Fascinating Benalmádena: Marinas, mountains and culture

Located on the Costa del Sol the historic coastal town of Benalmádena boasts a port, a town centre and an old town – three distinctly different areas.

The Paseo Marítimo Benalmádena is a long promenade, lined with cafés, bars and souvenir shops typical of many seaside towns. But this little town also has a fascinating history that has resulted in some interesting sites behind its sea front.  Since the Phoenicians arrived during the seventh and eighth centuries BC many different civilisations have left their mark here including the Romans and the Arabs. Its name derived from the Arab words “Ben-al-Madina”, meaning “Children of the mines”.

Historically the main activities associated with the town were fishing, agriculture and the manufacture of paper. Many artefacts associated with the early settlements can be seen in the Archaeological Museum. At the core of this museum is the private collection of D.Felipe Orlando, a Mexican who once lived here. He gifted this collection to the town on condition it was exhibited in the locality. The museum is located in Benalmádena Pueblo the old town of Benalmádena. Arroya de la Miel, the town centre, and Puerto Marina Benalmádena, the port are the other two separate areas of the town.

Puerto Marina Benalmádena on the Costa del Sol

A rather plain façade of the small shopping mall that fronts the marina at the far end of the town does not reflect what lies beyond or encourage exploration. But on the other side visitors will marvel at the award winning Puerto Marina Benalmádena. This splendid marina has been voted Best Marina in the World several times since it opened in 1979.

International recognition derives from the mix of Indian, Arabic and Andalucian architectural styles of the residential islands.  These blocks of luxury apartments are accessed by little bridges spanning the water. There are moorings for over one thousand boats and yachts on the marina which is surrounded by a covered walkway.  The busy waterside of the marina features cafés, quality restaurants and some upmarket shops makes a popular attraction in Benalmádena. Another, more peaceful attraction located at the opposite end of the promenade is a beautiful park, El Parque de la Paloma.

El Parque de la Paloma in Benalmádena

The park is a short walk up the hill just beyond the large red Moorish style Bil-Bil Castle. This distinctive building was once a private residence but is now the municipal cultural centre and a good landmark for finding the park. Created as part of the local council’s green spaces El Parque de la Paloma (The Dove Park) was opened to the public in 1995. A large, artificial lake dominates the landscape and features a circular walk sprouting paths to further explore the park and gardens. The lake is home to turtles as well as flocks of water fowl including ducks, moorhens and swans. Mouflon sheep in their own enclosure are a favourite here.

Other attractions include three huge bronze heads sculpted by José Seguiri and known as “Las cabezas” or the ‘three heads’. When they first arrived in Benalmádena in 2007 they were exhibited in the marina on a breakwater. They are representative of the fallen civilisations that preceded ours. The formal gardens in the park embrace a bamboo area, a pond covered by water lilies and one of the most important cactus and succulent gardens in Europe. Towering above a small lake at one extreme of this large park is the municipal library which is next to an adventure playground. A restaurant, cafés and bars, picnic areas, play areas and an auditorium for concerts are among the amenities here. The town centre, Arroyo de la Miel (stream of honey), is within walking distance of this park or a short ride on the public bus in an alternative. The main attraction in this area is the cable car to the top of Monte Calamorro.

Teleférico Benalmádena in Benalmádena 

Arroyo de la Miel was originally the site of a farm from which it derived its name. After the farm was purchased for the purpose of building paper mills it evolved into an industrial complex that became the nucleus of the town. Today, its narrow, cobbled streets and small courtyards peppered with orange trees create an ambience very different from the coastal area. This is where the town’s railway station was built and the start of the Teleférico Benalmádena.

Open every day the small cabins rise gently to the top of Monte Calamorro. Tickets are available online and are cheaper if bought from the official website. Should the cable car be closed due to adverse weather these tickets can be used on a date other than the one for which they were booked. The ascent up the mountain is a thrilling experience. But the cable car stops just below the peak and this is where the real adventure begins. There are two peaks linked by well-constructed stone paths with hand rails. Glorious panoramic views on both sides of these peaks are the reward for walking to their summits. A long wooden walkway on the descent from the top goes past the home of a collection of birds of prey. Weather permitting these birds perform in a show twice daily (extra charge applies). There are regular local buses between the town centre and Benalmádena Pueblo, the old town, a few kilometres away.

Benalmádena Pueblo

In the pretty little settlement of Benalmádena Pueblo visitors can enjoy a taste of the real Spain in both senses. Its narrow cobbled streets lead to the Plaza de España a traditional square featuring two restaurants and a sculpture of the town’s emblem ‘Niña de Benalmádena’. Wall gardens – potted plants attached to the whitewashed walls of the little houses – brighten up the streets leading to Benalmádena’s oldest church. Extended and renovated several times the seventeenth century Church of Santo Domingo de Guzman stands proud in its own plaza. It is distinguished by a bulrush belfry containing three bells and a clock.

A gate from its plaza, which looks out over the coast below, leads into the Jardines del Muro. These gardens were created in1980 by the Canarian architect César Manrique. They follow the line of the old Muslim wall incorporating  the sections that are still standing. Features of these lovely gardens include a lake, a waterfall and an oriental style gazebo. There are several viewpoints on the paths through the gardens from which there are wonderful views of the coast below the old town. The gate at the bottom of the gardens opens on to the road that goes down the hill to the Castillo de Colomares. Young families will enjoy spending some time exploring this modern, fantastical interpretation of ships sailed by Christopher Colombus. But a bit further out of the town is an attractions one would not expect to find in Spain, a stupa.

The Stupa of Enlightenment in Benalmádena Pueblo

The Tibetan Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment graces a cliff top close to Benalmádena Pueblo. This pristine, white building was inspired by Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche, a Buddhist master from Bhutan, who was a frequent visitor to the area. It is the largest stupa in the western world and adjacent to two other interesting attractions.

Next door is the Parque Rústico El Reta the site of an annual, traditional Passion Play performed by over 150 amateur actors from Benalmádena. Entitled El Paso de Benalmádena on the Costa del Sol it’s audience grows larger every year. The Monowa Butterfly Park, one of the largest butterfly parks in the world, is just across the road from the park. Its landscaped tropical garden incorporating little waterfalls that cascade into a water feature is home to a host of brilliantly coloured butterflies. Over 150 different species from across the world are represented by the 1500 butterflies that are kept here. 

Getting there

Malaga is the closest airport to Benalmádena It is an easy journey from the airport to the town on public transport by either bus or train. For more information about Benalmádena., click here.

Valery Collins

Valery Collins is a travel writer from south-west England, UK. Her passion for travel covers everything from luxury safaris to sylish ski goggles. A keen photographer Valery uses her own images to ullustrate her writing and social media posts.