Entertainment in Spain

Benalmádena

Benalmádena is the second closest major resort to Malaga Airport and is neighbour to Torremolinos. This is another very popular town for British tourists and has three areas to it.

Most people have heard of the buzzing resort of Benalmadena, but holidays in Benalmadena Pueblo are a different kettle of fish. Hiding behind the glitz and glamour of the Costa Del Sol's liveliest stretch of seaside, this hillside village is all about cute, white-washed houses, flower decked balconies, windy little streets and shed loads of Andalucian charm. In fact, what holidays in Benalmadena give you is the best of both worlds: a little slice of traditional Spain with easy access to the lively 'costa' lifestyle whenever you want it.

If there's a down side to choosing a Benalmadena Pueblo holiday, it's limited choice in the accommodation department. The pueblo's unspoilt charm means it's not the sort of place that knocks out the late deals or bargain holidays you might find in nearby Torremolinos. However, if you're looking for that romantic hideaway just made for two, there's the Hotel La Fonda, a small, rustic property in the hub of the village. Or for that 'home from home' feeling, there's Villa Roma, a comfortable private villa with its own pool.Life in Benalmadena ambles along at a somewhat slower pace than it does in the village's seaside neighbours. The favourite pastime is taking a slow stroll around the village and soaking up the Andalucian atmosphere. Followed, of course, by a glass of cerveza or a chilled sherry and a plate of tapas in one of the friendly local bars

Bars in Bonanza Square

Wherever you are staying on the Costa del Sol you will never struggle to fing the kind of bar you like. If live music and karaoke bars are not your cup of tea (i.e. whats that racket,get me out of here!!)then in this section you will find all the info you need on places to go to for a quiet drink and a chat in good company. There are many different types of bar whrerever you are staying along the coast. You will find traditional British bars for that “at home feel” with darts boards, pool tables and even quiz nights or you can try the typically Spainsh bars where you can sample traditional tapas and enjoy the Mediterranean ambience of a local bar. You will find bars from all kinds of nationalities with all kinds of different drinking enviroments to enjoy

If you are the adventurous type then the Costa del Sol is the place for you. In this section of the guide you will find plenty to do both indoors and outdoors, whatever your preferences. There are aquaparks, safaris, zoos, marine parks and theme parks. You can go indoor bowling, go-carting, horse riding, skiing, shooting and quad biking. Why not try a fishing trip or a boat trip where you can go out to sea and fish for jaws!! or even see dolphins on guided tours.

There are water sports available up and down the coast including windsurfing, kite boarding, paragliding and even surfing. There are also many guided tours where you can see some of the real history of Spain in places like Ronda where bull fighting originates from. For the active person there is never a shortage of things to do on this fun packed coast. This part of the guide is linked to the same page where you will see the cateogories you can choose from. For example there may not be an aquapark in your resort but you will be able to find out where the nearest one is when you click on to ‘indoor and outdoor activities’

Benalmadena boasts more than its fair share of major attractions and worthy day trips which accounts for its reputation as one of the Costa del Sol's most favoured holiday spots. There's a wealth of water sports here, a golf course, a bustling modern marina, some big family entertainment centres and a huge selection of bars and restaurants

Starting with Benalmadena Pueblo, a visit to the truly stunning Castillo de Colomares is a must. This fairytale castle, which looks like it was plucked from the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang movie, is an extraordinarily beautiful mish-mash of features taken from some of the most famous castles around the world. The castle was built as a tribute to Christpher Columbus whose voyages of discovery to the New World started from nearby Cadiz. It's located alongside the Eagles Garden where you can see regular falconry displays.

The Jardines del Muro (Wall Gardens) provide a restful blend of water features and tropical plants with panoramic views of the Costa del Sol.

If you're interested in Benalmadena's colourful history - the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs have all left their mark here - take a day trip to the Archaeological Museum to view the various finds which have been unearthed in and around the municipality in recent years.

In the pueblo's Plaza del España you can see Benalmadena's answer to Denmark's Little Mermaid - the Fuente de la Niña statue of a little girl who has become a major symbol for the town.