Fuengirola is a tourist resort located on the Costa del Sol in Spain.
Fuengirola dates back as far as the Phoenicians and also played a role in Roman and Arabic civilisations.
Today a Moorish Castle still stands in Fuengirola. Fuengirola is also home to more than eight kilometres of beaches.
Are you an expat in Fuengirola? What do you like/dislike about it? Let us know in the comments box at the bottom of the page.
Where is Fuengirola?
Fuengirola is located on the Costa del Sol to the south of the tourist resorts of Benalmadena and Torremolinos yet lies to the north of glitzy, ritzy Marbella. There are two airports within a relatively short distance to the resort which are Gibraltar Airport and Malaga Airport.
Fuengirola is 20 km west of Malaga along the coast towards Marbella. Fuengirola is very well located – only 20 minutes drive from the major international airport of Malaga with its huge choice of flights to destinations all over Europe.
Fuengirola is blessed with a good transport infrastructure and there are numerous bus and train services running daily between the resort and Malaga Airport. You can also hire a car for the duration of your holiday.
By car Fuengirola is just off the major roads of N340 or the A7 autoroute. Fuengirola has a regular bus service to and from Malaga airport and also Malaga city centre. Moreover, Fuengirola has a train service to Malaga city centre.
Fuengirola also has a good tourist infrastructure with tons of bars, restaurants, supermarkets, shops, villas, apartments and hotels.
What is Fuengirola Like?
Fuengirola is very much a massive, sprawling high-rise tourist resort comparable to mass tourist resorts such as Benidorm on the Costa Blanca and fellow Costa del Sol resorts such as Torremolinos and Benalmadena.
There are lots of facilities and amenities here and plenty of nightlife, but for a more traditional taste of Spain head elsewhere!
Is Fuengirola near Benidorm?
People who like Fuengirola would totally love Benidorm but they are not remotely close. Benidorm is far away on Spain’s Costa Blanca coast which is a distance of 543 km and a drive time of 5 hours and 17 minutes. If you want more bars and clubs try Benalmadena, Marbella or Torremolinos instead.
What to See and Do in Fuengirola
If you wish to see what the Fuengirola market has to offer then you can head for the Los Boliches fairground on a Tuesday or a Saturday while on a Sunday you can browse for antiques at the marina.
A few blocks from the resort centre is the Fuengirola Zoo which is one of the most modern in Europe. The Tivoli World amusement park in neighbouring Benalmadena will keep children occupied for many hours as it closes daily in the summer months at two in the morning.
To experience a Flamenco Show you can head for the Parque Miramar Shopping and Leisure Centre where every Wednesday evening the Flamenco Azabache gives a free tourist show.
The Parque Miramar Shopping and Leisure Centre is one of the largest shopping centres on the Costa del Sol and is home to all the Spanish high street stores such as Zara, Springfield, Massimo Dutti, Mango as well as C&A and H&M. There are also multi-cinema screens, bars, restaurants and free parking for as many as 3500 cars.
To see for yourself what Fuengirola has to offer, why not look at a webcam of Fuengirola.
Hotels
Fuengirola has many hotels starting from as little as €10 per person a night. The most recommended hotels include the Florida Spa, THB Reserva del Higueron, Yaramar Hotel, Angela Hotel and Las Rampas.
Hostels (Hostals)
If you are looking for accommodation on a budget then consider staying at a youth hostel. Hostels (also known as hostals) are a very cheap form of accommodation traditionally appealing to backpackers and students although anyone can of course be accommodated.
Hostal Galan – “Our hostel is newly opened and we have low prices (15 Euro / person / night). We rent rooms both daily and monthly. Our hostel is located in the heart of Fuengirola on a quiet pedestrian street near the beach. The hostel is situated behind the beautiful “Plaza de la Constitution” with fine restaurants, pubs and garages, close to making every visit a pleasure.”
Hostal Galan Address: Calle Marbella 15 – 29640 Fuengirola – Malaga Tel: +34952665538
Hostal El Cid is English-owned and is situated in the heart of Fuengirola on the Costa Del Sol, a few minutes walk to the beach. We have 45 spacious rooms over 5 storey’s with a lift to all floors. There are many good restaurants a few minutes walk from the hostel.
We are on the main street of Fuengirola, Av Condes De San Isidro S/N, closed to main bus station, closed to Plaza la Constitucion, next to Bershka.
Hostel El Cid Address: Avenida Condes San Isidro, Fuengirola, Spain 29640. Telephone: (+0034)952-466-338
Hostal Nevada is located in the center of Los Boliches in Fuengirola. All the services are located near by, included train station, bus stops and plenty of shops. The beautiful beach of los Boliches is just 400 m from the hostel.
Hostal Nevada Address: Calle Santa Gema 1, Fuengirola, Spain 29640. Telephone: (+34) 952468305.
Apartments
Another popular way to spend a vacation in Fuengirola is to rent an apartment. Many of the apartment complexes are within easy walking distance to the beaches and the most recommended apartment complexes include the Fuengirola Beach Apartments and the Veramar Apartments.
Villas
Of course there are also many Fuengirola villas to rent, most of which are located on urbanisations such as campo Mijas and Las Acacias a few minutes away by car from the resort centre and beaches. Here you can expect to rent a 3-bedroom villa with swimming pool and air conditioning for approximately €1000 a week.
Golf
There are three golf courses within a short drive of the resort centre which are the El Chaparral Golf Club, Club de Golf Mijas and the Torrequebrada Golf Course.
Just outside Fuengirola are two golf courses:
La Cala Resort, La Cala de Mijas 29650 Mijas, Spain Tel: 952 669 000
Mijas Golf Urbanizacion, Mijas Golf S/N 29640 Mijas, Spain Tel: 952 464 377
Beaches
As mentioned before, Fuengirola has eight kilometres of beaches and these include the Playa El Ejido-Castillo, Playa Sta Amalia, Playa San Francisco, Playa Los Boliches, Playa Las Gaviotas, Playa Torreblanca and the Playa Carvajal.
Restaurants
Being a largely-popular and well-equipped resort, there are well over three hundred restaurants to eat out at in Fuengirola. According to the Trip Advisor, the top ten reviewed Fuengirola restaurants include La Luna, Cala Luna Restaurant, Santorini Restaurant, Moochers’ Jazz Café, Restaurant Barolo, El Rio, Zena, Oyster Bar, Mira India, and the Triffula Restaurant Pizzeria.
Bars
Fuengirola bars recommended by holidaymakers include Coasters Bar, Lolas Bar, Jacksons Bar, London Pub Fuengirola, Bar La Paz Garrido, Bodega El Toston and the Smile Bar.
Fuengirola is known for its nightlife with the most popular hotspots named as the Discoteca Mai Tai, the London Underground, Bogart Café, Mahama, the Coyote Fuengirola, Rambo Ocio and the El Templo Copas Bar Fuengirola. The neighbouring resort of Benalmadena is also worthy of a visit for the nightlife enthusiast – see our reviews of Benalmadena nightclubs & bars.
Tourist Information Office
Fuengirola Tourist Office
Address: Paseo Marítimo, 32 (Plaza Theresa Zabell), Fuengirola (Malaga)
Telephone Number: +34 952 467 457
Email Address: turismo@fuengirola.org
Website: www.visitafuengirola.com
Moving to Fuengirola
If you are thinking of moving to Fuengirola, then you must read our expat interview with Daniel Holmquist, marketing and IT manager at Alamo Costa del Sol Real Estate below:
Daniel, what would you say would be the advantages to living in Fuengirola compared to other Costa del Sol towns?
Fuengirola, with its near 70,000 inhabitants is the centre of many of the Expat communities on the Costa del Sol. The train from Malaga, by way of the airport, has its last stop here. There are many reasons why so many of our clients prefer Fuengirola. You don’t need a car, several international schools, churches, associations are located in Fuengirola. Many of the businesses in the area are owned by foreigners and the majority of shops have English speaking staff.
However, apart from the expat communities, Fuengirola is a Spanish town with a pulsating everyday life that keeps the city moving also in the winter. The town is located only 20 minutes’ drive from Malaga airport and it has the longest and most beautiful beach promenade on the coast. 8 kms with generous cycle and pedestrian lanes are lined with hundreds of restaurants and bars. Just outside Fuengirola is Mijas Golf with two 18-hole golf courses.
Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?
If you don’t like the pulse of a small city, but prefer the countryside, you might find Fuengirola a bit too busy.
What proportion of the local population are Spanish?
It’s approximately 50% Spanish and 50% foreigners.
What are your favourite things to do in the area?
I enjoy having a nice meal with my wife in the different types of restaurants that Fuengirola can offer. I also enjoy going to the beach and playing football with my friends at one of the local sports centres.
Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants?
Of course! I have a few favourites, but I can really recommend these:
1. El Rancho de Salva, great meat restaurant in central Fuengirola
2. El Río, fantastic restaurant in Los Boliches with specialties such as Steak Tartar and Fondue
3. El Tostón, renowned traditional Spanish restaurant in the heart of Fuengirola
4. Chiringuito Antonio Videra, Traditional Spanish fish restaurant on the seafront in Los Boliches
5. Indian Balti, traditional Indian restaurant on the seafront in Torreblanca
6. Sawasdee, traditional Thai restaurant on the seafront in Torreblanca
Are there many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?
Yes, of course! You can find a wide selection of different types of services and in your own language!
Are there smaller villages nearby that you might also recommend?
Mijas, 10-15 minutes’ drive, is a traditional Andalusian village with white-wash little houses and narrow streets.
What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?
Fuengirola has Swedish and Finnish schools and a British College can be found in nearby Torremuelle, only 10 minutes by car. The Norwegian school is in nearby Arroyo de la Miel, also about 10 minutes by car.
Is crime an issue for expats?
Like in every town, there is crime, but it is not something you notice on a day-to-day basis.
Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?
Property prices have slowly started rising again, after hitting rock bottom less than a year ago.
Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?
Fuengirola has always been a very attractive place to live, but since the property prices have only recently started turning upwards, now is a great time to buy. Opportunities can always be found even though Bank repossessions are not very common.
What urbanisations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?
There are many, but I would like to mention these in particular:
Puebla Lucia
Puebla Lucia is a quiet and peaceful oasis in the heart of Fuengirola. This is a fenced off area with large swimming pools and tropical gardens, but most of all, it is calm and relaxing right in the middle of town! Puebla Lucia was built in the 1980s and is considered the most attractive area of Fuengirola. Puebla Lucia has received several architectural awards for its authentic Spanish building style.
Los Boliches
Los Boliches is a district of Fuengirola, situated in the eastern parts of town. Like the town centre, Los Boliches is an urban area with mostly apartment blocks and a few rows of townhouses. In the blocks closest to the sea, you have the busiest parts and this is also where you have most of the bars, restaurants and shops. You also have several supermarkets and a smaller version of the Corte Inglés department store, all this within walking distance! A few streets up from the beach you have a smaller area of townhouses, which are very attractive due to their central location. Los Boliches has its own train station, so it is easy to go to the airport or further on to Málaga.
Torreblanca
Torreblanca is a district of Fuengirola, with Los Boliches and Los Pacos as its closest neighbours in the municipality. It is a quiet area, but at the same time near the city pulse of Fuengirola and the wonderful seafront Paseo Maritimo. Most of the properties here are villas and townhouses, but you can also find a few apartment blocks. Torreblanca has its own train station and several bus stops, or if you prefer to go by car, Fuengirola is only 2 minutes away. The Malaga airport is roughly 20 minutes away by car.
How much are the typical property prices in Fuengirola for apartments, villas etc?
It depends a lot on situation, views, distance to beach etc, but a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment is usually priced between 180,000 and 240,000 euros. A 3-bedroom townhouse is usually priced between 250,000 and 350,000 euros and a villa from 400,000 euros and up.
Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Fuengirola or surrounding area?
Since the real estate business is different in Spain to many other countries and agents are in most cases members of collaboration networks, choose one agent that you feel comfortable working with and has good knowledge and experience in the area you are looking to buy a property in and stick to that agent. That agent will then look for a property not just in its own listings but also collaborating agents’ listings and help you through the whole sales process. Of course, we hope that we at Alamo Costa del Sol Real Estate can be your choice of agent!
Daniel, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain. If you want to contact him, you can find his details below.
Calle Cordoba 37 – Edificio Fortuna, Local 5
29640 Fuengirola (Malaga)
Tel: +34 674 307 436
Tel: +34 952 46 95 19
Fax: +34 951 24 26 31
E-mail: daniel@alamocostadelsol.com
www.alamocostadelsol.com
Benalmadena or Fuengirola, which is better?
Both are fairly similar, they are close together on Spain’s Costa del Sol, they are large tourist resorts with great beaches so of course they both have plenty of restaurants, bars and things to do but our choice would be Fuengirola because it seems more authentic and Spanish due its history as a former small fishing village.
Torremolinos or Fuengirola, which is better?
Both are popular tourist resorts on the Costa del Sol but Torremolinos is bigger and close to Malaga airport so this makes it better if you want more nightlife as well as a wider choice of restaurants and bars. Fuengirola also has plenty of facilities and things to do and see so choose this if you prefer a smaller city.
Contact us to be featured – we want more expat interviews for our newsletter and website. You don’t need to be an estate agent, we want to hear from anyone who lives in Spain whether you are working or retired.
Don’t Miss Our Recommended Fuengirola Pages:
- Fuengirola Car Hire
- Fuengirola Estate Agents
- Fuengirola Nightlife
- Fuengirola Weather
- Fuengirola Webcams
- Map of Fuengirola
Nearby Resorts of Interest…
Excursions…
Glen Brew says
Can you tell me more about the concerts
Anne Noble says
We have lived in fuengirola 3 times in the last 18years. The Spanish people are very friendly and helped us to settle into our rented apartments each time we relocated. Our English friends were there to support us whenever something cropped up that was challenging. We also made friends with lots of other people from different cultures in the many bars and restaurants along the paseo. The area has its own eco climate and with lots of things to do and see for all age groups. We still holiday there as and when possible although we are now living back in Manchester England.
We will always have half our hearts firmly in Fuengirola . Fantastic place to live and for holidays.
Kristen says
Hi there,
I am a South African, looking at relocating to Malaga, Spain in 2016 as my partner is a Doctor and has landed a great opportunity there. He has an EU passport but I don’t.
I am a qualified Public Relations Officer and Personal Trainer. I currently run the social media, communications and employee management department at M&D Health (multi- disciplinary medical and wellness brand). I am also a personal trainer. I have a vast amount of experience and knowledge in dealing with people (whether it be waitressing, au airing, personal training, receptionist duty, public relations, people management skills and event co-ordinating).
We are coming to Spain in the beginning of next year but I would like to find out what opportunities there are for me beforehand so I can make contact with the relevant people (employees) and maybe even secure a job before I relocate permanently.
I would love to do something in my field of expertise but I am also open to whatever opportunities get thrown my way. I am a friendly, positive, extroverted individual with a passion for health, wellness, peoples satisfaction and hard work. My home language is English but I am in the process of learning Spanish which I am picking up quite quickly.
Any information you can provide me with would be much appreciated.
Many Thanks
Kristen
linda sell says
Can you give me the date for the international fayre held in the feria ground in Fuengirola this year please