Lying just 25km to the south west of Malaga airport, the long established resort of Fuengirola is half way between Malaga city and Marbella. Together with Torremolinos and Benalmadena Costa it one of the the three mega-resorts which occupy this stretch of the Spanish coastline.
Fuengirola runs for around 10km along the coast. Many accounts of these resorts refer to them as ‘former fishing villages’ but nowadays you’d need quite an active imagination to be able to think of them as such due to the intensive developments of hotels and apartments which have been going on for far too long. In spite of the resulting ‘concrete jungle’ the resortis extremely popular with so many visitors who return year after year.
Take a look below the surface of Fuengirola and you’ll find an impressive resort with some fine accommodation, a fabulous beach, great restaurants and a wide range of attractions that are ideal for family holidays.
Things to Do in Fuengirola
Beaches … The beaches are very clean and well maintained with lovely, clear water which is safe for children. A variety of water sports are available especially from the central marina area. Windsurfing and scuba diving are particularly popular.
Restaurants … In the evening you’ll find an impressive selection of restaurants way in excess of what you might expect from such a mainstream resort. As well as the ubiquitous “international cuisine” represented by Chinese and Indian restaurants there are some great Spanish eateries serving a whole range of locally inspired fish and meat dishes.
Walking … Take a long walk along the promenade which runs the full length of the resort parallel to the beach. It is lined with bars and cafés so you can spend a few hours strolling along at your leisure. There’s an impressive Moorish castle at the far end of the resort which is well worth a visit, especially if you’re fit enough to climb the steps upto it.
Markets … All along the Costa del Sol there are market days. If you’re visiting Fuengirola be sureto put Tuesday in your diary as that’s when this weekly market sets up in the town centre.
Golf Courses … Not surprisingly Fuengirola is hugely popular with golfers as it is ideally located for access to a wide selection of courses on what has become known as Spain’s Costa del Golf.
Tourist Attractions … There is so much on offer to keep the kids amused including a waterpark and a zoo.
Day Trips from Fuengirola
You can book half day excursions from Fuengirola to Marbella, Mijas, the Caves of Nerja and Malaga city. Full day tour destinations include Granada to visit the Alhambra Palace, Seville, Cordoba and Ronda. Other novel tours are a Gibraltar shopping trip and a full day excursion to Morocco. Take a look at our Costa del Sol excursions page for more information.
If you’d prefer to just use public transport rather than going on 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.
Recommended Hotels in Fuengirola
Located on the beachfront just 3km from the centre of Fuengirola is the Beatriz Palace & Spa Hotel which has large rooms overlooking the pool and panoramic sea views from their balconies. The buffet restaurant and onsite bars are popular with guests.
A similar distance away is the Hotel Gardenia Park which is a popular choice amongst families thanks to its excellent facilities which include both indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna and jacuzzi. All of the bedrooms have a balcony.
A nice self-catering option is the Pyr Fuengirola Hotel which offers a selection of large, well equipped apartments ideally located opposite the Fuengirola Marina and a long sandy beach.