Benalmádena is a coastal town of 78,338 residents (INE, 2025) on the western Costa del Sol, about 12 km from Málaga airport. It works best as a base for a beach and family holiday with easy trains: the seafront, a marina and the commuter line sit within a few kilometres of each other, and a whitewashed village on a hillside is a short drive up. It is not a quiet fishing village, so skip it if you want empty streets in July. Benalmádena is part of our Costa del Sol guide.
Quick facts
- Where: Benalmádena, province of Málaga, Andalusia, on the coast between Torremolinos and Fuengirola.
- Residents: 78,338 (INE, 2025).
- Size: nearly 27 square kilometres, according to the town’s tourism board.
- Airport: Málaga–Costa del Sol (AGP) is 12 km from Benalmádena Costa; the commuter train from the airport to the town takes about 18 minutes (Aena).
- Málaga city: about 20 minutes away, says the tourism board.
- Beaches: yes, almost nine kilometres of them on the Costa area, from busy town beaches to rocky coves.
- Language: Spanish.
- Market day: not confirmed in the sources we read; ask at the tourist office or check the town hall’s agenda.
Where to base yourself
Benalmádena is three places rather than one, and the choice matters. The tourism board describes them as Benalmádena Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmádena Costa, and they sit at different heights and distances from the sea.
Benalmádena Costa
This is the seafront area, with the beaches, beach bars and the marina. Choose it if you want to step out onto the sand, eat by the sea and be near the nightlife around the harbour. It is the busiest area in summer, and the one most likely to feel like a resort.
Arroyo de la Miel
The tourism board calls it the main commercial hub, linking the village and the coast, with residential developments, parks and restaurants and a family-friendly feel. It has its own small beach, about 300 m long and 80 m wide with calm water, and it is the practical choice for shops and for the commuter line. Pick it if you want everyday town life rather than a pure resort feel.
Benalmádena Pueblo
The old village sits 241 m above sea level and 2.7 km from the coast, with whitewashed houses and views over the sea. It is the quietest and most traditional of the three, and the closest to the Colomares monument and the stupa. You will want a car, a taxi or a bus for the beach.
Things to do
Most visitors spend their days on the beach, but several sights are worth a half day each.
Cable car to Monte Calamorro
The cable car climbs the mountain behind the town. The operator describes a 15-minute journey over almost 3 kilometres. At the start the car passes over Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmádena Costa, and higher up the view opens along the Málaga coast. On clear days the operator says you can see the Sierra Nevada, the Rock of Gibraltar and the African coast. Cable cars close in bad weather, and the operator advises checking opening on the day by phone or chat.
Castillo de Colomares and the stupa
Both lie beyond the historic centre of the Pueblo. Castillo de Colomares is a monument to Columbus rather than a medieval castle. The Benalmádena stupa is a Buddhist monument that the association running it gives as 33 m tall with a base 25.8 m wide, with a meditation hall of over 100 square metres inside.
Puerto Marina
The harbour has more than 1,100 berths, according to the tourism board, plus a Mediterranean-style shopping centre, restaurants and pubs, a small amusement park and children’s play areas. Boat-tour companies operate from here, and walking the waterfront costs nothing.
History and family attractions
The town’s tourism pages mention Bil Bil Castle and the Benalmádena History Centre, which is by the sea and safeguards the remains of Benalroma. For families, the cable car operator also sells a combined pack with the Selwo parks, and the tourism board lists the Mariposario butterfly park with more than 1,500 butterflies.
Beaches and places nearby
The tourism board lists Carvajal, Fuente de la Salud, Malapesquera, Santa Ana, Bil Bil and Los Melilleros as the main town beaches, and La Viborilla, Torrevigía and Playa Bonita as rocky beaches and small coves that suit snorkelling. The eastern half of the coastline is mostly coves away from the urban areas, so it tends to be quieter.
The town hall has reported Blue Flags for Carvajal, Fuente de la Salud and Torrebermeja-Santa Ana, and for the Puerto Deportivo. The award is now granted for two years with an annual follow-up, so check the current status before you rely on it. Carvajal beach is a few minutes’ walk from Carvajal station on the C1 line, and Carvajal and Fuente de la Salud have access ramps.
The Torremolinos tourism site says the walk from La Carihuela leads to the small Saltillo beach and then Puerto Marina, already in Benalmádena. Nearby places on CostaMap include Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Mijas and Málaga.
Other town guides nearby: Marbella (about 29 km in a straight line).
On CostaMap near Benalmádena: Castillo de Colomares (0.5 km) · Benalmádena Stupa (1 km) · Mijas Pueblo (5.7 km) · Bajondillo Cave (7.2 km) · Bioparc Fuengirola (8.1 km) · Sohail Castle (9.2 km) · Calaburras Lighthouse (11 km).
Food and drink
The tourism board names espetos (grilled skewers, a Costa del Sol beach tradition) and classic Málaga-style fried fish as local favourites, with beach bars along the seafront and restaurants and bars in the historic centre. The marina adds international options. The board also notes gluten-free and vegetarian dishes. Pueblo is the place to look for a more traditional setting; the beachfront and the marina are more tourist-oriented, so compare menus before you sit down.
Where to stay
Benalmádena Costa is the easy choice for a beach week, since the sand, the marina and the restaurants are all close. Arroyo de la Miel suits a longer stay, with shops and the train nearby, and Pueblo has the quietest atmosphere. We have no verified price table for this page, so check current rates on the booking site of your choice: prices swing a lot between summer and winter. If you are travelling with children, staying near the Costa promenade or the train station keeps daily logistics simple.
Getting there and around
By air: Málaga–Costa del Sol airport is 12 km from Benalmádena Costa. The train from the airport to Benalmádena takes about 18 minutes, according to Aena.
By train: the Renfe commuter line between Málaga and Fuengirola has several stops in the municipality, and the tourism board says trains run approximately every 20 minutes. Check the live timetable and the stop names on Renfe before you travel.
By bus: the tourism board says bus lines connect Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmádena Costa, as well as Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Málaga. Network details are on the Málaga transport consortium site, which also posts notices about stop changes.
By car: the town is reached by the A-7 coastal motorway. Parking is tight near the seafront in high season. The tourism board names Sunset Beach as one end of a stretch where parking is generally easier.
Best time to visit
The tourism board talks of more than 300 sunny days a year and says the sierra and northerly winds keep temperatures one to two degrees above nearby towns. Rain is limited and concentrates in November and February.
The nearest AEMET normals we read are for Málaga Airport: the annual mean is 18.5 °C, the January mean is 12.1 °C and the August mean is 26.0 °C, with an August daily maximum of 30.8 °C and annual rainfall of 534 mm. Use them as a guide to the coast rather than as readings for Benalmádena itself. Summer is the busiest season, so spring and autumn give you warm days with fewer people. We list no festival dates here because they change each year and our sources give none with a year.
FAQ
Is Benalmádena worth visiting?
Yes, for a beach holiday with train links, a marina and a hillside village close by. It is not the right choice if you want a small, undeveloped fishing town.
How far is Benalmádena from Málaga airport?
The tourism board gives 12 km from Benalmádena Costa. Aena gives about 18 minutes by commuter train from the airport to the town.
Which part of Benalmádena is best for a first visit?
Benalmádena Costa for beaches and the marina. Arroyo de la Miel for shops and the train, and the Pueblo for a quieter, traditional setting.
How long does the cable car take?
The operator describes a 15-minute journey over almost 3 kilometres. It can close in bad weather, so check on the day.
Are the beaches Blue Flag?
The town hall has reported Blue Flags for Carvajal, Fuente de la Salud and Torrebermeja-Santa Ana, and the award is now given for two years with annual follow-up. Check the current status before you travel.
Sources and freshness
Last checked: October 2026. Sources: INE, population of Málaga municipalities; This is Benalmádena, key areas; This is Benalmádena, home page; This is Benalmádena, beaches; This is Benalmádena, getting here; This is Benalmádena, historical places; This is Benalmádena, food and drink; This is Benalmádena, climate (Spanish); This is Benalmádena, Puerto Marina (Spanish); Benalmádena town hall, Blue Flags 2026 (Spanish); Aena, Málaga airport by train (Spanish); AEMET, normals for Málaga Airport; Teleférico Benalmádena, ride to Monte Calamorro; Stupa of Benalmádena, facts; Torremolinos tourism, La Carihuela (Spanish); Consorcio de Transportes Área de Málaga.
Main photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Nearby on the Costa del Sol
Benalmádena on the map
Places worth knowing near Benalmádena
How this page is maintained. CostaMap is written and maintained by an AI editorial system built by ebizapple. Facts are drawn from primary sources — town halls, museums, port and heritage authorities and the Spanish archaeological record — and where sources disagree, we say so rather than smooth it over. Photographs marked as ours are taken on location. This page was last reviewed on 28 October 2026. Opening hours, prices and transport change; check the official source before you travel.