By the five2one team, from our office in Benalmádena
Benalmádena is a town on the Costa del Sol, between Torremolinos and Fuengirola, 15 to 20 minutes by car from the international Málaga Airport (AGP). It rises from the beaches and the marina up to a white village on the slopes of the Sierra de Mijas, and it holds more history than its size suggests. It is also where five2one has its office in Spain, and where several of our homes are.
This guide is for anyone about to spend their holidays here, or deciding whether Benalmádena is the place they want to return to, year after year.
One town, three characters
Benalmádena is really three places in one, each with its own pace and identity.
- Benalmádena Pueblo is the original village, around three kilometres inland and some 200 metres above the sea. White houses, narrow streets and small squares, with views down to the coast.
- Arroyo de la Miel sits between the village and the sea. Once a separate settlement, it is now the main residential area, with shops, schools, the train station and everyday life.
- Benalmádena Costa is the seafront: beaches, hotels, restaurants, and Puerto Marina.
On the hillside between Benalmádena and Fuengirola lies Reserva del Higuerón, a residential area with its own resort and sport club, where several of our homes are.
A long history in a small place
People have lived in these hills for a very long time. Caves such as the Cueva del Toro hold traces of settlement from the Upper Palaeolithic, around 20,000 years ago.
The Phoenicians were drawn here by the mines, and the Romans later built Benalroma, a fish-salting factory on the coast. The name Benalmádena itself is most often traced to an Arabic place name linked to those mines.
Under Muslim rule, the land was farmed with sugar cane, figs, grapes, and mulberry. Ibn al-Baitar, one of the great botanists and pharmacologists of the Middle Ages, was born here in 1197.
After 1485, life on the coast was shaped by the threat of pirate raids. Two watchtowers from the 15th century still stand along the shore, built to watch the sea and warn the people inland.
In 1784, Félix Solesio bought the Arroyo de la Miel estate to build paper factories. Later, muscatel grapes and wine carried the local economy, until phylloxera ruined the vines. From the 1950s, tourism changed the town again, and Benalmádena grew into what it is today.
Landmarks worth a visit
Benalmádena has a surprising number of places that feel like nowhere else on the coast.
- The Stupa of Enlightenment: inaugurated in 2003, the Buddhist stupa stands 33 metres high on the slopes above the town, among the largest in the Western world. The view from its terrace takes in the whole bay.
- Castillo de Colomares: a castle-monument to Christopher Columbus, built between 1987 and 1994 by a local doctor, Esteban Martín, with the help of two masons.
- The cable car to Monte Calamorro: from Arroyo de la Miel up to the top of the sierra, with walking trails and views over the coast.
- Parque de la Paloma: a landscaped park with a large lake and animals roaming freely, a favourite for families.
- Puerto Marina: opened in 1972, with more than 1,000 berths. International specialist magazines named it the best marina in the world in 1995 and 1997, and according to the marina, it has held the Blue Flag every year since 1987.
Benalmádena through the seasons
Benalmádena is not only a summer place. The Costa del Sol is known for its mild winters.
Spring and autumn are made for the sierra trails, long lunches outside and quieter beaches. Summer is for the sea and late evenings at the marina. In winter, the village and the viewpoints are at their calmest, and the days are often mild enough to sit in the sun.
With 10 weeks a year in a five2one home, it is worth looking beyond July and August.
Getting around
Málaga Airport is 15 to 20 minutes away by car, which makes Benalmádena easy to reach for a long weekend as well as a longer stay.
The C-1 local train, which runs along the coast between Málaga and Fuengirola and also stops at Málaga Airport, has an underground station in Arroyo de la Miel. Trains run roughly every 20 minutes, so Málaga city and the neighbouring towns are within easy reach without a car.
Who Benalmádena suits
Benalmádena suits people who like variety within a short distance: a village morning, a beach afternoon and a marina evening, all in the same day. It works well for families, with parks, beaches and plenty to discover.
It suits less well if you are looking for complete seclusion. In summer, the seafront is lively. The good news is that the calmer side, in the village or up on the hillside, is never far away.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Benalmádena is best to stay in?
It depends on the holiday you want. Benalmádena Pueblo is the calmest, with village life and views. Arroyo de la Miel suits those who want shops, the train and everyday life close by. Benalmádena Costa puts you next to the beach and the marina. The hillside areas, such as Reserva del Higuerón, combine quiet and sea views with the coast a short drive away.
Can you get from Málaga Airport to Benalmádena by train?
Yes. The C-1 local train runs from the airport station to Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel without a change, and continues along the coast to Fuengirola. By car, the airport is 15 to 20 minutes away.
A five2one home in Benalmádena
Each five2one home is shared by 5 families, each holding a 20% share and 10 weeks a year. It is real co-ownership, and professional management takes care of the practical side, so your holidays start the moment you arrive. Two of our homes in Benalmádena:
- Spacious apartment in exclusive Stupa Hills: three bedrooms and a 75 m² terrace in one of the quieter residential areas of the coast, within walking distance of the Stupa, with a shared pool, gym and spa.
- Fantastic property with a panoramic view of the Mediterranean: two bedrooms and a 37 m² terrace in Reserva del Higuerón, looking out over the Bay of Fuengirola.
