Fuengirola, Spain – a beautiful Spanish city built on the site of a former fishing village. It features clean, picturesque beaches, developed infrastructure and many interesting attractions, many of which date back to the Middle Ages.
General information
Fuengirola is a popular resort town located in the province of Malaga and part of the autonomous community of Andalusia (southern Spain). The population is just over 70 thousand people, of which about 25% are from England, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and other European countries. The founders of this city are considered to be the Phoenicians, but it owes its cultural and economic development to the Roman and Arab civilizations, reminders of which are the ruins of an ancient castle and traces of an ancient Iberian settlement.
Fuengirola, currently considered one of the greenest cities in Spain, is one of the best resorts on the Costa del Sol. It offers everything you need for a pleasant and comfortable holiday – good weather, warm Mediterranean Sea, picturesque beaches and plenty of entertainment. In the northern part of the city there is a shopping and entertainment center, a large Erovsky store and a 50-meter swimming pool, opened just a few years ago.
There are also regular celebrations and festivals, the most famous of which are the Feria del Rosario, the International Fair of Cities and Nations, Holy Week, the Night of San Juan and the Day of Our Lady of Carmen.
Like any other place with a history spanning hundreds of years, Fuengirola has an Old Town that has retained the atmosphere of a typical Andalusian settlement with narrow streets, cobbled squares and bright squat houses, and a modern part built up with high-rise apartment blocks, hotel complexes, restaurants, clubs and discos.
Attractions and entertainment
Despite active urbanization and rapid development of tourist infrastructure, the city managed to preserve not only its former color, but also many historical attractions, neighboring new, but no less interesting objects. We will describe only the main ones.
Zoo
The list of important attractions of Fuengirola in Spain opens with a zoo founded in the late 90s of the last century. The territory of this small biological reserve, designed in the style of tropical jungles and reminiscent of the scenery for the story of Mowgli, is divided into 3 zones – “Equatorial Africa”, “Madagascar” and “Southeast Asia”. The main task of Bioparc Fuengirola is to study tropical forests and breed rare species of animals that are in the process of extinction.
Among the inhabitants of the biopark you can see crocodiles, lemurs, pygmy hippos, chimpanzees and meerkats, lowland gorillas and other representatives of the fauna living in subtropical forests.
Address: 6, Calle Camilo José Cela, 29640 Fuengirola.
Opening hours:
- Mon-Fri: from 10:00 to 18:00;
- Sat and Sun: 10:00 to 18:30.
Cost of visit:
- Adults – 20.50€;
- Children (3 to 9 years) – €15.50;
- Disabled people – 11.50€;
- Children under 3 years old – free
Official website: www.bioparcfuengirola.es
Constitution Square
The Plaza de la Constitución, located in the heart of the Old Town, can safely be called the main symbol and one of the most visited attractions of Fuengirola. There are several significant buildings on it, but the most noteworthy is the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario – an ancient temple built in honor of the patroness of the city, the Virgin of Rosario.
True, the square’s universal fame was brought by a long-living ficus, which has a rather interesting story associated with it. The fact is that when several years ago the city authorities decided to build an underground car park under the forum, the overgrown roots were under threat. In another country, the tree that interfered with construction would have been cut down without a backward glance, but not in Spain.
At first, they were going to uproot it and transplant it to another place, but local residents opposed such a move and installed 24-hour security near the ficus. The municipality had no choice but to change the parking plan and leave the tree alone. Now, numerous tables of a summer cafe are nestled under its spreading crown.
Fortress Soyal
The Arab fortress of Soyal, designed in the Moorish style and included in the list of the main historical sights of Fuengirola, was built in the first half of the 10th century. At that time, the main purpose of this powerful structure was to protect the shipping river flowing into the Mediterranean Sea.
Over the long years of its existence, the Castle of Sohail managed to be the epicenter of several military actions, but in the middle of the 19th century it lost its defensive significance and began to decline. The situation changed only in 1988, when this important architectural object became the property of the city municipality and underwent a major reconstruction. Today, the Sohail fortress serves as a venue for concerts, holidays, festivals and other cultural events.
Los Boliches area
The Los Boliches district, located in the suburbs of Fuengirola, is one of the few ancient quarters that have survived on the Costa del Sol. The main features of Los Boliches are its narrow streets, miniature houses and friendly, hospitable residents. Here you can not only relax on the picturesque sandy beach, but also stroll along the promenade and enjoy the view of ancient landmarks, the most famous of which are the Virgen del Carmen church, the Virgin of Carmen sculpture, the Peseta monument and buildings from the Roman period, discovered in 1984 during archaeological excavations.
Street market
This area of Fuengirola is a large street market located next to the Los Boliches train station. Being the largest shopping center in Andalusia, it offers goods for every taste and budget. You can find everything here, from spices and farm produce to clothes, souvenirs, accessories and handicrafts. The street market is open only on Tuesdays. You need to come here early in the morning, otherwise you can easily get sunburned. Also, do not forget to bargain and keep a close eye on your wallet and other personal belongings – there are many pickpockets at Fuengirola Street Market.
On Saturdays, the famous flea market operates in the same place, where sellers come not only from all over Spain, but also from various European countries. There you can buy antiques, vintage and collectible items, old items, as well as second-hand or simply unusable items.
Location: Calle Recento Farial.
Embankment
Paseo Maritimo Promenade, named after the King of Spain, is considered the most visited street in Fuengirola. It becomes especially lively at sunset, when numerous tourists leave the beach areas and rush to the city in search of entertainment. The length of the pedestrian zone is 7 km, the end of which is the local port. From here you can not only enjoy the beautiful panorama of the Mediterranean Sea, but also go on a sea voyage along the Costa del Sol, as well as take a cruise to the ports of neighboring countries.
Along the entire embankment there are dozens of shops, souvenir shops, open summer cafes and cozy restaurants offering local and European cuisine. For lovers of street food, there are special kiosks selling charcoal-grilled sardines, tapas with various fillings, seafood, pinchos and other snacks. There are also many interesting art objects here, against the background of which the best tourist photos are taken.
Beaches
Fuengirola attracts not only with its attractions, but also with a number of golden sand beaches, proud holders of the Blue Flag award. The total length of the coastline is at least 8 km, the approximate width of the beaches is about 40 m. The entry into the water is convenient, the sea is clean and calm, the bottom is covered with soft sand.
Each of the presented recreation areas has a developed infrastructure – there are showers, toilets, changing rooms, sun lounger rental points, bars, playgrounds, and many play areas. The list of traditional beach activities includes parasailing, surfing, diving, as well as water skiing and banana boating. If desired, you can rent a small boat or a pedal boat.
Fuengirola Beach
The central beach of the resort is considered to be the beach of the same name Fuengirola, a favorite place of rest not only for tourists, but also for local residents. The main feature of this place is its proximity to the Teresa Sabel square, from which a small excursion tram departs.
San Francisco
San Francisco, located next to the seaport, is also quite popular with vacationers. Due to the absence of fast currents and the presence of various entertainments, it is well suited for family vacations with children. In addition, a few meters away there is a picturesque embankment and a free bureau providing tourist information.
Santa Amalia
The next tourist area is concentrated in the Santa Amalia district, located close to the main city attractions and allowing you to combine a beach holiday with an excursion.
Other beaches on the coast
No less worthy of attention are such beaches of the resort as Las Gaviotas, Los Boliches and Torreblanca, each of which is focused on family holidays with children. As for the most remote beaches, these include Castillo, spread out next to the castle of the same name, and Carvajal, famous for its large selection of youth entertainment.
Accommodation
The city of Fuengirola in Spain offers quite a large selection of places to stay, so you will definitely not be left without a roof over your head here. Most of the housing is concentrated on the coast – mainly near the beach of Santa Amalia. Interestingly, there is not a single five-star hotel at the resort. Most hotels have 3 or 4 *, the cost of accommodation in which starts from 55 € per day.
As for private apartments, they offer a wider range of prices – you can find an option for 25€ per night, or even for 800€.
Weather and climate: when is the best time to visit?
Fuengirola is not in vain called one of the best resorts of the Costa del Sol. The warm Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra de Mijas mountain range reliably protect it from cold winds and other natural disasters, so you can relax here almost all year round.
Summer in the city is dry and hot. The swimming season opens in mid-May and lasts until the second half of September. The air temperature at this time reaches +30-35°C, and the water warms up to +25-27°C. However, cold currents pass near the city beaches, so even on the hottest days the water here can be quite cool. If you decide to come to Fuengirola during this period, you will not only have a great beach holiday, but also the opportunity to participate in numerous holidays and festivals.
With the arrival of October, the resort experiences a relative cooling. The thermometer drops to +20-25°C, which makes it possible to take long walks around the main city attractions. The only big minus is the frequent rains, so take an umbrella. Winter in this part of the Mediterranean coast is also quite mild. The rainiest month is December, the coldest is January, but even then the temperature does not fall below +15°C. As in the rest of the civilized world, winter in Fuengirola is dedicated to celebrating the New Year and holding Christmas fairs and sales.
With the arrival of spring, everything in the city blossoms – it looks very beautiful. The average air temperature is +24°C, and the sea, although not very warm (only +19°C), is already quite suitable for the first vacationers to swim in it.
How to get there from Malaga?
You can get to Fuengirola from various points in Spain, but the most convenient way is from Malaga, whose airport is only 26 km from the resort. There are two ways to do this.
Method 1. By taxi
A taxi from Malaga to Fuengirola will cost 35-40€. Travel time is no more than 20 minutes. You can catch a car right in the city, call it upon arrival at the airport or order it on the official websites of carriers – Kiwitaxi, Intui.travel, etc.
Method 2. By bus
The bus service between these two cities is provided by the transport company “Avanza”. Buses leave from Malaga Central Station (Estación de Autobuses) from 5 am to 11 pm. The journey takes about an hour (depending on the route). The ticket price is from 3.5 to 6.5€.
Useful tips
Having decided to visit the city of Fuengirola (Spain), remember a few tips that will make your stay at the resort even more comfortable:
- The best way to get around the area is a scooter – with it you can get to any point you are interested in.
- Tables at the resort’s most popular establishments must be booked in advance (especially during high season).
- If you come with children, be sure to visit the family water park located in the western part of the city.
- In bad weather, you can visit the shopping and entertainment complex “Miramar Park”, considered one of the largest establishments on the Costa del Sol.
