What to see in Fuengirola: All the things you can’t miss

Fuengirola’s beaches and climate, along with its variety of entertainment options, are some of the attractions of this town near Málaga, which many Spaniards and foreigners choose as their summer holiday destination every year. It’s located in the centre of the province, 35 kilometres from Málaga capital. It has 75,000 inhabitants on average, but the population triples in high season.

What to see in Fuengirola

Fuengirola, in the province of Málaga, has vestiges of the Roman era. Years later, the Barbarians attacked the town, and then abandoned it. It wasn’t until the Moors arrived that Fuengirola would begin to be rebuilt, and today you can visit some of the sites that date back to that time:

• Sohail Castle: At the Castillo de Sohail, you can enjoy some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the town, as it’s perched up on a hill. These days, the castle is an open-air auditorium. In fact, it also hosts the lively Ciudad de Fuengirola Festival, which takes place during the summer. From Tuesday to Friday, the castle is only open in the mornings, between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. On Saturdays and Sundays, it’s also open between 3:30 PM and 6:00 PM.

  

• Plaza de la Constitución: The Plaza de la Constitución is another beautiful spot in Fuengirola, presided over by a stunning Baroque-style church: the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. This temple has a gorgeous bell tower and, inside, you’ll find a sacred image of Our Lady of the Rosary, who is the town’s patron saint. The flamenco mass that’s held every 7th of October is extremely popular and attracts hundreds of devotees. The square is pedestrianised, and from there you can easily access the seaside promenade, which is the best-known meeting point amongst locals.

• Fuengirola’s seaside promenade: Not every town can boast a seaside promenade like Fuengirola’s, which stretches almost eight kilometres along the coast. You’ll see plenty of people exercising here early in the morning. But it’s also a wonderful spot at the end of the day if you want to behold the magnificent array of colours at sunset whilst enjoying a soft drink at any of the multiple bars spaced along the beach. Or, even better, you could sample the municipality’s speciality: espeto de sardinas (sardines on a spit).

• Fuengirola’s beaches: The promenade takes you past seven beaches along the coast of Fuengirola, each of which has its own special charm, but they all have two things in common: fine sand and clear water. Their names are Carvajal, Torreblanca, Las Gaviotas, San Francisco, El Ejido, Amalia and Los Boliches: the last has been awarded the blue flag on various occasions thanks to its excellent conditions. On these beaches, you can surf, rent a pedalo to venture into the sea, fly a kite, spend a family day in the sun or eat in one of the many beach bars. The perfect destination, enjoyed by thousands of tourists every year.

What to do in Fuengirola

Fuengirola isn’t all about the beach: there are plenty of fun family activities to choose from. For example, one of the attractions of Fuengirola is the Bioparc, a park dedicated to animals that live in tropical forests. If you visit it, you’ll discover some of the most unique exotic species. The park is divided into different habitats. On a walk through it, you’ll learn about how animals live in the climate of Equatorial Africa and meet the lemurs of Madagascar. You can also contemplate the beauty of the leopards of Sri Lanka and meet the orangutans of Borneo, to name just a few. This is the perfect activity to do with children. General admission costs €20.50 for adults and €15.50 for children (from 3 to 9 years old). It’s worth buying on-line tickets in advance to avoid the queues if you’re planning to visit the park during high season.

Another activity that the youngest members of your family will love is visiting the Sould Park, a small theme park with castles, boats, trampolines and a Ferris wheel—the perfect way to spend a fun family afternoon.

Where to eat in Fuengirola

There are plenty of options in Fuengirola for sampling Málaga’s typical food: daily set menus at very reasonable prices, tapas bars, and beach bars… There are options for all tastes. The Palangreros restaurant offers a varied menu based on meat, fish and rice dishes: croquetas de cocido (croquettes filled with mashed up leftovers from a cocido stew), prawns with pil pil sauce, rice with lobster in a broth, or gazpachuelo (fish stock and mayonnaise soup) with prawns are some of the dishes on their menu. This is a Mediterranean-style spot, with a family-friendly atmosphere whose menu also features dishes suitable for those affected by coeliac disease.

If you’re looking for a special place where you can enjoy a relaxing or romantic dinner, a safe bet is the El Higuerón, located on the Costa del Sol motorway. There, you can reserve a room or a corner with sea views and sample one of the chef’s suggestions, which change every week (an octopus salad, onion tart au gratin or seasoned Cantabrian anchovies are just some of them).

The Los Náugrafos beach bar is the perfect option for enjoying simple, unpretentious food. But the views are so incredible that it’s worth it. You’ll find it on the Paseo Marítimo Rey de España. Not far from here is the La Cepa Playa beach bar, a modest eatery that was built in 1959, right on the beach, and serves sardines on a spit, fried fish and delicious paellas. After your meal, drink a coffee or treat yourself to an ice cream whilst relaxing on one of their sunbeds. Last by not least, the Ponderosa Playa specialises in quality fish and seafood: grilled tuna, cardinal prawns, calamari of the day, or prawns from Garrucha are some of the delicacies that you can sample after a day’s sightseeing or before continuing discovering the attractions of Fuengirola.