Benalmadena · Spain
Population - 30,000
Distance from Malaga airport: 12 Miles (19KM)
Benalmadena is one of the chief tourist centres on the western Costa del Sol. The wide range of facilities and services are complemented by an international amusement park.
The municipality of Benalmadena runs from the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas mountains to the small strip of land on the coast. Benalmadena boasts nice scenic views as it is on a hill, this connects to Arroyo de la Miel where there is a train station that connects you to Malaga and Fuengirola. Most of Benalmadenas population lives in Arroyo de la Miel. On the beach front we have Benalmádena Costa, which has many great hotels and golf courses, a casino and the beautiful marina that has many restaurants, bars and many tourist attractions such as boat trips and jet ski hire.
Strikingly original is the Castle of Bil-Bil, a curious structure built on the beach front in 1934 in the neo-Arabian style and which the city council uses to stage exhibitions and cultural events and it has even beeen hired out for Weddings and venues privately. Also of interest are the Muro gardens that is an ideal place to take children to feed the birds, the park is a blend of plants and water designed by César Manrique.
A boat cruise links Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Malaga and there are two to four sailings daily in high summer to and from both places with reduced sailings at other times. Costasol Cruceros (www.costasolcruceros.com)
A greater attraction by far for the majority of visitors is Tivoli World (www.tivolicostadelsol.com), the Costa del Sol's biggest amusement park, sited between the inland village and the coastal resort on the MA407 and easily reached by train from Fuengirola or Torremolinos; the park has the unusual cocktail of rides, restaurants and shows. Opposite the Tivoli World entrance is the Teleférico Cable Car (www.teleferico.com) ascends to the peak of Monte Calamorro, from where there are panoramic views over the Costa del Sol and in summer daily displays of falconry.
On the seafront and close to the Puerto Deportivo, Sea-Life is the resort's well-presented and ethically slanted marine museum, with displays of the world's fish including a walk through glass tunnel and a section devoted to sharks.