One of the most popular towns in Malaga thanks to its excellent transport links, its proximity to other towns and cities in the region, and its first-class restaurants and services. Fuengirola has a beautiful beachfront and seaside attractions perfect for tourists, as well as all of the facilities you would expect from a large and vibrant town: it really does offer the best of both worlds. During the summer months, Fuengirola has up to 250,000 inhabitants, drawn by all that it has to offer when the sun is shining.
Whether you’re thinking of moving to Fuengirola, or visiting the town for your next holiday, here’s everything you need to know. Also, be sure to read our detailed area guide on Fuengirola if you're after a bit more detail!
The Best Attractions
As well as offering an inviting urban centre and attractive beaches, Fuengirola is also home to a selection of historical attractions perfect for attracting tourists and local residents alike. These include:
- Sohail Castle. This is a well-preserved castle that was first constructed in 976 by order of Abderraman III. It is composed of a series of high towers, and you can view both Malaga and Marbella from its highest points. Now, it is the main symbol of Fuengirola and it is used as a site of leisure and social activities throughout the year. Events of note include the Fuengirola City Festival, the Medieval Market or the Beer Festival. As an added bonus, Sohail Castle also offers unprecedented views of the coastline, making it the perfect place to see the sea.
- Plaza de la Constitucion. This is the main square in Fuengirola and was given its name in 1841. It is the commercial heart of the city, and a bustling location ideal for people watching, socialising, and enjoying a bite to eat. The highest concentration of restaurants in Fuengirola are in the Plaza de la Constitucion and its surrounding streets. Other buildings of notes you can see here are the monument to the Magna Carta, the ancient Ball Tree, and the baroque church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, patron saint of Fuengirola. This is the oldest Catholic temple in Fuengirola and is also site to a beautiful and well-attended Christmas market.
- The Roman site of the Finca del Secretario. This is a well-preserved roman villa, and the site also includes a salting factory, pottery, and some elements of the original thermal baths. The thermal baths are of particular note, as they are the most complete example in Malaga and amongst the best in Spain. If you have any interest in history in general, and Roman history in particular, then this is certainly a must-visit attraction during your time in Fuengirola.
The Beaches
With approximately 8km of uninterrupted golden sands, the beach is one of the longest in Malaga, and its full 8km of promenade alongside the beach is considered the longest in Spain. As you walk along the promenade you will find shops, beach bars, and bustling life no matter what time of day or night.
The beaches of Fuengirola are highly regarded, thanks to their calm waters and golden sands. The two beaches most worthy of note are San Francisco beach, which is the most popular on the Costa del Sol thanks to its excellent services, and the beach of El Castillo, which sits at the foot of Sohail Castle. This beach is fully accessible to those with reduced mobility, and is a great family beach.
A Good Destination for Tourists?
It borders the municipalities of Benalmadena and Mijas, making it the ideal spot for tourists that want a central spot to explore all that Malaga has to offer. Like other towns along the Malaga coast, it has a wonderful climate thanks to its average year-round temperature of 18 degrees (this is much warmer during the summer months) and it is this temperature, as well as the beautiful beaches and central location, that means that Fuengirola is a great place for tourists, as well as an idyllic location for second homeowners and those that choose to move to Spain.
A Good Destination for Children?
If you’re travelling with children then there’s no better place to stay than Fuengirola. We have already covered the beaches, climate, and historical attractions, but the town also boasts a huge number of attractions just for children:
- Visit the Bioparc nature reserve, where you can find out more about animal conservation, and enjoy special programmes designed with children of all ages in mind.
- Get wet and wild at the Costa Water Park, which offers a range of slides and inflatable platforms of all sizes, designed to be suitable for children (and adults) of all ages.
- The Sould Park is home to a huge range of attraction, especially for those rare rainy day, and of particular note is the 8D cinema that you can find here.
Are you thinking of moving to Spain? Ready to drive into the sunset and towards the Spanish home of your dreams? Then why not get in touch with our estate agents on the Costa Del Sol, Spain. Right Casa Estates are the premier property experts on the Costa del Sol, with years of experience and who are perfectly placed to assist you with your Spanish property search.