Hola! Welcome to Benalmadena, one of the most popular holiday destinations on Costa del Sol in Spain. This vibrant town is divided into three parts, each with something different to offer, and in this post, we’ll focus on its coastal part – Benalmadena Costa. Sandy beaches, award-winning marina, beautiful green park, vivid nightlife, fresh seafood, and a wide range of activities… All of that attracts thousands of people every year and makes this town a perfect place to unwind. Vamos, let us show you things to do in Benalmadena Costa.
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Benalmadena Costa, Spain FAQ
Benalmadena is a Spanish city located in Andalusia in the Province of Malaga on the very sunny Costa del Sol. It’s just a short drive from nearby popular places like Malaga, Marbella, Mijas, or Nerja.
Benalmadena Costa is best known for being one of Costa del Sol’s most popular holiday destinations. All thanks to one of the most beautiful marinas in the world, wide sandy beaches, stunning coastal views, and a vivid nightlife scene.
Yes, Benalmadena Costa is a place worth visiting. The town serves not only as a great holiday spot but also as a great base for discovering nearby towns and villages.
Yes, this area of the town is called Benalmadena Pueblo and unfortunately it’s frequently overlooked in favor of Benalmadena Costa. And it’s a real Andalusian gem that you shouldn’t miss during your stay!
Benalmadena Pueblo is located about 7km from Benalmadena Costa, inland on a hill, at an altitude of about 200m a.s.l.
Three parts of Benalmadena, Spain
Benalmadena stretches from the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas mountains to the coast. It consists of 3 distinct parts:
- Benalmadena Costa – a holiday resort area located on the coast,
- Benalmadena Pueblo – calm traditional Andalusian village located on a hill overlooking coastal areas with a fairly-looking castle,
- Arroyo de la Miel – main residential area where most of the locals live.
In this post, we’ll show you around Benalmadena Costa and give you a brief introduction to Pueblo and Arroyo de la Miel. Vamos!
Discover: Accommodation options in Benalmadena
Things to do in Benalmadena Costa, Spain
Benalmadena Costa beaches
Costa del Sol is a haven for beach lovers, and one of the best things to do in Benalmadena Costa is definitely hitting the beach. Along the town’s coastline, which stretches for around 10 kilometers, you’ll find some great beaches, perfect for soaking up the sun and taking a refreshing dip in warm Mediterranean Sea waters during your holidays. We’re sure that everyone will find the perfect spot for themselves.
In Benalmadena, the beach choice might not be as big as in the other nearby towns, but available beaches lack nothing and don’t disappoint. Among the best beaches in Benalmadena, you’ll find Playa de Santa Ana, Playa de Bil Bil, and Playa del Arroyo de la Miel y los Melilleros. All of them are located in the heart of Benalmadena Costa. They are long and wide, boasting fine sand and calm sea waters. There you’ll also find various amenities like toilets, showers, lifeguards, and many nearby beach bars and restaurants.
Other great beach choices, located a bit further, are Playa de Torre Vigía, Playa de Torrequebrada, and Playa de Carvajal. During high season you might find them more peaceful and a little less crowded. If you want to spend some time on a nudist beach, head to Playa de Benalnatura.
Book now: Benalmadena Deluxe Parasailing Flight
Paseo Maritimo Promenade
Along the Playa de Santa Ana beach, from Bil Bil Castle up to the Marina, stretches a beautiful Paseo Maritimo Promenade, perfect for relaxing strolls all day long. What we recommend is waking up early to see a magical sunrise, or coming in the evening to see beautiful sunset colors in the sky.
The promenade is lined with many restaurants and beach bars where you can eat lunch/dinner or just have a drink with amazing sea views. Surprisingly, many of them are open without a mid-day siesta break, serving food all day, which is rare for the South of Spain and in our opinion very cool. We tried and can recommend La Sirena, serving fresh seafood and fish dishes.
There you’ll also find many small shops, great if you’re in need of some new summer clothes, sun cream, flip flops, or just a small souvenir. The most annoying part is probably the street sellers with their pop-up “shops” selling cheap, fake goods. But we’ve seen some people buying some merch there so if you need those – they are there too.
No matter the time of the year, walking along Paseo Maritimo Promenade is an amazing thing to do in Benalmadena Costa. Oh, and if you wish, you can continue your walk through the award-winning marina, up to neighboring Torremolinos.
Book now: Benalmadena Private Boat Trip with Drinks & Snacks
Bil Bil Castle
Bil Bil Castle (es. Castillo de El-Bil-Bil) is a unique, red-colored building you can find in Benalmadena Costa on a small square between Playa de Bil Bil and Playa de Santa Ana beaches. It was built in the 1930s as a summer house for a rich local family, in the Islamic-inspired style. Over the years the castle changed owners a few times, until the 80s when it was acquired by the city council.
Nowadays, Bil Bil Castle serves as a cultural center with various exhibits and events. Inside you’ll also find Benalmadena Tourist Information. It’s also a place where you can get married! Entrance to Bil Bil Castle is free during opening hours.
Puerto Marina
You can’t leave Benalmadena Costa without exploring the beautiful Puerto Marina, a two-time award winner of the “Best Marina in the World”. It’s a marina unlike any other you’ll see on Costa del Sol, and we’re not surprised that it was appreciated by the jury. Simply wander around and admire marvelous buildings, yachts, and boats. The vibe is just amazing!
In Puerto Marina, you’ll also find many small shops, all sorts of restaurants and cafes perfect for a short break (or enjoying the town’s nightlife), and attractions like the Ferris wheel or Sea Life Benalmadena aquarium. If you’re up for a cruise along the coast or dolphin watching, it’s also a great place to book that.
Book now: Benalmadena Dolphin Watching Boat Tour
Sea Life Benalmadena
Sea Life Benalmadena is a great attraction for both small and big ones located in Puerto Marina. It’s a place where you’ll immerse in the underwater world and discover various aquatic species. Unfortunately, the place is fairly small and it probably won’t take you more than an hour to see all it can offer.
Standard entrance to Sea Life Benalmadena costs €19.5 for a normal ticket, and €15.5 for a reduced one for children 2-11. Premium entrance costs €22.5 for a normal ticket, and €18.5 for a reduced one (December 2024). For current prices and opening hours visit visitsealife.com website.
Paloma Park
Paloma Park (es. Parque de la Paloma) is a big, well-kept green space in Benalmadena Costa located just a short uphill walk from the coastline near Bil Bil Castle. It offers a tranquil escape from bustling areas and an opportunity to unwind among nature. By many, Paloma Park is considered one of the most beautiful parks on the Costa del Sol.
There you’ll find many walking paths, a lake, palm trees, a cactus garden, children’s playgrounds, an outdoor gym, dining areas, and many animals. So don’t be surprised when you come across a rooster, parrot, or duck! Oh, and from some places you can also admire sea and mountain views. Without a doubt, visiting Paloma Park is one of the best things to do in Benalmadena Costa.
Next to Paloma Park, you’ll also find Selwo Marina Park where you can take part in shows featuring various marine animals and exotic birds. We don’t recommend taking part in this activity, as we don’t like animals being kept in captivity for entertainment, but if you’re interested, here’s the official website where you can learn more.
Benalmadena Cable Car
If you want to take a good look at Benalmadena Costa and its surrounding areas from above, be sure to head to Benalmadena Cable Car (es. Teleférico Benalmádena). The cable car stop is located in the Arroyo de la Miel area, close to Benalmadena train station. During the 15-minute-long ride, it’ll take you to the top of Mount Calamorro, the highest point of the town, located at an altitude of almost 800 m a.s.l!
On the top, you can admire breathtaking views of Costa del Sol from some viewpoints, take part in a birds of prey show, and dine in a restaurant with amazing views. It’s a must-have thing to do in Benalmadena if you don’t mind heights or cable cars. But if you do, and still want to admire amazing views, you can also reach the top on foot – just pick one of the available hiking routes.
The cost of tickets to Benalmadena Cable Car depends on the day of the week, but approximately cost €20 for a normal ticket and €15 for a reduced one. Entrance to the Birds of Prey Show isn’t included in the price and additionally costs €6 for adults and €4 for children 3-12 (December 2024). Remember that the Cable Car is closed when the weather is bad. For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets visit telefericobenalmadena.com website.
Book now: Benalmdena Mount Calamorro Cable Car Ticket
Benalmadena Pueblo & Castillo de Colomares
Benalmadena Pueblo is located only about 7 kilometers from Benalmadena Costa. It’s the most beautiful part of the town which retained the authenticity of a typical Andalusian white village to this day. It’s full of narrow cobbled streets, and whitewashed houses generously decorated with colorful flowers.
There you also find Castillo de Colomares, a fairy-tale-looking building that in reality is a monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus and his discovery of America. The most peculiar thing about it’s that it was built only by 3 people!
Learn more: 7 Things To Do In Benalmadena Pueblo, Spain
Arroyo de la Miel
Arroyo de la Miel is the main residential area where most of the Benalmadena locals live. In our opinion, it’s not spectacular or even worth visiting unless you want to observe typical local life or find some less busy restaurants or tapas bars.
Wednesday & Friday Markets
There are two weekly outdoor markets in Benalmadena. Wednesday’s flea market takes place in Benalmadena Costa, in the car park right next to Paloma Park (9AM-2PM). The second market, Benalmadena’s Friday Market, is located in the Arroyo de la Miel, in the Aparcamiento de Tivoli, right next to the end station of Benalmadena Cable Car (9AM-2PM).
Discover: Accommodation options in Benalmadena
Explore local attractions
How to get to Benalmadena Costa, Spain?
Benalmadena Costa is located about 20km from Malaga, 15km from Mijas Pueblo, 40km from Marbella, and 70km from Estepona. The most convenient way to get to Benalmadena Costa is by car, train, or bus.
Where to park in Benalmadena Costa?
There are many free spots and some paid parking garages around the area. For free ones, it’s best to look among residential streets above the promenade. For a parking garage, we recommend Parking Solymar located close to Puerto Marina.
Airport near Benalmadena Costa
The closest airport to Benalmadena Costa is located in Malaga, only 15km away. From it, you can reach the town by bus, train, car, or taxi. You can check the connections that might interest you on the rome2rio.com website.
For great car rental deals visit Rentalcars website.
To Benalmadena Costa by bus
You can easily also get to Benalmadena Costa by bus. There are direct and usually cheap connections from many places like Malaga, Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, or Nerja. To check the connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Benalmadena Costa by train
Benalmadena’s train station is located in Arroyo de la Miel, about 2km from the coastal areas. But only a short line connecting Fuengirola and Malaga passes through it – here you can check out a map of train stations on the route.
Things to do in Benalmadena Costa – Summing up
Without a doubt, Benalmadena is an amazing holiday destination on Costa del Sol, perfect for those who are looking for sun, fine sand, and great beaches. But as you can see now, there are many great things to do in Benalmadena Costa that will spice up your holiday sunbathing a bit! We’re sure that every traveler will find here the perfect activity for themselves. Enjoy your stay!
Our video from Benalmadena Costa
Our opinion about Benalmadena Costa
We lived in Benalmadena Costa for a few weeks (December-January). During this time, the town was fairly busy for our standards, but we can imagine that it was only a small drop of what is happening here during high season.
Overall, Benalmadena Costa didn’t really steal our hearts, but we liked it enough to maybe consider coming back in the future. We especially liked the sunny and warm weather during winter months (so, so much better than in Poland during the same time of the year!), walking along the promenade and in Paloma Park while admiring nice views, and watching colorful sunrises and sunsets. We definitely prefer Benalmadena Pueblo to Costa mainly because of its Andalusian vibes.
Oh, and we also found Benalmadena Costa a good starting point for discovering the Province of Malaga!
We can totally understand why this place is a popular holiday spot but we wouldn’t like to spend 1 or 2 weeks of summer holidays there. The beaches are indeed good, but we can imagine how crowded and busy this area gets. And hot too, as summertime in Andalucia is very, very hot! But it’s only our opinion if you’re looking for just that for your next holiday, it’s there for sure!
Book now: Benalmadena Private Boat Trip with Drinks & Snacks
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Benalmadena Costa?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Benalmadena Costa:
Where to sleep in Benalmadena Costa?
Sahara Sunset
Sahara Sunset in Benalmadena is a stunning Andalusian-style hotel offering spacious apartments equipped with kitchens, private balconies, and modern amenities. The property boasts a variety of leisure facilities, including outdoor pools, a fitness center, and a relaxing spa area. Located just a short walk from the beach and close to local attractions, it’s a perfect destination for a family vacation or a romantic getaway.
Hotel Benalmadena Beach
Hotel Benalmadena Beach is a stylish seafront accommodation offering modern rooms with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. Guests can enjoy direct beach access, an outdoor pool, a spa, and a fitness center, along with a variety of on-site dining options. Its prime location, close to local attractions and the lively marina, makes it an ideal choice for a relaxing and fun-filled holiday.
Hotel Ocean House
Hotel Ocean House in Benalmadena Costa offers a chic and contemporary beachfront retreat with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel features stylish rooms, a refreshing outdoor pool, and a rooftop terrace, perfect for soaking up the sun or enjoying a drink with panoramic vistas. Conveniently located near the vibrant marina and local attractions, it provides an ideal blend of relaxation and entertainment.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
