Benalmadena
Benalmadena is split into two sections with Benalmadena Costa
the part of most interest to the many tourists who visit this
popular Costa del Sol resort every year. The resort lies 15km south
west of Malaga airport between between the resorts of Fuengirola
and Torremolinos.
Benalmadena Costa is a purpose-built coastal
resort extending 8km along the coast which climbs steeply up into
mountains behind. The cable car from the coast up to the top of the
mountain is a well worthwhile trip but not recommended for those
with a fear of heights.
This whole section of the
Costa del Sol from Torremolinos going west
to Fuengirola and encompassing Benalmadena is characterised by
high-rise tourist developments meeting the demands of mass tourism.
Having said that recent developments have gone ahead with much
stricter planning regulations than in the early days with a focus on
better quality tourism which is reflected in the marina of Benalmadena Costa which has been tastefully developed and is can
handle more than 1,000 boats and yachts of all types. The marina is
the focal point for Benalmadena's social scene and is central to the
resort.
Benalmadena has more than 8km of blue flag beaches some of which are
in small coves and often have rocks at the ends of them. The sand is not
as fine as some of the other resorts but a lot of work is done to maintain the
cleanliness of all of the beaches. There are sun loungers and shades
available for rent all the way along the front.
From Benalmadena marina you can walk all the way along a
flat promenade
to Torremolinos with plenty of little bars and restaurants
on the way for refreshments. Look out for the ancient Moorish
watchtowers. Alternatively you can walk in the other direction
along the promenade to the western edge of the resort.
Above Benalmadena Costa on the side of the
mountain is Benalmadena Pueblo which is still an attractive
old Spanish village with the typical whitewashed houses on cobbled
streets. A refreshing escape from the newer developments on the
coast.
You'll find all the eating out options you'd expect of an established resort
from fish and chip shops to quaint tapas
bars and plenty restaurants with an international theme. More
authentic dining can be found up in the Pueblo.
There is no shortage of accommodation in Benalmadena Costa with a
whole range of hotels and self catering apartments to suit every
pocket. Such a range attracts budget conscious family visitors as
well as the yachting fraternity. You can find a selection of
highly recommended hotels and apartments at discount rates on our
Benalmadena Hotels page. Alternatively take
a look at our Benalmadena Villas page and
our Benalmadena Apartments page.
There's plenty entertainment to amuse the kids, parents and the
18-20 brigade alike. Tivoli World amusement park in nearby
Arroyo de la Miel has Wild West and flamenco shows and a cable-car
ride. Equally popular are the Selwo Marina Dolphinarium and
the Sealife Centre which has the biggest shark collection in Europe.
There are water-sports facilities at the yacht club and plenty of
golf courses in the vicinity. By night there is no end of bars and
nightclubs and there is a casino at the upmarket Hotel
Torrequebrada.
The most popular excursions from Benalmadena include Marbella,
Fuengirola market and Mijas. Slightly further afield are the Caves of Nerja and Malaga city tour. Full day tours are
available to Granada to visit the Alhambra Palace,
Seville, Cordoba,
Ronda, Gibraltar and even Tangier in Morocco. If you don't
fancy a scheduled coach tour you can always find a taxi for local
outings and there are regular coastal bus services up and down the
coast. There are trains into Malaga city every 30 mins which is well
worth the effort to see the Moorish ruins of the Gibralfaro
and the new Picasso museum which has been established in the house
where Malaga's most famous son was born.
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