Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol is only a twenty minute drive from Malaga airport. It is a resort that is very popular with both the British and the Spanish. The former arrive in their droves, drawn by the promise of guaranteed sunshine, warm seas and balmy nights.
Fuengirola has seven kilometres of sandy beach with excellent facilities and many opportunities for water sporting activities. Fuengirola attracts keen golfers as there are a number of courses in the area. Those asking for relaxation by day and a choice of nightlife, from peaceful to lively, will find that a Fuengirola holiday is the answer.
Fuengirola has widespread appeal. Beautiful beaches with safe bathing for families with small children, water sports with varying degrees of excitement for the adults, several golf courses, superb shopping and a fairly lively nightlife, it is no surprise that so many people holiday here.
Although Fuengirola is a year round holiday venue, the summer holiday period is the most popular time to go, with guaranteed sunshine and warm seas. However, it is also a good place to go to escape from the damp British winter.
Fuengirola is a busy resort in the heart of the Costa del Sol with many high-rise hotels and apartments offering a range of accommodation. The old castle, Castillo de Sohail, overlooking the town was built by the Moors in the eleventh century. Destroyed by Christians two hundred years later, it then had to be rebuilt to protect the settlement from marauding pirates who plagued the area for many decades. A pleasant way to see the sights in the town is to hire a horse and carriage. There are seven kilometres of clean sandy beaches with good facilities. A wide promenade with shady palms and pretty flower beds borders the main beach. The promenade has many bars and small restaurants providing daylong refreshments. Apart from relaxing in the sunshine, there are many opportunities for participating in water sports including water skiing, jet skiing, sailing and fishing.
The old port with fishermen landing their evening catch sits alongside the modern marina with its luxury yachts. There are many cafes and restaurants where you can sit and watch the maritime activities.
Golfers have a good choice of courses but do remember to take your handicap certificate as this is a requirement at most clubs.
Children and adults alike enjoy the excitement of the water park.
Fuengirola has an attraction not normally associated with a Mediterranean beach holiday namely, a zoo. Forget about cages and imagine a tropical rain forest where animals, including leopards, live in a close approximation of their natural habitat. There are two tours a day and in the height of the season the zoo remains open until 1am so that visitors are able to view nocturnal animals. It is a unique experience.
Although the nightlife in Fuengirola is fairly vibrant, it is not on the same scale as Benidorm. There are many disco bars and clubs with live music, as well as karaoke bars. For those who wish to party on through the night there are a number of places such as Aqualum Late Night Venu and Savis which are open until the early hours of the morning.
Fuengirola is not short of shops. In the town centre, in the Plaza de la Constitucion, there are many small boutiques and designer clothes shops. The supermarkets are well stocked with a wide variety of supplies including many British brands. The Miramar Centre is a large modern shopping mall containing every kind of shop as well as a children’s play area and a multi-screen cinema.
Fuengirola provides an extremely varied choice of food. The more adventurous palate can savour traditional Spanish food from tapas to paella, or visit some of the many international restaurants in the town. The more conservative British palate can avail themselves of fish and chips or a Sunday roast. Fuengirola also has a number of fast food outlets. Local wines are pleasant and inexpensive.
