Fuengirola: November escape with heated pool access

Monarque Fuengirola Park: beach, spa and fun for the whole family in Fuengirola

Your Costa del Sol holiday starts just 150 metres from Las Gaviotas beach, one of the calmest swimming spots in Fuengirola, and Monarque Fuengirola Park is the easy base to enjoy it all.

After the beach, the outdoor pools and gardens take over, while at the spa the heated pool with jets and the jacuzzi help you shake off the day.

As night falls, the buffet, with Spanish and international dishes, gives way to entertainment with live music and shows, and whenever you feel like exploring, Torreblanca station gets you to Málaga without the car.

The beach a stroll away, an on-site spa and fun for all ages: few places in Fuengirola bring it all together like this. Book your getaway and let the Costa del Sol do the rest.

Food & Drink

The dining experience at Hotel Monarque Fuengirola Park is designed to be comfortable and complete. The hotel features a spacious buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a varied selection of national and international dishes.

When it's time to unwind, you can choose from several welcoming spaces, the pool bar for a refreshing drink or snack in the sunshine, the lobby bar for a relaxed atmosphere, or the lounge bar with evening entertainment.

With the All Inclusive option, you'll enjoy main meals, snacks between meals, afternoon treats, ice creams and a wide selection of drinks.

• Click here to learn more about the All-inclusive in Hotel Monarque Fuengirola Park 4*

Choosing Full Board?

This hotel offers plenty of flexibility, so you can organise your stay to suit you:

• You can start with lunch on your arrival day and finish with Breakfast on your departure day.
• You can start with dinner on your arrival day and finish with lunch on your departure day.

There’s nothing you need to arrange in advance! When you arrive at the accommodation, simply let the staff know which meal you’d like to start with and they’ll take care of everything.

This only applies to meals. Please check the key collection and room check-out times to plan your stay.

The Fuengirola Google doesn’t show you: a guide for travellers, not tourists

Forget tourist office brochures. Fuengirola has a hidden side full of foodie alleyways, secret terraces and free viewpoints that most tourists never discover. If you want an authentic experience and to avoid the typical tourist traps, welcome to the insiders’ club.

• The free skyline from the Town Hall rooftop: Few people know that Fuengirola Town Hall offers one of the best panoramic views in town and is open to the public. For the pro version, head to the rooftop terrace at Hotel El Puerto. You don’t need to stay there to enjoy a drink with millionaire-style views over the marina and coastline.

• The hidden alleyways of Moncayo Street (“Hunger Street”): In the centre, there’s an area known as “Calle del Hambre”, a maze of restaurants.

  • Our tip: avoid the places with staff trying to drag you in. The best and cheapest restaurants are hidden in the side streets, where fried anchovy portions are twice as big and half the price.

• The “Mosque by the beach”: Fuengirola is home to one of the most modern and beautiful mosques on the Costa del Sol: the Sohail Islamic Cultural Centre. Its white architecture against the sea creates a spectacular contrast and it remains a hidden gem for most visitors.

• The Saturday flea market is for early risers: If you arrive at 11:00 am, you’ll only find overpriced tourist junk. The real treasures, vintage cameras, vinyl records and retro décor, appear from 8:30 am, when local collectors make their best deals.

• Free dolphin spotting: Many visitors pay for dolphin boat trips.

  • Local secret: walk along the marina breakwater early in the morning or at sunset and you’ll often spot dolphins close to the Fuengirola coast. Bring binoculars and save the boat fare.

• The low-cost parking trick: Parking in Fuengirola during summer can be expensive and stressful.

  • The insider tip: park at Recinto Ferial, a huge free parking area most days except Tuesdays and Saturdays. The beach is only a 10-minute walk away.

• Los Boliches and the train: your VIP pass: If you want to visit Marbella or Puerto Banús, skip the car and expensive parking.

  • Expert tip: use the intercity bus. For Málaga city centre, always take the train to Málaga Centro-Alameda station, right next to Calle Larios and without any traffic stress.

• Jump2spain.com bonus: For the best seafood without beachfront prices, head behind Los Boliches Church. That’s where local fishing families go to eat.

The Costa del Sol stretches along Andalusia's sunny southern coast, from Nerja in the east to Estepona in the west. With mild weather almost all year round, long golden beaches and whitewashed villages tucked into the hills, it's one of Spain's most popular holiday destinations, and for good reason.

It works brilliantly for families, with plenty to keep children busy, and for couples who want to mix beach days with culture, great food and a little bit of glamour.

Make sure you visit:

Start in Málaga, where the Moorish Alcazaba looks down over the old town, the cathedral and the Picasso Museum, all within an easy stroll of the port. From there, head west along the coast to Marbella, whose old town is a maze of white lanes and flower-filled squares.

Just above the coast, Mijas Pueblo is a lovely spot for an afternoon wander, with sweeping views over the Mediterranean. In the evening, take a walk around Puerto Banús to see the superyachts and designer boutiques.

Beaches we think you'll like:

In the city, La Malagueta is lively and well equipped, perfect if you want the beach and the old town in the same day. Further west, Cabopino in Marbella has natural dunes and a more relaxed feel.

Families love the long, sandy beaches of Fuengirola, with calm water and plenty of facilities along the promenade. And to the east, Burriana in Nerja is a favourite for water sports and seafood lunches by the sea.

Family-friendly activities:

A day at Bioparc Fuengirola, a zoo designed to recreate natural habitats, is a hit with children of all ages. For a safari-style experience, Selwo Aventura near Estepona lets you see animals roaming in wide open spaces.

On hot days, the slides and pools at Aqualand Torremolinos are hard to beat. Or simply hire bikes and ride along the seafront promenades, stopping for an ice cream along the way.

Local delicacies you have to try:

Food here is all about the sea. Order espetos de sardinas, sardines skewered and grilled over an open fire in old boats on the sand, at a beach bar at lunchtime. Follow them with a plate of pescaíto frito, lightly fried fish, and a glass of something cold.

On warm evenings, a bowl of ajoblanco or gazpacho is wonderfully refreshing. And for breakfast, do as the locals do and dip churros in thick hot chocolate.

Make the most of your visit:

The Costa del Sol is a great base for exploring Andalusia. These are our favourite trips from Málaga:

• Nerja (50 minutes): spectacular caves and the famous Balcón de Europa.
• Caminito del Rey (1 hour): a breathtaking walkway clinging to the walls of a gorge.
• Ronda (1 hour 30 minutes): a clifftop town split by a dramatic gorge and its iconic bridge.
• Granada (1 hour 30 minutes): home to the unforgettable Alhambra.