Area guide
Fuengirola has one of the longest and most beautiful beaches and beach promenades on the entire Costa del Sol — very well taken care of, with a lot of new, really nice cafés and restaurants. Fuengirola has about 7 kilometres of continuous coastline, but each main part has its own character.
A quick note: there are also a lot of smaller sub-beaches within each stretch, but this guide sticks to the main beaches so it doesn't get too complicated.
We start at Carvajal, right on the eastern edge of Fuengirola — the first beach you reach when you come from Benalmádena. This is a more quiet area, with much more open beach and less dense development compared to closer to the city centre. It's just a slower pace and a relaxed atmosphere. The beaches here are extra wide, clean and very well taken care of. It's also much easier to find parking around here compared to closer to the city centre.
Next to Carvajal you walk into Torreblanca. This is just a little bit more of a residential beach area, since you have more residential properties if you walk up from the beach. But it feels very similar to Carvajal — you can't really tell the difference — and it's still a very calm beach area, with wide, Blue Flag status beaches, cosy cafés and chiringuitos along the beach promenade.
After that comes Las Gaviotas. This is where the coastline starts to feel more developed and busier. The promenade becomes wider, there are more beach bars, restaurants, and overall just more activity along the shore. It's another long, continuous stretch that blends naturally into the next area.
Then you reach Los Boliches. Today it's one of the busiest beaches in Fuengirola, with a lot of life along the promenade, especially in summer. It's a key part of the city's beach culture.
What's unique about Fuengirola here on the coast is the easy access to the beach from the city itself — there are just so many streets that lead down to the beach directly from the city centre.
Next is the central beach area, Playa de Fuengirola. This is the most urban section of the coastline. Behind the beach you have hotels, apartments, shops, and the main town centre. It's the busiest and most built-up part of the entire coastline. The beaches are not always as clean here.
At the western end, you reach Playa del Castillo. This beach sits next to Sohail Castle, one of Fuengirola's main landmarks. The area feels more open and less crowded compared to the centre, and the beach here has more space and a slightly calmer atmosphere compared to Playa de Fuengirola.
And finally, there's Playa Canina, the dog beach — a designated area where dogs are allowed all year round. It's located at the far western end of Fuengirola, just past the castle area. The sand is a little rougher here, but the dogs love it, and that's what it's all about.
On video
More area videos on my YouTube channel.
Questions
Carvajal, at the eastern edge, is the most open and relaxed, with less dense development and easier parking than beaches closer to the centre.
Los Boliches and Playa de Fuengirola (the central beach) are the busiest, with the most promenade activity and the highest concentration of hotels, shops and restaurants.
Yes, Playa Canina, at the far western end past Sohail Castle, allows dogs all year round.
About 7 kilometres of continuous beach, running from Carvajal in the east to Playa Canina in the west.
Looking at more than one area? Compare them all in the Costa del Sol area guides, or see how buying works.