One of the best places to visit near Malaga is Benalmadena, which sits between Torremolinos and Fuengirola. Benalmadena is separated into three parts: the coast, the old town, and the modern town. I’m going to be focusing on a mixture of the coastal attractions and the old town, but the modern part of Benalmadena is a great place to go for nightlife and restaurants. There are a lot of things to do in Benalmadena other than visiting the usual tourist hotspots.
Like most of Southern Spain, Benalmadena has a very interesting history that can be traced back to prehistoric times. It grew substantially during the ancient period and the time of Muslim rule, and evidence of its past is still noticeable today. The name Benalmadena is actually derived from an Arabic word meaning “sons of the mine”.
Although most visitors today come here to soak up the sun or party long into the night, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the history of Benalmadena during your visit. Here are some of the best things to do in Benalmadena, both along the coast and further inland in the pueblo.
Things to do in Benalmadena
Walk along the sea promenade
No matter what time of the year you visit Benalmadena it’s always a great idea to take a stroll along the sea promenade. It runs for around 2 km and you can actually reach Torremolinos if you pass through the Puerto Marina. Make sure you take the time to admire the unique mosaics that line the promenade, and of course take in the amazing sea views. There are a lot of nice beaches in Benalmadena to choose from which you’ll pass by during your walk. I would recommend Playa Arroyo de la Miel or Playa de Carvajal.
Castillo Bil-Bil
One of the best things to do in Benalmadena is to visit Castillo Bil-Bil. It was built in the early 20th century in a Moorish architectural style that reflects the deep rooted history of this area and how much Benalmadena developed during the Moorish period. Visiting Castillo Bil-Bil is also one of the top free things to do in Benalmadena as it’s open to the public most days. It often displays exhibitions or stages concerts inside too.
Puerto Marina
You certainly won’t fall short of things to do in Benalmadena. A major tourist attraction along the coast of Benalmadena is the Puerto Marina. It’s one of the most vibrant and busy ports in Spain, and is lined with beautiful shops and unique places to eat. It’s always an enjoyable place to walk around in the summer months, especially if you like to admire boats of all shapes and sizes. You may even come across a pirate ship if you’re lucky.
Parque de la Paloma
A short uphill walk from the coastline will bring you to Parque de la Paloma. It’s considered by many to be one of the top parks in Europe, and visiting it is one of the best things to do in Benalmadena with the family. This large park is a little oasis along the Costa del Sol. It’s home to a number of plant species and animals roaming around such as rabbits and chickens. If you have some spare time during your trip to Benalmadena then Parque de la Paloma is worth a visit.
Benalmadena Museum
If museums are of interest to you, then you’ll want to add the Benalmadena Museum to your list, which also houses the Archaeological Museum. This is another example of the many free things to do in Benalmadena and it’s ideally located in the heart of the old town. The museum focuses on the area’s history before the time of Columbus, so it really is a unique indoor activity in Benalmadena to do, especially if you love learning about the past.
Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzman
Benalmadena Pueblo has quite a few interesting sites to visit even though it’s much quieter than the coast. One of these is the Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzman which sits in the grounds of the Jardines del Muro. From here you can get some incredible views of the surrounding landscape and take a break from the hot sun. The church itself was originally built in the 17th century, making it one of the oldest religious buildings in town. If the church doors are open don’t forget to take a quick look inside.
Plaza Andalucia
More often than not, old town plazas are beautifully maintained and are a great place to relax for a while. Plaza Andalucia is no exception and it’s located not too far from the Benalmadena Museum. The plaza is shaded by tall palm trees and lined with traditional white buildings which are nice to take photos of. At one end you can see a gorgeous example of a tiled fountain too.
Plaza de España
At the very top end of the list of things to do in Benalmadena is to visit the beautiful Plaza de España and admire the fountain of a little girl in the centre. This plaza is one of the most visited sites in the pueblo, and is surrounded by popular restaurants that are a hit with locals and tourists.
This plaza is also where one of the town’s main streets, Calle Real, begins. In the summer months you can expect a lot of people hanging around this plaza. However if you’re like me and enjoy travelling in the off season then you may be lucky and have the place to yourself.
Castillo Monumento Colomares
For a small fee you can explore one of the most well known tourist attractions in Benalmadena – Castillo Monumento Colomares. It’s referred to as a castle but it’s really a monument to Christopher Columbus, and it was completed in 1994. It’s a fascinating monument adorned with relief carvings that tell the story of the most important events in his life, and the views of the coastline from the towers are unmatched. Many tourists will add this to their list of day trips from Malaga. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Benalmadena.
Stupa of Enlightenment
Just a short drive from Castillo Monumento Colomares is the beautiful Stupa of Enlightenment. As far as hidden gems in Benalmadena go, this probably isn’t one of them. But although you can see it from the highway, you’d be surprised at how many tourists miss out on this attraction in Benalmadena.
It’s open most days of the week and is free to enter, with free parking spaces available next to it as well. It’s the tallest stupa in Europe and really is impressive to see up close. The stupa sits across the road from the very popular Benalmadena Butterfly Park, so you can cross two things to do in Benalmadena from your list all at once.
Visiting Benalmadena
Depending on your interests you’ll probably find many more places to visit in Benalmadena during your visit. If you have the time, I would recommend taking the 15 minute chair lift up to the highest point along the coast, Mount Calamorro – the views are breathtaking. There are also hiking trails available in this area that are a good option when the weather is slightly cooler.
Whether you’re planning a day trip from Malaga or are staying here for a longer period of time, you won’t run out of things to do in Benalmadena.
If you would like any tips about visiting Benalmadena or other places to visit near Malaga with a car please drop me a message below or get in touch via email. You can always reach out on Instagram too and follow along with my travels.
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