Remains of the Phoenician, Roman and Arab civilisations have been found within the area. The foothills of the mountain range behind the town are the site of the Arab castle which contains remains of an early Ibero-punic or Phoenician settlement, later occupied by the Romans, which became a town known in antiquity as SUEL.

 At present the so-called Villa Blanca (white town) offers all the facilities of a major tourist centre - hotels, restaurants, bars, discotheques, sports clubs etc Broad beaches flank the city east and west (Carvajal, Gaviotas, Boliches, San Francisco, Santa Amalia, Castillo) with newly built "chiringuitos" - simple beach side sheds housing restaurants - offer typical dishes such as cold vegetable soup, skewered sardines etc.

 Apart from the general attractions of a tourist centre, Fuengirola offers a number of interesting venues such as the Roman baths at Torreblanca, the Arab castle of Suhayl, the Outdoor Museum exhibiting paintings by a variety of artists, the Yacht Harbour, Yacht Club, two fantastic golf courses, Los Olivos and Los Lagos, and a large shopping complex, the 7 kms. long Marine Parade dotted with various monuments and sculptures, the bull ring etc.