Why is Benalmadena a Great Holiday Destination?

Benalmadena is one of the most truly versatile travel destinations in the Costa del Sol region. The city is divided up into three distinct regions (Benalmadena Costa, Benalmadena Pueblo and Arroyo de la Miel) that each appeal to a different type of traveler, providing you with plenty of options and things to do no matter your tastes or preferences. Whether you are looking for a happening night life, an adventure and adrenalin rush, a lazy round of golf or if you want to get off the beaten track and experience those authentic Spanish areas then a Benalmadena holiday will most definitely appeal to you.

Benalmadena Costa

If your ideal Benalmadena, Costa del Sol holiday is taking in all of the local tourist attractions, relaxing on sun drenched beaches, playing a cruizy round of golf and being able to mingle with other Benalmadena holiday goers then the Benalmadena Costa will be the area for you.

Benalmadena Costa is a resort style suburb within Benalmadena and is considered the major tourist destination within the town. The Costa as it is affectionately know by locals is home to over 9 kilometres of beautiful golden Benaladena beach and is also home to the multiple award winning Puerto Marina Benalmadena (Benalmadena Marina).

Both the beaches and the marina are some of the most buzzing and happening areas within the whole Costa del Sol region. There are so many different activities available on both the beaches and the marina that you will be hard pressed to not find something that will appeal to you. From whale/dolphin watching, to jet ski hire, to a stroll around the aquarium – visiting these locations will make your Costa del Sol holiday an absolute dream. For more detailed information about these two gorgeous location, read our comprehensive Benalmadena Beach and Benalmadena Marina tourist guides.

From Benalmadena Costa you will also have hassle free access to the beautiful award winning Torrequebrada Golf Course, as well as the Benalmadena Casino, Spheremania, the Tivoli and a whole host of other Benalmadena attractions making Benalmadena Costa one of the most happening places to take your Benalmadena holiday.

Benalmadena Pueblo

If your idea of the perfect Benalmadena holiday is beating a track off the beaten path, then Benalmadena Pueblo is going to be right up your alley. Benalmadena Pueblo dates back to Moorish times and is set 300 meters above sea level and inland, offering a stark contrast to the resort style feel of the coastal Benalmadena Costa. The Pueblo gives travelers the chance to experience the authentic heritage of Spain, offering a laid back look into the lives of local Spanish inhabitants. The Pueblo retains the ancient Benalmadena town hall and its mayoral office.

This part of Benalmadena has retained a great deal of its original natural Spanish charm, wandering around the Pueblo you will find yourself constantly amazed by the narrow, winding, steep streets that will make you feel like your part of a childrens fairy tale. The whitewashed stone houses offer you a view of Andalucian Costa del Sol life prior to the modern technological age. As you wander these beautiful cobbled streets keep your eyes wide open as you will most definitely be able to see many left over vestiges of civilizations gone by that have had an impact on the area – from Carthaginians to Greeks to Romans to Arab and even Phoenician influence.

Arroyo de la Miel

If you have chosen to make your Costa del Sol holiday a whole family affair then the connected township of Arroyo de la Miel will offer you a wide range of family friendly activities. Arroyo de la Miel used to be its own township but over the years has been included under the Benalmadena umbrella. This town has a very distinctive charm and feel to it that makes you just want to smile whilst your strolling its streets.

Probably the most notable family attraction within Arroyo de la Miel is the Tivoli World, a huge family entertainment center that services the entire Costa del Sol region. This particular fun park is fantastic for the whole family, for a more comprehensive review of Tivoli World take a look at our Tivoli World guide.

Another fantastic attraction to visit within Arroyo de la Miel on your Benalmadena holiday is the Telefericos, better known as the Arroyo de la Miel cable cars. Riding these beautiful vehicles you will ride high up into the Calamorro mountains, an elevation of 769 meters. From the summit of these picturesque mountains you will be able to see Gilbralta, Sierra Nevada and on those crystal clear viewing days you’ll even be able to see the northern most tip of the Moroccan coastline.

Getting to Benalmadena

Getting to Benalmadena for your Costa del Sol holiday is now cheaper and easier than ever before. Because of the increased use of the internet as an advertising medium we are seeing more and more flight providers competing for your dollars, and as a result airline prices are being forced down. This is great news for you because those Benalmadena flights that you always wanted to book, can be done so at a fraction of the price of ever before.

Benalmadena is serviced by the Malaga International Airport which is a short 20 minute train or car ride from the Malaga airport. From the Airport you can take a number of different methods of transport to get to your Benalmadena destination. Holiday makers can choose to take the train, bus, hire car or taxi to reach their final destination, the sunny Costa del Sol.

For an in depth comprehensive look at how to get to Benalmadena on your Benalmadena holiday, take a read of our getting to Benalmadena guide.

Benalmadena Holiday Nightlife

The Benalmadena Costa region of Benalmadena offers visitors some really fantastic opportunities to hit the town and party if you are so inclined. There are many hotspots within the township, each of which are easily accessed on foot, by hire car or local bus route. The following is a list of nightlife hotspots in Benalmadena for your partying pleasure.

• 

  Benalmadena Casino – Torrequebrada Hotel

• The Mississippi Willow – In the Puerto Marina
• Maracas Cafe – In the Puerto Marina
• Disco Kiu – Municipio Benalmádena Provincia Málaga Dirección Pl. De Solymar
• Monet Nightclub – In the Puerto Marina
• The Dutch Bar – 24 Hour Square
• Boal’s Icebar – Puerto Marina behind the Monet Nightclub
• Cabaret show and Spanish flamenco – Torrequebrada Hotel
• El Elefante – Plaza Bonanza Square

Be sure to check back in coming weeks for a comprehensive guide to the Benalmadena nightlife scene.

Tourist Traps to avoid on your Benalmadena Holiday

As with any popular tourist destination in the world there are those unscrupulous people out there who simply want to take advantage of others for their own personal satisfaction, Benalmadena is no different in this regard with many locals catching tourists off guard with petty scams designed to make a bit of extra money for themselves. The following list explains some of the more common scams and tourist traps to look out for while you are on your Benalmadena holiday…

Shoe Shine Scam – One of the most common scams, especially within the Benalmadena Marina is for an older gentleman to offer to shine your shoes. He does so under the assumption that you believe it is a free service. However after the shoe shining he demands to be paid and will not leave you alone until you do so. If you are approached by someone who resembles this person, politely decline their offer and be on your way.

Time Share Scams – Another common scam is for unauthorized individuals to pretend that they represent the major time share corporations inviting you to lavish hour long seminars only for you to find out later that you have parted with thousands of hard earned dollars that can no longer be retrieved. If you are looking for timeshare in the area, ensure that the person you are dealing with represents an actual company and is not trying to dupe you.

Overpriced Goods at the Marina – Because the Marina is so tourist oriented shop owners have a tendency to overcharge for most goods. If you are looking to make an expensive purchase within the marina, you may be better served taking a trip into the actual township of Benalmadena Costa, where you should be able to find a better price for your goods.

Benalmadena Map

The following Benalmadena map is a fully interactive Google Map offering you complete flexibility to explore the region from a birds eye view. Use the inbuilt controls to pan around, zoom in, zoom out and take a look at the region. For more comprehensive tourist maps and a map of the Costa del Sol area have a look at our Benalmadena map page.

Recommended Packing List for your Benalmadena Holiday

There are a number of things you just shouldn’t leave home without. When planning your Benalmadena holiday take the time to see if you will need any of the following items.

The Basics

• Luggage/Travel Pack
• Clothing
• Footwear
• Hat
• Digital Camera and/or Video Camera
• Aspirin/Panadol
• Water Bottle
• Language Books
• Reading Materials
• Travel Journal
• Travel Lock
• Luggage I.D. Tags
• Any necessary medications you may need to take

Misc. Items

• Flashlight Batteries/ Spare Lightbulb
• Matches or lighter
• Spare camera batteries
• Mini sewing/repair kit
• Tape
• Travel iron
• Travel clothesline and pegs
• Sink plug
• Mesh bag for laundry
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Motion sickness medicine

Toiletries

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Soap
• Skin care products
• Shampoo
• Shaving Cream
• Towel

Finding Accommodation in Benalmadena

There are so many different style of lodgings for you to consider when planning your Benalmadena holiday. From hotels, to apartments, to long term rentals, to villas, or luxury resorts the choice is yours and no matter your budget you will find an accommodation that will suit your needs.

For more information about your next Benalmadena holiday take a look around our website. We have fantastic guides regarding Benalmadena Golf, Benalmadena Beach, Benalmadena Properties and a number of Benalmadena Attractions. Furthermore if you have any interesting stories about traveling within Benalmadena contact us! We would love to hear about your adventures.