Day trip to Benalmádena from Málaga

Where are you pulling from?
→ Departure by your own transportation
By car, it is a short half-hour drive from Málaga to Benalmádena Costa. You drive along the A-7 towards Torremolinos and then take the Benalmádena/Arroyo de la Miel exit. In the harbor (Puerto Marina) there is a large parking garage, but you can also park a little higher in the village and walk down to the beach.
→ Departure by excursion or public transportation
The Cercanías train (line C-1) runs in 34 minutes from Málaga Centro Alameda to Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel. From the station you can walk to the coast in 20 minutes. Buses are slightly slower (about 50 min.), but do run directly to the port or promenade. Rather organized? There are numerous tours to, for example, the Colomares castle or for dolphin spotting from a boat.
Where should you be?
Most attractions are located between Puerto Marina (the port with stores, dolphin tours and restaurants) and the Arroyo de la Miel district, where you'll also find the cable car to Mount Calamorro. Prefer something quieter? The old village of Benalmádena Pueblo, against the mountainside, is charming and surprisingly calm.
What can you do there?

Dolphin spotting at sea
From the harbor, boats leave daily. You sit in the sun with a drink, and the chances of seeing dolphins are high.
Exploring Colomares Castle
An imaginative tribute to Columbus, built like a fairy tale of stone and mosaic.
By cable car to Mount Calamorro
For the best views of the entire Costa del Sol - on clear days you can even see Gibraltar as well as Morocco.
Strolling through Puerto Marina
Artfully landscaped harbor with Moorish influences, boutiques and terraces right on the waterfront.
Strolling around Benalmádena Pueblo
White streets, flower pots and local tapas bars in a quiet square - the authentic side of the coastal town.

Top restaurants for brunch, lunch and dinner

El Mero - At the Port. Fish doesn't get fresher than this. Favorite with locals.
Yucas Café & Bar - Atop a cliff. Ideal for brunch overlooking the sea.
Los Remos Lázaro - Plastic chairs on the beach, charcoal smell in your nose, sardines as they should be.
Trocadero Benalmádena - New, stylish and soon likely to be full. Get in now without a reservation.
Restaurant Aleysa - Luxury lunch spot in boutique hotel with an oasis of peace and sea view.

What time do you have to get back?
By train? The last Cercanías towards Málaga Centro Alameda leaves Arroyo de la Miel station around 11:30 p.m.
By bus, you have to calculate back a bit earlier (last rides often around 9:00-22:00 p.m.).
To be sure, check timetables via the Renfe app or Google Maps, especially on weekends.