Guide to Fuengirola

9 facts about Fuengirola

• Fuengirola is also 30 km from the luxurious town of Marbella.
• Fuengirola’s population is around 80.000, and a quarter of them are foreigners.
• Fuengirola is the 5th most populated municipality in Málaga province.
• Fuengirola is one of the most popular cities for Scandinavians.
• Fuengirola is just 31 km from Málaga airport.
• Fuengirola covers an area of 10,36 km2.
• The average temperature is around 16 degrees Celcius.
• In the summer months, there can be as many as 250.000 inhabitants.
• Fuengirola is sometimes referred to as “Funkytown”.

• Fuengirola is also 30 km from the luxurious town of Marbella.
• Fuengirola’s population is around 80.000, and a quarter of them are foreigners.
• Fuengirola is the 5th most populated municipality in Málaga province.
• Fuengirola is one of the most popular cities for Scandinavians.
• Fuengirola is just 31 km from Málaga airport.
• Fuengirola covers an area of 10,36 km2.
• The average temperature is around 16 degrees Celcius.
• In the summer months, there can be as many as 250.000 inhabitants.
• Fuengirola is sometimes referred to as “Funkytown”.

The History of Fuengirola

Fuengirola is different from many of the other Andalusian towns. The city of Fuengirola doesn’t have a typical historic centre like Marbella or Málaga does. However, the locals often refer to the centrally located Plaza de la Constitución (the Church Square) as their “old town”.

A lot of restaurants and bars are located around this area, and there is always a great, lively atmosphere in this area of Fuengirola.

Castillo Sohail, is a castle placed at the edge of the city. It’s easy to get to the castle on foot along the promenade. From this viewpoint, you can see over Fuengirola city and the Meditteranean sea. You might be lucky enough to see Africa if the weather is clear.

Castillo Sohail is built in AD 956 by Abd-ar-Rahman III to strengthen the coastal defence. In 1485 the Castel was taken by the Christian army. After the Castel lost its military function, it became a public attraction and in the year 2000, the renovation of the Castel began.

Castillo Sohail is also used for cultural events and the famous Marenostrum Festival.

Fuengirola has many different nationalities and is one of the most popular destinations on the Costa del Sol.

Fuengirola is a busy town with lots of activities for tourists and residents. The city has many shops and a newer shopping centre, two cinemas and a market every Tuesday and Saturday from 9:00 to 14:00. Here you can find all kinds of new and second-hand items.

Fuengirola has the longest beach promenade in Spain. It’s 8 kilometres long. There are restaurants on both sides of the promenade, and some of them are on the actual sand. These restaurants are called “chiringuitos” and are very popular in southern Spain. They serve a variety of fresh seafood and shellfish.

In the high summer season, there will be people almost everywhere you go. The streets will be full of tourists. During the day, the beaches are packed with people, and in the afternoon, it is the beachside restaurants that get packed with people coming to have a tasty seafood lunch.

You can also take the sightseeing tour train around Fuengirola. It is a hop-on / hop-off system with 14 different stops along the journey.

The train drives along the seafront form Fuengirola to Torreblanca. On the way back, the train continues through Fuengirola city.

There is an audio-guide available in 7 difference languages and the price is 7€ for adults and 4€ for children under 12.

Living in Fuengirola

Fuengirola is one of the cheapest places to buy properties on Costa del Sol.

Because of the many nationalities, there are a lot of international restaurants and bars. So you can quickly meet someone who speaks the same language as you. However, we definitely recommend learning some Spanish to be able to integrate properly into the culture.

Fuengirola is family-friendly and a place to have a night out with friends. As a family, you can visit the Bioparc, it’s a top-rated zoo where you can see the animals from Africa, Asia and Madagascar but also the fantastic jungle. If you get hungry while visiting the park you can enjoy lunch at the restaurant, which also has a big playground and besides that, there is a gift shop.

Along the beach promenade, you will find many restaurants, bars and small shops. There is a big focus on seafood as Fuengirola is a coastal town, but there is something for everyone to eat. In the middle of the long promenade there is a small amusement park for kids, called Sould Park Fuengirola. It is open every day from 17:00 til late, but Saturday and Sunday, the park opens at 11:30.

In the high season, all the shopping centres, shops and supermarkets are open daily – with some exceptions such as public holidays. Unlike in the low season, the shops are open every Sunday.

Although it is possible to find smaller shops around town that are open every day of the week. So, should you be missing an item or two for your dinner, fret not – most gas stations have little “shops” within them where it is possible to purchase most products.

If you like to play golf, there are many opportunities around Fuengirola, like Mijas Golf which is around 15 minutes from Fuengirola town. Mijas Golf offers two high-level courses with 18 holes. It is not necessary to be a member of the club in order to play here.

The price to play depends on the time of year you are visiting Costa del Sol.

The Mijas Golf Club House is an old Andalusian farmhouse, where the club’s restaurant is, serving a combination of traditional Spanish cuisine as well as other international dishes.

Mijas Golf is an area, and golf club, with local visitors such as residents that live in the near vecinity and other visitors from all over the world.

If you are looking for a place to eat brunch or grab a delicious lunch we recommend Café la Bohemia By Copa D´oro. If you are a big lover of healthy food, La Bohemia is the right place for you. They serve vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free food and make homemade ice cream. Meanwhile, you are enjoying your food, you can take in the stunning sea view.

Should you prefer eating out in the afternoon, we will definitely recommend Casa Roberto. It is a trendy restaurant, and you can easily recognise it with all the golf clubs hanging from the ceiling. Messages and reviews have been written on the walls from past customers. They serve delicious food, and their steak is mouthwatering. And it’s a good idea to book a table on the same day or the day before.

A good cocktail bar to quench your thirst is definitely Panda Bar. They make a selection of delicious and fresh cocktails. It is a very cosy bar in the centre of Fuengirola, where they serve fabulous cocktails made with fresh fruit, mocktails, and other non-alcoholic beverages. They also serve wine and beer. It’s a charming place to hang out with friends or family.