The Costa del Sol is a great place to visit off peak, as the weather is fantastic almost all of the year and there’s still lots going on. However, the key to choosing a winter destination here is to make sure you choose a large enough town with a strong year round population, lots of amenities open during the winter period, with things to enjoy no matter the weather.
Benalmadena is an excellent choice, as it’s a well-developed town with lots to keep you busy! We can recommend a visit to its lovely marina, which has loads of shops, bars and restaurants and stunning boats. You can go on boat trips from the marina if the weather is good and even go dolphin spotting.
Don’t miss the enormous Paloma Park with its lake and animals to feed – take a picnic, hire a bike or go to the café, it’s a lovely place for a relaxing stroll and has been ranked the best attraction in Benalmadena on TripAdvisor. There’s also a butterfly park, ice skating rink, SELWO Marina an aquarium and dolphin show which comes highly recommended and of course lovely beaches. For an amazing view take the cable car up to the top of the highest peak in the area.
An important note is that it’s not a good idea to head to Benalmadena for a party holiday off-peak. It’s fantastic fun during the summer, but in winter months as the legendary “24 Hour Square” and surrounding bars are too quiet, so you’re better off in Puerto Banus. The lack of party tourists and hen and stag groups off peak, makes Benalmadena even more popular with families with young children or retired travellers, as it’s a lot quieter.
Another great benefit of Benalmadena is it’s just a short train ride away from the thriving city of Malaga and all its art galleries, fantastic shopping and wonderful nightlife. The Plaza Mayor shopping centre, Fuengirola and its wonderful zoo and Torremolinos are all easily accessible by train. If you hire a car then you also have easy access to the beautiful countryside inland from the coast and the East of Malaga, including the town of Nerja and its caves. Why not even challenge yourself to do the Caminito del Rey whilst you’re here? It’s a real thrill and not far away.
We recommend this lovely 2 bedroom Benalmadena apartment, a modern duplex apartment in a quiet residential area, within walking distance of supermarkets, bars, restaurants and shops. This property sleeps 6 and allows pets – a rare treat for animal lovers. There is a private garden and it’s near to the train station. Let us know if you want advice on great holiday rental properties for off peak stays, we can recommend properties with open fires, central heating and double glazing so you will be cozy and comfortable on colder nights.
