When the package holiday boom exploded in the mid-80s, the Costa del Sol boasted a couple of pace-setters in Torremolinos and Fuengirola. While the former grabbed the headlines and forged itself something of a reputation for a cheap and cheerful way for Brits to experience their first taste of 'abroad', Fuengirola grew quietly, living in the shadow of Torremolinos. Slightly farther away from Málaga airport, huddled around an old Spanish fishing village and less ostentatious, Fuengirola's baby steps as a tourist resort were taken with trepidation, particularly when compared to the confident strides its neighbour was making.

Continue reading: Reality

But just look at what Fuengirola offers. While parts of the town are undoubtedly a little shabby, the atmosphere is wonderfully intoxicating. Striking the right balance between expat convenience and Spanish authenticity, Fuengirola delivers an intriguing melting pot of cultures, where it is not uncommon to see British, Irish, Danish and German inhabitants not only cohabiting but mingling with the local Spanish and South American population, creating a cultural cocktail that is pretty much unique in the region.

While the fast food cafés so beloved of travelling Brits are highly visible, their numbers are more than matched by traditional tapas bars, classic chiringuitos, inviting Irish pubs and a fair collection of Scandinavian bars and eateries too. A look inside any one of the aforementioned establishments will also surprise – the clientele is equally diverse and eclectic, with both holidaymakers and locals at ease with one another, lending the entire town a warmth that is unusual for such an ostensibly transient destination.

Easily accessible, bathed in beautiful sunshine for pretty much ten months of the year, affordable and lively, Fuengirola's reputation belies its undeniable charm. While Marbella is certainly easier on the eye, Puerto Banús has a more glamorous nightlife and Benalmádena is the more family-friendly option, Fuengirola's everyman appeal is its main strength. Nowhere is too exclusive or financially prohibitive, the streets are clean, the people friendly and the commercial and cultural variety on offer is as good as anywhere else on the Costa del Sol. Chuck in a long beach, a wide promenade and some exceptionally well-priced properties, and you have the ingredients for a pretty fine place in the sun.

Continue reading: By Day

With the sun shining in somewhere like Marbella or Puerto Banús, one's diary is pretty much filled – hit the beach, then some bars, then repeat until burnt, bored or broke. In Fuengirola, there's much more on offer, particularly for younger members of the family. Fuengirola Zoo is a brilliant example of clever design in a tight space: surrounded by residential apartments, the zoo manages to cram in a wide selection of species in a small area, does some sterling conservation work and proves a distracting day out for all the family.

Mijas Aquapark is another such attraction that combines a great price with a great day out for all the family. Open from early June until late September, try to avoid the weekends at the height of summer and you're golden – the park has plenty of slides, pools, Jacuzzis and bathing and shaded areas to ensure all ages have a fun-packed time.

Along the promenade, Fuengirola exhibits a decidedly tourist atmosphere; this vast stretch is dotted with a number of gift shops selling trinkets, beach equipment, sun lotions, magazines, newspapers and ice creams. Alongside sit a number of bars and cafés, ranging from pizza parlours and all day-breakfast serving establishments to bistros, restaurants and chiringuitos specialising in the freshest of fish and seafood. At the western end of the beach is the imposing Sohail Castle, which affords some lovely views of the surrounding bay while, slightly inland, is the Miramar Shopping Centre – a huge mall with cinema that is busy all year round.

For a more traditional slice of the town, Fuengirola's Los Boliches area, built around the old fishing port, offers a more relaxed atmosphere augmented by the narrow streets, authentic bodegas and quaint cottages. For the expat, Fuengirola has it all, including British vets, a large El Corte Inglés department store, plenty of pubs and bars, and even a Specsavers! In May, Fuengirola hosts its famous Feria Internacional de los Pueblos, where the town celebrates much more than just its Spanish culture; it actively invites nations from all over the world to promote their own nations, making for a great day out for all.

Continue reading: By Night

There's no central hub of nightlife activity in Fuengirola. Instead, the resort's organic growth has created a steady offering of late night venues, spread throughout the town. While the cafés, bars and eateries along the promenade are always busy during the summer months, their combined efforts do not quite constitute a 'strip' of bars and clubs to match those found in Puerto Banús or Benalmádena. Instead, Fuengirola is more like Marbella in the sense that there is plenty of choice, spread out.

Aside from the clubs and pubs, a night out in Fuengirola could constitute a moonlit stroll around the grounds of the castle; a movie at the Miramar Cinema (which shows one, sometimes two, English language films a week); a lazy tapas meal at one of the many superb tapas restaurants; or a few glasses of wine on the bustling Constitution Square.

By journalist, editor and former Costa del Sol resident, Ian Clover.