Benalmádena
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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Cuándo viajar
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.
Mejor época para viajar: marzo, abril, mayo, junio, julio, agosto, septiembre, octubre, noviembre
Lugares destacados
- 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.
Listas destacadas
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 lugares
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 lugaresQué experimentar
- 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 y actividades
Benalmádena — Mapa
Excursiones de un día
Qué explorar
Other places nearby:
- Costa del Sol: Málaga, Torremolinos, Mijas and Marbella.
Cómo llegar
- 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.
Cómo desplazarse
- 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.
Conducción
- 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.
Gastronomía
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.
Seguridad y salud
Benalmádena is a safe resort. Use sun protection in summer and take care of belongings at crowded beaches and the marina.
Historia
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.
Datos del país
Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance:
- Moneda
- euro EUR € · Pago con tarjeta · Ampliamente aceptado
- Teléfonos de emergencia
- 112
- Electricidad
- 230 V · 50 HzTipo C / Tipo F
- Idiomas
- español
- Agua del grifo
- Potable
- Sentido de la circulación
- Derecha
- Prefijo telefónico
- +34
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