Fuengirola is one of the most popular resort towns on the Costa del Sol, a modern haven where high-rise apartment blocks are sandwiched in between the mountains and the sea.
Originally a small fishing village, from the 1960s onwards, it morphed into a thriving centre loved by both tourists and expats. It has one of the most established international communities in the country where countless foreign residents have settled here from all over Europe.
Fuengirola town centre
People are attracted by its great year-round climate, with mild winters and hot summers, as well as its great quality of life with a good mix of leisure, culture, and beaches. If you’re trying to decide where to live in Andalucía, then this bustling beach resort could be the perfect choice. Living in Fuengirola would suit retirees and young families who want to make the most of the nearby attractions and connections to the rest of the Costa del Sol.
Approximately a quarter of the total population here is foreign - 20,883 people to be exact. The majority of these are Brits, but the town is also popular with Scandinavians and Germans.
Find out more about healthcare in Spain such as the difference between private and public insurance in our comprehensive guide to healthcare in Spain.
Fuengirola beach promenade
Working and jobs in Fuengirola
The economy of Fuengirola is based on tourism and 86.08 percent of the working-age population work in the service industry. This could be tourism, as well as hospitality such as hotels and restaurants. Another 1.62 work in industry, mostly in construction and manufacturing. English speakers are needed here because of the tourism industry, but remember that you’ll be competing against the many who already live here. Find out more about the job market in Spain from the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
If you own your own business or work remotely, you’ll find plenty of places where you can work online in Fuengirola. You can sometimes work from cafes, such as Café Nomad, which has free wi-fi, but it’s much better to have something more reliable such as a co-working space. There are lots of good options in Fuengirola where you can rent desks, offices or meeting spaces.
Prices range from around €20 per day to €150 per month for a desk or an office. These include SmartWorkPlaza, Smart Office Boliches and Conecta Coworking. According to the Fair Internet Report, Fuengirola has internet speeds in the range of 41.59 - 199.39 Mbps and the most popular provider is Avatel & Wikiker Telecom.
Sweeping views of Fuengirola coastline
Schools and education in Fuengirola
If you’re planning on moving to Fuengirola with your family, you need to think carefully about your children’s education.
There are around 17 public schools in Fuengirola which range from primary all the way up to Bachillerato, which is the equivalent of A-levels in Spain. Two of the best schools in the town are Colegio Andalucía and Colegio Sohail. In 2023, schools website Micole.net listed Colegio Sohail as one of the top 10 schools in the country in a ranking of the 100 best. Colegio Andalucia also entered at number 60 on the list in 2022. Both of these schools cover kindergarten and primary school age children, and Sohail also does vocational training.
There are three international schools in and around Fuengirola. The first in Fuengirola itself is the Ark Christian School, which follows the British curriculum from pre-reception all the way up until A-levels. The second, located just outside the town is Shine International Academy, which offers a child-centred approach and focuses on the individuality and needs of each child. Classes run from primary to year 7 (year 8 being added in academic year 2024/25. The third is St. Anthony’s College, which is located between Mijas and Fuengirola and is the oldest British college on the Costa del Sol.
There are four more international schools located just up the coast in Benalmádena, including two British ones, a mixed Spanish and English one offering IB and a Norwegian one. You’ll find many more further down the coast towards Marbella too. Check out the full list here.
Castillo de Sohail is located right at the mouth of the Fuengirola river
Transport in Fuengirola
Living in Fuengirola means you have excellent transport links to the rest of the Costa del Sol. The town can be reached from the province’s capital of Málaga in around 30-45 minutes. The Cercanías regional train service runs here directly from the centre of Málaga and there are regular buses too. From here, the bus network continues on inland to the picturesque whitewashed village of Mijas or further along the coast to the glamourous town of Marbella and its attractive old town.
Because of these connections, it’s possible to live in Fuengirola without a car, although if you plan on heading out of town a lot, to go hiking in the mountains or further down the coast to enjoy golf courses and long stretches of sandy beaches, then you may want to consider it. A car will come in useful so that you’re not always reliant on bus schedules and won’t have to fight for space during the busy summer season. Find out all about driving in Spain with our handy guide.
The nearest airport to Fuengirola is Málaga, one of the busiest airports in Andalucia and the fourth-busiest in the whole of Spain with routes all over Europe and beyond. easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Jet2, Iberia, TUI, BA Euroflyer and American Airlines all fly here, meaning there are lots of regular flights and lots of options. You can reach Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport from Fuengirola in just 45 minutes by taking the C1 Cercanías train directly to the terminal. There are several bus connections from here too.
Things to do in Fuengirola
Golf
Mijas golf
Fuengirola, like many places on the Costa del Sol, is a haven for golf lovers with a wide variety of courses to choose from. There are a total of six 18-hole golf courses situated within 10 minutes from the centre of the town and a further 20 within 30 kilometres. Some of the best in the area are Mijas Golf, Santana Golf, El Chaparral Golf and La Cala Golf Resort. Even if you don’t already play golf, Fuengirola could be an excellent place to start and is a great way to connect with other foreigners and locals in the community too.
Beaches
Playa de Carvajal in Fuengirola near Riviera del Sol
Most people are attracted to the Costa del Sol because of its excellent beaches, so it will come as no surprise that beach activities are one of the top things to do here. Fuengirola’s beaches stretch for a total of 8 km and all of them have been awarded Blue Flag status for their excellent water quality. Some of the best beaches here include Playa de Carvajal, El Castillo, Playa de Santa Amalia and Playa de las Gaviotas. Beaches here are not only for sunbathing, they’re a part of life, where you can exercise, dine out, enjoy get-to-togethers with friends and of course swim.
Water sports
Fuengirola marina
Living by the sea provides the perfect opportunity to try out new activities like water sports, which will not only help you to keep fit, but also make friends and integrate better with the local community. Activities you could take up include standup paddle boarding, sailing, kayaking and windsurfing.
Shopping and markets
Fuengirola is a bustling town with lots of independent shops as well as supermarkets. It also has two weekly street markets. Every Saturday a market is held in the Fuengirola Fairground from around 9am - 2pm. It’s a huge space that hosts around 300 stalls, selling everything from antiques and second-hand items to clothes, bicycles, household items, books, bric-a-brac, jewellery and furniture.
A second market is held on Sundays along Calle Méndez Nuñez, also from 9am-2pm. It is smaller with around 130 stalls, but is equally charming. It’s great for local gifts from ceramics and handicrafts to textiles, jewellery and bags.
Eating out
Restaurant Palangreros
Given its popularity among both expats and tourists, living in Fuengirola means there’s a vibrant dining scene for local Spanish and international cuisine. Its coastal location also means fresh seafood year round. Some great options include Restaurante Palangreros, popular with locals for meat dishes, Restaurante Bodega Charolais for Basque and Andalusian classics and the more upmarket Los Marinos José for tasty seafood.
Making friends and connections in your new home makes it easier to feel settled, and one of the best ways of doing this is to join a club or take up a new activity. Thankfully, Fuengirola has a very well-established expat community with many different organisations and groups you can join. Costa Women is a long-running women’s group is a social and business networking community for women living in or planning to move to the Costa del Sol. They also organise social events and are located in Fuengirola. The Royal British Legion Fuengirola Branch offers emotional and financial help to those who have served in the Armed Forces and can also be a good place to connect with others from a similar background. Find out more about their events in Fuengirola here.
If you have kids, you’ll find that they can enjoy their favourite clubs and activities in Spain too. The 1st Fuengirola Scouts group includes Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Brownies, Beavers and Rainbows for all different ages. You can find out more about when and where they meet by joining their Facebook page.
For those who are retired, you may want to consider joining the local Age Concern. The charity offers help and advice for those living in the area, but also organises social events for the over 50´s English-speaking expat community.
Ready to search for your dream property in Fuengirola? Check out 5,000+ properties for sale in Fuengirola and make your Costa Del Sol dreams come true today.
