Fuengirola, Spain – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Fuengirola is a lively resort town on the Costa del Sol in Andalusia, Spain, 30km south of Malaga. Popular for its beautiful beach, its location also allows for easy exploration of the nearby resorts of Benalmadena and Torremolinos. The pristine sandy beach running the length of the town is backed by a busy promenade lined with bars, restaurants and shops. Social media portrays Fuengirola as a quiet alternative to the busier resorts of the Costa Del Sol, but is there enough to do here for an energetic getaway?

Continue below to find out!

• Currency – Euro
• Language – Spanish but almost every local speaks English
• Time – One hour ahead of Ireland
• Plugs – Type F plug (the 2-prong rounded one) so bring an adaptor
• Cash or Card – Card is accepted almost everywhere and most ATMs charge large fees
• Public Toilets – Not easy to find open ones so bars are your best bet
• Tipping – It is polite to tip 10% or so in bars and restaurants

Malaga Airport (AGP), a 3hrs 10 mins flight from Dublin, is an excellent building just 24km from Fuengirola. The nearest alternative, Granada Airport (GRX) is 100km away so Malaga is the best option when visiting the Costa Del Sol. You will always arrive at Terminal 3, where the train station is, as Terminals 1 and 2 are rarely used. The shops and restaurants are very modern, although they do tend to struggle with the crowds a little.

Find Cheap Flights to Fuengirola

Assuming you do not hire a car, there are four options here, but avoid getting a bus as they don’t run frequently enough:

By Taxi: You’ll have no issues finding a cab at the taxi rank at the exit of terminal 3. Unfortunately, this 40-minute journey will cost you €40 so it’s definitely not the most efficient means of travel. Uber is popular in Spain and can save you a little money, but we still recommend using the train instead.

By Train: The simplest way to get here is by catching a 45-minute Renfe train from Malaga Aeropuerto Train Station. The station lies directly across from terminal 3. The C1 line, which travels to Malaga City centre in one direction and Fuengirola in the other, is the only line in the station. Trains depart every 20 minutes and cost just €3.30, which can be paid by tapping your card at the turnstiles. You don’t even need to use the ticket machine!

By Private Transfer: We book our holidays through OnTheBeach.ie, who offer direct transfers to Fuengirola from Malaga Airport. As a couple, we tend not to avail of them as there are cheaper and relatively hassle-free alternatives. However, families travelling with young children should definitely price these packages as they can save themselves a lot of hardship.

Cheap Package Holidays to Fuengirola

Fuengirola has no shortage of places to stay, whether you’re after beachfront luxury or something more budget-friendly. We booked our most recent trip through OnTheBeach.ie and the process was quick, simple and good value. If you’re splashing out, you’ll find plenty of all-inclusive and half-board options, while those on a tighter budget can grab solid three-star deals. We usually opt for a four-star in a resort like this since we tend to spend lots of time at the hotel.

We stayed half board at the four-star Hotel Angela which sits right on the seafront. Its location towards the quieter Los Boliches area of town was ideal for us. The main outdoor pool is a plunge pool from which you get incredible views of the beach. We also spent a lot of time at the luxurious indoor pool, which we had almost entirely to ourselves for the duration. There’s also a sauna and steam room next to it, though the hotel has no gym. There is a second plunge pool on the rooftop but sadly you need to pay extra to use it.

The live entertainment was fun and kept us busy most evenings. Breakfast was excellent, though dinner was only so-so. The main parts of town are a 20-minute walk away but this area is beautiful and we would absolutely stay here again.

Check out Fuengirola Hotels

Eating out in Fuengirola is a little cheaper than in Ireland, with a main course costing €15 – €20. Most restaurants don’t have pushy greeters outside them, with the exception of those in the main food quarter of Fish Alley (Calle Moncayo).

Our favourite area for evening dining was Calle Francisco Cano in Los Boliches. This buzzy tree-lined avenue becomes an international food haven after dark, when the atmosphere is just so surreal. We adored El Paso Mexicano, an incredibly authentic Mexican restaurant here. The burritos are tasty but it’s the general ambience (and the strong tequila) that does it for us!

Be sure to head to the promenade to sample espetos de sardinas, or sardines on a spit, a famous local delicacy. You will see loads of vendors selling these along the beach.

Hot Beverages: Cafés aren’t massively popular here but the best place to find a nice one is around the Old Town area. Head here to grab a coffee and a croissant to enjoy outside while you watch the world go by.

Alcohol: A pint costs around €3, provided you order a local beer like San Miguel. Disappointingly, cocktails cost much the same as Ireland, at around €10 each. Most are rubbish too, made with syrups rather than fresh ingredients, so save your money!

Since this is a holiday resort there aren’t many Spanish bars so check out the Irish or British Bars instead. Irish bars here don’t compare to resorts like Salou in terms of live music. Most are either very quiet or absolutely wild, being more like dance clubs than pubs. Pub O’Brien near Fish Alley is the best quiet option and shows plenty of live sports. We had a great night doing silent karaoke in Saint Patrick’s Bar on the Los Boliches end of town. It’s a little mad but very fun. This area of the promenade is the closest thing Fuengirola has to a strip.

For something a little different check out the vibey Speakeasy Jazz Club. This classy spot has that trademark jazz bar atmosphere, complete with table lamps and dim lighting.

Sangria: This delicious blend of red wine and summer fruits is a tourist favourite in Spain. We don’t consider ourselves massive wine drinkers but we really enjoyed a cold glass of Sangria. It’s cheap too so it’s worth trying!

Fuengirola gets the classic Costa del Sol sunshine, with summer days soaring well past 30 degrees and the odd scorcher brushing 40. Winters average around 9 or 10 degrees which, although pleasant for strolling the seafront, is not quite winter sun heat. April, May, September and October bring mid-20s warmth, perfect for older visitors to explore without overheating. Rain is rare all year-round, with sunglasses definitely being more useful than umbrellas.

Travel on Foot: The chances are that your hotel will be close to the beach here. The footpaths are excellent, so getting from A to B will be very easy, even for wheelchair users. Most of the key areas are within walking distance of one another. Fuengirola is charming at night and is safe for a stroll in groups.

Public Transport: The blue buses are the local ones and are relatively cheap to use. You can buy a 10 stop pass from the driver for €10, handy if heading to Miramar Shopping Centre or further afield. For local trips it is much handier to grab a taxi however. They are very cheap and there are taxi ranks all along the promenade.

If exploring further afield then head to Fuengirola or Los Boliches train stations. From there you can grab a handy train to Torremolinos (24 minutes) or Benalmadena (14 minutes) for just a few euro.

Check out our Travel Guide to Benalmadena

Vehicle Hire: Car hire providers can be found from as little as €25 per day here, but it’s not worth it. Local amenities can be hit on foot and the train system is brilliant if heading further away. Taxis are cheap too so even local journeys are made handy. Some people do opt to hire a scooter here which, while admittedly a fun experience, can cost €60 per day or more.

Find Cheap Scooter Rentals

The sandy beaches and Mediterranean waters make Fuengirola a particularly scenic resort town. Quieter than many of its neighbours, it’s a beautiful place to just kick back and relax. Nightfall brings a different kind of beauty, when crowds of happy holidaymakers descend upon its pretty little streets.

Puerto Deportivo Fuengirola only dates back to the 1970s, but its Moorish-inspired design makes it stand out from your usual seaside ports. It’s not just about the boats here, as the area doubles as one of the town’s main nightlife hubs, with bars, restaurants and even a central stage for live music. By day you can catch the ferry across to Benalmadena or linger over a meal by the water. By night, the whole marina turns into a lively, social spot worth checking out.

Directly in front of the marina you’ll find Sould Park, a decently sized amusement park for kids. It’s not as polished as it once was but your little ones won’t notice as they bounce from one ride to another. We found it a little pricey but if you’re down by the waterfront it’s worth a quick stop to let the children have some fun.

Plaza de la Constitucion is the heart and soul of Fuengirola and the gateway to its old town. Surrounded by pretty streets made for wandering, the square itself is peaceful and centred around the traditional church of Nuestra Senora del Rosario. It’s a lovely spot for people-watching, grabbing something to eat or even catching the occasional concert. Christened in 1841 by the town’s first mayor, this is where the town was officially recognised as a separate entity to Mijas.

Just a short stroll away, Plaza Chinorros offers another charming square full of local cuisine and buzzing Spanish life.

The paseo maritimo runs for 7km along the resort’s beaches and is the perfect place for a stroll at any time of day. It’s lined with chiringuitos – casual beach restaurants famous for their smoky sardines roasting on old boats. A classic Costa del Sol sight!

The promenade backs the 1.7km long Playa de Fuengirola, the town’s most popular stretch of sand.

At the north-eastern end of Fuengirola lies Los Boliches, a quieter part of town with its own promenade and a more laid-back feel. The Malaga train line stops here, making it super easy to reach. Playa de Los Boliches here also offers a calmer, family-oriented beach as an alternative to the main beach.

From 9am to 2pm on Tuesdays check out the Los Boliches Market, or Mercadillo de Los Boliches, and its 450 stalls. Massive crowds generate a great buzz as they show up to buy clothes, souvenirs and food.

Calle Moncayo is the town’s buzzing food quarter and the place to be once the sun goes down. What started out as a street of fish restaurants, hence the nickname Fish Alley, has grown into a lively strip packed with every kind of eatery you can imagine. The atmosphere is electric in the evenings, with people spilling out of bars and terraces. If you’re looking for dinner with a side of energy, this is where to go.

Although not as hectic as neighbouring resorts, Fuengirola is still something of a behemoth when it comes to sun holiday destinations. This means that it attracts visitors from all across Europe which, when combined with the friendly locals, makes for a lovely international community. Prepare to make plenty of new friends as you wander the streets or relax in the bars here.

This resort town is definitely more suited to visitors looking for a chilled-out holiday. The town can feel sleepy during the day, when locals keep to their siesta schedule during the high summer. Things pick up at night, though it still doesn’t feel quite as jovial or exciting as other popular Spanish resorts like Salou.

Our Essential Travel Guide to Salou

Playa de Fuengirola, as the name suggests, is the town’s main beach and its most popular. Stretching for about 1.7km, its golden sands get pretty packed during peak season. Calm waters and excellent facilities are part of the appeal here, with all of the usual water sports present like jet skiing and banana boating. Lining the sand are chiringuito bars and sun loungers, so whether you want to soak up the sun or snack on sardines, you’re covered.

If you fancy a change of scenery make the short north-easterly walk to Playa de Los Boliches. At 3km long, it’s bigger, slightly more relaxed and popular with families, while still lively with volleyball nets and beach bars. From June to September you’ll also find the Cabanas craft market in front of Playa de Los Boliches, adding a fun extra to your evening strolls.

The charming old town of Mijas Pueblo was hands down the highlight of our whole trip. Tucked into the mountains above Fuengirola, it costs nothing to wander—just the cost of a 15-minute taxi or bus ride up. The town is a maze of whitewashed houses, narrow cobbled streets and charming squares, with Plaza de la Constitucion at its heart. The panoramic views near this square are otherworldly and its little restaurants are perfect for a leisurely lunch while soaking it all in.

We loved exploring the hilly Calle San Sebastian, a tranquil residential street, and popping into the Spanish Ceramic Paradise on Calle Malaga, where we bought some incredible gifts by local artists. Don’t miss the Ermita de la Virgen de la Pena shrine and the Mirador del Compas viewpoint beside it, which offers sweeping vistas over the town below.

We arrived before 11 and the town was dead quiet, but that’s part of the charm. There’s a laid-back, almost magical atmosphere, with occasional Saturday morning flamenco performances in the main square. We highly recommend planning your visit to coincide with this slice of Spanish culture.

The bullring, Plaza de Toros de Mijas, is so worth the €3 entrance fee and delivers some amazing views too.

Book a Guided Walking Tour of Mijas Pueblo

The Moorish Castillo Sohail dates back centuries and is hard to miss as it dominates the south-western end of the resort. We thought we had better pay a visit to the castle, seized by Christians in 1485 and reclaimed by Spain in 1812 after endless battles. To be honest we found it a bit underwhelming. The area inside the walls is smaller than we estimated, not particularly grand and doesn’t have much to see.

That said, it’s free to visit and the views over Fuengirola from the battlements are absolutely worth a look. The castle fell into disrepair for a while but was rejuvenated in 1989 and now occasionally hosts concerts and festivals. It’s open from 10am to 2pm Wednesday through Sunday.

Accessibility is limited, so you’ll need a bit of effort to get up there. If you’re happy to climb, the panoramic views of the town and coast make it worth a stop. We found it a nice, quick historical detour with a killer backdrop for photos.

The Mariposario de Benalmadena, while technically in Benalmadena, is a just 10-minute taxi from Fuengirola, making it an easy day trip. Walking or taking a train here isn’t really possible, so stick to taxis, Ubers or buses.

Inside awaits a tropical garden, maintained at a cosy 24–28 degrees celsius, which is optimal for the butterflies within. You’ll be walking among some of the most endangered butterfly species in the world in this idyllic haven. Be sure to catch some of the demonstrations that take place during the day.

The Mariposario opens till 8:30pm in July and August, closing slightly earlier the rest of the year round. We found visiting here to be utterly serene and one of the most unique experiences we’ve ever had. Adult tickets start at €13 and there’s a café onsite.

While here check out the free-to-explore Buddhist Stupa nearby and its incredible views over the town below. Stupas are 3D models of enlightenment, filled with sacred objects and ceremonial paintings. This particular one shows depictions of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni’s life. Tradition says that if you walk clockwise around it and make a wish, it will be granted.

Benalmadena Butterfly Park Tickets

Bioparc Fuengirola is an expansive open zoo right in the heart of town, spreading across 22,000 square metres. Established in the 1970s and redeveloped in the 1990s, it’s home to over 300 species, from unusual creatures like axolotls and golden lion tamarins to lemurs you can actually walk alongside during the Walk with Lemurs experience!

The lush rainforest setting makes wandering through the park a real pleasure and the enclosures aren’t your standard cages, giving the animals a more comfortable environment.

Summer evenings are what make Bioparc truly unique, as the park stays open until 11pm for nocturnal shows. Definitely do it at night if you can, even though it can get a little dark for spotting animals. This wheelchair accessible park is open all year round (closing times vary) and tickets, starting at €19, are available via the link below. It’s a unique attraction and the live shows are awesome!

Bioparc Fast Track Tickets

Assuming that you’re flying into Malaga Airport, it’s worth squeezing in a quick visit on your arrival day. Use Radical Storage to store your bags and avoid the need for dragging luggage around. At around €5 per day per bag it really is a no brainer. If you’re not visiting on arrival, the C1 train line whisks you here from Fuengirola in about 45 minutes for only €3.60. Tickets are easy to grab at the station or by tapping your bank card on the gate.

Malaga is a grand city, though don’t expect Barcelona-level size or things to do. Highlights include the historic old town, which is perfect for wandering, the Alcazaba fortress, the Roman Theatre, the Botanic Gardens and the copious museums celebrating Pablo Picasso, who was born here.

There’s plenty of charm, shops, cafés and plazas to enjoy and you can cover most of the main attractions in one day. That being said, there’s still far too much to do to cover here so check out our full Malaga travel guide for all the details.

Read our Travel Guide to Malaga

Store Luggage with Radical Storage

Since these are both Costa Del Sol resort towns, there isn’t really enough differentiating Benalmadena to warrant a daytime visit. An evening visit on the other hand is well worth it to see Benalmadena’s famous marina come alive with restaurants, bars and a thrilling holiday vibe. Evenings here strikes a nice balance, being busier than Fuengirola, yet not as hectic as neighbouring Torremolinos.

Getting here is easy. The train from Los Boliches takes you to Benalmadena in about 14 minutes for just a couple of euro. Some people choose the one-hour ferry instead, which makes for a really pleasant journey along the coast. It’s well worth looking into at €19 return.

Benalmadena is split into three main areas, all of which are located somewhat apart. The train drops you at the Arroyo de la Miel area, from which you will need a taxi to the marina. The old town of Benalmadena Pueblo can be skipped if you are planning on visiting the superior Mijas Pueblo.

Some people attempt to visit Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos in one go but think twice about this. Walking from Benalmadena to Torremolinos is doable, but adding Fuengirola into the mix makes for a seriously long trek. Keep it simple and nip over to Benalmadena in the evening for food, drinks and a lively atmosphere by the water.

Catch a Ferry from to Benalmadena

Read our Complete Benalmadena Travel Guide

Aqualand in Torremolinos is the Costa del Sol’s number one water park and a perfect way to cool off on a hot day. It’s packed with legendary rides like Hurakan and Tsunami, plus a surf beach, Jacuzzis and a kid zone for when you need to slow things down. Unfortunately, faster slides seems to mean slower queues here so be prepared to queue.

Getting there is simple – hop on the C1 train which takes 24 minutes from Fuengirola to Torremolinos. Then, walk the 25 minutes to the park, or hail a taxi. The park is open until 6pm during the summer, with tickets costing a pricey €39!

Buy Tickets for Aqualand