Benalmadena Holidays

Torremolinos’ next door neighbour is a gracious and well-loved resort on Spain’s Costa del Sol. It lines up modern hotel complexes and apartment blocks along the 10-kilometre seafront area called Benalmadena Costa, but also packs in plenty of Andalusian appeal in the Spanish part of town.

Benalmadena has around a dozen beaches to its name, from secluded spots to busy stretches. The most in-demand sands are at the Blue Flag Santa Ana Beach. Just next door is Torre Bermeja, one of the best places to hire boats and jet-skis. And there’s a busy promenade that runs behind Benalmadena’s central beaches, all the way to the swanky marina, where people take a break from the sun.

Benalmadena scores high on Spanish sophistication. The oldest part of town, Benalmadena Pueblo, is a quiet tangle of cobbled streets and whitewashed houses. There’s also the Arroyo de la Miel area. As well as shops and restaurants, it has Tivoli World – a theme park with 40 rides – and a cable car that takes you to the summit of Calamorro Mountain.

There’s no shortage of days out in and around Benalmadena. In town, you’ve got the Sea Life aquarium and the Selwo Marina, while Parque Paloma is a landscaped garden teeming with wild animals. Just a 25-minute drive away is Málaga, home to an impressive Picasso museum.