Benalmádena has around 9 km of coastline and 11 named beaches. Three of them hold a Blue Flag in 2026. The eastern beaches are broad, sandy and busy – the kind with promenades, chiringuitos and paid sunbeds. The western end turns rockier, quieter and less serviced. One beach has a dog area. One has a nudist section.
This guide covers every beach from east to west so you can pick the right one before you go.
- 01Three Blue Flag beaches in 2026: Carvajal, Fuente de la Salud and Torrebermeja-Santa Ana.
- 02Best beach for families with small children: Playa de Santa Ana – accessible, shallow entry, close to food and services.
- 03Best beach for water sports: Malapesquera – bodyboarding, paddle surf, jet skiing and operators based nearby.
- 04Nudist-friendly area: Benalnatura / Tajo de la Soga at the western end of the coastline.
- 05Dog beach: Benalcan at Tajo de la Soga – seasonal rules apply, check current regulations before visiting.
- 06Arrive before 10:00 on the urban beaches in July and August – paid sunbed rows fill in early and free sand disappears fast.
- 07The western coves (Torrequebrada, Las Yucas, La Viborilla) are rockier but significantly quieter than the main strip.
The Beaches – East to West
Benalmádena's beaches run from the Puerto Marina area in the east towards the quieter coves bordering Fuengirola in the west. The eastern beaches are urban, busy and well-serviced. The further west you go, the rockier and quieter things get.
Playa Malapesquera
Water sports hub · Sandy · Busy in summer
Malapesquera sits at the eastern end of the strip, closest to Puerto Marina. It is the main water sports beach in Benalmádena – bodyboarding, paddle surf, jet skiing and waterskiing are all available here, with operators based along the beach.
The sand is fine and the beach is popular with both locals and visitors. Chiringuitos line the promenade behind it. Operators active here include Into The Blue Diving and Sunset Beach Watersports, though availability and exact services should be confirmed on arrival as these can change seasonally.
Playa de Fuente de la Salud
Blue Flag ✅ · Sandy · Family-friendly
Fuente de la Salud holds a Blue Flag in 2026, confirming water quality, safety, accessibility and information standards. It is a broad sandy beach with promenade access, facilities and good links to the marina area nearby.
Parking is closest to the marina – paid, concentrated around Puerto Marina. This beach is popular with families and sees heavy footfall in July and August.
Playa de Santa Ana / Torrebermeja-Santa Ana
Blue Flag ✅ · Sandy · Best for families
Santa Ana is the strongest all-round family beach in Benalmádena. It is accessible, with ramps, adapted walkways and assistance services confirmed by the municipality. The entry to the water is shallow and gradual – practical for small children.
The beach sits along the main seafront promenade with bars, restaurants and cafés immediately behind it. It holds a Blue Flag in 2026 under the combined designation Torrebermeja-Santa Ana.
Playa de Bil-Bil
Near Castillo de Bil-Bil · Mixed sand and rock · Central location
Bil-Bil sits directly below the Castillo de Bil-Bil on the seafront – the Moorish-style castle makes it one of the more recognisable spots on the Benalmádena coast. The beach is in the same eastern zone as Santa Ana and Arroyo de la Miel.
It is slightly rockier than Santa Ana, with a mix of sand and stone rather than pure fine sand. Bars, restaurants and promenade access are all immediately nearby. Good for a central base but not the best swimming beach if you want clean sand underfoot.
Playa de Arroyo de la Miel
Sandy · ~1,000 m long · Local favourite
Arroyo de la Miel is one of the longer beaches on the strip at approximately 1,000 metres. It is sandy and sits in the central section of the coastline, popular with local residents rather than the tourist-heavy eastern end.
Access is straightforward from Arroyo de la Miel town centre. The beach has a more relaxed atmosphere than Santa Ana or Malapesquera in peak season, though it still gets busy in August.
Playa de Torrevigía
Cove · Crystalline water · Quieter
Torrevigía is described as a cove-style beach with notably clear water. It sits between the central urban beaches and the rockier western section, making it a transitional point on the coastline.
Less serviced than the eastern beaches – fewer chiringuitos and facilities – but the water quality is consistently described as good. Worth the slightly longer walk from the main strip if you want quieter conditions.
Playa del Torrequebrada
Rocky cove · Sheltered · Western end
Torrequebrada is a smaller, rockier beach at the western end of the developed strip. The seabed is mixed small stones rather than fine sand. It is sheltered by rock formations and associated with the Torrequebrada hotel and casino area nearby.
The beach club presence in this area has historically been tied to the hotel, but current operator details should be confirmed on arrival – these arrangements can change between seasons.
Playa de Las Yucas
Rocky · Quiet · Limited facilities
Las Yucas is a rockier cove with limited beach services. It sits in the quieter western section of Benalmádena's coastline and attracts visitors looking to avoid the crowds of the eastern strip.
Not suitable for young children due to the stony seabed and limited facilities. Better suited to adults who want a quieter spot away from the summer crowds.
Playa de La Viborilla
Rocky cove · Remote feel · Few facilities
La Viborilla is one of the more isolated beaches on the Benalmádena coastline. Rocky, with a natural cove feel and minimal services. The walk from the nearest road access point is longer than the eastern beaches.
A good option for anyone willing to make the effort for a quieter spot. Not suitable for families with young children or anyone who needs facilities nearby.
Playa de La Perla / La Morera
Mixed · Western stretch · Quiet
La Perla and La Morera are at the far western end of the Benalmádena coastline, bordering the Fuengirola municipality. Rocky and mixed in character, with limited services and a quiet atmosphere even in high season.
These beaches see far fewer visitors than the eastern strip and are more suited to walkers and locals than organised beach days.
Tajo de la Soga / Benalnatura
Nudist section · Dog beach (Benalcan) · Natural cove
Tajo de la Soga is the westernmost point of Benalmádena's coast and the most natural in character. Benalnatura, the nudist-friendly section, is located here. It is not an officially signposted municipal nudist beach, but it is consistently described as the accepted nudist area in Benalmádena.
The Benalcan dog beach is also at this location – Benalmádena's first official dog-friendly beach area. Seasonal rules apply and regulations can change annually. Check current local rules before visiting with a dog.
Dog Beach Rules
Blue Flag Beaches 2026
Benalmádena has three Blue Flag beaches confirmed for 2026:
| Beach | Blue Flag 2026 | Sand Type |
|---|---|---|
| Carvajal | ✅ | Sandy |
| Fuente de la Salud | ✅ | Sandy |
| Torrebermeja-Santa Ana | ✅ | Sandy |
Blue Flag status is awarded annually and covers water quality, safety, accessibility and environmental management. It can change year to year – confirm current status at the start of each season.
Practical Information
Sunbeds and loungers: Paid sunbed hire is available on the eastern urban beaches. Exact pricing is not published officially and varies by operator – expect to pay on arrival. Rows fill early in July and August.
Chiringuitos: Beach bars are concentrated on the eastern beaches – Malapesquera, Fuente de la Salud, Santa Ana and Bil-Bil. The western coves have fewer or none.
Parking: Paid parking is concentrated around Puerto Marina and the eastern beach zone. Street parking behind the promenade is possible but limited in peak season. The western beaches are more accessible by car with less competition for spaces.
Jellyfish: No Benalmádena-specific data is available. For the Costa del Sol generally, the highest risk period is mid-summer to early autumn – July to September. Check beach flags on arrival (purple flag = jellyfish present).
Water temperature: Verified seasonal data is not available for Benalmádena specifically. The Mediterranean off the Costa del Sol is generally warmest from July to October.
Getting to the Beaches
The eastern beaches are walkable from most hotels in Benalmádena Costa and from Puerto Marina. The western coves require a car or taxi – they are not realistically walkable from the main tourist area.
By train, the Cercanías C1 stops at Arroyo de la Miel / Benalmádena – from there the central beaches are a 20-minute walk downhill. From Málaga the journey takes 20 minutes at €2.60.
Málaga Airport to Benalmádena – private transfer
Full guide to planning your Benalmádena visit: Things to Do in Benalmádena
Hotels, the cable car and the rest of the town sit just behind these beaches – our Benalmádena travel guide covers all of it.
