Hotels in Marbella

Set in the centre of the Costa del Sol’s sun-splashed coast, Benalmadena is an ideal holiday destination for those travelling with children and the perfect escape for couples looking to spend some quiet, quality downtime together. In addition, the vibrant nightlife makes it something of a hotspot for those who like their nights filled with dancing and music and their days spent relaxing on the beach.

Holidays to Benalmadena are packed with attractions for everyone. Kids will enjoy days out at the Sea Life Aquarium, while if you’ve got an interest in the region’s culture and history you’ll enjoy a trip to the Picasso Museum. With so much to see and do, you can make your Benalmadena holidays exactly what you want them to be!

Things to do

This part of the Sunshine Coast is blessed with more than 10 stunning beaches, from tiny, secluded coves fringed by fragrant pines, to vast, sweeping stretches of golden sand. Benalmadena marina is packed with bobbing boats, many of which are available for hire or offering tours of the coastline. The beachfront restaurants offer an extensive range of cuisine, from quick and easy fast food, to authentic tavernas serving traditional paellas.

There’s family entertainment on tap, so you could take the kids to meet the dolphins and feed penguins at the fantastic Selwo Marina for starters. This town comes alive in the evenings, with a whirlwind of dance clubs, sports pubs and bars in the town centre, plus great places to eat Spanish-style at the marina. 

Excellent beaches

Benalmadena has a huge 10 kilometre stretch of golden sand that’s split into sections, but they all provide a sun-drenched location to relax in. The majority of beaches have excellent amenities such as umbrellas and showers to make the most of your visit. Unwind on sun loungers along the soft sand for spectacular views of the glistening sea.

The Blue Flag Santa Ana Beach is Benalmadena’s water sports hotspot, with everything from banana boats to jet skis and pedalos. It’s really well maintained and close to several seafront restaurants, so spending a whole day at the beach is easily done. Tropical palm trees fringe all the beaches along the resort’s picturesque coast.

Culture

Benalmadena is next door to Torremolinos and is one of Spain’s much loved holiday resorts on the Costa del Sol. You’ll find a mix of contemporary hotel blocks, Spanish cobbled streets and traditional buildings. You can find authentic charm flowing through The Old Village of Benalmadena Pueblo. The popular markets sell everything from leather, art and clothing to homemade souvenirs and trinkets. Holidaymakers flock to Benalmadena for its beaches and vibrant nightlife found along the seafront and the bustling 24 Hour Square.

Vibrant nightlife

The atmosphere transforms from being a laidback sandy resort by day, into a bustling, neon-lit, party hotspot by night. The main nightlife can be found in the famous 24 Hour Square where there’s plenty of choice of entertainment. Enjoy the sports pubs, watch live music and drink delicious cocktails in one of the contemporary bars before heading to dance the night away in the vibrant nightclubs.
For something with a little more tradition, the picturesque marina has a wide selection of Spanish style restaurants and a great range of bars.

More travel guides

We also have travel guides available for destinations, including: Andalusia | Balearic Islands | Barcelona | Canary Islands | Costa Almeria | Costa Blanca | Costa Brava | Costa Dorada | Costa del Sol | Fuengirola | Fuerteventura | Gran Canaria | Lanzarote | Marbella | Tenerife | Ibiza | Madrid | Malaga | Majorca | Menorca | Nerja | Torremolinos

This once sleepy fishing village on the Costa del Sol has blossomed into one of the region’s leading resorts, loved for its sweeping golden coastline and traditional Spanish charm. The resort has a lively town centre focused on a breezy square, and enjoys a fast-paced nightlife scene and delicious local cuisine. The chic marina and towering Moorish fortress set Fuengirola apart from the crowd.

Things to do

Fuengirola’s beautiful Costa del Sol location is a beach paradise, with kilometres of smooth, golden sand curved around the coast. Pick a different beach every day and stroll along the sunny boardwalk that connects them, right the way up to the marina. The marina is the place to go for a relaxing boat excursion along the coast. It’s well worth the walk up to see the town’s landmark, Sohail Castle, perched on a hillside with fantastic views across the whole town. Fuengirola holidays have great nightlife, with a tempting array of waterfront bars, big clubs, tapas bars and pubs to spend the warm evenings in.

Excellent beaches

The resort has a huge eight kilometre stretch of beach, split into different sections so you’ll have no problem finding some sand to relax on. Medieval castles decorate the seafront, which provides stunning views of the glistening water and scenic coastline. The soft golden beaches are well equipped with all the amenities needed for a comfortable visit, including quaint restaurants and a wide variety of water sports to entertain the thrill seekers.

Shopping

Spend a day relaxing with a spot of retail therapy in Fuengirola’s wonderful malls and markets. You’ll be able to find a great selection of designer clothing as you browse idyllic boutiques and well known high street brands like Zara and Pull & Bear. There’s plenty of opportunity to buy handcrafted, traditional souvenirs and trinkets from the local markets too.

History
Once a peaceful fishing village on the beautiful Costa del Sol, Fuengirola can be dated back to Roman time and is now one of the region’s most favoured resorts. This is largely down to its beautiful beaches, traditional square and lively nightlife. Discover the Spanish history in the many historical sites around the town and explore the towering, 19th century fortress, Sohail Castle, along the coast.

Vibrant nightlife

Fuengirola has a fantastic array of after dark activities. Whether you want to watch live music, drink cocktails in a Spanish bar or dance until the sun comes up, this vibrant resort will keep you entertained. With the majority of the bars in short walking distance from one another, moving from place to place is easily done. With views of the stunning coast, the marina is where you’ll find energetic Irish pubs, jazz clubs and tropical nightclubs. Alternatively, you can enjoy the contemporary atmosphere of the town’s central square in one of the tapas bars and Mediterranean restaurants.

More travel guides

We also have travel guides available for destinations, including: Andalusia | Balearic Islands | Barcelona | Benalmadena | Canary Islands | Costa Almeria | Costa Blanca | Costa Brava | Costa Dorada | Costa del Sol | Fuerteventura | Gran Canaria | Lanzarote | Tenerife | Ibiza | Madrid | Malaga | Majorca | Marbella | Menorca | Nerja | Torremolinos