Things to Do in Benalmádena: Castles, Caves, Beaches and Mijas

If you only pick a handful of Benalmádena attractions, start with Castillo Monumento Colomares, a castle monument about half a mile from the centre, and Benalmádena Museum right in town. Close by are Cueva de la Zorrera and Cueva de los Botijos, both recorded as archaeological sites around a mile out.

For marine life, Sea Life Benalmádena and the Selwo Marina park sit in Arroyo de la Miel, about 3 miles away. Castillo de Bil Bil, also in Arroyo de la Miel, is a striking landmark on the seafront side of the resort.

Then there are the beaches: Playa Malibu Palace, Playa de Carvajal on the border with Fuengirola, Playas Benalmadena, Playa de Malapesquera and Playa Saltillo, all within about 4 miles.

Benalmádena itself holds the cultural core: Benalmádena Museum, Castillo Monumento Colomares and the two caves, plus Playa Malibu Palace and Playa de Carvajal, roughly 1 to 2 miles out. For anyone wondering what to do on a first morning, this cluster is the obvious place to begin.

Arroyo de la Miel, about 2 miles away, is where many of the best-known Benalmádena tourist attractions sit: Sea Life, Selwo Marina and Castillo de Bil Bil, along with Playas Benalmadena, Playa de Malapesquera and Playa Saltillo.

Mijas, around 4 miles from Benalmádena, makes one of the easiest day trips. Its sights include the Plaza de toros de Mijas bullring, Castillo de Mijas, the Museo de Miniaturas de Mijas and the Mijas Ethnological Historical Museum. Further afield, a day trip to Gibraltar from Benalmádena is realistic: Gibraltar airport lies around 75 minutes' drive away.

Children tend to head straight for Sea Life Benalmádena and Selwo Marina, both in Arroyo de la Miel and well suited to an afternoon out of the midday sun, which reaches an average 31°C in July and August.

The Museo de Miniaturas de Mijas is another good family stop, and the castles, Colomares in particular, catch young imaginations without a long journey. The beaches, from Playa Malibu Palace to Playa de Carvajal, round out the days in between.

You can see tours and tickets for Benalmádena excursions on this page, including attraction entry and guided day trips, alongside options to compare car hire if you would rather drive to Mijas or Gibraltar at your own pace.

Most British travellers come on a package, flying into Málaga, which has direct UK flights and is about 10 minutes from Benalmádena, 8 minutes from Arroyo de la Miel and 13 from Mijas. You can compare package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach here. Packages cost more during school holidays, so travelling in May, June or September often suits those with flexibility.

April to September is the dependable season for outdoor sightseeing. October is the wettest month, with around 117 mm of rain over 10 days, so keep the indoor attractions in reserve then.