Officially, around 70,000 people live here. Unofficially, there are more permanent residents in the city, because at the peak of the season, crowds of tourists triple this number.
Benalmádena is located in the south of Spain – just 20 km from Malaga and 40 km from Marbella. It is one of the most popular resorts loved by the British, but not only. The high quality of services, excellent restaurants, or a beautiful beach make guests from all over the world moor to the Puerto Marina port located here, and the cosmopolitan atmosphere does not allow you to think about anything other than blissful rest and great fun.
This part of the Costa del Sol is particularly recommended for families with children, as it abounds in a large number of attractions prepared for the youngest, such as: the Tivoli World amusement park, a gondola lift stretching along the coast, the Colomares Castle, Paloma Park and many more! You will find most of those that we recommend to visit on vacation below.
TIP: Visit local restaurants and try Andalusian cuisine, which is full of seafood and local products. Benalmadena is an ideal place for gastronomy tourism enthusiasts.
Benalmadena has many names
Benalmádena Pueblo is the oldest part of the city, which impresses with the charming architecture typical of Andalusia, full of white houses and balconies bending under colorful flowers (see also: The White Towns Route of Andalusia). In Benalmádena Pueblo you will also find a beautifully renovated fragment of the Old Town, Plaza de España Square and several interesting attractions such as: the butterfly house (Mariposario Benalmádena), the Archaeological Museum (Museo de Benalmádena), or the Castillo de Colomares Castle. It is an ideal place for a walk through narrow streets with a loved one.
The second district is Benalmádena Costa. This is a new part of the city stretching along the coast. This is where most hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, discos and shops are located. The most popular attractions in this district are: Puerto Marina port, Selwo Marina dolphinarium and La Paloma city park.
Arroyo de la Miel is the third district of Benalmadena. It connects the two mentioned above, and most of its buildings are residential buildings. The most important attraction of Arroyo de la Miel is the Teleférico Benalmádena cable car, which allows you to look at the Costa del Sol coast from a height of 771 m above sea level. On the other hand, if you are looking for more crazy fun, be sure to visit Tivoli World – an amusement park with over 40 attractions inside!
Puerto Marina – A spectacular yacht harbor on the Costa del Sol
Puerto Marina is a port in Benalmadena, which impresses with its unique architecture. It is located in the city center, which emphasizes its strategic location and proximity to other important attractions. In terms of style, it is a combination of Arabic, Indian and Andalusian motifs.
However, it is not only a treat for architecture connoisseurs, but above all for those who are looking for good entertainment. The entire port, apart from its basic function, also perfectly fulfills the role of a gastronomic, commercial and sports center. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and attractions for water sports enthusiasts. The SEA LIFE Benalmádena Aquarium is also located here, which you can read about below.
SEA LIFE Benalmádena Aquarium
SEA LIFE Benalmádena is a place that the youngest will especially love! Divided into various zones, the aquarium combines the pleasant with the useful, presenting knowledge about marine animals in an accessible and unusual way.
In the Isla de Rayas zone, 500 species of rays await. Did you know that some of them have inhabited the Earth for 150 million years? Or are you more interested in starfish? At the SEA LIFE Benalmádena Aquarium, you will learn a lot of interesting facts about them! The Shark Tunnel (Spanish: Túnel de Tiburones) is also a huge attraction, which allows you to stand face to face with these predators. The entire complex also includes various species of fish, jellyfish, seahorses, bloodthirsty piranhas and small, colorful amphibians.
Selwo Marina – dolphinarium and dolphin cruises
Another attraction in Benalmadena is the Selwo Marina dolphinarium. In addition to shows of the skills of dolphins and sea lions, you will also see many other animals here, incl. penguins, bats, tropical birds and rarely seen fish and insects. On the other hand, if you want to see what the life of dolphins looks like in their natural environment, you can go on a special cruise, during which you will see these unusual animals in the wild and often from a very close distance. Tickets for dolphin cruises can be purchased on this website.
Butterfly House (Mariposario de Benalmádena)
Temperature equal to 29°C. Humidity above 75%. Hundreds of butterflies flying overhead and just as many hatching from the cocoon. Welcome to Mariposario de Benalmádena! A place where you will see the amazing life cycle of butterflies. In nature, you can observe them for about 3 weeks of their lives. Here you will find out how they look and evolve also in the first stages of development.
There are 15 species of butterflies in the Butterfly House, and their number is as many as 1,500 individuals! All of them come from different parts of the Earth (e.g. from Costa Rica, Kenya, the Philippines, Malaysia), and they feed on artificial nectar, which can be seen in various places of the butterfly house.
In addition to butterflies, there are also several other animals inside. By the tropical lake, various species of fish, birds, turtles, and even… a kangaroo await visitors! All this is a great attraction for both children and adults. However, please remember that despite all the charm of these animals, feeding and petting them is prohibited.
Cable car to the top of Mount Calamorro in Benalmadena
Teleférico Benalmádena is a cable car that will allow you to look at the whole city from a bird’s eye view. The three-kilometer route leads to the top of Calamorro in the Sierra de Mijas mountain range. Once we arrive, we can admire the beautiful panorama of the Costa del Sol coast, nearby Gibraltar, and, weather permitting, also the coast of Africa. In addition to the wonderful landscapes at the top of Calomorro, there are several other optional attractions waiting for us, such as: birds of prey shows, Andalusian horse training shows, trekking trails and bike trails.
Caminito del Rey
Caminito del Rey is the most popular and at the same time the most beautiful hiking trail in Andalusia! It used to arouse fear, but today a helmet and a bit of courage are enough to pass it. You can easily reach it from many places on the Costa del Sol, including Benalmadena. It is best to book your trip in advance on this website.
Trip to Alhambra, Marbella and Gibraltar
Benalmádena is perfect as a base for exploring many towns on the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar. You can go to Granada to see the Alhambra – the most beautiful palace complex in Spain. Visit Marbella and its luxurious Puerto Banus port. If, on the other hand, you want to see the only free-living population of monkeys in Europe in the city, visit Gibraltar and see how the magots have mastered the Rock of Gibraltar! You can buy tickets for any trip of this type from Benalmadena online by clicking on this link.
Castillo El Bil Bil
Castillo El Bil Bil is a small palace located right by the sea. It is hard not to pay attention to it, because the red facade and architecture maintained in the Mudejar style (a combination of Arab and European styles) attract the eye from afar. If you are looking for a place for a romantic date, go after dark to the beautifully lit square nearby, and you will certainly not forget this evening for a long time.
Castillo de Colomares
Although it is a castle by name, in reality it was never the seat of kings, and its construction took place just at the end of the 20th century (1987-1994). Castillo de Colomares is the largest castle-monument in the world erected in honor of Christopher Columbus and his discovery of America. On an area of 1,500 m2, it impresses above all with its beautiful architecture full of motifs referring to the Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic and Moorish styles. Inside Castillo de Colomares, we will also find the smallest chapel in the world (1.96 m2) and a mausoleum… for now it remains empty, but the idea is that it will one day house the body of Christopher Columbus.
INTERESTING FACT: although various materials were used to build Castillo de Colomares (e.g. brick, concrete, stone, wood), it was made entirely using techniques used in the Middle Ages. This also included the lack of any machines from modern times that could have facilitated the construction of the castle.
Parque de la Paloma
What about a moment of rest? You will find the perfect natural circumstances for this in Parque de la Paloma – a beautiful park that is the green showcase of Benalmadena. The 200,000 m2 area is decorated with unusual plants (including over 2,000 succulents), beautifully trimmed trees and shrubs, and picturesque alleys. In summer, the park hosts concerts and film screenings. Children will also not be bored here, for whom a special zone with a mini-zoo has been prepared. There are also restaurants and picnic areas in the park, which makes it even more attractive and means that you can spend long hours here.
Former watchtowers in Benalmadena
Torre Bermeja, Torre Quebrada and Torre del Muelle are three former observation towers that can be found in Benalmadena. And what is worth knowing about them?
- Torre Bermeja – dates from the 14th century and is located near Puerto Marina. Its name (Torre Bermeja in Polish means Reddish Tower) refers to the color of the earth on which it was built.
- Torre Quebrada – this tower was erected at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. Its purpose was to quickly detect threats coming from the sea.
- Torre del Muelle – also called Torre de Benalmádena. This tower is chronologically the youngest, because it was erected around the 16th century. As in the two previous cases, it was built to warn about hostile ships arriving by sea.
The best beaches in Benalmadena
You will certainly not complain about the lack of beaches in Benalmadena. There are so many of them that we have described each of them in detail in a separate article. Below you will find the beaches that are most frequently visited, and therefore are also the most recommended:
- Playa La Viborilla
- La playa de Arroyo Hondo
- Playa Las Yucas
- Playa de Santa Ana
- Fuente de la Salud
- Playa Malapesquera
- Playa Fuente de la Salud
Fiestas in Benalmadena
Spaniards are a nation that loves fiestas. It is no different in the case of Benalmadena, where even holidays known to us take on a completely different character.
La Fiesta del Corpus Cristi
This is the case during the Corpus Christi celebrations. On the eve of the procession, residents create a carpet of flowers and herbs on the streets of the city. And it is not about a few plants scattered on the sidewalk, but about a real, full of thoughtful patterns, flowery carpet, which the participants of the procession will walk on the next day. During Corpus Christi, there is also no shortage of side events, traditional music and dance.
Festividad de San Juan (St. John’s Bonfires)
This holiday is celebrated on the first day of summer, or more precisely – during the first summer night from June 23 to 24. Bonfires are lit on the beaches of Benalmadena at that time, the sky is illuminated by fireworks, and truly fiery attractions await all the daredevils. One of them is, for example, walking on hot coals. It was once believed that it was a magical night, and the fire burning on Earth adds energy to the weakening rays of the Sun.
Veladilla de la Virgen del Carmen
On July 15 and 16, Benalmadena celebrates its biggest holiday in honor of Mary. In addition to flamenco shows, religious performances, numerous attractions for children and parties for adults, the main point of the program is the procession. A large statue of the Mother of God is carried through the streets of the cities, as well as by the sea (boats are used to transport the statue). This unusual spectacle is worth seeing with your own eyes.
Cities on the Costa del Sol near Benalmadena
If you are going to Benalmadena for a little longer, be sure to visit at least some of the nearby towns. Malaga is of course a must-see, as it is the largest city nearby. It is also worth seeing Fuengirola and Torremolinos, which are also often visited by tourists. Other places worth recommending are: Mijas Pueblo, Rincón de la Victoria and the Sierra Nevada mountains and national park.
