Playa Fuengirola, Sandy beach in Fuengirola, Spain

Playa Fuengirola is a sandy shoreline along the southern coast of Spain that extends for several kilometers with a broad band of sand and shallow water. The water is calm and clear, with mountains forming the backdrop to the horizon.

Fuengirola's shoreline was a fishing village until the mid-20th century, when tourism turned it into a beach resort. The town grew along the coast as hotels and apartments replaced the old fishing quarter, making the beach central to the southern coast's tourist development.

The beach takes its name from Fuengirola, the town whose seafront it forms, and it is the town's main bathing area on the Costa del Sol. The Arabic name Shati Suhayl links it to the same shoreline. Visitors see the sand used for sunbathing, swimming and games, with the town's promenade and cafés behind it.

The shoreline has showers, restrooms, and places to rent umbrellas, plus areas for different water sports. Visitors should know that conditions vary by season, with summer months offering the most activities and busiest periods.

The beach sits about 400 km south of Madrid, on the Andalusian coast in Málaga Province. The name Fuengirola is also used for the town behind the sand, and the Arabic name for the beach, شاطئ سهيل, refers to the star Suhail. The sources record no fortress on the shoreline.