Is Fuengirola a good holiday destination?

Fuengirola is a great place to take a holiday: in fact, it’s so popular with tourists that many choose to buy property here, which is why Fuengirola has such a robust ex pat population. At the beginning of the 1960’s, there were around 8,500 people living in Fuengirola. Now the town boasts a population of 63,000. You’ll find sun, sea and sand here, but Fuengirola also boasts a rich history, great restaurants and night life, and activities to keep you occupied all day too. From shopping to water sports, you’ll never be bored.

And if you want to get out of town? Fuengirola boasts excellent transport links. Buses run quite regularly to places along the coast such as Torremolinos and Marbella all the way to Estepona and Algeciras.

What is Fuengirola known for?

Fuengirola is best known for being a bustling and lively town, particularly in the summer months when the blend of extra tourists and second homeowners leave the area bursting at the seams. Before it attracted tourists, Fuengirola was a quiet fishing village and it still retains much of this original charm. The main square, Plaza de la Constitución, has been re-designed but has a traditional Andalusian feel.

Fuengirola is also well known for its summer feria, when the whole town takes part in the annual street celebrations. And shopaholics won’t be disappointed with the range of retail outlets and independent shops selling a mixture of well known or unique local brands.

Of course, it would be impossible to talk about life in Fuengirola without talking about its active nightlife scene and huge selection of world class restaurants. Fuengirola boasts a selection of world-class tapas bars if you’re looking for a fun night out, and you’ll also find café bars and coffee shops on every corner to indulge in some laid back café culture.

Fuengirola Vs Benalmadena

Fuengirola and Benalmadena are both popular destinations for ex pats looking to invest in property in Spain, and both of the resort towns are very similar, which is why so many house hunters struggle to choose between the two. When pitting Fuengirola versus Benalmadena, therefore, it’s important to keep your own preferences in mind. If being close to a beach is important to you, for example, then Fuengirola might be the better option thanks to it’s vast expanse of well-serviced sand and the amenities that surround it. Whilst Benalmadena also boasts a stunning coastline, this isn’t the focus of life in the resort in the same way.

You must also decide whether you would prefer to live in a small town or a large town. Benalmadena covers 27 square kilometres, making it a large town that extends from the summits of the Sierra de Mijas to the towns coastline in Benalmadena Costa. Fuengirola covers a much smaller 10.2 square kilometres and is situated mostly along the coast. There are merits of both small town and large town living: both towns boast medical facilities, leisure centres, supermarkets and other amenities that property hunters are looking for. And its important to note that Fuengirola has all the amenities and comforts you need but in a beautiful Mediterranean setting. But do you prefer the convenience of larger and better facilities, and the larger town that accompanies this? Or are you looking for the more intimate feel or small-town living, even if that means having to travel for amenities sometimes? Only you can decide!

Beaches In Fuengirola

Fuengirola is well known for the high quality of its beautiful beaches. You’ll find 7km of incredible sandy beaches here, which makes the two incredibly popular with families with young children and mean that the beaches can be incredibly well-populated during the summer months. But Fuengirola beach is so much more than simply a place to paddle and build sandcastles. The beach here is famous for the high quality, and wide variety, of water sports that it offers. From yachts and speedboats to parasailing and jet ski hire, surfing and windsurfing, you’ll find a huge array of water sports available here.

Fuengirola Market

Finally, many tourists and residents choose to spend time in Fuengirola thanks to its weekly markets, which are amongst the best in the region. Two traditional street markets are held in the town of Fuengirola, on Tuesdays and Sundays, and one second hand flea market is held in the town on Saturdays. Each of these three markets is open from 9am until 2pm and each attract a diverse crowd of both locals and tourists. It is a great place for locals and the ex-pats who call the town home to meet, share news, and socialise. The Tuesday and Sunday markets are held at the feria grounds and during the high season they are the biggest on the Costa del Sol; with a huge range of unique goods available, they’re well worth a visit.