Type of holidays:
All types of holidays are to be had in Benalmadena. Self catering or bed and breakfast stays are popular, since there are plenty of great options for eating out, many of which are inexpensive.
However, for the budget minded, there are half-board, full-board and all-inclusive options as well.
Main holiday season:
Summer is the main holiday season in Benalmadena, with temperatures climbing to
104°F (40°C) in August.
For those that want to avoid the crowds of tourists but enjoy pleasant weather, spring and autumn are also great times of the year to visit.
With 325 days of sunshine a year, you can expect mild and pleasant weather, no matter when you visit.
Popular excursions:
Benalmadena has plenty of different types of excursions.
Visiting the Puerto Deportivo de Benalmadena is a must for visitors in the area. It has been labeled the "Best Marina in the World," a tribute to its Venetian-style architecture, famous nightlife, and abundant shopping and dining options.
The Old Village of Benalmadena Pueblo is also worth a visit. Guided tours come in many forms.
One is Ocean Cruiser. In either one or two-hour cruises, small groups can tour the surrounding waters, take sailing lessons, rope surf, or just watch the sea life.
By land, Rangers Safari Tours takes visitors through small Spanish villages, with traditional food provided.
For a well-rounded tour, there is Gibraltar Rock Tours. It includes amazing views, historic WWII tunnels, the infamous Barbary Apes, and free time to shop, explore or have lunch.
Popular sports and activities:
There are many activities in Benalmadena that are great for families and people of all ages. One is the serene Parque De La Paloma. Children will indeed find the play area and climbing frame great fun, but adults will also enjoy the cool bar/café and the weekly flea and produce market.
Another of these activities is the Teleferico Benalmadena cable car. Children and adults alike will be amazed by this steep climb with an entertaining birds of prey show at the peak.
Sea Life Benalmadena is small, but it offers guests the opportunity to get very close to many different species of marine life, while the Butterfly Park is the biggest in Europe.
Beaches:
Popular beaches in Benalmadena include Malapesquera, Santa Ana, Torrevigia and Viborilla.
All of these are extremely busy during the summer months offer plenty of water sports, including jet skiing and parasailing. Sun beds are available to rent for those that want to work on their tan.
For families, Torre Bermeja Beach and Carvajal Beach are both great choices. Though less crowded, they have activities such as volleyball, windsurfing and fishing while still being close to the main part of town.
Arroyo Beach is popular with swimmers, while both Benalnatura and Las Yucas Beach cater to nudists.
Nightlife:
For a night on the town, visit Benalmadena 24-Hour Square. There are about 16 bars and 4 clubs here.
Buddy's Bar has a great atmosphere and caters to children, while Bar Ole has indoor and outdoor seating to allow guests to enjoy, reportedly, the best mojitos in the area.
Shamrock Bar - Scanlons shows live sporting events of all kinds.
Most popular hotels/resorts:
The accommodation options in Benalmadena are vast.
Hotel Las Arenas has a great location, near the beach with Parque de la Paloma just around the corner, while Sunset Beach Club is centrally located.
Hotel Palmasol offers great value, with access to the gardens, marina, beach, shops and restaurants.
There are plenty of self-catering options for those that want to take advantage of the local dining options.
For the best dining experience, Hotel Casa Rosa offers a great menu, Mac Puerto Marina has two time slots for the evening meal so that the dining room is not overcrowded, and Best Tritón, in addition to its perfect location between Benalmadena's main street and the promenade, has a wide variety on its menu.
All-inclusive stays are recommended at the Best Siroco since it is such a good value and at the Holiday World Village.
Other places, such as the two-star Hotel Alba Beach are close to so many cafés and restaurants that self catering is no problem. This is also true of Jupiter & Minerva Apartments, which also offers studio apartments for shorter stays or for those who just plan on using their room as a base.