Benalmádena

Town · Málaga, 🇪🇸 Spain

Benalmádena is a resort town on the Costa del Sol, about 15 km southwest of Málaga, in three parts: the old hill village (Benalmádena Pueblo), the beach district of Benalmádena Costa, and the marina at Puerto Marina.

It is known for a mix of attractions: a Buddhist stupa, a monument-castle built by a single man, a cable car to the hilltop, a butterfly house and a marine park.

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When to visit

The beach season is May to October. July and August are hot and crowded. Spring and autumn are good for sightseeing and hiking. Winters are mild.

Best time to visit: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Good

15° (feels like 12°) · extremes 5°–19°
9° at night
8 rainy days
15 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in February

Good

16° (feels like 13°) · extremes 5°–20°
9° at night
6 rainy days
14 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in March

Great

17° (feels like 15°) · extremes 7°–22°
11° at night
7 rainy days
16 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Great

19° (feels like 17°) · extremes 9°–23°
12° at night
6 rainy days
17 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
17°C · too cold to swim
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in May

Great

22° (feels like 21°) · extremes 11°–27°
15° at night
4 rainy days
22 sunny days
11 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
18°C · too cold to swim
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in June

Great

26° · extremes 15°–30°
18° at night
1 rainy day
26 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
20°C · cool for a dip
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in July

Great

29° (feels like 30°) · extremes 18°–33°
21° at night
0 rainy days
28 sunny days
12 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
22°C · cool for a dip
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in August

Great

29° (feels like 31°) · extremes 19°–33°
21° at night
1 rainy day
27 sunny days
11 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
23°C · cool for a dip
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in September

Great

26° (feels like 27°) · extremes 16°–30°
19° at night
3 rainy days
20 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
22°C · cool for a dip
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in October

Great

22° · extremes 13°–27°
16° at night
6 rainy days
17 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
20°C · cool for a dip
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Great

18° (feels like 16°) · extremes 8°–23°
12° at night
7 rainy days
14 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
18°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in December

Good

16° (feels like 13°) · extremes 6°–19°
10° at night
8 rainy days
13 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
17°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Top sights

Castillo Monumento Colomares is a monument built in the 1980s in honour of Columbus, shaped like a castle, in the Benalmádena Pueblo area.
Enlightenment Stupa is the largest Buddhist stupa in Europe, a place of worship open to visitors.
Selwo Marina is a marine park with dolphins and sea lions.
Mariposario de Benalmádena is a tropical butterfly house in the Pueblo area.
Castillo Bil-Bil is a small 20th-century castle in Moorish style on the seafront.
The Teleférico Benalmádena is a cable car to the top of Monte Calamorro.
The Museo Precolombino is a museum of pre-Columbian art in the Pueblo.
The Parque de la Paloma is a park with a lake near the coast.

Featured Lists

Lilange / CC BY-SA 3.0

Benalmádena's Essential Treasures

Benalmádena features diverse landmarks ranging from the Colomares Castle, a monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus, to the Enlightenment Stupa, the largest Buddhist stupa in Europe. The Teleférico cable car ascends to Mount Calamorro for panoramic coastal views, while Selwo Marina and Sea Life provide marine wildlife exhibits. Architectural highlights include the Neo-Arabic Bil-Bil Castle and the Mariposario greenhouse, home to 1,500 butterflies. Family-oriented sites include Tivoli World amusement park and the central Playa de Bil Bil.

9 places

Nusrat Jahan / CC-BY-SA

Cultural and Architectural Gems

This collection showcases Benalmádena’s architectural diversity, ranging from the 14th-century Torre Vigía Bermeja watchtower to the 20th-century Castillo de Colomares, an eclectic monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus. The list features the Enlightenment Stupa, Europe’s largest Buddhist monument, alongside the Neo-Moorish Castillo Bil-Bil. Cultural venues include several open-air auditoriums and the historic Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the town's oldest church, offering a look into the region's religious and artistic heritage.

13 places

glukhovy / CC-BY-SA

Parks and Nature Escapes

Benalmádena's natural landscape ranges from the coastal TorreMuelle watchtower to the 771-meter summit of Monte Calamorro. This collection features the expansive Parque de la Paloma, known for its free-roaming wildlife and cactus collection, alongside high-altitude viewpoints like Cerro del Moro. Visitors can explore a series of interconnected green spaces including the Mare Nostrum ponds and various local playgrounds, offering a mix of Mediterranean flora, coastal panoramas, and quiet recreational areas.

14 places

What to experience

Visit the stupa and the Colomares monument.
Ride the cable car to the top of Calamorro.
Walk around the marina in the evening.
Spend a family day at Selwo Marina or the butterfly house.

Tours & Activities

Benalmádena — Map

Benalmádena — Travel Guide (PDF) Open the interactive map

Day trips

Málaga (about 15 km): the capital of the Costa del Sol.
Mijas (about 12 km): a white village on a hill.
Antequera (about 70 km): dolmens and churches.
Ronda (about 100 km): a gorge town.
Marbella (about 45 km): an old town and marina.

Where to explore

Other places nearby:

Costa del Sol: Málaga, Torremolinos, Mijas and Marbella.

Getting there

By air: Málaga airport is about 10 km away.
By train: The Cercanías C1 line stops at Benalmádena Costa and Arroyo de la Miel, with links to Málaga and Fuengirola. Book long-distance trains on Renfe.
By bus: Buses link the three areas and Málaga.
By car: The A-7 and AP-7 motorways.

Getting around

On foot: Each part is walkable, but the Pueblo is up on a hill, and distances between parts are long.
Train and bus: The C1 line serves the coast, and buses link the Pueblo.
Cable car: Goes up the mountain.

Driving

Is a car worth it?: Optional. A car is useful to reach the Stupa and the Pueblo.
Parking: Paid car parks, with limited space in summer.
Roads: The A-7 coastal road is busy in summer.

Food & drink

The food is Andalusian coastal cuisine. Try espetos (grilled sardines), pescaíto frito, gazpachuelo and boquerones. The marina has restaurants of many cuisines, and the Pueblo has Spanish tapas bars.

Breakfast

Churros Churros con ChocolateFried dough sticks served with a thick, dark hot chocolate for dipping — a classic Spanish breakfast or late-night snack.

Lunch

Paella ValencianaA saffron-scented rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan. The traditional Valencian version uses chicken, rabbit, and green beans — best eaten at midday.

GazpachoA cold, blended soup of raw tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, originally from Andalusia. Served as a drink or a starter, especially in summer.

Dinner

Pulpo a la GallegaBoiled octopus sliced onto a wooden board and dressed with olive oil, coarse salt, and smoked paprika — a signature dish of Galicia.

Snacks & street food

Jamón IbéricoDry-cured ham from acorn-fed Iberian pigs, sliced paper-thin and eaten on its own or with bread. The finest grade, jamón ibérico de bellota, is one of Spain's most prized products.

Tortilla EspañolaA thick potato and egg omelette, served warm or at room temperature, found in virtually every bar in Spain. Often eaten as a tapa or a quick meal.

Patatas BravasFried potato chunks served with a spicy tomato sauce or aioli — one of the most common tapas across the country.

PintxosSmall snacks anchored to slices of bread with a toothpick, the Basque Country's answer to tapas. Found in bar counters across San Sebastián and Bilbao, often with elaborate toppings.

CroquetasCrispy breaded cylinders with a creamy béchamel filling, typically made with jamón, bacalà (salt cod), or mushrooms.

Drinks

Rioja Wine Vino de RiojaSpain's best-known wine region produces full-bodied reds from Tempranillo grapes, aged in oak. The crianza, reserva, and gran reserva labels indicate increasing age and complexity.

Safety & health

Benalmádena is a safe resort. Use sun protection in summer and take care of belongings at crowded beaches and the marina.

History

The hill village has Moorish roots, and a watchtower, the Torre Bermeja, stands on the coast. The town stayed small until the tourist boom of the 1960s, when the coast was built up.

The Colomares monument was built from 1987 by the doctor Esteban Martín, and the Stupa was inaugurated in 2003.