Benalmadena holidays

It’s all about choice when it comes to Benalmadena holidays. This Spanish resort is jam-packed with Andalusian charm, a beach variety to make other resorts blush, family-friendly attractions, and an old town and marina to explore.

Benalmadena Costa

This well-loved resort on Spain’s Costa del Sol counts Torremolinos and Fuengirola as near neighbours, so it’s in good company. Modern hotel complexes and high-rise holiday apartments line up along the 10-kilometre seafront area called Benalmadena Costa, while Andalusian appeal is on the cards in the Spanish part of town.

Blue Flag beaches and marina

From secluded spots to busy stretches, Benalmadena has a double digit line-up of beaches in its locker. There’s over 10 kilometres of dark and golden sands to sprawl out on, so you’ve got plenty of wriggle room. The Blue Flag Santa Ana Beach is the most popular, while the next-door Torre Bermeja is one of the best places to hire boats and jet-skis. The beachfront promenade – Paseo Maritimo – that runs behind Benalmadena’s central beaches, meanwhile, goes all the way to the swanky Puerto Marina, where you can take a break from the sun and eye up some of the 1,100 boats which are moored here.

Benalmadena Pueblo

It’s not just modern hotels and swanky apartments here – Benalmadena still has plenty of classic Spanish charm. Head to the oldest part of town – Benalmadena Pueblo – for a quiet criss-cross of cobbled streets and whitewashed houses with a distinctly local flavour. The Arroyo de la Miel district, meanwhile, has a variety of independent shops and restaurants. It’s also home to the Mount Calamorro cable car, which takes you to the summit of Calamorro Mountain, plus Tivoli World – a theme park with around 40 rides.

Family attractions and daytrips

There are plenty of things to do in and around Benalmadena, too. In town, you can visit the Sea Life aquarium, the Selwo Marina and the Mariposario Butterfly Park, while Parque Paloma is a landscaped garden teeming with wildlife like peacocks and rabbits. And, just a 25-minute drive down the road is Malaga, where the impressive Picasso Museum takes top billing.