Fuengirola

Fuengirola is a 25 km drive from Malaga airport. Numerous rental car agents operate from within the airport, but you can usually save a few Euros by going to cheaper rental companies across the road from the airport, rather than renting from a company inside.

Fuengirola is now one of the larger towns on the Costa del Sol and also one of the coasts main tourist destinations. Largely urban in nature, the town has a total of 76,000 residents (25% of which are mainly European foreigners) and is a hive of activity, with busy streets lined with up-market tapas bars, shops, restaurants and nightclubs.

Fuengirola is a vibrant metropolis with a fabulous 8km stretch of beaches, a quaint port and a recently re-designed main square, Plaza de la Constitución which bustles year-round with both locals and tourists alike, sampling local cuisine and browsing in the surrounding boutiques.

Just above the town on the top of a hill is the “Castillo Sohail” or Sohail Castle. Originally built in the 10th Century, the castle has been restored and is now used as both a tourist destination and a venue for music and Spanish dancing. A tapas fair is held there in August, giving visitors the chance to sample lots of different dishes under the stars, inside the castle walls.

The sea front area has been developed with high rise apartment blocks. A 2-bed apartment here would cost around €250,000. There are eight different beaches to choose from here, linked by the Paseo Maritimo Rey de Espana – a long, wide promenade. Los Boliches beach is one of the most popular and is always busy with families.

The port area of town, between Los Boliches and San Francisco is still used by fishermen and also has a lively marina for pleasure boats and yachts. The marina is also home to restaurants, bars and clubs, making it a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.

The bus and train stations are located in the central area, El Centro, and provide good links to other resorts along the Costa del Sol. The main square, the Plaza de la Constitucion, is a popular meeting spot for locals and visitors alike.

El Boquetillo is a lively, local neighbourhood with its own fish and veg market to the northern end of Fuengirola. The area of Pueblo Lopez links El Boquetillo with central Fuengirola and is a pretty residential area. Built in the 1960s, it bucked the trend of building up and is now an enclave of one-and two-storey homes.

You can find properties for pretty much every budget in Fuengirola, from a two-bed beach front apartment in the Torreblanca area costing a whopping €500,000 to a more moderately priced two-bed apartment in the centre for €172,000, with others starting at around €130,000. The Los Pacos area promises the best bargains but you can still pick up two-bed apartments in a high-rise block in Torreblanca for the €145,000 mark.

Heading east from Fuengirola, you reach the smaller resorts of Mijas and Benalmadena. You can buy a three-bed villa in each of these towns for around €200,000. Heading the other way to Monda, you’ll need to raise €1,150,000 for a superb 4-bedroom villa with swimming pool and its own almond and olive trees.

One of Fuengirola’s biggest assets is the 7 km long sea front and sandy beach. Because the sea front is very flat, it is popular with older people as well as joggers and walkers who can be seen out every day. Much of the sea front now also has a cycle lane. The Paseo Maritimo runs the whole length of Fuengirola and into Los Boliches and Torreblanca.

Over the years Los Boliches has always been a special place, very family orientated with a true village feel to it. The main street has a selection of boutiques, restaurants, bars, banks, bakers, chemist ….everything a holidaymaker or resident could need.

All along the beach front are residential buildings, some places are rented privately, as well as apartment complexes and hotels. There is a great little market that sells all fresh fruit, vegetable, fish, meat and even flowers. Los Boliches has its own train station so access to the airport and Málaga centre is easy.

Carvajal Beach belongs to the district of Fuengirola, one of the main tourist destinations along the Costa del Sol.
1200 metres long and approximately 40 metres wide, Carvajal beach is known for its coarse dark sand and pebbles, and its calm water. It is a fairly busy beach, especially on the western side.

Bright sun shades available for rent add colour to the spot, and if you do not have your own car, the train leaves you right opposite the beach.

The receipt of the Blue Flag Award in 2018 makes it a beach of unquestionable quality.