecture from five centuries and despite the haphazard result, it is well worth a visit.
Arroyo de la Miel is the second district and lies between Benalmadena Pueblo and Benalmadena Costa. This is where most of the population in the area live and where the majority of businesses are located. It too, has a wide variety of amenities including a sports complex, bilingual library as well as a selection of bars and restaurants. The world famous theme park, Tivoli World is also located here.
Benalmadena Costa is the third district. It was built specifically to cater for tourists and is therefore the most popular. It has an array of attractions such as its own casino, nightclubs and golf course. Benalmadena Costa has 9kms of coastline with beautiful beaches and coves. It also boasts a fully equipped marina with more than 1,000 berths. The spectacular Puerto Marina, winner of the Best International Port in the World award, with fantastic nightlife, salsa bars, clubs, restaurants and the famous 24-hour square. The Paseo Maritimo in Benalmadena Costa is lined with small shops and bars.
Torremolinos
The first stop along the Costa del Sol, only 6km from Málaga airport is Torremolinos. Torremolinos is the birthplace of Costa del Sol tourism and has grown from a small fishing village into a big cosmopolitan resort town. Encompassing the areas of Playamar, Montemar and the old fishing quarter of La Carihuela, Torremolinos is a lively resort with long, clean, sandy beaches and a vast array of entertainment and leisure activities to suit all ages and nationalities. Only fifty years ago, Torremolinos was just a small fishing village. It has now become a massive resort area with rows of high-rise apartments and hotels. As the original resort town, Torremolinos is geared to giving people a good time, and if that’s what you are looking for, there are few places on the coast with as many bars and restaurants.
One of Spain’s top holiday destinations, Torremolinos offers some of the best nightlife and entertainment on the coast. It’s a busy, year-round resort with palm-lined boulevards, pleasant pedestrianised areas and an elegant sea-front promenade. More than 70% of the visitors are British and English is the accepted language. Throughout the summer, the town hall hosts an unlimited number of free events including festivals of music, dance and jazz as well as volleyball and football competitions. In recent years, the town hall has invested heavily in the area, creating a new promenade along the seafront, which perfectly complements the charm of the old town.
There are two principal beaches in Torremolinos, both long and sandy. There is a wide selection of shops and the prices here are comparatively cheaper due to the intense competition in the town. The famous La Carihuela district still retains much of its fishing village character. The popular fish restaurants in La Carihuela are supposed to serve the best pescadíto (fried fish) on the Costa del Sol, guaranteed! Very little of the Torremolinos old town remains, but there are remnants of a fourteen century Moorish watchtower. Torremolinos is not for the culture seekers, but for beaches, nightclubs, bars, restaurants and shops, Torremolinos is one of the best known spots in Andalucia.
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