Fuengirola

Fuengirola is situated between Malaga and Marbella, close to the town of Mijas and Benalmádena; it is one of the most popular tourist towns on the Costa del Sol, a great holiday choice for families and children with a fantastic offering of beach, facilities and activities. 

Tourism is an important industry for Fuengirola, with its 6 km of splendid beaches, seaside promenade and endless attractions. Yet if you look behind the touristic facade you will find an old-fashioned, friendly Spanish working town by the sea. 

Fuengirola is located just 25 kilometres from the city of Malaga and its international airport. The town has good bus and rail transport options to and from Malaga, and a bus service to Marbella, to the west, and beyond.

History
Over the centuries the area has been occupied by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors. The history records date back to 2 B.C. 

The town is dominated by the old Moorish castle, Castillo Sohail, which sits atop a hill just outside the town. In ancient times the area was known as Suel and then Suhayl, hence the castle’s name.

Roman remains have also been found in sites in around Fuengirola and can be found in the Museo de Historia (History Museum) in the town.

Places to visit
Just 8 km away is Benalmadena, with its elegant Casino de Torrequebrada, Selwo Marina and Tivoli World, and the capital city of the province Malaga, is 20 kilometres away. Malaga is a beautiful city of culture, history and great cuisine and well worth a visit. You can reach the city by bus or train, as well as by car.

The charming pueblo (village) of Mijas is around a 10 minute drive away and although it is now more populated with foreign residents and tourists, you still get the feel of traditional Spain here. 

The glamorous seaside resorts of Marbella and Puerto Banus are around 25-30 minutes journey time in the car or taxi, or you can catch a bus, which takes a little longer as it stops at every urbanisation/village along the way. 

Beaches
The broad sandy beaches of Fuengirola and Los Boliches offer heaps of facilities, restaurants, sports, showers and toilets. Carvajal, Gaviotas, Boliches, San Francisco, Santa Amalia and Castillo beaches beckon. Chiringuitos line the beachfront with delicious smells of ‘Sardinas al Speto’ (Sardines on the spit) wafting out along the promenade. All serve tasty traditional Southern Spanish seaside dishes, such as Gazpacho, sardines on the spit, paella and pescaito frito (mixed fried fish platter).

Around town
Fuengirola offers all the facilities of a major tourist centre: restaurants, bars, discos, sports clubs, etc. There is also a large shopping complex, the Parque Miramar Shopping Centre, which houses over 160 shops, plus bars, restaurants, cinema and a children’s play park. 

Apart from the general attractions of a tourist centre, Fuengirola offers a number of interesting venues such as the Roman baths at Torreblanca, the Arab castle of Solhail, the Outdoor Museum, exhibiting paintings by a variety of artists, the yacht harbour and club and two fantastic golf courses – Los Olivos and Los Lagos. 

Eating out
You won’t go hungry in Fuengirola, the town has got an amazing restaurant choice, whatever your preference. Of course, there are some amazing Spanish restaurants, tapas bars and beachside restaurants that serve traditional Spanish cuisine, but there is also such a diversity of people living in Fuengirola, and the restaurant options reflect this: British, Scandinavian, German, Indian, Chinese, Italian, Moroccan, Lebanese, the choice is endless. 

Festivals
The wonderful Fuengirola Feria (festival) takes place annually between the 6th and 10th of October, in honour of Our Lady, the Virgin of El Rosario, the Patron Saint of Fuengirola.

The town’s feria is one of the most important on the Andalusian feria calendar, and one of the most vibrant. The week long celebration makes it feel like the whole town is on holiday.