Benalmádena is a large town on the Spanish Costa del Sol. It consists of three parts; Benalmádena Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmádena Costa. The most worth visiting of these is Benalmádena Costa with its long stretch of sunny beaches, a lively nightlife and excellent cuisine.

It is located approximately 15 km south west of Malaga and merges with Torremolinos lies just north east of it along the coast.

Understand

The Benalmadena [1] coast (Spanish: Benalmàdena Costa) is the southernmost portion of Benalmádena, this is the strip along the Mediterranean Sea. There are many hotels, bars, and of course beaches, and the Puerto Marina is here. The Puerto Marina is an open-air shopping mall, marina, and on-the-water (literally) condominium complex. Don't expect to find many people here when there's daylight, but after 22.00 the crowds appear. Next door to the shopping portion which surrounds the harbor, there is a complex containing Benalmádena's nightclubs. Arroyo de la Miel is the central section of the municipality. It is the home to many Britons, and its main street is lined with British pubs. English speakers will be at home here, but you will also have ample opportunity to practice your Castillian, or even more specifically, your Andaluz.

Get in

By plane

The closest airport is Malaga airport AGP, which is along the coast, just a few minutes by train or car. You can get a taxi from outside terminal 2 where there is a taxi rank. A taxi from Malaga Airport to benalmadena town centre is around €29 [2]

By train

Benalmadena can be reached by the frequent, inexpensive, and comfortable air conditioned trains which run along the coast from Malaga to Fuengirola, with a station at Malaga Airport. The station at Benalmadena is in Arroyo de la Miel, with taxis and buses to take you to all parts of the town.

By bus

Benalmadena is integrated in Malaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium. The following bus routes:

Route	Service	Timetable	Map
M-110	Málaga-Benalmádena Costa	Timetable	Map
M-112	Málaga-Mijas	Timetable	Map
M-115	Málaga-Benalmádena Costa (Directo)	Timetable	Map
M-116	Benalmádena-Teatinos (October-June)	Timetable	Map
M-120	Torremolinos-Fuengirola	Timetable	Map
M-121	Torremolinos-Benalmádena-Mijas	Timetable	Map
M-123	Churriana-Torremolinos-Benalmádena Costa	Timetable	Map
M-124	Carola-Torremolinos	Timetable	Map
M-125	Torremolinos-Patronato	Timetable	Map
M-126	Benalmádena-Torremolinos	Timetable	Map
M-320	Málaga-Marbella	Timetable	Map

Get around

There is a local bus service, the Orange buses, which costs €1.1 per person per journey operating within the town limits. It runs up to Benalmadena Pueblo via Arroyo de la Miel starting from both ends of the coastal road. Times are posted on the Orange Bus Stops. The Portillo buses, green and cream, run along to coast from Malaga right down to Estapona and from Benalmadena to Malaga or Fuengirola costs €1.2 per person. Taxis cost €5.5 per trip within the town limits during the week and 8 on Sundays; they can take up to 4 people. This place is hilly with several roads having the Cardiac Hill nickname so buses and taxis can be a valuable health aid.

See

• Benalmadena Marina. The inner part is surrounded by shops, cafes, bars and apartments and is nice to walk around.

• Butterfly Zoo, Avda. Retamar, Benalmadena Pueblo (adjacent to the Buddhist Temple). 10.00-18.00 approx. This recently opened attraction features a great variety of butterflies from different continents. From Torremolinos, Benalmadena Costa and Arroyo take the bus that goes to Mijas (every half hour during the day) and alight at Estupa which is just beyond the village of Benalmadena Pueblo. The Buddhist Temple is easy to spot. By car, Exit 217 on the autovia and head towards Benalmadena Pueblo. €11.50. 

Do

• Boat trips. Some of these include dolphin watching.
• Cable car to top of mountain. An excellent trip. You can get there on the Sightseeing Tour Bus which tours the town on a one hour round trip and you can get on and off at any place. Get off at Tivoli World for the cable car trip to the top and then if you're up for it, a short steep walk to the peak of the mountain where the views are beautiful. The Birds of Prey exhibition on the mountain is inclusive with the cable car price (13 euro) and is a fascinating show with eagles, vultures and owls showing off their skills.
• Segway tours, Puerto Deportivo de Benalmadena, ☏ +34 686 221 256. 10AM till 7PM. €35. 
• Tivoli World - Theme park near the centre of town.

• Costa Party Catamarans [3] operate luxury sailing catamarans and their English speaking crews are fabulous. The best boat trip, takes place daily from 10-00AM, out to sea looking for wild dolphins.

Eat

• The Atrium - a fine restaurant located on Avenida de al Constitución, where a nice meal will cost 10-15€ per person. There is a wide variety of dishes, and excellent recipes. It is spacious, having rejected the Spanish tendency to cram as much as possible into the smallest space. You will feel as though you're dining in England or the United States, but the recipes bring the best of Spanish raw materials to your table prepared as nouveau cuisine.

Drink

The Harpenny Bridge is a great bar to watch football. As you guessed, it is an Irish pub and they do amazing variety of whiskeys and spirits. They also are one of the only bars around allowed to sell black vodka.

Also Monkey Business, (in front of Hotel Riviera). A great place for drinks and fun. The food is great and bar staff are Irish so there's always great craic.

• Picassos Show Bar, Plaza de Ibensa, local 14, Benalmadena Costa (Beneath Eduardo’s Restaurant.), ☏ +34 605 663 335. Picasso’s will be serving drinks and there will be a free nightly raffle. Drinks are exceptionally low priced for this type of luxury venue. 
• Robbo's Bar, Avenida De Bonanza. 10am-2am. Friendly family bar, good food (best of British) served all day, good selection of drinks at affordable prices, pool table and sun terrace, quiz nights Tu-Th Sa from about 10pm. Cheap prices. 

Stay safe

• Xanit Hospital which is a privately run hospital is located in Benalmadena should the need arise.

Go next

Tours are available from almost everywhere in Benalmádena and lots go to Malaga, Marbella, Ronda, Estepona, Algeciras, Cadiz, Sevilla and Gibraltar (UK).

Be aware that if you decide to go to Gibraltar, you will need a passport or ID to get in. Some countries may require visas, although uncommon.