Fuengirola, situated only twenty minutes from Malaga airport is probably the most popular tourist resort on the Costa del Sol. The local train from Fuengirola to Malaga provides easy access to the popular nearby resorts such as Benalmadena, Arroyo de la Miel and Torremolinos.

The Romans named the city "Suel" after a star that can be clearly seen from the castle of the same name. The castle is the town’s proudest symbol and stands on a hill to the west of the town commanding an impressive view over the Fuengirola bay area towards Carvajal.

Fuengirola is probably most famous for the five miles of sandy beach, streching from the castle in the west to Carvajal in the east and separated from the many hotels and apartments by a wide pedestrian promonade. With these properties overlooking the beaches they have magnificent uninterupted views of the Mediterranean and the sweepeing coastline which are the envy of many a resident. The beaches at Los Boliches, Los Gaviotas and Torreblanca each have a coveted European blue flag.

Due to the cosmopolitan nature of Fuengirola a wide choice of entertainment and restaurants is available, ranging from traditional Andalucian tapas and shellfish dishes to British favourites such as bangers and mash. Fuengirola is particularly popular with Spanish nationals with many owning summer apartments here. With the excellent shopping centre providing a wide selection of supermarkets and competitively priced shops and the more traditional shopping area in Los Boliches, several well-known department stores within easy reach of the town and a street market on Tuesdays the area prides itself as a shoppers paradise. A recent landscaping drive by the local municipality has created beautiful gardens with palm trees, colourful flowerbeds and recreational areas, with plans abound for the building of more public parks. Along with the extensive modernizing of the local streets providing tree lined avenues and the provision of seating areas Fuengirola is maintaining its place as a vibrant and pretty area for tourists and residents alike.

Annual fiestas such as the Feast of the Virgin del Carmen in July, where local fishermen carry an effigy of the Virgin out to sea as thanks for plentiful stocks, and the colourful feria which takes place in October the town is always full of life and energy the Spanish way. The annual October feria is the time when the town really comes into its own with Flamenco, fino (dry sherry) and fun, which carries on to the early hours for an entire week.