Benalmadena, Spain
Benalmadena is called the Lookout of the Coast because of the amazing views.
Benalmadena is a lovely city in the Costa del Sol, in the south of Spain (Malaga province, Andalucia). It has around 70.000 inhabitants but reaches up to 300.000 during summer. People are attracted to the nice sandy beaches, the sun, the well-taken care streets, the colorful flowers, cute houses, breathtaking views of the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, and the friendliness of the Spanish people.
Benalmadena is divided into three main areas: Benalmadena Costa (shore), Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmadena Pueblo. The Costa, lined with beach-facing hotels, pubs, and restaurants, caters to those that want a relaxing vacation with all amenities at hand. The stars of the area are the long promenade and the beach.
Right behind this front line is Arroyo de la Miel, a vivid commercial area with pubs and restaurants and beautiful mountain views. In Arroyo there is also the train station, which connects Benalmadena directly and for low prices to 3 other gorgeous cities in Costa del Sol: Torremolinos, Malaga and Fuengirola.
The third main area of Benalmadena is Benalmadena Pueblo. It is the place where Benalmadena started, the historical center of the town, with preserved charm and village feel. This area has the Museum Precolombino, unique shops, the Castillo de Colomares – a castle-sized monument to Columbus explorations – and ruins of the times when romans and Moors disputed this land.
Whether you want sea or mountain, relax by the beach, shopping, or a cultural experience, Benalmadena has got you covered. And that is not half of it: Benalmadena is also a perfect place for kids to enjoy. Plus, there is so much more to do!
For the Kids
Parents, check this out: Benalmádena has sandy beaches, an aquarium, a zoo, one cable car that goes from the city center to the mountain top, a gorgeous park with a cactus garden, goats (in cages), turtles, chicken, ducks, and bunnies running free, a skate park, lots of playgrounds and lots of celebrations along the year.
Did I mention the beaches? Well, during summertime there is even a playground in the water. Plus, almost everywhere there are pools (open mostly from June to September only, unfortunately). For those considering living in Benalmádena with kids, there is also an amazing selection of kids’ books in the public library and an unbelievable number of sports clubs, with more activities than I knew existed.
Things to Do
Costa Beaches
Enjoy the beautiful beaches of Benalmadena Costa or stroll along it’s beautiful and large promenade decorated with palm trees; head up to La Paloma Park for a picknick or for a walk among the lush green vegetation, or immerse yourself in the exotic Cactus Garden, while the kids play in one of the two playgrounds in the park.
Arroyo City Center
Take the cable car to have the most impressive views of the Costa del Sol, then come back to walk around Arroyo’s city center. There you’ll find the Plaza Pueblosol, with a large playground, where many of the yearly festivities happen – you may happen to find a food truck or beer festival; some shows or even a funfair going on. If you go to Arroyo on a Friday, you’ll see a large parking space transformed into an open-air marketplace, offering local produce, crafts, clothes, flowers, ceramics and a wide range of toys and house gadgets.
Benalmadena Pueblo
From Arroyo, take a bus to visit Benalmadena Pueblo. Wander through the cobblestone streets, find the cutest niches to take gorgeous pictures of the white-washed houses with colorful flowerpots, visit the Stupa of Enlightenment, the butterfly park, Castillo Colomares and look for the Jardines del Muro, a viewpoint where you can admire Benalmadena and the Mediterranean from a high ground.
While walking around, take pauses and sit on the terrace of the many cafes serving tapas and a caña (a small glass of beer) for a quick snack while people-watching. Do it all on your pace, admiring the beautiful surroundings and you’re sure to have a good time.
Festivities
In January, check the three kings parade, a large event that goes through the main streets of the town with colorful cars distributing candies for the kids; in February, there’s Carnival, then the Semana Santa (Holy week) in March or April, with a large religious procession; in June there is the Feria de Benalmadena – a city wide event with activities going on in different parts of the city, such as a funfair, an inflatable water park, several shows, workshops, fireworks, dance performances and so much fun.
In August, watch out for the Feria de Benalmadena Pueblo and the Zoco Árabe; then in October there is Halloween, with a big house of horror in the Plaza de La Mesquita – the Spanish have really incorporated Halloween traditions, and even took it to another level, with scape rooms, parades, and themed parties - and Christmas lights and markets in December. And that’s just the yearly calendar; in between, there are other festivities popping out, such as flamenco weeks, national days of other Spanish speaking countries, food trucks and so on. There is always a reason to celebrate in Benalmadena, and these parties go large!
Food
Because Benalmadena attracts many foreigners, there are all sort of restaurants around. On top of the traditional Spanish restaurants, offering paellas, seafood and jamón (ham), there are plenty of Mexican, Indian, Argentinian and even a Brazilian and a Ukrainian restaurants. You’ll also find specialties food shops, such as Asian or Eastern-European shops. Some of the pubs and cafés offer tapas, a sort of finger food that you can snack on; while on the beach, enjoy the chiringuitos, traditional small places selling grilled fish.
Nightlife
As tourism is the main industry in Benalmadena, you can expect a variety of nightlife options. Along the shore there are plenty of pubs that stay open until almost morning and the Irish pubs at Plaza Solimar, known as 24 hours square; for more upscale options, look at the restaurants and bars at the Marina. Head inland to party at the show bars and in the squares along Avenida Bonanza or at the pubs in Plaza de la Mesquita, where sometimes there are live shows.
Safety
Benalmadena is safe overall, but there are reports of pickpockets in different parts of the city, especially in tourist areas, and, more rarely, about car invasions around the stupa of enlightenment, when something of value was left visible.
Cost
Spain costs are low comparable to much of the northern European countries, and Benalmadena follows that trend. Accommodation prices tend to go up during summer and the Holy week but are relatively low during the other times of the year.
Transportation
Benalmadena is well served in terms of transportation. Affordable buses connect the different parts of the town and the nearby towns; you can get a card at any tobacco shop that makes the bus trips even cheaper. The town also has two train stations, with trains running every twenty minutes, which go all the way to the Airport in Malaga (and beyond, reaching Malaga’s center) and to the center of Fuengirola on the other extremity.
Benalmadena’s location, train and buses make it a great point from where to explore the nearby cities of the Costa del Sol, which includes the famous Torremolinos, Malaga, Marbella, Mijas, Fuengirola and Estepona, among others.
Conclusion
Benalmadena is a beach and mountain town that is well worth a visit. It is beautiful and filled with interesting activities, festivities, culture, and entertainment for the whole family, besides being well-connected to its neighboring towns and counting with easy transportation. But watch out: many people came as tourists and fell in love with the place, becoming residents. It is certainly a risk.
MamaMalaga
I fell in love with the Costa del Sol while searching online for a place to live. I moved with my family in 2022 and now I go up and down the Costa visiting every corner of every town in the area! It is a fabulous place. I share my findings on mamamalaga.com
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