Holidays in Benalmadena, Spain - attractions, photos, review. Open left menu benalmadena benalmadena spain attractions

Benalmadena is a small picturesque resort in Malaga in Andalusia. It occupies two hills located on the Costa del Sol - Cerro Castillejo and Cerro Moro. Benalmadena has a rich history, unique architecture and developed tourist infrastructure. On the north-eastern side the city is bordered by Torremolinos, on the western side by Fuengirola and Mijas, and on the northern side by Alhaurin de la Torre. These resorts are developing so quickly that soon there will be no boundaries between them. The shores of Benalmadena are washed by the gentle Mediterranean Sea. This is a universal resort, which is often chosen for recreation by active young people. In addition, in some quiet corners of Benalmadena you can meet entire families with children. And there is all kinds of entertainment for them here.

Benalmadena is the so-called “English zone” of the Costa del Soli. Mostly British people holiday here. They do this all year round.

Ancient history

The city is famous for its oldest surviving structures - the observation towers of Torre Muelle, Torre Quebrada and Torre Bermeia, which were built here in the 15th century. They served to protect the townspeople from enemy attacks from the sea. The resort also features Roman ruins located in the Benalmadena Costa area, while the caves of Las Zorreras, Los Botillos and El Toro were home to people during the Paleolithic period. And now you can see traces of the emerging human civilization in them.

City center

Guests of Benalmadena should visit the 17th-century Church of Santo Domingo and visit the Municipal Archaeological Museum, which houses a rich collection of ancient art. It was presented to the city authorities by the Mexican artist Felipe Orlando. Take a tour of Colomares Castle, which was built towards the end of the last century in honor of Christopher Columbus. Next to it you can admire the sculpture “The Girl from Benalmadena”, which is a symbol of the city. It adorns the central square of Pueblo. In the municipality, you can explore the exhibition of the Pre-Columbian Museum with household items that once belonged to the Indians, whose homeland is Latin America. Their art is also presented here. All this appeared in Benalmadena when the first Spanish expedition returned to the city.

The Costa embankment is home to the Bil-Bil Palace, which was built in the thirties of the last century. For its design, the Moorish style was chosen, which was used by Spanish architects in the 11th-14th centuries. The palace serves as a venue for exhibitions and other cultural events. Live classical music is often heard here.

Port

You are sure to have an interesting time at the local sports port of Puerto Marina. Its territory is dominated by resort architecture with picturesque turrets and snow-white buildings that seem to have come to life from the fairy tales of Scheherazade. The port has numerous shops, restaurants and cafes. Here you can admire the beautiful yachts that sailed to Benalmadena from different parts of our planet. The port is surrounded by year-round blooming roses and tropical plants.

On its territory you can be taught how to sail a sailing yacht. From here they go on exciting excursions with visits to three artificial islands. They are located near the coast. You can also go diving during the sea excursion.

Amazing nature

The Arroyo de la Miel area occupies one of the local hills. From here you can admire picturesque views of the coast and visit the famous Tivoli World amusement park with artificial lakes, fountains and tropical gardens. It never gets hot here. You can admire the beauty of the Big Singing Fountain, which was designed by specialists from Russia. People also come here for a free fall from a height of sixty meters.

We advise you to visit the Las Agigas and El Maro gardens. Here you can take a leisurely walk, enjoying the beauty of these places. The Cablecar funicular takes you to the top of Carramolo, which is located at an altitude of eight hundred meters above sea level. You can ride around the mountain in a donkey taxi. Not far from the resort is Malaga, where you can get acquainted with the architectural monuments of this amazing city.

Half naked lady leaving Benalmadena

The exit from Benalmadena is marked by an unusual sculpture in the form of a lady. In front she is wearing absolutely nothing, and from behind the woman’s figure is covered with an Andalusian dress. Sphinxes can be seen near the lady's feet. This sculpture in Benalmadena was called the “monument to tourism.” Grateful travelers from Belgium presented it to the city. One of the modern sculptors worked on the creation of the lady. The artistic value of this work of art is rather dubious, but the Spaniards do not like to get rid of even such monuments, unlike their eastern European neighbors. This can be judged by the “monument to tourism”.

Family holiday

We recommend the whole family to visit the Selvo Marina Zoo with penguins and the Sea Life Aquarium with a tunnel of transparent walls, where sharks swim right above your heads. In two local bullfighting arenas, fights are held on Sundays at seven o'clock in the evening. Adults and children can have a great time in large city shopping and entertainment complexes.


Benalmadena

In the city center there are typical Andalusian streets, smooth and beautiful. That part of Benalmadena, which is located near the sea, is quite modern, but in general the city is divided into three unequal parts - Benalmadena Costa (coast), Arroyo de la Miel (city center, there is a railway station) and Benalmadena Pueblo (old city).
A tourist train (by car, of course) travels around the city, leaving from the port and making a circle with stops at the main tourist places. The ticket is sold for a full circle - you can get off at any place, and then at the same stop take another train in the same direction.

Arroyo de la Miel

There is an amusement park not far from the beaches Selwo Marina with a dolphinarium and some tropical inhabitants. We didn't go there, it seemed too expensive. Near La Paloma Park. Rabbits, peacocks and other chickens walk there on their own, and various ungulates sit in pens.

Bunny on a walk :)

By the way, in almost all the parks that we saw, there are free exercise machines, and there are many different ones.
I also really liked the cactus garden.

There aren't any cacti there...

Further up the hill, near the train station, is Tivoli amusement park (Tivoli World). Well, the rides are just rides, nothing special. The only thing that can be highlighted is the passage through a chute with water in a canoe. Made according to the principle of a roller coaster (small, of course). You fall from above, splashes, everyone is wet, squealing... Fun :). As for tickets, there is a nuance. You can purchase a subscription that allows you to visit any attractions (except for those specified separately, which cost more) as many times as you like, or you can buy a ticket (special chips) each time. It would seem that the first one is clearly more profitable, however, when we calculated how much we would have spent according to the second option, it turned out that the amount was approximately the same, since some of the attractions did not work, and doing the same thing twice was not interesting. And there are queues everywhere...

Starts near Tivoli cable car (Teleferico)- you can get to the top of the mountain and look around the surroundings. The mountain is the highest in the area, you can see it far away. :)

Cable car (Teleferico)

There is also an eagle nursery on the mountain and sometimes they show some kind of show with eagles.
Actually, the attractions that can be reached on foot end there; then you need to take a bus towards Mijas.

Between Benalmadena Pueblo and Arroyo de la Miel was built Colomares Castle.

Colomares Castle

In fact, this is not a castle at all, but an artificial structure built at the end of the 20th century. Its different parts symbolize the stages of the historical development of Spain.

Colomares Castle

In addition to banal bricks, improvised natural materials such as shells, old objects caught from the sea, stalactites-stalagmites, etc. were used.

Colomares Castle

This, of course, is not a historical landmark, but very beautiful and educational.

On the outskirts of Benalmadena Pueblo there is a Buddhist temple - Stupa. This, of course, is also a modern building. I don’t know how many Buddhists there are in Spain and, in particular, in Benalmadena - there were only tourists with me. Well, the abbot, or whatever they call him, who even knows a few words in Russian. :)

Buddhist Stupa

There is almost complete emptiness inside - sit on the floor and meditate. :)

There is a much more interesting place nearby - Butterfly park in Benalmadena.

Butterfly Park

The only problem is that it is stuffy there, since the local inhabitants require special climatic conditions. But butterflies are beautiful and different.

Butterfly Park

In addition to butterflies, there are also small kangaroos and what appears to be some kind of lizard.

Butterfly Park

The old town is a typical Andalusian town with white houses and flowers.

Very cute and beautiful. Directly next to the bus stop there is a small Museum of Latin American History(free:)

There are two water parks near Benalmadena- more in Torremolinos and less in Mijas. We were in Torremolinos water park - Aqualend. Not very impressive. It's not that big, but there are a huge number of people. There are not enough laps and other means for going down the slides and swimming - you have to constantly stand in lines.
Tickets can be purchased via the Internet (water park website) - this is somewhat cheaper and eliminates the need to stand in another line - at the entrance. There is no special bus that would take you directly to the water park. It takes about half an hour to walk from the Torremolinos bus station to the water park. There seems to be a regular bus on this route, but it runs almost once a day.

I liked Benalmadena. The city itself is interesting, you won’t get bored, and there are a lot of things around that you can go to. For evening walks there is a spacious embankment and a port. Beaches of Benalmadena large, sandy, there are a lot of people, but, in general, not so much that it gets on your nerves. The water is not always warm - Gibraltar is close, the ocean current sometimes reaches. But, again, not so cold that it interferes with rest.

Benalmadena. Official information. Geography and history. Beaches. Map of Benalmadena. Transport map. Excursion train. What to see. Schedule and prices. Other useful information.

Benalmadena is a town, or pueblo, in the province of Andalusia. Located on the Costa del Sol, 22 km from the capital. Population: about 66,000 people. It consists of three parts - Benalmadena Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmadena costa.

Arroyo de la Miel located between the coast and the mountains. It was founded as a separate settlement in the 18th century, when six paper mills and several agricultural facilities were built here. Italian Félix Solesio bought several plots of land for the construction of a paper production complex.

In the photo there is a monument and an inscription: “City of Benalmadena to Felix Finarius Solesio Buracci (Finale Ligure 1739 - Malaga 1806). Master papermaker and founder of Arroyo de la Miel. May 15, 2006."

The name (Honey Creek) was given due to the large number of streams and rivers in this area.

In the photo there is a street near the railway station with the name of the area, part of the street became pedestrian, fountains were built, the work was completed in 2010.

The area was developed with the construction of the railway linking Malaga and Fuengirola.

The photo shows an orange tree blooming.

And the tourist boom of the 60s caused both an increase in area and an increase in the number of residents.

(pictured is the House of Culture (Casa de la Cultura), Arroyo de la Miel.)

In Arroyo de la Miel there is also the Church of the Virgin of Carmen (La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen). About the Virgen del Carmen holiday.

Benalmadena Costa stretches along the coast, a large number of hotels are concentrated here. The former route from Malaga to Cadiz is now called Avenida Antonio Machado and the Sun, or Sunny Avenue (Avenida del Sol), runs along the line of beaches. In this part there is also a promenade (Paseo Maritimo), connecting Benalmadena with neighboring Torremolinos and Fuengirola.

Beaches

The beaches of Benalmadena stretch for almost 20 kilometers in length and consist of sand and pebbles. There are often planted palm groves on the beaches.

The photo shows Malapesquera beach.

There are a total of 17 beaches in Benalmadena - Arroyo Hondo, Carvajal, Bil-Bil, La Morera, Arroyo de la Miel, Benaltura, Fuente de la Salud, La Perla, Las Viborillas, playa de Las Yucas, Malapesquera / Malapesca / Torre Bermeja, Melilleros, Santa Ana, Tajo de la Soga, Torremuelle, Torrequebrada y Torrevigía. The beaches in the western part of Benalmadena are located on the rocks, which creates ideal conditions for fishing and diving.

The embankments of Benalmadena Costa, or Paseo Maritimo

Paseo Maritimo can be translated as a sea walk, or sea promenade. In Benalmadena, the promenade is one of the most interesting promenades in the Mediterranean. This zone stretches for several kilometers, in which the tranquility of the sea and the beach on the one hand and the liveliness of restaurants and shops on the other hand are surprisingly mixed.

The photo shows the embankment near the Triton Hotel

Paseo Maritimo Benalmadena is located between the Puerto Marina sports port and the Bil Bil fortress. There are other promenades that are expected to be connected into one in the future, for example, the Sunset Beach promenade or the Nueva Torrequebrada promenade.

Throughout Paseo Maritimo Benalmadena, made by different craftsmen from a variety of materials such as ceramics, metal, wood and natural stone...

Map

We lay out a map of Benalmadena. The quality is not very good, but exactly the same map can be obtained for free at any tourist office. In Benalmadena, the central office is located near Puerto Marina, there are enough signs so it is easy to find. On the map the office is marked with the number 29. And this is what it looks like.

The card is always issued the same, so in our comments we will provide the numbers with which all objects are indicated on the map.

Transport

Explanations for the map:

Railway marked in red, in Arroyo de la Miel there is a Benalmadena station of the same name (Arroyo de la Miel Benalmadena). You can take the train to Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Malaga. Read more about the Malaga-Torremolinos-Benalmadena-Fuejirola commuter trains.

Buses from Torremolinos and Benalmadena. General map of bus routes.

L1 and L2 are local bus lines in Torremolinos. The bus station, or bus station, is located in Torremolinos at the address: calle Hoyo, this is the very center of the city.

The bus station, or rather the final stop of Benalmádena Costa, is located near the tourist office, in Plaza Solymar, at the intersection of Avenida Antonio Machado and Avenida Alay.

L2 orange - internal route to Benalmadena.
From blue - the second internal route to Benalmadena.
There are many passing buses, their routes are indicated at the top left. They can either drive inside Benalmadena or get to other towns on the coast and the mainland of Andalusia. At the stops there is a schedule for each route. Oddly enough, it is observed.

Indicated in black on the map. The lower station is in, the upper one is on Mount Calamorro.

Excursion train.

The final stop and ticket sales are located near the Torre Bermeja tower, next to Puerto Marina (number 50 on the map near the port).
Route Puerto Marina - Paloma Park (Parque de la Paloma) and Selwo Marina (sea amusement park) - Tivoli Park and Teleferico (Tivoli, Teleferico).
Return route Tivoli Park and Teleferico - Paloma Park and Selvo Marina - Puerto Marina.

Note: on Wednesdays there is a flea market in Paloma Park, from 10-00 to 14-00. On Fridays there is also a vegetable market and a market for new goods (clothes, shoes, etc.). The time is also from 10-00 to 14-00. Next to Selvo Marina.

Schedule: the train runs every hour. Departure from Puerto Marina exactly at 10-00, 11-00 and so on.
To Selwo Marina drive 15 minutes, stop 15 minutes every hour, to Tivoli 25 minutes, stop 25 minutes every hour, From Tivoli to Paloma Park - 15 minutes, stop at Paloma Park 40 minutes every hour, and from Paloma to Puerto Marina 10 minutes .

At first, Spanish Benalmadena made a contradictory impression on me. I immediately noticed that with European infrastructure, the landscapes here are inspired by Africa, and the architecture by the East. That the level of security on the streets is exceptional, even when you walk around the city in the evening - and this also pleased me. It was also great that the people here are hospitable and that you can dine in restaurants at prices that are quite reasonable for a popular resort... In general, we immediately found a lot of positive and interesting things in this place.

On the other hand, this small town on the coast seemed to look like any conventional resort with hotels similar to each other. At first glance, the prospect of a holiday in such a prosperous place may seem like postcard tourist “isolation”. And I was afraid of this at first.

But that was until the first walk into the city, after which I changed my mind. Like any settlement in Andalusia - now I understand it - it would be difficult for Benalmadena to become faceless. Delving deeper into the old part of the city, I saw that this was indeed a resort with a high-quality range of entertainment, but it also had the charm of a typical Andalusian village: small streets and houses with bright facades, paths going steeply upward, and the sea flashing far below, because the paths lead very high. And how great it is that all this is happening against the backdrop of the endless mountains characteristic of Andalusia.

At the same time, indeed, from year to year, Benalmadena also pleases those who want to relax at sea for days on end without any extra thoughts and come just as tourists: there is a huge beach and a really cool climate, food with sangria in cozy establishments, and much more. in the good sense of the word resort.

Now, having already been there, I would say that in this small city very, very many tourists with different needs will find something for themselves. It is unlikely that there will be many who, having visited Benalmadena, will decide that the time spent here was completely wasted.

How to get there

By plane

Clue:

Benalmadena - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

How to get there?

The closest airport to Benalmadena is outside the city, but still very close - Costa del Sol Airport is located in Malaga, at a distance of 25 kilometers from the resort. Almost all vacationers fly here, including from Russia, and then get to Benalmadena by ground transport - by train, bus or taxi.

Transport links are well organized: during the entire trip I don’t remember a single late bus, and I remember the trains for their comfortable and clean interiors. It’s a pity that there are not so many cities from which you can directly get to Benalmadena by train and bus: these are mainly nearby resorts and settlements, or the already mentioned. Therefore, if you plan to come from afar, it will be faster to do it by air.

To decide how best to build my route, during my trips I was guided by. Here you can choose the best route by selecting the point of departure and destination, find out the fare and transport schedule.

By plane

So, the most obvious option of arrival is by plane, to Malaga airport. There are three terminals in the airport building, but most flights are received by terminals 2 and 3, connected by a special passage for passengers.

I also flew to Malaga, having bought a ticket for a direct EasyJet flight from Berlin at a tempting price of 35 EUR (and you can’t get such prices if you keep track of special airline promotions). By the way, flying here from most European capitals is not that long - in my case, the air journey to sunny Andalusia took 3.5 hours.

The local airport generally offers a variety of flights - planes from almost all European countries fly directly here every day. Mainly low-cost airlines where you will need to pay extra for checked baggage:

  • EasyJet (from UK cities, from Berlin, Milan, Paris, etc.);
  • Air Berlin (from German cities and Palma de Mallorca);
  • Air Europa (from Spain and France) Iberia Express (from Spain);
  • Ryanair (send regular flights and seasonal charters here from a large number of European cities);
  • Wizz Air (from Romania and Hungarian Budapest).

It's nice that from From Moscow to Malaga you can fly direct flights from Aeroflot and Air Europa, which operates daily: from Friday to Sunday there are two flights per day - with departure at 8 am or at 19 o'clock, on other days the flight departs once a day - at 8 am. Typically, an average ticket costs about 215 EUR (15,000 rubles) one way and 285 EUR (20,000 rubles) for a round-trip flight; Muscovites are separated from Malaga by five and a half hours by air.

Prices for the dates you are interested in can be clarified at.

From the airport to Benalmadena

As soon as I arrived in Malaga and left the airport, I immediately went to buy a train ticket - I recommend using the railway to anyone who wants to save on a taxi and at the same time comfortably travel from the airport to Benalmadena.

You can buy your ticket at the Renfe Malaga Airport Train Station, which is located near the exit from Terminal 3: when leaving the airport, you need to go straight all the time. Trains leave from here every 20–30 minutes (the very first train leaves at 5:32 a.m., the last at 11:42 p.m.). The price of a one-way ticket is 2.05 EUR, the journey takes 18 minutes.

If the train does not work out, at Malaga airport you can take an official taxi without any difficulties (but after joining the queue) at the exit from the arrival hall of terminal 3. The price of travel to the coast of Benalmadena will be around 20–25 EUR, to the city center - about 30 EUR . At night and on holidays, taxis will naturally cost more.

Other airports on the way to Benalmadena

If, for example, for some reason you don’t want to fly to Malaga, you can also land at other airports:

  • Seville, which is already quite close to Benalmadena - 230 km by car (not directly accessible by public transport).
  • (140 km, only flights from Spain and the UK arrive there).
  • (220 km by car, flights fly from Spain, UK and Belgium).

By train

Traveling on Spanish trains, as I noted, is usually fast and comfortable (and, of course, cheap). When I needed to take a train, I first checked the current timetable and prices on the convenient website of the Spanish national railway network RENFE, then bought a ticket on the spot at the stations, from ticket offices or machines. In the second case, even those who do not know Spanish will have no problems with the purchase: in the proposed menu, if desired, you can choose English instead of Spanish (idioma - English/Ingles).

In addition to Malaga Airport, you can get to Benalmadena by train from several larger cities and nearby villages. Among the most popular areas it is worth mentioning:

  • Fuengirola.
  • And Malaga center and small towns in the suburbs.

From Benalmadena's neighboring tourist city, Fuengirola, trains depart daily from 6:00 a.m. to 11:55 p.m. every 20 minutes (the interval increases in the early morning and late evening), the travel time is 15 minutes. Such a transfer will cost 2.70 EUR.

From another famous resort town, Torremolinos, Benalmadena can be reached by train in just 10 minutes from 5:40 am to 23:53, and the trip will cost 1.80 EUR. The train schedule and frequency are approximately the same as from Fuengirola. I was pleasantly surprised that even when the trip from Fuengirola or Torremolinos (and back) fell on the weekend (or at peak time after 17:00), the trains were not packed to capacity and traveled quite freely. Apparently, the reason is the large number of vehicles plying in this direction.

Regarding the route from Malaga, in addition to the airport, trains to Benalmadena run regularly from the city center. This option is very convenient for transit: when I was returning to Malaga from another city, Ronda, I quickly changed trains to Benalmadena and left without even checking the schedule in advance: trains on average run every 20 minutes, from early morning until late evenings, the price is about 2 EUR each way. In this way, I managed to get to the resort in about half an hour.

Where do trains arrive in Benalmadena?

It is worth keeping in mind that the station where trains arrive in Benalmadena - Arroyo de la Miel - is located about three kilometers from the coast of the resort, where most of the hotels are located.

Therefore, it is better to think in advance about how to get from it to the hotel: you can do this either by bus (you need routes M-112, M-116, M-121, M-126), or by taxi, catching a car at the station (such the trip will cost approximately 8–10 EUR). By the way, buses from here to the coast also depart regularly - another reason why I preferred this type of transport, as opposed to a taxi, which is still not very economical for such a distance (the ride on average is only about 10 minutes).

By bus

The bus, in my opinion, is one of the cheapest and most convenient means of transportation within the settlements closest to Benalmadena. This type of transport is worth choosing if you plan to arrive not from Malaga airport, since there is no direct bus route from there.

Major cities that are connected to Benalmadena by a regular bus network and are popular among travelers:

  • Mijas,
  • Fuengirola,
  • Marbella,
  • And of course, .

From the city of Mijas to Benalmadena you can take the M-112 bus, which runs at least 7 times a day throughout the year until late in the evening. The price of the trip is 1.65 EUR, duration is about 30 minutes, depending on which stop in Benalmadena you need to get off at.

Using this route, depending on the purpose of the trip, I got off in the old part of the city, at the railway station or on the coast - it is very convenient that the bus has stops almost anywhere in Benalmadena.

The most popular route is probably trips from Fuengirola and Torremolinos - the ride takes about 20-30 minutes for 1.65 EUR and 1.55 EUR, respectively. I would like to once again pay tribute to the local transport: despite the popularity of the route, even in the afternoon and late evening, when moving in this direction, I did not find myself in a cabin filled to capacity - it was almost always free and spacious inside. It was also nice that there is no need to carefully study the schedule (however, it is worth checking if the trip is at night) - buses from these cities to Benalmadena travel on average every half hour and stop, as on the route from Mijas, in all three main areas of the resort .

From Marbella, getting to Benalmadena by bus is also not that difficult - the journey will take 55 minutes, paying 4.43 EUR for a one-way trip. But just in this case, before you go on the road, I advise you to look at the schedule: buses from here run less often than, for example, from Torremolinos. I usually came with a specific time in mind, so as not to have to wait long for transport. It’s great, of course, that those heading to Benalmadena have the chance to catch the bus almost every hour during the day, but it’s more pleasant to spend this time with a cup of coffee than at the bus stop.

If you need to get to Benalmadena from the center of Malaga, there are many buses from the central station throughout the day from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays (on Sundays the last bus in both directions leaves at 2 a.m.). In Malaga the bus station is close to the train station and the city center. Ticket price is 1.65 EUR one way, the ride takes approximately 50 minutes. I bought a ticket directly at the station, and, as with other routes, upon arrival in Benalmadena, to exit I chose any stop I needed at that moment - on the coast or in the center of Benalmadena.

By car

If the goal is to get to Benalmadena railway station, you need to look for the A-7 highway (its other name is Autovia del Mediterraneo). From Malaga airport, for example, the journey by car will take about 25 minutes.

You need to drive following the signs for N340/Cadiz. Then the signs will be for Benalmadena, and closer to your destination you need to choose the Benalmadena/Arroyo de la Miel sign.

Many travelers flying to Malaga rent a car directly upon arrival - there are indeed plenty of opportunities for this: every now and then you come across companies offering rentals, and the official website says that there are eight such companies in the airport building alone (upon arrival I found out that almost all of them are located on the first floor of terminal 3, in the arrivals hall). However, in the summer season, you need to keep in mind the queues at the representative offices of such companies, as in many large airports, the car rental service is quite in demand here. To simplify your task, you can rent a car outside the airport: in particular, without any queues, I used one of the companies (and there are many of them too) located on Avenida del Comandante García Morato near the airport.

By the way, I advise anyone who needs to choose the optimal car route to use the website, which has helped me out more than once: it provides detailed recommendations for traveling to Benalmadena from other cities in Spain.

By ferry

Before the trip, I, like many travelers who saw the picturesque port of Benalmadena in guidebooks, believed that I would be able to travel directly from here to some unusual place (or even to one of the neighboring countries) by water. And, having already studied the schedule on the spot, I saw that the choice of ferry routes is very small - you won’t go to neighboring countries for sure (for this you need to go to Almeria, which is 230 km away from the nearest city to Benalmadena, from where water transport goes to Algeria, and in), and as an option for a visit by ferry to another city, you will have a choice between Fuengirola, and, if you’re lucky, Malaga.

But even here everything is not so simple. The port of Benalmadena is mainly used for sporting events, excursions and sightseeing during the tourist season. In general, any non-excursion ferry transfer is best arranged in advance: schedules posted on the Internet are subject to change without notice, depending on the season, weather conditions and personal considerations of the carriers. about this very transfer.

It is worth keeping in mind that, in particular, a trip by water from Malaga is still not the best way to get from the airport to Benalmadena - the journey will take about an hour and a half, the price depending on the chosen carrier is on average 11 EUR from the port of Malaga, and the port is located 10 kilometers from the airport, in the city center.

If, despite the difficulties, the desire to see Benalmadena for the first time from the sea has not disappeared, here are a few carriers who deal with such trips and may help make your wish come true:

Clue:

Benalmadena - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Clue:

Benalmadena - weather by month

When is the season? When is the best time to go?

Benalmadena has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild, sometimes rainy winters; what’s nice: in the summer months, cool sea winds make even the daytime heat bearable. My favorite time to travel here is May, with its moderate coolness and large selection of affordable accommodation.

For those coming from overseas, I advise you to choose the period from June to September: in addition to the warm weather, during this period you can take part in interesting holidays - festivities on the occasion of St. Juan's Day (Festividad de San Juan), which is celebrated on a grand scale on actually in June or mid-July - a very vivid memory of my trip.

As for the second half of September, from the point of view of economy, this period, in my opinion, is no less good for travelers than May - only in September there is also the opportunity to swim, and the summer rush subsides, as do housing prices.

Some people make sea swims in October, but it is better to be careful during this period of the “low season” - from October to December there is precipitation in the city, and the daily minimum of +14 ° C, although it seems like a good indicator, by the evening the temperature drops significantly, and during walks you need to wrap yourself in warm clothes.

Before traveling in April, it is also worth considering the climatic features twice - rains, sometimes downpours return to the city this month. It is better to wait a month, choosing May for your trip: precipitation usually subsides and the weather becomes sunny. The main thing is not to forget to take warm clothes for evening walks.

Benalmadena in summer

June-August is naturally the most popular time among vacationers. The average temperature in summer is around +23 °C, and the sea warms up to an ideal +24 °C. The dry climate and warm breeze characteristic of these months prevent you from freezing when the evening temperature drops and save you from the heat of the day.

With the number of people wanting to relax, prices also rise - the cost of renting accommodation in August can be one and a half times more than in September, so it is better to think about booking a place in advance.

Benalmadena in autumn

September, in terms of weather, is one of the most comfortable months for relaxation - the average daytime air temperature is +24 °C, the water temperature is +23 °C.

But in October and November you can’t expect Mediterranean friendliness from the local weather: daytime temperatures of about +18 °C in October and +14 °C in November will not please those who come for the resort heat and warm sea; in addition, it becomes colder in the evenings: coupled with the winds blowing from the sea, the temperature may seem even lower than it actually is. We'll have to warm ourselves up.

Benalmadena in spring

In March and April there are more sunny days than in winter, and the air temperature stays around +16–18 °C during the day. It’s still early to swim, but relaxing at the resort is pleasant due to the silence and low prices for accommodation. The main thing is not to forget about warm clothes and an umbrella: in the evenings the temperature is still quite low - you need to be prepared for 10 °C.

In April, rain during the day does not seem to be a rare occurrence. In May (especially in the second half) the air sometimes warms up to quite high temperatures - for me it was all +26 ° C and many hours of sun per day; in the afternoon you could properly lie down on the beach and sunbathe.

Benalmadena in winter

The average air temperature in winter usually stays around +14 °C during the day; in January it can drop to +12 °C. In the evenings, the reading sometimes drops to +4 °C in the coldest months.

The city does not fall asleep in winter. From December to February, many shops and cafes are open, fortunately the infrastructure here is developed. However, nightlife lovers, in my opinion, should not definitely go during this period: despite the fact that the city is not considered a cult city in terms of nightlife, in winter many clubs and bars close, and when demand among nightlife seekers falls, Benalmadena becomes calm a place where families with children and elderly tourists come to relax.

Benalmadena - weather by month

Clue:

Benalmadena - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

Benalmadena has three main districts:

  • Benalmadena Pueblo(Benalmadena Pueblo) – the old secluded part of the city, it has the most “typical Andalusian” atmosphere;
  • Arroyo de la Miel(Arroyo de la Miel) – a resort area closer to the coast with shops and offices, and a railway station is also located here;
  • Benalmadena Costa(Benalmadena Costa) - the coast of the city, where most of the tourists stay.

Benalmadena Pueblo

The historical part of the city is 4 km from the coast of the resort and approximately the same distance from the Benalmadena railway station; located on the slope of Mount Calamorro. Pueblo is loved by many, I am no exception: in the heart of this area, among the quiet narrow streets and beautifully decorated white houses, you can feel the spirit of traditional Spanish settlements, as well as silence and privacy. The panoramas of the coastal part of the city that open from here are also impressive.

Despite the warm feelings towards this place, not many tourists choose it as a stopover during their holiday in Benalmadena - this is due to the long distance that separates Pueblo from the sea. But for some, this privacy will be a plus - for such travelers there are hotels and apartments here that will cost significantly less than those located on the seashore.

Arroyo de la Miel

In the past, a small village, and now - an area where all trains arrive and which is conventionally considered the commercial center of the city, connecting the central part of Benalmadena with the coast - Arroyo is 3 km from it.

The main difference from Pueblo, in my opinion, is the large number of hotels, shops and establishments. Famous attractions in Benalmadena are also located here: the cable car and the amusement park.

Accommodation in Arroyo will cost a little less than in the coastal area, but you won’t be able to feel a significant difference: this area is also popular among vacationers and good hotels set prices similar to those in Benalmadena Costa. But it is worth noting that the choice of accommodation options in Arroyo is much wider than in Pueblo.

Apartments and 3-star hotels in the summer season will cost on average 75–80 EUR for two per day, guest houses will ask for 35–50 EUR per day for a stay. Prices can be compared.

Benalmadena Costa

Cosmopolitan and the most popular (does not mean bad) area of ​​the city. Well connected by land transport to any other part of the city, as well as to nearby cities and towns. It is here that the largest number of Benalmadena guests live during the season and the largest number of hotels are located.

One of the most photographed attractions of the city is located here - the port of Puerto Marina, as well as a park with the La Paloma botanical garden.

This area is certainly good for its proximity to the beaches, the most developed infrastructure (restaurants, bars, attractions), and also because, as in my case, accommodation with sea views can be found here for good money - a studio for 60 EUR per day this is possible if you look for options in advance.

In addition, there is another reason to hurry up with your booking: among the three zones of the city, Costa is still in first place in terms of cost, especially for hotels. During the high season - June-August - prices for a double room in 3-star hotels on average will start from 85 EUR when booking less than a month before check-in.

Hostels, guest houses and bed & breakfasts are naturally cheaper: on average 40 EUR per day, but you can find a bed in a dormitory room for 25.

To summarize

In my opinion, if you analyze and compare the offers of hotels and apartments in the city, Benalmedena will appeal to those who prefer to live in a rented apartment during their holidays: both on the coastline and in the historical center, a huge amount of housing of different price categories is available for rent at any time of the year . As for hotels, there is less choice in this category during the season, but they often offer good last-minute special offers. It's just much more difficult to save on hotels.

What are the prices for holidays?

As for going to restaurants. When eating out during the trip, I tried not to get carried away by eating in restaurants, but I didn’t skimp: the prices in many establishments allowed me to go where I liked the atmosphere and the menu at the entrance. In a standard coastal restaurant, the bill was 15–20 EUR for two medium-sized dishes (for example, grilled anchovies and vegetable salad) or one large dish (paella, which can be taken for two) and a drink. There is plenty of room to roam, given that the portions in most establishments are generous.

However, I advise you to take a closer look at the establishments in the Puerto Marina area, where the most expensive restaurants and shops are located - many tourists want to relax in the picturesque port. But even here, if you wish, you can find cafes comparable in price to other establishments on the coast.

An excellent way out for an anti-crisis trip is to rent your own apartment and buy fresh food at the store. Spending on food decreased several times when I cooked on my own at home: in the store you can buy a package of good cheese for 1 EUR (sometimes less), a kilogram of tomatoes for 1.30 EUR, a liter of milk for 0.60 EUR, a bottle of good wine for 3 EUR. Compared to going to a cafe, the savings are noticeable.

Besides the fact that by living not in a hotel, but in an apartment or villa, you can spend less on food, this option will reduce housing costs In principle, renting an apartment in Benalmadena is cheaper than living in a hotel. More precisely, you can find a relatively inexpensive hotel (up to 70 EUR per night for two during peak season) in the city, but for the same price you can live more comfortably in an apartment. If you want, you can choose a comfortable option in a good location for 50 EUR per season, again, the main thing at this time is to make sure to book in advance.

Main attractions. What to see

In Benalmadena, in addition to the side streets, which are sometimes interesting to visit without a specific goal, you can devote time to active pursuits or relaxation near nature. A tourist always has something to do here.

Top 5

Beaches. Which ones are better

On the coastline, lovers of active recreation, families with children and seekers of a relaxing pastime will be able to find a suitable beach for themselves. Entrance to beaches is free almost everywhere; you only have to pay for the rental of sun loungers and umbrellas (on average about 9 EUR).


Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Parks

Tourist streets

What to see in 1 day

If you only have a day to explore the city, it would be optimal to walk through the characteristic places of Benalmadena without fuss, feel the spirit of the city and appreciate the most important thing - nature, beaches and architecture:


What to see in the area

A holiday in Benalmadena is good because, if you get bored in the city, you can go for half a day or a day to nearby cities and see a lot of interesting things - there are cities and settlements adjacent to it, from visiting which I have a lot of positive emotions:


Food. What to try

Food. What to try

Although the cuisine in Benalmadena is as cosmopolitan as the city itself, it makes sense first to try the dishes that make Andalusia and Spain famous - what makes it even more interesting is the influence of the different cultures that have dominated the region at different times:


The best places to eat in terms of quality and price, in my opinion, are in Pueblo, the historical part of the city - where you can also admire excellent panoramic views while eating.

Many people like to have a romantic lunch on the coast, right on the beach, which is why the establishments here have an order of magnitude more visitors, while the quality of the food does not always correspond to the prices.

Below is a list of places that, in addition to the excellent atmosphere, I also like in terms of price and quality.

Budget

Mid-level

Expensive

Holidays

Celebrated in Benalmadena, as in most regions of Spain, on a grand scale and with all the passion. When I attended one of the local holidays, I finally didn’t want to leave the city:


Safety. What to watch out for

Benalmadena, in my opinion, is a safe city in terms of tourist safety. You can safely go here with children and alone for girls or men, without being afraid to go out in the evenings and even walk at night in crowded places.

However, as in any city, it is worth following the banal rules to ensure your safety during your vacation: do not stay in deserted and remote places at late times of the day, keep an eye on things in squares, tourist clusters and retail outlets.

But there is a high probability that you won’t have to think about safety in Benalmadena beyond these rules.

Things to do

Things to do

You can get impressions that will be remembered for a long time not only by sightseeing. There are a few other ways I've loved to surprise myself while on vacation:

Shopping and shops

For large purchases like electronics, clothing, sports equipment, I advise you to go to neighboring cities - Fuengirola (unlike Torremolinos, there, in addition to interesting small shops in the city center, I went to the large Miramar shopping center) or Malaga, where you can really go wild with your shopping . Unfortunately, in Benalmadena there is no choice of stores where you can buy something worthwhile in these segments.

As for food, souvenirs, accessories, cosmetics, home clothes - I found this in the city, looking into shops and shops along the embankment, or in Arroyo de la Miel. In the latter, in particular, on Friday mornings there is a flea market where you can look for leather goods, souvenirs and all sorts of small items. Be prepared that there will be a lot of people.

In Benalmadena I was first surprised by the lack of choice of basic food products - milk, choice of fresh fruits, vegetables and so on. Along the embankment, in fact, in tents they mainly sell only water, chips and the same set of yoghurts, and large grocery stores are most often hidden not on the first line. But they have an excellent range. It is better to book nearby stores in advance depending on the location of your home. The largest chains are Mercadona, Supercor, Aldi.

Bars. Where to go

There are many places in Benalmadena where you can have a fun evening and drink in warm company.

The city has a good selection of 24-hour bars. Most of the interesting places of this kind are located in Puerto Marina. At the same time, a visit to a bar there will cost two to three times more than, for example, in Pueblo.

There are a large number of bars in Plaza Solymar, which is located near Puerto Marina.

However, I advise you to be careful and not walk here alone late in the evening - the place has the dubious reputation of being popular among vagabonds and marginalized individuals.

As for prices, the check at a bar in the port area and in the Pueblo area can differ radically - 10 EUR per drink versus, say, 2.

Places worth visiting:

  • The Bull Bar Benalmádena. Great views of the beach and the same beer.
  • Zafira Wine & Gin Bar. in Pueblo with good gin and cocktails.
  • The Drunken Sailor. A soulful place right on the seashore.
  • Palm 5 Beach Bar. A bar loved by the British with delicious food.

Clubs and nightlife

Benalmadena seemed to me more like a city for a relaxed holiday; you shouldn’t expect anything fantastic from the nightlife. This does not mean, on the other hand, that it does not exist - the resort has local clubs, including 24-hour ones, plus this is the Costa del Sol, so you would not be left without fun.

Most of the places where you can dance were, naturally, found in Puerto Marina, where there is a choice of themed (for example, Latin, salsa clubs) establishments, and in Plaza Solymar, where people have fun 24 hours a day.

Famous clubs in the city:

  • Not far from Plaza Solymar – El Elefante, where, among other things, concerts and cabaret shows are often held, Mango's, loved by both locals and tourists, as well Times Square Disco Bar.
  • In Puerto Marina - Disco Terraza Coin, which is loved for its good music.

Sports entertainment

It is natural that in Benalmadena, the most popular types of activities are water ones. But there are some others too. So:

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

  • In my opinion, the most excellent souvenir for relatives and friends would be local gastronomy: Iberico jamon, Malaga sweet wine, for example, Botani wine (price about 12 EUR); I also bought locally produced olive oil as a gift.
  • Andalusian ceramics it looks beautiful and will also be a good surprise - hand-painted plates, decorative dishes, etc. I came across such products at prices starting from 40 EUR.

  • Decorations depicting bisnaga– bouquets of jasmine flowers in the shape of a ball, which are sold on the streets in the summer, for example, brooches or pendants. Price – from 15 to 60 EUR.

How to get around the city

How to get around the city

The bus has become the most convenient and regular form of transport for me, which quickly takes me to almost anywhere in the city.

To get around Benalmadena (especially if you plan to travel not only on foot, but also actively use the bus network), in order to save money, I advise you to buy transport card, which gives you the opportunity to travel on city buses in Benalmadena, as well as on some trains from Benalmadena to Malaga and on Malaga underground transport at lower fares than when purchasing single tickets.

You can buy a card at any tobacco store, the cost is 1.08 EUR, plus a deposit of 1.80 EUR, which will be returned when you return the travel card. The card does not apply to tourist double-decker buses that ply around the city - tickets for them must be purchased separately.

Taxi. What features exist

I was able to find a taxi in Benalmadena almost at any time without much difficulty - white cars are parked along the embankment and in Arroyo. If the trip will be at night or, for example, you live in Pueblo, it is better to agree with taxi drivers in advance, or order by phone.

The trip is calculated according to the meter, within the coast the average price of the trip is usually around 4 EUR, from the coast to Arroyo a taxi costs about 6 EUR.

Buses

The most common type of transport. There are many buses, so as not to get confused in the routes and always have the schedule at hand, I downloaded the application of the transport network of Malaga and the surrounding area to my phone. Here you can see the route numbers and names of bus stops, choosing the optimal one.

The most popular routes are, of course, those that take you to the main attractions in the city and beyond: M-103, M-110, M-121 and others.

Transport rental

I came across offices of well-known companies like Budget and Avis mainly on Avenida Antonio Machado near the embankment; in Arroyo de la Miel there is also a local White Car Hire and Brians Rent a Car.

There are also several companies in Pueblo that offer to rent a car. The service is in demand, so there is a choice in the city.

I advise you to book a car online in advance - this will guarantee that the model will be exactly the one you wanted, especially for the summer season.

Documents required for rent:

  • Passport (foreign passport).
  • The credit card on which the car was booked.
  • International driving license.

The rental price starts from 15 EUR per day - for this price you can rent a small Fiat Panda or Opel Corsa. A liter of gasoline costs on average 1.45 EUR. On weekends, rent is cheaper than on other days. The price usually includes insurance, but in each case it is better to check separately (as well as carefully read the contract - there may be large fines for violating some clauses in the contract).

You can compare car rental prices.

In Spain there are many one-way streets - so as not to drive an extra distance looking for a way if I was driving - I thought through the desired route in advance. Also, do not forget that here, as throughout Europe, fines in case of a serious violation can be quite large; in some cases you will have to pay up to 600 EUR.

In general, on the roads I often encountered violations from the locals - they may drive through a red light or suddenly enter another lane, so that they have to brake sharply.

An undoubted advantage of driving here is, of course, the good quality of the roads, as throughout the country.


Benalmadena

In the city center there are typical Andalusian streets, smooth and beautiful. That part of Benalmadena, which is located near the sea, is quite modern, but in general the city is divided into three unequal parts - Benalmadena Costa (coast), Arroyo de la Miel (city center, there is a railway station) and Benalmadena Pueblo (old city).
A tourist train (by car, of course) travels around the city, leaving from the port and making a circle with stops at the main tourist places. The ticket is sold for a full circle - you can get off at any place, and then at the same stop take another train in the same direction.

Arroyo de la Miel

There is an amusement park not far from the beaches Selwo Marina with a dolphinarium and some tropical inhabitants. We didn't go there, it seemed too expensive. Near La Paloma Park. Rabbits, peacocks and other chickens walk there on their own, and various ungulates sit in pens.

Bunny on a walk :)

By the way, in almost all the parks that we saw, there are free exercise machines, and there are many different ones.
I also really liked the cactus garden.

There aren't any cacti there...

Further up the hill, near the train station, is Tivoli amusement park (Tivoli World). Well, the rides are just rides, nothing special. The only thing that can be highlighted is the passage through a chute with water in a canoe. Made according to the principle of a roller coaster (small, of course). You fall from above, splashes, everyone is wet, squealing... Fun :). As for tickets, there is a nuance. You can purchase a subscription that allows you to visit any attractions (except for those specified separately, which cost more) as many times as you like, or you can buy a ticket (special chips) each time. It would seem that the first one is clearly more profitable, however, when we calculated how much we would have spent according to the second option, it turned out that the amount was approximately the same, since some of the attractions did not work, and doing the same thing twice was not interesting. And there are queues everywhere...

Starts near Tivoli cable car (Teleferico)- you can get to the top of the mountain and look around the surroundings. The mountain is the highest in the area, you can see it far away. :)

Cable car (Teleferico)

There is also an eagle nursery on the mountain and sometimes they show some kind of show with eagles.
Actually, the attractions that can be reached on foot end there; then you need to take a bus towards Mijas.

Between Benalmadena Pueblo and Arroyo de la Miel was built Colomares Castle.

Colomares Castle

In fact, this is not a castle at all, but an artificial structure built at the end of the 20th century. Its different parts symbolize the stages of the historical development of Spain.

Colomares Castle

In addition to banal bricks, improvised natural materials such as shells, old objects caught from the sea, stalactites-stalagmites, etc. were used.

Colomares Castle

This, of course, is not a historical landmark, but very beautiful and educational.

On the outskirts of Benalmadena Pueblo there is a Buddhist temple - Stupa. This, of course, is also a modern building. I don’t know how many Buddhists there are in Spain and, in particular, in Benalmadena - there were only tourists with me. Well, the abbot, or whatever they call him, who even knows a few words in Russian. :)

Buddhist Stupa

There is almost complete emptiness inside - sit on the floor and meditate. :)

There is a much more interesting place nearby - Butterfly park in Benalmadena.

Butterfly Park

The only problem is that it is stuffy there, since the local inhabitants require special climatic conditions. But butterflies are beautiful and different.

Butterfly Park

In addition to butterflies, there are also small kangaroos and what appears to be some kind of lizard.

Butterfly Park

The old town is a typical Andalusian town with white houses and flowers.

Very cute and beautiful. Directly next to the bus stop there is a small Museum of Latin American History(free:)

There are two water parks near Benalmadena- more in Torremolinos and less in Mijas. We were in Torremolinos water park - Aqualend. Not very impressive. It's not that big, but there are a huge number of people. There are not enough laps and other means for going down the slides and swimming - you have to constantly stand in lines.
Tickets can be purchased via the Internet (water park website) - this is somewhat cheaper and eliminates the need to stand in another line - at the entrance. There is no special bus that would take you directly to the water park. It takes about half an hour to walk from the Torremolinos bus station to the water park. There seems to be a regular bus on this route, but it runs almost once a day.

I liked Benalmadena. The city itself is interesting, you won’t get bored, and there are a lot of things around that you can go to. For evening walks there is a spacious embankment and a port. Beaches of Benalmadena large, sandy, there are a lot of people, but, in general, not so much that it gets on your nerves. The water is not always warm - Gibraltar is close, the ocean current sometimes reaches. But, again, not so cold that it interferes with rest.