General Background
Benalmadena is a town on Southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, famous for its beaches, marina and Tivoli world theme park. With a population of approximately 68,000 people, Benalmadena is located between Torremolinos and Fuengirola and has a number of fabulous attractions for tourists to go and visit. Find out more about these below.
About the area
Benalmadena splits into three main sections: Benalmadena Costa, Benalmadena Pueblo and Arroyo de la Miel.
As its name suggests, Benalmadena Costa is the coastal region of the municipality, featuring numerous attractions and amenities for tourists. From beautiful sandy beaches to relaxed beach bars, this area is the town’s hub of activity, offering plenty of things to see and do. One such attraction is the award-winning Marina. Whether you fancy a relaxed meal, a last-minute souvenir shop, or a quick drink, here’s the place to do it.
If you’d rather keep away from the noise and busyness of the Benalmadena Costa, the Benalmadena Pueblo is the place to be. This area is set up high and offers stunning views across the Mediterranean Sea. It’s the ideal location for those wanting to stay close to the sea, while also offering an insight into the Spanish culture and way of life.
Sandwiched between the Pueblo and the Costa is the Arroyo de la Miel, which translates to the ‘Stream of Honey’. This area offers a much more traditional way of life than the other areas do, and is a particularly popular place to stay due to its location near the train station.
What to see
Benalmadena Costa’s Marina offers the opportunity to do numerous activities. If you’re feeling particularly daring, why not try parasailing? Or, if adrenaline sports aren’t your thing, you can always take a trip on the glass-bottomed boat to Feungirola instead. There’s also fishing expeditions and dolphin spotting trips, so there are plenty of options to think about.
In the Arroyo de la Miel, there is an open-air market twice a week, so make sure to check that out if you’re staying in the area. If you like your animals, then you should also make time to visit Paloma Park where you’ll be able to see pigeons, peacocks, chickens and rabbits all running loose as you wander on through.
There’s also the Colomares Castle, the largest Buddhist stupa in Europe and an abundance of beaches to go and see. You definitely won’t be bored during your time in Benalmadena.
How to get there
Benalmadena is located only a few kilometres away from Malaga airport, and can be easily accessed via the autovia (i.e. Spain’s major highway) or the coastal road to Torremolinos. In fact, some people find it difficult knowing where Torremolinos ends and Benalmadena begins, so if you find yourself in Torremolinos, you’re basically in the right place.