In the summer months Fuengirola is alive, with entertainment yet out of season it is possible to find peace and tranquillity. In August (the busiest month for Fuengirola, it is difficult to walk anywhere let alone drive. The winter months are pleasant in Fuengirola and the town seems to relax.

The main town of Fuengirola, although very Spanish, caters for all nationalities. It's a very safe and pleasant place to be. You will find everything you need in Fuengirola. There are several large shopping complexes, indoor markets and two weekly outdoor markets.

Fuengirola is an international resort, with tourists and residents of every nationality and this is evident, everywhere you look. There are very few home comforts you can't find here and the local residents will always offer you a warm welcome. The English speaking community is vast and has developed a full programme of activities and local groups.

The beaches in Fuengirola

The 7km of beaches in Fuengirola have the Blue Flag awards and are manned by lifeguards in the summer. The main beach sections comprise of:

El Ejido/El Castillo (Near Sohail Castle)

This is the beach at the far end of Fuengirola near the Beatriz Palace Hotel. You can reach this beach by car from Malaga, taking the last exit for Fuengirola off the A7 (formerly the N340) at the Castle and park right next to the beach or beside the river. As this is one of the furthest points from the town centre, it is often quieter than other beaches. There are very good beach bars and restaurants in this area. There are jet skis and banana boats here.

Santa Amalia

This beach is about 1.5 kilometres in length, very central and has many restaurants, bars, hotels, apartments, and shops all close at hand. There is also a first aid point. There are places to hire pedal boats, jet-skis, and there are children's play areas. The beach bars in this area are excellent. It is worth trying the "pescaito frito"' (fried fish) and the traditional "espeto" (fresh, grilled sardines on a skewer over an open fire on the beach), an Andalucian summer tradition).

San Francisco

After the Santa Amalia beach is a shorter section (just over 300 metres) known as San Francisco beach. It has all the amenities you would expect from a central beach area. As with the other Fuengirola beaches, during the summer months it can be very crowded, while at other times of the year. There are ample sunbeds and parasols to hire.

Fuengirola Town Council have installed numerous new facilities on the beaches including wastebins every few yards, lifeguard stations, first aid posts, new showers and toilet facilities.

What to do and see in Fuengirola

From the sea front (opposite the London Pub), you can take a carriage ride around the town. The carriage rides are also available from the feria ground on market days.

The carriages are licenced by the town council and work all day, every day except some bank holidays.

Pictured right is the footbrdge that joins the castle with Fuengirola. In the summer when the river is almost dry, you can cross via the beach.

In the winter, the river swells making the bridge the only crossing point.

You cannot drive over this bridge.

Fuengirola may appear to be over-developed but, if you look hard enough, you will find several sunny parks in which to sit. One such park is the Parque del Sol (left). It is close to the zoo.

The main Plaza in Fuengirola (Plaza de Constitucion) features a lovely church and fountains. The church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Rosario Coronada. Here is where the town band perform on a regular basis, free of charge. The church is open to the public and is free. There is underground parking beneath the church or walk from the sea front (2 mins).

In the summer, the plaza is covered over to provide shade. There's a wonderful florists in the square as well as some fine restaurants. The side streets are lined with small shops.

More activities in Fuengirola
Fuengirola also has a crazy golf course, close to Miramar shopping centre, where you will also find the championship skateboard park. Alongside the N340, close to the Mijas Road is the Aquapark.

The tourist office in Fuengirola has recently been expanded to twice its size. It is located in the centre of town, opposite the indoor market.

The Fuengirola Museum of History

The museum is located in C/Maria Josefa Larrucea (next door to the Town Hall).

Open Tuesday to Friday with entry at just 2€ for adults and 1.50€ in the summer. The museum illustrates the history of Fuengirola. The best exhibits include a tombstone found near Sohail Castle and dating from 1637. There is also a Roman statue that was found near Los Boliches. Named the Venus of Fuengirola, the valuable statue is missing some limbs and the head but is still an important piece of Roman sculpture. The typical small fishing boat of Andalucia is on display. The 'Jabega' is typical of the fishing boats that still trawl the local coastline.

The Finca del Secretario (Secretary's Estate)

This historical site was once a fish salting factory and small spa. It was discovered in 1970 when building work took place on the railway line at Los Boliches. It was here that the famous statue 'The Venus of Fuengirola' was found. This can now be seen in the museum. The Roman Ruins Park is free to visit.

Roman springs at Torreblanca

Roman thermal springs were discovered in Torreblanca along with 32 graves and a fish salting factory.

Shopping in Fuengirola

As well as a thriving town centre where you will find hundreds of small shops, there are several shopping centres. The Las Rampas shopping centre is in the centre of town. It's not particularly large but you will find a Dunnes Stores and a small indoor market selling leather goods and souvenirs. There are a few second hand shops, clothes shops and similar. Close by is the larger, indoor market. It's predominanly leather goods and souvenirs but a good place to grab a bargain. To find it, head for Burger King on the sea front and there's a passageway next door. On the other side of the N340 is the Miramar Complex. This is split into two, with a 5 minute walk between them. One unit has the multi-screen cinema and two floors of shops and restaurants. There's a supermarket here too but not the cheapest in town. Heading in the direction of Mijas is another complex with larger stores. Here you will find Iceland that supply a large range of English foods. There's a Dunnes Stores, an electronic store, DIY store (similar to B&Q), Norauto (Similar to Halfords), a Burger King and several other superstores.

For fresh produce, there is no nicer place to shop than the indoor market near the train station. On two floors, you can find the very freshest of fish, meat and vegetables.

The Tuesday market is one of the biggest on the coast and is very busy. It is located on the Recinto Ferial site. Catch a carriage ride at the entrance. Crime is low here but be careful in the market and watch your bags. You can buy all manner of souvenirs as well as fresh produce. There is also a Sunday market. This is located at the other end of town, near the castle. It is not as large as it used to be but is still worthy of a visit. There is also a car boot sale on the feria ground on a Saturday. It is the largest on the coast.

Transport in Fuengirola

Fuengirola is easily accessed by the N340 highway which runs along the coast. There is also a toll road that runs from Malaga. The bus station, although poorly located in the town centre, offers local buses and buses up and down the coast. There's a ticket office there. Buses are very regular and run all over Fuengirola.

Taxis in Fuengirola are of an extremely high quality. They are all white and carry official plates to identlfy them. The taxis have a green light on the roof when available. All drivers carry ID and they are meter operated. You can find taxi ranks all over town or flag one down in the street. The train station is also located in the centre of town, underground. Here you can catch a RENFE train to Malaga with several stops on the way. the ticket machines are located as you walk into the station. See a rail map and details here. From the seafront of Fuengirola you can take a horse and carriage ride around the town. There are about four or five carriages. There's also a tourist train that runs around town. The station is close to the El Puerto Hotel on the sea front.

Entertainment in Fuengirola

With a holiday resort of this size there is no wonder you can find every type of entertainment. There are discos and night clubs for the younger holiday makers, bingo halls, gambling establishments, strip clubs and lots for the children. There's a small fairground on the sea front with roundabouts and dodgems, there's a unique carousel and regular street entertainment on the Paseo Maritimo. The tourist office provide a guide to Fuengirola entertainment free of charge. For a fun day out try the Aquapark or the Zoo. There are two cinemas in Fuengirola. The Miramar Complex is a large shopping centre with a multi-screen cinema. They often show films in English. There's another, smaller cinema near the zoo. The bullring in Fuengirola currently has bullfights (this may change if bullfights are banned in Malaga province). The bullring is located on the same street as the zoo. The busiest places to drink in town include the seafront around the area of the London Pub and Bogarts. These are drinking pubs, popular with the younger generations at night. if you want to see Andalucian horses then visit El Cartujano Horse Shows in Fuengirola. Close by is the Crocodile Park in Torremolinos. There is an English theatre in Fuengirola; The Salon Varietes. This is the only English speaking theatre in southern Spain. Built in 1925, the theatre has been providing all sorts of plays and performances for many years. Once a week English films are also shown. The annual feria is in October. See videos and timetable for the 2010 Fuengirola feria here

Activities in Fuengirola

The marina is a good place to find all types of water sport and activities. These include scuba diving, fishing trips, boat charters and dolphin spotting trip.

On the beach near the castle you will find jet skis and a banana boat service. See video here

Fuengirola has a newly built Town Hall which is located on the main street through town, close to the national Police and Local Police stations. The town hall has a foreigners department where you can pay taxes and collect information about the town.

Hotels in Fuengirola - see a full list here

This resort has every type of hotel you can imagine, many having been established a long time. On the seafront you have hotels such as the Hotel Yaramar, Confortel Fuengirola, El Puerto, Hotel PYR and Hotel Angela. One of the newest hotels in Fuengirola is the Hotel Beatriz Palace. Most of the hotels in Fuengirola are of a very high standard and cater for families. Most have their own swimming pools and restaurants. There is also a good selection of smaller hostels in Fuengirola. On the outskirts of town are two large campsites.

Fiestas and festivals in Fuengirola

Fuengirola is host to many events and celebrations during the year one such event is the International Feria de los Pueblos. This takes place around the 1st May each year. The Carmen celebrations are also something to behold. In Los Boliches is the statue of the Virgen del Carmen who is the patron saint of fishermen. There are also many other bronze statues along the Paseo Maritimo. Look for the unique monument erected in memory of the Peseta. One of the biggest celebrations is Easter. You can see a whole list of Fuengirola fiestas here. The annual feria is in October. See videos and timetable for the 2010 Fuengirola feria here

Close to Fuengirola

The Hipodromo del Costa del Sol makes an entertaining day out. There is a set racing program and it makes a great evening out. There are bars and restaurants and live entertainment is provided.

Los Boliches is a small community tagged onto the end of Fuengirola. Los Boliches itself has its own beaches, shopping centres and much more. It is a little quieter than Fuengirola centre. It has its own railway stop.

The Avda Los Boliches is the main road and is lined with small shops. There's a church with a plaza in front. Further on you find anothr larger plaza with a monument to Columbus and large fountains.