Areas Near Fuengirola

Visitors to the coastal town of Fuengirola have an excellent choice of fun and interesting things to do, and with its privileged position on the sunny Costa del Sol they certainly have the weather for it too. The town’s main attraction is its 6 kilometres of fantastic golden sand beaches that are backed by a pleasant promenade and offer excellent facilities.

The Moorish Sohail Castle that lies at the foothills of the mountain range behind the town is a popular tourist attraction, and visitors with children should not miss a visit to Bioparc Fuengirola, a fascinating animal park that has expertly recreated natural habitats for its various animal species. Although the town has much to offer visitors, there are some excellent areas near Fuengirola to visit including the famous city of Málaga.

Málaga

A 30 minute drive from Fuengirola takes you to the extremely popular city of Málaga, notoriously famous as a favourite haunt for British gangsters in years gone by who moved there to avoid the long arm of the law, earning the areas nickname ”Costa del Crime” The city still remains a popular choice for British expats and is one of the best places in Spain for non Spanish speakers to find employment.

Visitors to Málaga are spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment and activities, and the vast majority are there to soak up the sun on its wonderful beaches and enjoy the lively nightlife. Having said this, the city is not lacking in culture and boasts some fine examples of architecture such as the Castle of Gibralfaro and the sprawling Alcazaba fortress and royal residence.

Benalmádena

The town of Benalmádena is located just 20 minutes drive along the coast from Fuengirola and makes for a great day out. The town’s Buddhist Stupa is the largest of its kind in Europe and for a fantastic birds eye view of the entire area, Gibraltar and on a clear day, the coastline of Morocco, a trip on the Calamorro Mountain cable car will take your breath away. With its beautiful hillside setting among lush vegetation, Colomares Castle is truly stunning and a major feat of architecture with intricate spires, fairy tale turrets and fascinating arches.

Benalmádena is an exciting town to visit with children as it boasts two aquariums and the lively Tivoli World Amusement Park. There are fine sand beaches, the shady Gardens of La Paloma (The Dove), Bil-bil Castle, Torre Quebrada Watchtower and the picturesque Puerto Marina. The town offers a good selection of shops, boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants, and for those wanting to see if ‘lady luck’ is on their side, a night at the casino awaits.

Mijas

Not all of Costa del Sol’s treasures lie along the coast, and for a lovely day out from Fuengirola a 10 minute drive inland takes you to the mountain town of Mijas. It’s centre is one of Spain’s enchanting ‘white villages’ and Mijas has woven its spell on many a visitor who have made the town their home. Exploring the town is a delight with roadside cafes, souvenir shops and tapas bars enticing visitors through their doors.

The old town has been declared a Historic-Artistic Grouping and Jardines y el Mirador de la Muralla offer wonderful views of the coastline. The recently opened Centro de Arte Contemporáneo houses the second largest display of ceramics by Pablo Picasso in the world and is also home to works by Salvador Dalí and Pablo Ruiz. A unique means of exploring the surrounding area’s attractions is by donkey taxi that have been a feature in the town since the 1960’s and are a great hit with the kids.