Fuengirola, being my home away from home, is a place where I spend a lot of time.
In the near two years of living in the city, I’m by no means an expert, but I’ve seen plenty of what it has to offer and also the areas where it doesn’t live up to the expectations.
As it’s a popular holiday destination, it looks very much like the rest of the coastal resorts in Costa del Sol – the coastline covered by tall – sometimes shabby looking – apartment blocks, hotels, and beaches with chiringuitos (local beach restaurants) and sun chairs for hire.
Even though it doesn’t boast the historic sights (like Malaga) or historic charming old town (like Marbella), it still has a lot to offer, if you’ve only got 24 hours to explore.
1. Breakfast by the Beach
If you want to enjoy the most of what beach life has to offer, my advice is to go there early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
You won’t be competing for a good spot with crowds and the sun is either too high or low on the horizon for it to feel too hot to stay for a while.
One of the things I love doing is getting a simple sandwich from one of the restaurants on a promenade, or making one yourself in your accommodation, and then enjoying a breakfast with a view that no restaurant will offer.
Alternatively, if you fancy a comfy chair with a few and food delivered to the table, the Chiringuitos along the beach promenade are usually open around breakfast time.
Luckily a simple sandwich is a meal even the bad restaurants can do to a basic standard.
2. Hide from the Sun in Bioparc Fuengirola
Bioparc is very different from a traditional ZOO.
There are no towering fences and huge cages, run-down enclosures, and distressed-looking animals.
This place really stands out from everything I’ve seen before because of its dedication to nature & animal conservation and creating a natural habitat for animals that live here.
They have a nature and environment conservation foundation and dedicate resources to biodiversity conservation projects, like the preservation of fauna in Madagascar and programs for breeding endangered species.
The entrance is a bit on a more expensive side (close to 20 eur per person), but the surroundings are something you’ll never see anywhere else. You will be transported to the middle of a lush jungle!
There is also a restaurant where you can watch monkeys climb the trees around you, with a huge playground for kids.
Check more details in my blog post here.
3. Enjoy the Views from Sohail Castle
Overlooking the Fuengirola river and guarding the edge of the town is Sohail Castle, an old Castle built as part of city defense system in AD 956.
While much of it is long gone, the core structure with the large courtyard still remains and since 2000, it serves its duty as one of the main attractions in the city.
The entrance to the castle is from two areas – one right next to the river and you walk up the steep pathway and the second one from behind the castle where you will also find a large parking lot.
The entry is now free and you can visit any day – just make sure to check the opening times so you don’t venture there when they close for siesta.
Is it worth the trip?
Sohail Castle is certainly not as impressive as some of the fairy tale castles you will find in Germany, but if you’re in the city and have a spare hour or two, it’s a nice walk and the view is well worth it.
Check more details in my blog post here.
4. Take a Stroll on the Coastal Promenade
The coastal promenade along the Paseo Maritimo de Rey de Espana runs for good 7 kilometres, offering you a chance for a very long coastal walk.
It’s lined with palm trees on one side and restaurants on the other side of the road.
It’s a popular spot for runners, people walking, but also for families taking a stroll early in the morning or late in the afternoon. It does get crowded in the evenings when locals go for dinner, usually between 8 pm and 9 pm.
5. Enjoy the Local Cuisine
If you’re coming to Fuengirola, trying local cuisine is a must.
As with other coastal resorts, fresh seafood like fire-cooked sardines (espetos) are the staples. Other Andalusian classics include gazpacho soup (cold soup), Gambas Pil Pil (chilli oil cooked prawns), Bouquerones Fritos (fried anchovies) and others.
To find my local recommendations for the best restaurants in Fuengirola, check this article.
6. Book a Boat Trip
From Fuengirola Marina (Puerto de Fuengirola), you have an option to choose from a number of boat trips, starting from 35 euros for a short 1-2 hour cruise, all the way up to 350 euros for a private charter.
In addition to these cruises, you can also take the boat as a way to commute to Benalmadena – the trip costs 16 euros per person.
7. Plan a Sunset Picnic
What better way to end the day than by a private picnic on an empty beach!
Even in summertime, most crowds leave the beaches around 8 pm, leaving you plenty of space to wine & dine in relative privacy.
Hope you enjoyed these tips!
If you’re looking for more inspiration, I’ve added some of my other articles from Fuengirola below.
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
7+ Exciting Day Trips from Fuengirola
10 Cool Things to Do in Fuengirola
Best Restaurants in Fuengirola
Southern Spain Travel Tips
BEST CAR RENTAL
To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award winning price comparison site for car rentals.
BUS & TRAIN TICKETS
To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
LOCAL TOURS
Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
HOTELS
I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and it’s the best place to book your hotel.
LUGGAGE STORE
If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage in all the destinations in Spain.
LOCAL SIM CARD
If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.
