Benalmadena is one of the Costa del Sol’s most popular resort towns for good reason. It comes with everything you might expect from this part of Spain: great weather all year round, access to a coastline packed with fabulous beaches and a marina to rival the glamour of Marbella further to the west.

Visit the Arabian style Puerto Marina, where you can wander among some jaw droppingly beautiful yachts, take a trip out to sea and get a glimpse of dolphins or just stop and enjoy the many restaurants, bars and shops. Continue along the Paseo Maritimo promenade that stretches the length of the resort all the way to Torremolinos.

Away from the coast, Benalmadena has much to keep you occupied, including an amusement park, aquariums and one of Spain’s most visited casinos. And if you want to get away from it all, this varied resort offers stunning sanctuary: take the cable car to the summit of the 769 metre Calamorro mountain, meditate in the monumental Buddhist stupa or stroll around the lake at Paloma Park along with the rabbits, peacocks who roam free. Benalmadena is so much more than just another resort.

Community

The official number of inhabitants in Benalmadena is 67,000 and around a quarter of the people you will meet here will be foreigners, a third of whom are British.

Property

Benalmadena is well known for its developments large and small; you’ll find affordable apartments in larger high rises or pricier penthouses overlooking the marina.

Health

You’ll find two public clinics and a hospital in town – or more accurately in Arroyo de la Miel, the largely residential district immediately to the west.

Transport

Getting around isn’t a problem in Benalmadena. You’re just twenty minutes’ drive from the centre of Malaga and its Airport. Public transport is also extremely convenient, with a regular bus service and an urban railway which runs through town and connects to Malaga and Fuengirola every 20 minutes.

Shopping

Benalmadena is a town that loves to shop, and you’ll find plenty to spend your money on, whatever your budget or taste. Most of the small shops are on the main street in Benalmadena centre and around the marina. You’ll also find a small shopping centre and a bustling street market in the car park of Tivoli World every Friday selling clothes, jewellery, shoes, toys and food.

Cost of Living

With the town catering heavily to tourists you’ll find prices a little higher than in some of the Costa del Sol’s quieter spots. But with easy access to out of town shopping you should easily be able to keep your monthly within budget.