Car Hire Fuengirola - Mini guide to Fuengirola

Fuengirola is famous for its five miles of sandy beaches, flanked by high-rise hotels and residential blocks of apartments with magnificent views of the Mediterranean and sweeping coastline.

Tourism completely dominates this resort, with broad beaches flanking the city east and west (Carvajal, Gaviotas, Boliches, San Francisco, Santa Amalia, Castillo) with newly built "chiringuitos" - simple beachside sheds housing restaurants - seaside promenades and endless attractions. All this modernism however, lies in contrast to the old Moorish castle which still dominates the area.

A recent landscaping drive by the local municipality has resulted in a wider promenade and plenty of palm trees, interspersed with colourful flower beds. This compact seaside resort and town has an excellent selection of supermarkets and competitively priced shops, so shoppers are not restricted to the typical gift shop strip with its imported shells and t-shirts.

There are plenty of things to do, ranging from family activities such as the aqua park, a trip to the zoo and a host of sea sports, to a leisurely sight seeing tour in a horse-drawn carriage. Some interesting alternatives to the usual touristy options are a visit to the Roman baths at Torreblanca, the Arab castle of Suhayl, the Outdoor Museum exhibiting paintings by a variety of artists and the 7 km long Marine Parade dotted with various monuments and sculptures.

You can take the bus directly to Malaga (25 km east), Marbella (30 km west), and Mijas (8 km inland). Malaga, the major coastal city of Andalucia, is largely untouched by tourism and, to a large extent, the passage of time. Major sights in the centre include the cathedral and several churches, each with its own distinctive style. Just 8 km away is Benalmadena, with its elegant Casino de Torrequebrada.

Fuengirola is just twenty minutes from Malaga Airport.