Knowing what to see in Benalmádena when you are going to spend a few days there is essential to get the most out of this magnificent town. The first thing you should know is that Benalmádena is divided into two parts. On one side there is Benalmádena, located on the coast, and on the other Benalmádena pueblo, which is up towards the mountains.

To explore as much of Benalmadena and other interesting nearby towns such as Torremolinos or Fuengirola as you wish without any time restrictions and at your own pace, the ideal option is to hire a car on the Costa del Sol.

The most interesting places in Benalmádena

There are lots of things to see in Benalmadena, which, although a great advantage, can sometimes be a little overwhelming.

For this reason we have prepared for you a selection of places where we tell you what to see in Benalmadena town and Benalmadena (coast).

Benalmádena Buddha Temple

The Benalmádena Buddha temple is undoubtedly one of its biggest attractions. We may associate this type of place more with oriental countries, but the one you can find here has absolutely nothing to envy them.

In fact, the Benalmádena Buddha is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe and is visited by large numbers of worshippers from all over the world.

It is an impressive white temple 33 metres high with a dome supporting a base 25 metres wide by 25 metres long and crowned by a golden cone.

This stupa, where you can also see various Buddhist exhibitions, is also one of the few to offer an interior room that can be visited for meditation.

Colomares Castle

The castle of Colomares is undoubtedly one of the main tourist attractions of this town. One of the most impressive facts about it is the fact that it is the largest monument dedicated to Columbus.

The space in which it is located, with an extension of more than 1500 m2, houses marvels such as a mausoleum to which they hope to one day take the remains of Christopher Columbus or the fountain of the bride and groom which represents the moment when Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon met in Valladolid.  There is also what is considered to be the smallest chapel in the world (measuring only 1.96 m2), which is dedicated to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.

The Paloma Park

The Paloma Park is one of those places that are almost a must. Numerous activities can be practised there. Strolling around enjoying the magical nature that surrounds it is another of its great attractions.

It is also a magnificent place to relax in its numerous green areas (there are five different entrances to access them) where you will find large gardens and many varieties of trees such as eucalyptus, palms and cypresses, among others. Its surface area of more than 200,000 m2 makes it one of the largest parks in Europe. Another of its most visited areas is its small zoo, which has areas with animals such as pigeons, rabbits and peacocks and huge fenced enclosures with other animals as striking as mountain goats and mouflons.

Options for animal lovers

Animal lovers also have plenty of things to do in Benalmádena. These are some of the main places where you can enjoy these endearing creatures:

• Benalmádena Butterfly Farm:

  The largest butterfly park in Europe, which has also been chosen as one of the best attractions in Spain. An impressive paradise where there are more than 1,500 of these flying animals of some 150 species in a magical setting of flowers and waterfalls.

• Selwo Marina Benalmádena:

  An animal and leisure park where you can live exciting experiences and get up close to wildlife from all over the world.

• Sea life Benalmádena:

  A cool interactive aquarium with more than 2,000 sea creatures from around the world surrounded by more than 500,000 litres of water.

Other interesting places in Benalmádena

The truth is that the question of what to do in Benalmádena has many answers. Here are some other alternatives:

• Benalmádena Marina:

  One of the most important and complete leisure areas in the area. Here you will find everything you need for leisure and recreation in areas such as nightclubs, shops and restaurants. Its original design has earned it the nickname of “The Andalusian Venice”.

• The Puertomarina twins:

  This seafood restaurant located in the marina is an ideal place to enjoy excellent fish and seafood while taking in the breathtaking views.

• Puerto marina restaurants:

  In Puerto Marina, rightly considered one of the best marinas in the world, there is a huge variety of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.

• Benalmádena Cable Car:

  They offer you the possibility to live an exciting experience through their exclusive gondola ride that starts in Benalmádena and ends at the top of Mount Calamorro, where there are lots of routes at your disposal.

We hope we have helped you to get to know some of the wonders you will find in this magnificent town that has so much to offer to everyone who goes there.