Fuengirola is one of those towns you either love or hate.  I love it.  Not only does its casual, laid-back atmosphere fit in well with my normally hectic lifestyle, but it exudes a certain charm that you don´t find in other beach resorts on the Costa del Sol.  Marbella and Puerto Banus are just 30 minutes drive from Fuengirola, and you will find some of the coast´s best beaches on your doorstep.

There is something for everyone in Fuengirola.  Superb beaches stretch to the Mediterranean in front of attractive promenades with  waterfront cafés, bars and restaurants. Colourful canopies and cool terraces mingle with gift shops, boutiques and stylish leather shops, attracting visitors from all over Spain. Fuengirola is a shopper´s paradise, and boasts some of the best stores and shopping malls in Andalucia.  Whether you are searching for designer clothes, household items, groceries or gift ideas, you are spoilt for choice in this popular seaside resort.

Fuengirola Shopping
For shopaholics, the excellent Myramar Centre is situated just 1km from the centre of town, and boasts over 70 shops selling everything from electrical goods to clothes and homeware items.  There is also a multi- plex cinema complex, including one film every day in English, a children´s play area, a supermarket and several restaurants on the top floor.  Opened since 2004, this impressive centre offers free covered parking.
Situated just outside town, next to Myramar Shopping Centre is Dunne´s Stores, selling a great range of reasonably priced children´s and adults clothes, shoes and fashion accessories.  A well stocked food hall and bakery also sells fresh pastries and cakes, and there is a comfortable bar/café just inside the store where you can relax after a hard morning´s shopping.

If you enjoy shopping in a relaxed, outdoor atmosphere, there is no better place than Fuengirola´s Saturday Flea Market. Situated on the Fair Ground between the centre of Fuengirola and Los Boliches, this is a unique weekly Market which is unrivalled on the coast.

Open from 9am to 3pm, almost anything can be found here, and the hustle and bustle of the market creates a great atmosphere for visitors from all over the Costa Del Sol.  The stalls sell a diverse range of goods including Electrical and Household items, Antique Furniture and Paintings, Andalucian Pottery, Second Hand Clothes and Toys, Fresh Herbs and Spices, Books, Fabulous Leather Goods, the largest range of Bath Crystals and Pot Pourri you are ever likely to see, and even a stall selling replica Military Outfits from the days of General Franco!

Many excellent bars and cafes surround the Feria Ground and there is no shortage of places to stop for refreshments after a hard morning´s shopping.

The fabulous cut price store, Lidl is situated 100 metres from Dunne´s and sells a massive range of bargain food, drink and household items, and offers plenty of free car parking.
Another welcome addition to the area, is the Waitrose/Iceland store situated 500 metres from Lidl, in the shopping complex behind Burger King.  Offering a vast range of top quality frozen, fresh and tinned foods, imported from the UK each week, plus a great selection of books, newspapers, magazines and greetings cards, this store gives shoppers the chance to stock up on all their favourite foods from home.
You can start and finish your holiday in Fuengirola and never have to move far, but if you want to hire a car, you will find plenty of car rentals offices in town, or at Malaga Airport.
Fast, fun and full of life is this racy resort town on the Costa del Sol.  Holidaymakers have flocked to Fuengirola since the 1960´s, and its reputation as a great holiday destination has grown over the years.

Fuengirola Zoo
After undergoing a radical refurbishment, and reopening a second phase in 2002, Fuengirola Zoo is one of the most popular family attractions on the Costa Del Sol.
Set amongst beautiful man made waterfalls, rivers, caves and valleys, to represent a tropical rain forest, this fabulous zoo plays host to over 1,300 animals and reptiles in semi natural and spacious surroundings.  Species include Sri Lankan Leopards, African Tigers and Nile Crocodiles and smaller animals such as the curious Meerkats and Reptiles.
There is also a café and gift shop situated within the zoo complex where you can stop for refreshments.  With easy road access and within walking distance of most hotels in town, plus great facilities, this is a great fun day out for all the family.

There is so much to do in Fuengirola, and it is the perfect resort for family holidays or individuals who want to have a good time.  With 7km of sandy beaches, a fabulous seafront promenade and hundreds of bars, restaurants and pavement cafés, the choice of places to go is endless.

Previously a small fishing village, Fuengirola has become a vibrant metropolis with a really cosmopolitan feel.  The advent of many up-market tapas bars and good restaurants, interspersed with chic boutiques and other shops of interest, as well as fabulous beaches makes it the perfect holiday destination.
The main square, Plaza de la Constitución, has been re-designed but still retains its unique character and many festivals and events start and finish here.  Some of the best watering holes are situated in this area, and the Plaza Bar, in front of the church, boasts a huge outside terrace and comfortable interiors.   A walk down the narrow, pedestrian streets leading off the main square is a voyage of discovery for the many visitors, who come across some of the hidden secrets and delightful corners of this friendly, Andalucian resort.

One of the highlights of the year in Fuengirola is the annual feria, which takes place every October throughout the streets near to the centre of town and also at the fairground just down the road.  Locals don traditional costume, and parade on horseback through the town.  The night time jollities take place at the fairground, where children´s rides, bars, restaurants and live entertainment booms out until the early hours.
A paradise for sports enthusiasts Fuengirola is a golfers paradise. Situated right in the heart of the Costa del Sol´s golf territory.  Mijas Golf is just a few kilometres from Fuengirola centre and many more courses are within a very close radius. Of course water sports are strongly featured and where better to get to grips with speed boats, jet skis or fishing gear than at the modern marina area.  Scuba diving, fishing trips, jet skiing, parasailing and all sorts of water sports can be arranged from here.  Quad biking is also offered from offices in the marina, and bikers are taken up to a specially designed track in the countryside above the town.

Fuengirola Bars and Restaurants
Packed with excellent bars and restaurants, the famous dining area of fish alley, offers every type of restaurant imaginable.  Chinese, Indian, Italian, Spanish, French and English restaurants sit side by side in the streets that criss cross fish alley, and the whole area is buzzing at night time.
Aqua-Park on the outskirts of town is the most popular attraction amongst younger visitors to the Costa del Sol, and offers visitors some of the best water rides in Europe.  The park also has quieter areas with pools and sunbeds, and café-bars serving snacks and drinks throughout the day.
There is also a Karting track on the Coin road, where thrill seekers can pit their wits against the experts, while enjoying the ride in a safe environment.

Fuengirola History
For visitors who want a quieter time, the impressive Sohail Castle dominates the skyline at the western end of Fuengirola, and is undoubtedly one of the town´s most important monuments.
Most probably of Roman origin, the Castle was rebuilt in the mid tenth century by Abdul Rahman III, whilst Andalucia was under Moorish reign.  Although almost destroyed during the Christian reconquest, the Sohail Castle was once again rebuilt in the 18th Century when the area was retaken by the Moors.
At this time, the town, now known as Fuengirola, was renamed Sojayl (most likely the origin of the name Sohail).During a short time at the beginning of the 19th Century the Castle was also home to French troops fighting the War of Independence.

After extensive resoration in 1989, this impressive castle is not only attracts tourists who enjoy the history of the local area, but also hosts several cultural events throughout the year plus music festivals and concerts in the summer months

Whether you want a quieter holiday just inland from the town, or a more lively holiday in the middle of the action, the Costa del Sol is the place to be, and is perfectly situated for holidaymakers who want to visit Marbella, Puerto Banus and Estepona.

Fuengirola has it all.  Like most resorts it comes to life in the summer months and enjoys a quieter period between October and March. The choice of accommodation is vast, from 5 star luxury hotels or penthouse apartments or villas with private pool, to studio flats with sea views or fishermen’s cottages on the beach.  With an average of around 320 days of sunshine a year, the only decision is when to come.