Stuff to Do in Benalmádena: Resorts, Weather and Getting There

Benalmádena is a working town as much as a resort, spread between the seafront and the hills behind it, with Arroyo de la Miel forming its busier inland neighbour and Mijas a short drive further west. It sits in the province of Málaga in Andalusia, and that mix of real town and holiday coast is a large part of its appeal for British travellers who want more than a sunbed.

Much of what there is to do in Benalmádena lies within a few miles. The Castillo Monumento Colomares, a castle monument less than a mile from the centre, is the sight most visitors photograph. The Benalmádena Museum is right in town, and the Cueva de la Zorrera and Cueva de los Botijos, two caves listed as archaeological sites, are about a mile out. Families tend to gravitate towards Sea Life Benalmádena and the Selwo Marina marine park, both in Arroyo de la Miel.

Benalmádena itself is the natural base if you want the beach on your doorstep: Playa Malibu Palace and Playa de Carvajal, the latter shared with neighbouring Fuengirola, are both within about two miles. It is also the closest point to the castle, the caves and the town museum.

Arroyo de la Miel, around two miles away, is the smaller, livelier hub with roughly 18,000 residents. It is home to Sea Life and Selwo Marina, the Castillo de Bil Bil, and beaches including Playa de Malapesquera, Playa Saltillo and the stretch known as Playas Benalmadena. It is also the quickest of the three from Málaga airport.

Mijas, about four miles away, has a different character. Its sights are cultural rather than seaside: the Plaza de toros de Mijas bullring, the Castillo de Mijas, the Mijas Ethnological Historical Museum and the quirky Museo de Miniaturas de Mijas. Among the places to go in Benalmádena's surroundings, it is the obvious half-day out.

The main season runs from April to September. April is a good-value moment for walkers and sightseers, with highs of 21°C and only around three rainy days. By June the temp in Benalmádena reaches 27°C, and July and August peak at 31°C with lows of 21°C and almost no rain. September eases back to 26°C, which many travellers find ideal.

October is the wettest month, averaging 117mm of rain over about ten days, so pack a jacket if you book then. Winter is mild rather than hot: Christmas in Benalmádena brings highs around 17°C and lows of 7°C, and New Year in Benalmádena is much the same, with January averaging 16°C. March can be showery, with around nine rainy days. For day-to-day forecasts close to departure, sources such as AccuWeather for Benalmádena are worth checking alongside these averages.

Málaga airport (AGP) has direct flights from the United Kingdom and is the easy choice. The drive is about 8 minutes to Arroyo de la Miel, 10 minutes to Benalmádena and 13 minutes to Mijas, so transfers are among the shortest anywhere in Spain.

Gibraltar (GIB) also has direct flights from the UK and can be useful if fares or times suit you better. Allow around 75 minutes by road to Benalmádena and about 71 minutes to Mijas. If you prefer to travel by sea, Málaga's ferry port is about 10 miles away.

Most British travellers book Benalmádena as a package, combining the flight, hotel and airport transfer in one booking. With Málaga so close, the transfer is a short hop rather than a long coach ride. You can compare Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach deals on this page, including Jet2 Benalmádena packages, and choose the board basis that suits you, from room only to all inclusive. As anywhere, prices rise during UK school holidays, so travelling just outside them usually gives more choice.

If you would rather book separately, you can check hotel prices, compare car hire for trips to Mijas or further along the coast, and browse tours and tickets for local attractions such as the marine park and aquarium.