A municipality of the Costa del Sol, this seaside town is 30 kilometres from Malaga, 28 kms from Marbella, adjoins the municipalities of Mijas to the North and Benalmadena to the east.

Remains of the Phoenician, Roman and Arab civilizations 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 Zoo with a big selection of animals, the yacht harbour, Yacht Club and a large shopping complex, the 7 kms. long Marine Parade dotted with various monuments and sculptures, the bull ring etc.