Fuengirola is a city on the Costa del Sol in the province of Malaga in the autonomous community of Andalucia in southern Spain. It is located on the central coast of the province and integrated into the region of the Costa del Sol.
It is a major tourist resort, with more than 8 km of beaches and a medieval Moorish fortress. In common with much of this coast, it has been the subject of considerable urban development.
The area has a subtropical Mediterranean climate, with annual average temperatures of 18 °C (65 °F) and average summer temperatures of over 30 °C (86 °F).
Of the approximately 82,226 permanent inhabitants registered in the municipality, 25% come from other countries, mainly European, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, and also from Morocco and Latin America. In the summer months the town is visited by large numbers of holidaymakers from Spain and abroad, amongst whom are many from the UK. The English-speaking community in particular is large enough to support a fully developed programme of activities and local groups.
Bioparc Fuengirola is a zoo that specializes in captive breeding for endangered species, research on chimpanzee groups and in tropical forest education. It has a series of natural habitats for different species.
Fuengirola has a number of historical sites and open parks. There is a large Marina with its many bars and restaurants. The old port is still used by the local Spanish fisherman. The Moorish castle of Suhayl, or Suhail, remained an abandoned ruin until renovations began in 1995. In 2000 the interior of the castle was completely renovated and the Suhail castle began to host festivals and concerts throughout the summer. Additional landscaping was completed in 2002.
The town is largely urban in character, with many high-rise apartment blocks, particularly near the seafront. There are some narrow streets with many low-rise villas and there are many lovely urbanizations and detached villas.