Benalmádena

As is often the case on the Costa del Sol, the original part of this coastal resort town, Benalmádena Pueblo, is actually a pretty little rustic village tucked up against a hillside. Follow the roads down towards the coast and it transforms into a town whose focus is very much on tourism.

Benalmádena Pueblo is popular for a stroll, a visit and a meal in one of its quaint eateries, but the greater part of today’s Benalmádena is a coastal town with a lively centre and a long seaside promenade lined on the one side with restaurants, cafés and hotels, and on the other by a sandy beach.

The western end is home to a casino, followed by a succession of hotels and luxury beachside apartment complexes, while further east you come to the iconic Benalmádena marina – itself a hive of eateries and entertainment facilities.

There is also a residential area set against the slopes overlooking coastal Benalmádena, and here you can find well-priced older and refurbished villas, townhouses and apartments, as well as a growing collection of contemporary homes.

Distance to Málaga Airport: 10km