Information about the Resort of Benalmadena Costa
Benalmádena is situated on the side of the Sierra de Mijas and easy to get to from Malaga, which is just 20 kilometres away along the Autovía de Mediterráneo. There are also train and bus links to the town from Malaga and Marbella. The climate is mild, varying between an average winter temperature of 15c degrees, and 25c in summer
There's more to Benalmadena as it sprawls midway between Malaga and Torremolinos than first meets the eye. The municipality is divided into three districts, Benalmadena Pueblo, Benalmadena Costa and Arroyo de la Miel. Benalmadena is where the actor Antonio Banderas comes from, and he and Melanie Griffith often visit Benalmadena's attractive marina. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs all settled here and left their mark. The Romans and Moors in particular had a noticeable effect on Benalmádena architecture. The Catholic Kings, Ferdinand and Isabel, also established a defence base here
The original heart of Benalmadena remains as a typical Andaluz village, in the foothills of Sierra de Mijas which sweeps down to the shore. It covers an area of 26,58 sq. km. and has an average height of 280 metres above sea level. The narrow, flower-filled white streets hold plenty of traces of former civilisations which used to exist in the area. This picturesque town and its coastline is now geared towards tourism, with a population of over 60,000 people at the height of the season.
Benalmadena Costa is the coastal strip of the municipality which enjoys a 9 km stretch of attractive beaches and all the activities, sport and leisure of a busy resort town. You can stroll along one of the most attractive promenades in Europe and enjoy the relaxing blend of sea and sand as you're drawn into seafront restaurants and shops. You'll soon come across the Castillo de Bil Bil, an neo-Arab construction built in 1934, a wonderful viewing platform that looks out over the Med and over Benalmadena, it's used by the Town Hall as an exhibition centre and a venue for various concerts and cultural events.
Arroyo de la Miel is situated between the old town and the coast. It has a lively commercial area and business buzz, and is also a pleasant residential area of 17000 inhabitants. The three watchtowers which feature on Benalmadena's crest make an attractive sight to see as you walk around Benalmadena Costa.
Over the past thirty years Benalmádena has become one of the key tourism centres on the Costa del Sol, triplicating its off-season population of 30,000 inhabitants in the summer season. There is plenty to do here all the year round, among the attractions are the Puerto Marina, the Telecabina cable car, the Casino in Torrequebrada and a golf course of the same name. The marina, in Benalmádena Costa, can accommodate up to 1,000 boats, with berths of up to six metres long, and almost all types of water sports available here, including hang-gliding and underwater snorkelling. The cable car telecabinas, link Arroyo de la Miel with the peak of the Carramolo mountain, and on a clear day, one can see across to Africa. Heading down from the town on the Torremuelle road, one arrives at the Torrequebrada Casino, one of the best entertainment and conference centres on the entire coastline.