As a Costa del Sol beach resort Fuengirola ticks all the right boxes for people looking to have fun in the Spanish sun. Located in between Marbella and Torremolinos, the former fishing village of Fuengirola is now one of the Costa del Sols most popular beach resorts. Jam-packed with high-rise hotels, lively bars and tourist-friendly restaurants, you will also find some out of the way tapas bars and trendy boutiques selling all the latest must-have fashions and accessories. On top of all this, you have a Moorish castle to add a bit of history and a unique attraction that you will find nowhere else in a Bioparc/Zoo that is an important breeding centre for some of the world’s most endangered animals. The real attraction is, of course, Fuengirola’s large sandy beaches.
Blessed with a whopping 8 kilometres of golden sand divided up into 8 unique beaches, it stretches from the castle all the way to the marina with an impressive promenade spanning the entire seafront. Every imaginable water sport is on offer, plus if you need a drink or want something to eat you will find a chiringuitos (beach bar) close by.
When it comes to nightlife Fuengirola is no slouch either with an energetic collection of Irish pubs, British bars and discos along the Paseo Maritimo. For a more traditional Spanish experience, start in the main square and make your way down the side streets for authentic tapas and a chance to mingle with the locals.
Quick Facts about Fuengirola
Here’s a few interesting tidbits of information about the city of Fuengirola:
Where is Fuengirola?
Fuengirola is located on Spain’s sunny Costa del Sol in between Torremolinos and Marbella just 28.4 kilometres from Malaga International Airport (AGP).
History & Architecture in Fuengirola
The first people to settle in Fuengirola were Phoenician traders followed by the Carthaginians, Romans and Moors. Fuengirola is dominated by the Castillo de Sohail a Moorish fortress built in the 11th century. The castle was destroyed by Christian armies during the Reconquista in 1487 but later rebuilt to help protect the citizens of Fuengirola from attacks by the Barbary Pirates. Today Fuengirola is a modern Spanish city, but its history can be discovered by visiting The Roman Archaeological Park and the Fuengirola History Museum.
How to get to Fuengirola
The main gateway to Fuengirola is Malaga International Airport (AGP) which is reached from most airports in the UK in just 3 hours. From the airport, you can get to Fuengirola by taxi, bus, train or renting a car. The easiest and most affordable option is to take a train from the underground train station at Terminal 3 the trains run every 20 minutes and as of 2019, it costs 2.70€ one-way. The train makes 12 stops at towns along the coast and takes 34 minutes to reach Fuengirola.
When is the best time to visit Fuengirola?
There is never a bad time to visit Fuengirola weather-wise, but if you are looking for a holiday where you can hang out at the beach you need to visit between June and September. Temperatures can be particularly hot during July and August and while this is great for night-time activities you will soon understand why the Spanish take a siesta in the afternoon. The Costa del Sol typically gets over 320 days of sunshine a year with the rainy weather restricted to the odd weeks between November and April.
*Tip: Visit during late May and the entire month of September when the kids are in school. The weather is great and the airfare is much less than during the peak summer months.
Where to stay in Fuengirola
In Fuengirola there is no end of hotels, B&B’s and rental properties to choose from that are suitable for all budgets. Several of the big name travel agents have deals with hotels that include all-inclusive packages and kids clubs.
Have a look at TUI, Thompson and Jet2 Holidays for some incredible deals, or visit TripAdvisor for boutique hotels and self-catering apartments.
Things To Do in Fuengirola
When you decide to holiday in Fuengirola the entire Costa del Sol is your playground. In Fuengirola we highly recommend you visit the Bioparc and if you have never done it before rent a jet ski from the marina. No summer holiday in Spain would be complete without a visit to the waterpark and in the neighbouring town of Torremolinos you have Aqualand, one of the best water parks in all of Europe. For night-time fun head to the Tivoli World theme park in Benalmadena for adrenaline pumping rides and a traditional giant Ferris wheel.
