In short: the Torremolinos promenade runs along about 7 kilometres of coastline, from Los Álamos to the Benalmádena border, and is split into two sections by the El Morro headland. The most beautiful stretch to walk is from La Carihuela to Puerto Marina: flat, by the sea and full of atmosphere. At a gentle pace, it takes 40 to 50 minutes from El Morro to Puerto Marina.
If there is one thing everyone does in Torremolinos, it is walk by the sea.
The promenade is free, open all year and connects the town’s four big beaches. It is great for an early morning walk, a run, a bike ride, a drink at a beach bar or watching the sunset.
In this guide we describe the Torremolinos promenade stretch by stretch, what you will find in each area and how to do the most beautiful route: from La Carihuela to Puerto Marina, in Benalmádena.
We write it from Caliu, in Montemar, right at the end of that route. Many of our guests walk to dinner along the promenade, and others head out afterwards for a stroll by the sea. So we know it well.
The Torremolinos promenade in figures
Before you lace up your trainers, here are the basic facts about the promenade.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Approximate length | 7 km of coastline |
| Eastern end | Los Álamos, border with Málaga |
| Western end | Montemar, border with Benalmádena |
| Main beaches | Los Álamos, Playamar, El Bajondillo and La Carihuela |
| Natural divide | El Morro, the Punta de Torremolinos |
| Cost | Free, open all year |
The promenade is part of the Senda Litoral, the project to link the whole coast of Málaga province on foot. So when you reach Montemar, you can keep walking by the sea to Puerto Marina and beyond.
The Torremolinos beaches hold the Q for Tourist Quality and have renewed the Blue Flag in recent years, an indicator of water quality and services.
The two sections of the promenade: El Morro as the border
Halfway along, the rocky headland of El Morro, also called the Punta de Torremolinos, divides the promenade into two parts with very different personalities.
Eastern section: Los Álamos, Playamar and El Bajondillo
It is the most urban and modern part. Here you find the big hotels, the apartment towers of the sixties and seventies and much of the nightlife.
The three beaches run into each other without interruption, so you could cover them almost without leaving the sand.
Western section: La Carihuela and Montemar
Past El Morro, La Carihuela begins, the old fishing quarter. The atmosphere changes: low houses, fried-fish shops, fish restaurants and a promenade closer to the water.
At the end of La Carihuela comes Montemar, the quietest area, and then Benalmádena Costa with Puerto Marina.
Tip: if you only have time for one section, choose the western one. It is more picturesque, has better food and ends at Puerto Marina, one of the most beautiful marinas in Spain.
Los Álamos: the start of the promenade
Los Álamos beach is the easternmost in Torremolinos, with about 1,500 metres of fine sand. It is very close to the airport and the Málaga border.
It has a young, dynamic vibe, with several beach clubs where you can spend the day between sunbeds, music and cocktails. At night some of these venues become well-known nightlife spots.
It is a wide, open stretch, ideal for running or cycling early in the morning.
Playamar: the Torremolinos of the towers
Playamar is just over a kilometre long and easy to recognise by its 15-storey apartment towers, built at the height of the tourism boom in the sixties.
It is a very family-friendly beach, with plenty of sand and a promenade with green areas, palm trees and lawns to escape the sun.
Here the promenade feels more residential. It is the stretch where you will see most locals walking their dogs or exercising.
El Bajondillo: the heart of the promenade
El Bajondillo, at about 1,100 metres, is the most central beach in Torremolinos. You reach it by slopes and steps down from Calle San Miguel.
It is the liveliest stretch of the whole eastern side: shops, ice cream parlours, beach bars with music, craft stalls and lots of movement, especially in summer.
What to see in El Bajondillo
- Casa de los Navajas: a Neo-Mudejar mansion from 1925 perched on a cliff above the beach. It can be visited from Wednesday to Sunday and entry is free.
- Steps and slopes up to the Centre: the historic link between the town and the sea.
- Espeto beach bars: some with the Repsol Guide Solete badge.
We tell you more about this area in our guide to what to see in Torremolinos in one day.
El Morro: the passage between two worlds
El Morro is the rocky headland separating El Bajondillo from La Carihuela. For many it is the most photogenic point of the promenade, with views along the coast in both directions.
Here the promenade narrows and skirts the rocks by the sea. On stormy days the waves can splash the path, so take care.
On the other side, suddenly, La Carihuela appears with its little white houses and boats pulled up on the sand.
La Carihuela: the most seafaring promenade
La Carihuela beach is the largest in Torremolinos: about 2,280 metres long and around 40 metres wide, according to Town Hall data.
Its promenade is the most picturesque in town. It keeps part of the layout of the old fishing quarter, with low houses, flowerpots, small squares and food focused on fish.
What you will find in La Carihuela
- Fried-fish shops and fish restaurants: Málaga-style fried fish is the neighbourhood’s great speciality.
- Plaza del Remo: one of the most characterful corners of the neighbourhood.
- Church of the Virgen del Carmen: the church of the sailors’ patron saint.
- Jábega boats and espeteros: especially in summer.
- Hotel Pez Espada: opened in 1959, it was the first five-star hotel in Málaga province and a symbol of the glamour of sixties Torremolinos.
Stars such as Grace Kelly, Ava Gardner, Orson Welles and Frank Sinatra once walked this promenade. Today it is above all a place for locals and families.
If you visit Torremolinos on 16 July, do not miss the maritime procession of the Virgen del Carmen, one of the most moving festivals on the coast.
You have all the information about the beach in our guide to La Carihuela beach.
Montemar: the quiet end of Torremolinos
The last stretch of La Carihuela, in the Montemar area, is quieter and more residential. There is less tourist traffic and a more relaxed feel, ideal for an unhurried walk.
This is where the municipality of Torremolinos ends and Benalmádena Costa begins. But the promenade does not stop: you keep walking by the sea to Puerto Marina.
Caliu is right here, at Av. de España 18. From our door to Puerto Marina it is about 12 minutes on foot.
If you are interested in the neighbourhood, we have a dedicated page: restaurant in Montemar.
The recommended route: from La Carihuela to Puerto Marina
In our opinion, this is the best way to enjoy the promenade. It is flat, safe, beautiful and ends somewhere with lots of atmosphere.
| Stretch | Approximate walking time |
|---|---|
| El Morro to Plaza del Remo | 10 to 15 minutes |
| Plaza del Remo to Montemar | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Montemar (Caliu) to Puerto Marina | 12 minutes |
| Approximate total | 40 to 50 minutes |
Times are approximate at a strolling pace. If you stop for photos or a drink, allow double.
When to do it
The best time is late afternoon. The sun sets in the west, exactly the direction you are walking, and the light on the sea and the marina’s boats is beautiful.
In summer, set off from 7:30 pm to avoid the heat. In winter, from 5 pm you already have lovely light.
How to get back
- On foot: retracing your steps along the promenade, with the town lit up.
- By train: from Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel or Montemar Alto stations, C-1 line.
- By taxi: there is a taxi rank in Puerto Marina.
Tip: do the route at sunset, take a turn around Puerto Marina and walk back to Montemar for dinner. It is the most complete plan for an afternoon on the coast.
Puerto Marina: the final destination
Puerto Marina is Benalmádena’s marina, designed by architect Melvin Villarroel. It has more than a thousand berths and very recognisable white architecture, with residential islands, footbridges and Mediterranean-inspired façades.
It has twice been named the best marina in the world and in 2026 it flies the Blue Flag.
There you will find shops, ice cream parlours, terraces, the Sea Life aquarium and boat trips to see dolphins. We cover it all in our guide to things to do in Puerto Marina.
If you feel like continuing, the promenade carries on towards Malapesquera and El Bil-Bil Castle. We explain it in the guide to things to do in Benalmádena Costa.
The promenade for exercise
The promenade is also the great open-air gym of Torremolinos. Early in the morning it is full of runners, cyclists and walkers.
Running
The full route, end to end, is about 7 kilometres, so there and back makes a workout of around 14. If you add the stretch to Puerto Marina, you can easily go beyond 15 kilometres.
The Playamar and Los Álamos stretch is the widest and most comfortable for running. La Carihuela is narrower and busy at certain times.
Cycling
There are sections with a cycle lane, although it is not continuous along the whole route. In the busiest areas ride slowly and give way to pedestrians.
Exercise areas
Along the promenade there is outdoor gym equipment and green areas for stretching or yoga with sea views.
Practical tips to enjoy the promenade
- Comfortable shoes: you will walk more than you think.
- Sun protection: some stretches have little shade.
- Water: especially in summer. There are fountains and plenty of bars along the way.
- Take care at El Morro: in rough seas the path can get wet from the waves.
- Beach bar hours: in winter some close earlier or open fewer days.
- Accessibility: most of the promenade is flat and suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Several beaches have walkways and amphibious chairs in season.
A little history: from fishing quarter to tourism boom
Until the mid-twentieth century, Torremolinos was a small village of mills and fishermen. La Carihuela was a humble quarter where families lived from jábega fishing and selling fish in Málaga.
From the fifties and sixties the first luxury hotels arrived, such as the Pez Espada, and with them artists, actors and travellers from all over the world. Torremolinos became one of the symbols of Costa del Sol tourism.
Today’s promenade is the result of several works over the decades, which have gradually gained space for pedestrians and improved access to the beaches.
In 1988, Torremolinos regained its municipal independence from Málaga. Since then the promenade has been one of the town’s main priorities.
Where to have dinner at the end of the promenade
After walking by the sea, what you want is a relaxed dinner. La Carihuela has plenty of choice, especially fried fish and rice dishes.
If you prefer a calmer dinner, away from the bustle of the centre of the promenade, Caliu is in Montemar, at the end of La Carihuela. We have been in the neighbourhood for 14 years and are rated 4.8 on Google with more than 650 reviews.
We open for dinner only, from 7 pm to 11:30 pm. From 7 pm to 9 pm you can order our 28 € daily menu, or choose at leisure from the menu.
And if you want to compare options, we have a guide to the best restaurants in Torremolinos by area. To get here, see how to get to Caliu.
The promenade depending on who you are
Not everyone looks for the same thing in a seaside walk. These are our recommendations by type of visitor.
The good thing about the promenade is that it adapts to any pace: you can walk a short stretch in half an hour or spend a whole afternoon on it, stopping for a drink, a swim or simply to look at the sea.
If you are travelling as a couple
Do the stretch from La Carihuela to Puerto Marina at sunset. Stop somewhere to watch the sun go down over the sea, wander round the marina and walk back for dinner in Montemar. It is a simple and very rewarding plan.
If you are with children
The Playamar stretch is the most comfortable, with green areas and plenty of space. In La Carihuela, children love watching the boats and the espetos. And in Puerto Marina they have the Sea Life aquarium and the boats.
If you like photography
The best spots are El Morro, Plaza del Remo, the boats of La Carihuela and the islands of Puerto Marina. The golden hour, just before sunset, has the best light.
If you are looking for peace and quiet
Choose early morning or the months of spring and autumn. Montemar is the stretch with the least traffic and the most silence.
If you are going out at night
The Los Álamos and Playamar promenade has most of the nightlife, while Puerto Marina stays lively until late on its terraces. La Carihuela, on the other hand, is more about dinner and lingering at the table.
Frequently asked questions about the Torremolinos promenade
How many kilometres is the Torremolinos promenade?
About 7 kilometres of coastline, from Los Álamos to the Benalmádena border.
Can you walk from Torremolinos to Puerto Marina?
Yes. From La Carihuela the promenade continues by the sea to Puerto Marina. From Montemar it takes about 12 minutes.
Which stretch of the promenade is the most beautiful?
La Carihuela, for its seafaring atmosphere, and its continuation to Puerto Marina.
Is the promenade wheelchair accessible?
Most of it is flat and accessible. The passage round El Morro is narrower, but passable.
What is the best time for a walk?
Early in the morning for exercise and at sunset to enjoy the light and the atmosphere.
Are there public toilets on the promenade?
In the beach season there are facilities in several areas. Out of season, the bars and restaurants on the promenade are the most practical option.
Conclusion
The Torremolinos promenade is much more than a path along the beach. It is the backbone of the town, the place where locals and visitors mix and the best way to understand what Torremolinos is like.
If you only do one stretch, choose La Carihuela to Puerto Marina, at sunset and without hurry.
And when you reach the end, we are waiting for you in Montemar. Book your table at Caliu and round off your walk with a good dinner.
