If there is one thing that characterises the Costa del Sol, in addition to its climate and good atmosphere, it is the proximity of its municipalities. Benalmadena is located west of Torremolinos and east of Fuengirola and Mijas. For this reason, we decided to locate one of our MiColchón stores in this unforgettable municipality so that all its inhabitants can find the best rest equipment here. Benalmadena is a beautiful coastal town that is worth visiting, so today we dedicate a post to it in our blog.
Benalmádena is located 22 km from Malaga city and has more than 69,000 inhabitants, being the third most populous municipality in the metropolitan area, behind Malaga and Torremolinos. Here it is impossible to get bored: 17 beaches, an amusement park, two aquariums, a casino, a cable car, a marina, huge parks , etc.
The town consists of three very unified but differentiated nuclei : Benalmádena Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmádena Costa. We tell you what to do and visit in each of them.
BENALMÁDENA VILLAGE
It is the oldest area of the town, when the Muslims built a walled city with a fortress. Known as “El Pueblo” within the municipality, it keeps the traditional charm of the white villages of the Andalusian Mediterranean. It is nice to get lost in its network of white and silent streets, away from the noise of the coast, and visit its most interesting points:
- La Niña de Benalmádena. Bronze sculpture made by Jaime Pimentel that has become one of the icons of the town. It is located in the centre of a fountain in the Plaza de España in Benalmadena Pueblo. Around it you will find several bars and restaurants, as well as souvenir shops.
- Wall Gardens. Urban complex of Benalmádena Pueblo where you can visit the oldest church in the town, that of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. From its viewpoint you will enjoy wonderful views of the coast and the gardens designed by César Manrique.
- Stupa of Benalmádena. The Stupa of Enlightenment (Chan Chub Chorten in Tibetan), at 33 meters high, is the largest in the entire West. Inaugurated in October 2003, it was a project of the great Buddhist master Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche. It symbolizes the Buddha’s Enlightenment, the realization of the nature of mind.
- Colomares Castle. It is located in a lost area between Benalmádena Pueblo and Costa, perhaps that is why it is little known about tourism in the town. It was built between 1987 and 1994 in honor of Christopher Columbus and the discovery of America and inside is the smallest chapel in the world, dedicated to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.
ARROYO DE LA MIEL
Known as “El Arroyo”, it was born around a farmhouse where six paper mills were built in the eighteenth century. Its name is due to the number of panels that existed in the area, along with different streams and torrents. As it is the most modern area of the town, you will find a wide range of leisure activities in it.
- Paloma Park. Located on Avenida de Federico García Lorca, it is a 200,000 m² park with lakes, lawns and pine forests. Children have a great time because there are animals in the wild: ducks, swans, peacocks, chickens and rabbits. You will need almost a full day to enjoy the park.
- Tivoli World. Amusement and entertainment park inaugurated in 1973. Here you can find a wide range of attractions, shows, concerts, restaurants, exhibitions and themed squares. Its price varies depending on the day of the week.
- Selwo Marina. Marine fauna park that can boast of being the only dolphinarium and ice penguinarium in Andalusia. It is located in the Arroyo de la Miel fairgrounds.
- Telephone. This gondola lift connects the centre of Arroyo de la Miel with the summit of Mount Calamorro, at an altitude of 771 metres. From this summit there are spectacular views of the entire coast, the Mediterranean Sea, the Rock of Gibraltar and on clear days, the African peaks of the Atlas. If you like birds of prey, check the schedule of the falconry show. In addition, you can visit the Cueva del Toro, the most important prehistoric site in the municipality where you can see several cave paintings.
BENALMÁDENA COSTA
It is where the greatest variety of tourists in the municipality is concentrated. It is located on Avenida de Antonio Machado and Avenida del Sol and runs parallel to its beaches. Its promenade crosses the entire town from Torremolinos to Fuengirola.
- Sea Life Benalmadena. This aquarium is located in the Benalmádena Marina and is a shark protection centre inaugurated in 1995.
- Bil Bil Castle. Red castle in Arabic style decorated with tiles and bas-reliefs. It was built in 1927, for a wealthy family of the time and has subsequently passed through several owners until in 1980 it was bought by the Benalmádena City Council to turn it into a venue for exhibitions, concerts and conferences. It is the public building where the most civil weddings are held in the entire province of Malaga.
- Puerto Marina. One of the largest marinas in Andalusia where you can find the Maritime Captaincy, numerous hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, shops, a luxury residential area, the Benalmadena Maritime Yacht Club and Sea Life. It is accessed through a watchtower from the Nasrid period, the so-called Torre Bermeja.
- Casino Torrequebrada. It was opened in 1979 next to a five-star hotel, on the beachfront. It offers party rooms, shows and has the beach and a golf course nearby.
- Beaches. We cannot forget the great attraction of Benalmádena: its beaches. Almost 20 km of coastline with numerous beach bars and restaurants. It also has a nudist beach, one of the first in Spain, Benalnatura beach.
To stay there is a wide variety of hotels, we recommend the Hotel Pueblo Evita, a complex of white houses in the purest Andalusian style located in Benalmádena Costa. You can also choose to stay in the nearby town of Torremolinos, as some of its hotels, such as Hotel La Barracuda, Hotel Amaragua, Hotel Palace Costa del Sol and Hotel Los Arcos de Montemar, are just a few minutes’ walk from Puerto Marina.
Without a doubt, Benalmadena is one of the best options on the Costa del Sol to spend a pleasant family holiday.
