Finding Property in Fuengirola, Spain
If you want to be an easy 20-minute drive to your holiday home from Malaga Airport, Fuengirola must be on your list. It’s long been a popular resort on the Costa del Sol and ticks many boxes. It’s also less expensive than glitzy Marbella which it another half an hour drive down the coast.
It’s rather surprising that Fuengirola isn’t higher on many buyers’ lists when all of its advantages are considered. With its roots in Roman times - it’s got villas, mosaics, baths and a necropolis – it’s a mix of Moorish history (including Sohail castle and a bull ring) and all the advantages of a modern resort. As one recent househunter on the TV show say: “We’d never considered Fuengirola but didn’t wanted to be within 30 minutes of Malaga Airport so it’s a really practical option for weekends away. It’s so easy to fly out Friday and back on Monday. Also, the €2.70 train from the airport to Fuengirola saves a €60 taxi fare.”
The vibrant beach town has got a marina – with water sports and boat trips on offer - and a newly renovated promenade, the Paseo Marítimo, lined with palm trees and full of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs alongside Blue Flag beaches such as Carvajal, Las Gaviotas, Los Boliches. A key advantage, compared to Benalmadena, is that it’s a year-round working town not just a holiday resort. “There are lots of Scandinavian ‘swallows’ who spend the winter in the town so it’s vibrant all the time,” says Mark Rawlings of agent Your Dream Home.
There’s also a waterpark in nearby Mijas, a bio-park zoo, Tuesday street market and plenty of golf courses close to hand. Further, because the town is flat, it’s ideal for retirees – in 2022 a quarter of the town’s residents were from abroad – a mix of the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia mainly. The town’s international feria every May with the different nationalities is a real highlight. Two searches on Google about the town are ‘is Fuengirola a party town?” and “is Fuengirola for old people?” – and the answer is that you can find parties (look down by the port) but it can suit everyone.
It all sounds so good so what can you buy?
Find your area
Properties are less expensive than in Marbella but its accessible location does come with a premium – in January 2024, the average price of houses for sale in Fuengirola was €3,232/m2, according to the portal, Idealista, which puts it less than the other popular towns of Nerja but slightly higher than nearby Benalmadena.
The most expensive areas are the town centre, in the west the neighbourhoods of Miramar Park (close to the large Miramar Centro shopping centre) and Playa del Castillo (the tourist area around Sohail Castle with great beach views), and also the community of Pueblo Lopez especially loved by Finnish buyers); and the quieter (and more affordable) Torreblanca in hills behind, and Los Boliches. There’s also El Faro. Two kilometres to the west of Fuengirola, before you get to Cala de Mijas, El Faro is a quieter locale, with stunning views, and its famous lighthouse that gives it its name.
What can you buy?
You really need a budget of €150,000-€170,000 to find a property in Fuengirola, with decent one-bedroom apartments starting around that – such as a renovated one with a terrace in Los Pacos, another popular area, for €178,000. This budget will also provide a choice of similar options in Torreblanca.
For €200,000 to €230,000 you really do find a lot more choice: can find two or three-bedroom apartments, such a three-bed/two-bath example in Torreblanca, for €219,000. Alternatively, you can find a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment on a new development, with onsite amenities, for €227,000. Townhouses kick off around €275,000 and you can find a lovely three-bedroom one, near Torreblanca beach, with terrace and also access to shared swimming pool, for €285,000.
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