Paseo Maritimo: 7 Tips For Fuengirola’s Famous Coastal Promenade

Paseo Maritimo: 7 Tips For Fuengirola’s Famous Coastal Promenade

I’ve been living in Fuengirola on Costa del Sol for over three years now, and taking a walk on the Paseo Maritimo promenade by the sea is one of my all-time favorite things to do.

If you’re coming to Fuengirola and wondering if it’s worth taking a stroll through the promenade, what can you expect and if it lives up to its reputation, read on to find out everything you need to know from a local.

By the end of the article, I hope you’re convinced not to give it a pass and enjoy one of the best promenades in Southern Spain.

Where is Paseo Maritimo in Fuengirola?

The paseo is a promenade that lines the whole length of the city and runs alongside the beach – you can see the exact location on the map below.

If you’re travelling to Fuengirola by train, you can access the Paseo easiest from one of the train stations just by walking towards the coastline (so stops of Fuengirola main station, Los Boliches, Torreblanca and Carvajal).

The same applies to the bus station, which is located right next to the main train station in Fuengirola – simply head down the road towards the coastline and you will hit the paseo maritimo in just a few minutes walk.

What Makes Paseo Maritimo in Fuengirola Special?

The Length

I would say the most special thing about Paseo Maritimo in Fuengirola is its length – it is nearly 8 km long, lining the whole city from Sohail Castle all the way to the last roundabout in Carjaval, which makes the border with the town of Benalmadena.

The size makes this promenade one of the longest ones on Costa del Sol, and many people would also say the prettiest.

The Landmarks

There are a few landmarks you can see on the paseo, the most famous one being the Pesetta monument, designed by local artist and sculptor José Gómez Guerrero.

Fuengirola in August
The coastal promenade in Fuengirola (Paseo Maritimo) – Peseta Monument

The monument pays tribute to the old Spanish currency which was used until Euro was introduced in 2022. It was the first monument dedicated to the currency, with two other ones being added later in Almeria and Estepona. The location of the monument is marked on the map below.

The ‘tourist monument of Fuengirola‘ is located very near the Peseta monument, and it’s a sculpture of a girl standing on a globe and holding up hands with a dove in them. Not much information is available about this monument online.

Another interesting place is Fuente de la plaza de las naciones, which is a small fountain with a globe holding flags of the nations on it. It’s beautifully lit up in the evening.

monument on paseo maritimo in Fuengirola, Southern Spain
Fountain monument on Paseo Maritimo, Fuengirola

Location on the map below.

Right next to the fountain on the other side of the bridge, you will see a small patch of grass with palm trees and a huge hand rising from the ground.

This ‘open hand‘ monument is one of the most photographed in Fuengirola, and my favorite too. There is another one of these on the other side of the Paseo closer to the Sohail castle, a short walk away from the Marina area.

monument on paseo maritimo in Fuengirola, Southern Spain
The Open Hand monument on Paseo Maritimo, Fuengirola

The Location

As the name suggests, this broad walkway is lining the sandy beaches of Fuengirola, making it the perfect place to enjoy the sea view while doing some exercise!

Staying in Paseo Maritimo in Fuengirola

By all accounts, the rental properties and hotels on Paseo Maritimo facing the sea are in high demand, all year round.

If you’re planning to use one of these options for your holiday, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

  • the area by the main road is very loud and busy, with most apartments built in the 50s and 60s without any proper insulation or noise protection. That means that if you’re staying in one of the apartments facing the sea, you will have to prepare for noise in the evening and nights that come from the traffic and commotion on the road and restaurants/bars
  • hotels that are situated on the paseo are a better alternative as they tend to be higher up and have better quality windows, so you shouldn’t face that much of a problem (I’ve never stayed in one though, so best checking hotel reviews first)
  • the holiday apartments at Paseo Maritimo are the most expensive place to stay in town – if you want a sea view while staying in Fuengirola, you might get a better deal looking into apartment buildings in the second and third rows, which are a little higher up but offer a sea view, without the added noise and commotion.
  • the sea – not many people realize this, but it can be quite loud! Especially after a few windy days, you will hear the motion of the waves even through closed doors. I live two streets down from Paseo yet can hear the sea just like I was sleeping on the main road. Keep this in mind if you are a light sleeper and bring some earplugs.
  • if you’re staying in Fuengirola in spring or the winter months, you might face some issues with the weather – the winds this time of year are typically very strong, so you might end up getting quite a bit of draft into the apartment. The buildings here are really cold as it is, but the wind makes them extra chilly. As I said nearly all the apartments by the sea are very old without any insulation, so even if you put the aircon on for heating, the draft from the wind will still get in.
  • from my experience, the areas around Los Boliches and Torreblanca tend to be more expensive, you will get a better deal looking at the area of Carvajal and then the other side of Fuengirola by Sohail castle (Mijas).
Fuengirola in August
Coastal promenade with a newly refurbished chiringuito restaurant

7 Tips for Enjoying Paseo Maritimo in Fuengirola

While it’s pretty obvious how to enjoy a walk through the coastal promenade, I have a few handy tips I wanted to share with you!

Tip 1 – Watch the Sunrise from Paseo

If you’re coming to Fuengirola off-season, you get a chance to see one of the best sunrises on Costa del Sol – thankfully in the winter and spring the sun comes out quite late between 7 am and 8 am, so there is no need to get up at crazy hours.

If you’re staying in the town in the summer, you can enjoy the same pleasure but will have to rise earlier. Early morning before sunrise is also the most peaceful time to enjoy a walk on the Paseo and many people take this time to enjoy the serenity of the location, without it being spoiled by crowds or barking dogs.

What about the sunset? Unfortunately, the sun sets on the other side of the town, so you won’t get a chance to see it sliding behind the horizon.

fuengirola paseo maritimo 3
Sunrise in Fuengirola

Tip 2 – Avoid Sunday Lunch Time Walks

Locals love to come to the coast for the weekends, even those that don’t live in the city. Sunday lunchtime until around 3 pm is the busiest time to be on the promenade, as everyone takes a walk at this time, and lots of people are going to the chiringuitos for Sunday lunch.

A peaceful walk on the promenade then turns into an obstacle course as you have to navigate not just between crowds of people, but also make sure you don’t step on someone’s tiny dog (although these days they tend to promenade them in prams!), and avoid big families that stop in the middle chatting and blocking half of the road.

Saturday afternoons are another busy period when you might want to avoid this area if you are looking for a peaceful way to enjoy the coastline.

During the peak season in the summer, the promenade is generally much busier with lots of people walking around, and the peak activity is just before sunset when the temperatures being to drop and locals venture out for dinner (which is quite late between 9 pm and 10 pm).

Tip 3 – Avoid Chiringuitos at All Costs

This is one tourist trap that I fell into many times before taking my lessons. If you heard the saying ‘eat where the locals do’ in Andalusia it can’t be further from the truth – especially on the coast.

Chiringuitos are the shabby-looking restaurants sitting on Paseo Maritimo, with beautiful sea views, usually obstructed by lines of sunchairs occupied by holidaymakers. In Fuengirola, many of these have been renovated in 2022, so they look like brand-new establishments, but don’t get the looks to deceive you.

The prices are very high, the quality of the food is very bad, and service leaves much to be desired. On Sundays, they get absolutely packed with locals dining there with the whole family, so the whole restaurant feels and looks like a busy school diner.

The only exception I make for visiting Chiringuitos is venturing there off-season, to enjoy a cold drink with a view, as at that time the sunbeds and umbrellas are packed away, so you can actually see the sea instead of watching someone’s sunburnt back.

Fuengirola in August
Coastal promenade in Fuengirola

Tip 4 – Watch out for Dog Poo and Rude Owners

If there is one thing you will notice in Fuengirola, it’s probably that there are more dogs than humans living in the city, at least it feels like to me.

When you’re walking around on the Paseo, a lot of people will let their dog’s leash cross your path and unless you say something they won’t bother pulling the dog back. The other issues are dogs doing their business on the pavement and their owners not bothering to pick up their stuff.

So watch where you walk and make sure you don’t step on someone’s miniature dog by mistake =)

Tip 5 – Find the Best Places to Eat in Paseo Maritimo

In my article on the best Fuengirola restaurants (updated for 2023), I mentioned that Paseo Maritimo is one of the hardest places to find a good restaurant.

The main road next to it may be full of restaurants and cafes, but the quality is really bad across the board. There are a few exceptions that stood the test of time and deliver good food year after year.

Here are my picks if you want to eat out in Paseo Maritimo:

  • Paseo 100 – as the name suggests, this restaurant is located at the address of Paseo 100, near the Torreblanca area of Fuengirola. It’s a Finnish place with menu influenced by Nordic cuisine, but you will find also standard tourist options like burgers and pizza. One of my favorite dishes from here is the smoked salmon burger and halloumi burger, the most flavourful burger I had in the whole city. The place is also known as THE place to watch sports as they have large screens in an adjacent room. Check my full review here.
  • Sandpiper – this British establishment has been on Paseo for a while and I return there to taste some British classics. The place is small, but cozy, with friendly service and good prices.
  • Restaurante Santorini – this is right next to Paseo 100, Mediterranean cuisine with lots of dishes that I used to have when I lived in Cyprus, so if you love Greek cuisine, this place will really tick all your boxes. Check my full review here.
  • Kroon Gastropub (now Gastrobar del Mar) – this place is located in the Stella Marris apartment building and has recently changed owners and name, but the inside looks still very much the same. I come here for their salads, patatas bravas or my favorite patatas alioli. The place has a nice vibe and if you sit inside you get also lovely sea views. Check my full review here.
  • Vinea Restaurant – this small place is located at the bottom of the Yaramar Hotel, they have a very nice menu packed with flavours, and they also have very pleasant live music over the weekends. Check the review here.
Paseo 100, Fuengirola: Restaurant Review
Smoked salmon rye burger from Paseo 100

Tip 6 – Best Places to Enjoy Seaview from Paseo Maritimo

Usually, the best places to enjoy stunning sea views are the chiringuitos on the beach but only stop there for a drink if you must. On the other side of the road, you will find plenty of restaurants, but for most, the view is obstructed by parked cars that line the whole main road.

One of the chiringuitos I usually return to for the views and location is the one next to Pesetta monument – they have tables and chairs right in the sand, so it’s perfect if you’re coming with kids and they can play in the sand same time. Having said that, the management has changed and service is pretty slow, and they only accept card payments, so keep that in mind if you want to visit.

For the best views, I always recommend getting your own chair or beach towel as close to the sea as possible, so you get the best seats in the house for the whole day, and can enjoy the view not obstructed by anything else.

If you’re coming in the summer, people get down to the beach as early as 9am and bring half of the house with them (complete with folding tables, tents etc – even though these are illegal to use on the beach), so keep that in mind if you want to choose your location.

fuengirola may 32
Entrance to the beach from Paseo Maritimo

Tip 7 – Enjoy the Facilities

Right next to the coastal promenade are areas where the city built outdoor exercise areas, playgrounds for kids, and even free public toilets.

There are also brand new beach showers which are open also for most of the winter, so the promenade is very well equipped for everything you need.

The entrances to the beach now have new shaded areas with lights for the evening, and recycling bins for plastic, glass and mixed garbage.

Part of the promenade (approximately from Los Boliches towards Carvajal) has also a cycling path that is used by people on rollerskates, which you can use safely if you want to do bikes with kids.

Where to Park if You’re Going to Paseo Maritimo

If you’re driving to the paseo by car, there are parking spaces available right by the Paseo, most of them in the area of Los Boliches and close to St Raphael Square. These get picked up pretty quickly so you only stand a chance to secure a spot if you come in early in the morning.

For general parking, you can use the area of Recinto Fuengirola (the marketplace), which is only a short walk away from the promenade. There is also a smaller parking space next to Mercadona in Los Boliches.

Other than that, there are some public parking places closer to the old town of Fuengirola, and occasional parking spots in the small streets around the town. Local law enforcement takes parking seriously, and I see illegally parked cars towed on daily basis, so make sure you pay parking fees and don’t park illegally.

I hope this covered everything you needed to know about the Paseo Maritimo!

If you had any specific questions, feel free to drop them in the comments under the article.

Fuengirola: Recommended Day Trips & Experiences

  • Caminito del Rey Day Trip with Guide – explore the world-famous pathway of the king, and admire the stunning views from the gorge El Chorro. Includes pick up in Fuengirola, entrance to Caminito del Rey and helmets.
  • Day Trip to Gibraltar with pick up from Fuengirola with a minibus, with free time in Gibraltar for shopping and an optional tour of the nature reserve.
  • Gibraltar Sightseeing Day Tour – a more structured day trip with a full tour of the nature reserve, showing you all the highlights, with free time for shopping. Pick up from Fuengirola.
  • Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas Day Trip – see the famous Puente Nuevo bridge in Ronda, with one of the oldest bullrings in the country, and admire the homes and restaurants built into caves in Setenil. Pick-up in Fuengirola – includes a walking tour of Ronda and a complimentary glass of wine in Ronda.
  • Day Trip to Granada with Alhambra Tour – see one of the architectural wonders of Spain, the Moorish Palace complex of Alhambra, with free time to explore Granada. Includes pick-up from Fuengirola, tickets to Alhambra and a guide.

Explore More in Fuengirola

Fuengirola Boat Trips: Best Options & Things to Keep in Mind

Sould Park in Fuengirola: Worth a Visit?

A Complete Guide to Fuengirola Beaches: All You Need to Know

Fuengirola Old Town: An Insider’s Guide by a Local

Coming to Fuengirola? These are the Tourist Traps to Avoid

Best Things to Do with Kids on Your Trip to Fuengirola, Spain

Southern Spain Travel Tips

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Hi, I'm Lucia

At Viva La Vita, I will help you to discover Southern Spain like a local!

I've been living on Costa del Sol since 2020, and fill these pages with first-hand insights, personal experience and practical tips that will help you plan a wonderful trip to Spain.

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