The Spanish resort of Benalmadena is located about 12 miles from Malaga airport, between Torremolinos and Fuengirola. A popular destination with families and holiday makers of all ages the resort offers good affordable accommodation, plenty of facilities and a beautiful sandy beach.

Benalmadena

The beautiful beaches of Benalmadena stretch for six miles along the Costa del Sol coastline. This long wide sandy beach has shallow waters which ideal for safe swimming for the whole family on their holiday deals to this popular resort. Parents can relax on the beach knowing there are lifeguards on duty who are keeping a watchful eye on the children playing in the sea. The promenade behind the beach is lined with hotels, apartments, cafes, bars and small shops. For quieter, more secluded sunbathing there are rocky coves and inlets along this coastline.

Benalmadena Marina

Benalmadena is also home to an award-winning marina brimming with modern yachts and luxury cruisers. The marina is home to an aquarium, sailing centre and numerous cafes and bars. Scuba-diving and sailing are available from the marina, as well as boat hire, deep-sea fishing trips, catamaran cruises and excursions to Torremolinos and Fuengirola.

Away from the beach is the authentic Andalusian village of Benalmadena Pueblo. Sitting up in the mountains, this traditional Moorish village with its narrow streets, whitewashed houses, quaint shops and lookout castle, the Castillo de Colomares, is a must to visit on your cheap package holidays to Benalmadena. As with all the resorts on the Costa del Sol there are plenty of golf courses to choose from along with other activities including water sports such as scuba-diving, wakeboarding, water-skiing, sailing and kayaking, fishing, horse-riding and cycling. For the more adventurous there is quad biking, off-road buggy riding and paintballing. The whole family will enjoy Tivoli World

Benalmadena Cable Car

theme park, the Aquarium and a cable-car ride up the mountains. On the cable-car ride you will be taken 800m above sea level where you will see stunning views of the coastline and across the sea to Gibraltar and Africa. On reaching the summit visitors can take a donkey ride tour of the area and also visit the Bird Sanctuary. If you are feeling really energetic forget about coming back down in the cable-car and instead come down on foot or by mountain bike. Tivoli World is the largest theme park on the Costa del Sol with rides, attractions, concerts, shows and gardens with fountains, making a great day-out for all the family. If you are looking for a day out of history, culture, shopping and dining then a trip to the cities of Seville and Grenada will fit the bill.

Benalmadena enjoys a lively nightlife, including a casino for those wanting to have a flutter. The resort has a wide range of evening entertainment including jazz and salsa clubs, discos, bars and restaurants, many of which are found in the marina area.

Benaldamena Beach

Enjoying a typically Mediterranean climate, Benalmadena has an annual average temperature of 21C and around 330 days of sunshine each year. The peak season sees average highs of 26C with up to 11 hours of sunshine a day but the coastal breezes help to make the heat less stifling. Water temperatures at this time are around a pleasant 22C. Spring and autumn temperatures average between 17c and 22C with 7 hours of sunshine a day and is a popular time for visitors wishing to partake in outdoor activities like walking, cycling and sightseeing. December and January are popular for golfing holidays as the temperature drops to around 15C, making perfect conditions for a round or two.

The Andalusian city of Seville is located in the south of Spain. Here you will find wonderful architecture, museums, beautiful gardens, bullfighting and of course you will be able to hear the famous Flamenco music.

SIGHTSEEING

The main Gothic and Moorish buildings in the old quarter of Seville are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Gothic Cathedral of Seville was built on the site of a former mosque. Some parts of the mosque were reused for the cathedral, including a minaret which was made into the Giralda (bell tower). This bell tower has a statue known as El Giraldillo at its peak which represents faith. The tower did not have any stairs, just ramps, which allowed the Muezzin (Islamic religious official) to ride to the top on horseback. The bell tower offers magnificent views across the city.

Opposite the cathedral is the Alcazar which was once a Moorish Palace. The gardens here are a wonderful traditional mixture of Moorish, Christian and Andalusian design.

The Torre del Oro was built as a defensive watchtower overlooking the river.

The baroque style University of Seville is located on the site of the first tobacco factory in Europe. It is said that this 18th century building was the inspiration for the opera Carmen.

The Plaza de Espana, located in Parque de Maria Luisa, was constructed for the Spanish-American Exhibition in 1929. Built on the outer edge of the park, the Plaza de Espana was a showcase for the countrys industry and technology exhibitions.

The city has many museums including the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville, the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Traditional Arts & Customs in the Parque de Maria Luisa, the Flamenco Art Museum, the Bullfighting Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Army Museum and the Carriages Museum.

Seville has many parks and gardens, too many to mention, among the finest are the beautifully landscaped Parque de Maria Luisa with its many monuments, the terraced Alcazar Gardens, the Gardens of Murillo, the Gardens of Catalina de Ribera and La Isla Magica (Cartuja Island) which is a theme park built on the site of the 1992 Universal Exposition of Seville.

FESTIVALS

The two most important festivals of Seville take place during the spring. These are Semana Santa and Feria de Sevilla.

The towns around Seville hold many festivals including the Day of Inmaculada (December) when the city’s students dress in medieval costumes and perform tradition songs at the statue of the Virgin Inmaculada. The following day the children perform the Danza de los Seises in the cathedral.
In January there is the Procession of the Three Magi who go around on horsedrawn carriages giving sweets and gifts to the children.  

CLIMATE

Seville summers are extremely hot with July being the hottest month with temperatures reaching an average high of 35C and an average low of 19C.
Winters are mild with January being the coldest month with average highs of 16C and average lows of 5C.

For your direct holidays to Spain why not take a look on the internet where you will find loads of bargain holidays on offer.

If you would like more information on Spain please take a look at my Spain Blog where you will find all of my latest articles.