As part of Fuengirola’s 2023–2026 strategic plan, the local government earmarked over €300 million for sustainable urban redevelopment. This includes public transport upgrades, green infrastructure, and modernised seafront promenades — all of which significantly boost property values in adjacent residential zones.
Fuengirola used to be a name dropped in conversation only to describe where not to stop—somewhere between the flash of Marbella and the pulse of Málaga. It was the town with the long beach, the mid-tier seafood, the expats and the package holidays. And then, like all places with time on their side and geography in their favour, it began to change. Slowly, not dramatically. No one threw up a Dubai-style skyline. But the signs were there: the boutiques, the bike paths, the architecture that began to breathe again. In 2025, Fuengirola has arrived—quietly, confidently—as one of the smartest places to invest on the Costa del Sol.
Idealista’s most recent figures show a 14% year-on-year increase in property interest from international buyers. The top three countries? The UK, Germany, and the Netherlands—with a growing contingent from the US. What they're drawn to isn’t just price (though Fuengirola still sits a full bracket below Marbella per square metre), but potential. It has all the scaffolding of a smart city: direct rail to the airport, fibre-optic infrastructure, walkable promenades, beachfront parks. But more than that—it has started to curate a life that feels not only pleasant, but possible.
New Developments Worth Watching
One name on everyone’s lips is Higuerón West 217. Built into the hillside like it belongs there, it feels more like an eco-village than a development. The design is subtle—earth-toned façades, water-efficient landscaping, and interiors that feel like they’ve been lit from within. Prices begin at €480,000 for two-bedroom apartments and stretch to over €1.5 million for penthouses with private pools and terraces that hover over the sea. There's also a wellness centre, spa, Pilates studio, and co-working space. A lifestyle stack, neatly arranged.
Just along the coast, Middel Views is turning heads with its sea-facing apartments starting at €365,000. The architecture is pared back, all clean lines and unobstructed glass, with just enough texture to avoid sterility. Owners here get the kind of panoramic view you’d pay triple for elsewhere, plus resort-style pools and private access to one of the best beach sections in Fuengirola.
Looking further forward, The View Fuengirola, due for completion late 2025, is a boutique high-rise offering just 36 residences. Expect rooftop infinity pools, private lifts, and work-from-home-ready layouts. It's aimed at global citizens—people who flit between Berlin, New York, and the Costa del Sol, but want each base to feel more like a home than a hotel.
The Bigger Picture: How It Fits Into the Coast
The Costa del Sol is many things to many people. Marbella still dominates for buyers seeking showpiece villas—the €8 million, triple-height ceiling, bulletproof-glass variety. Benahavís remains the enclave of choice for the privacy-obsessed. Inland Gaucín appeals to romantics with a pastoral streak.
Fuengirola sits somewhere more nuanced. It’s not isolated, nor overexposed. As of early 2025, the average price per square metre here is about €3,100—comfortably under Marbella’s prime real estate and with stronger rental yield potential. It appeals to those who want modernity without arrogance, accessibility without compromise.
Here, the amenities don’t scream for attention but quietly upgrade your daily rhythm: fine dining, beachfront yoga, multilingual international schools, boutique gyms that don’t play music too loudly.
In 2024, mid-term rentals (1–6 months) in new developments in Fuengirola saw a 22% increase in occupancy, driven by remote workers from Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. Average yields in select new-builds reached 5.1% annually, outperforming Marbella (4.3%) for the first time.
Life as It’s Actually Lived
Morning begins with sunlight over ceramic tiles. Maybe your home is in El Higuerón, overlooking the coast from your terrace. Maybe it’s a penthouse at Middel Views where you’ve left the windows open all night because the sea air keeps better time than any alarm.
Down at Playa de los Boliches, locals swim before breakfast. Not for sport, but out of habit. A short walk leads to La Galerna or Café Nomad for proper coffee—not syrupy and not rushed. The people-watching is sublime: long-term expats with retrievers, middle-aged Spanish couples dressed like it’s Sunday, 20-somethings on bikes returning from the gym.
Lunch is the main event. Try the salt-baked sea bass at Los Marinos José or the tasting menu at Sollo, where chef Diego Gallegos serves aquaculture-inspired cuisine that’s won him both a Michelin star and global recognition. After that, you might charter a catamaran, or wander into Mijas Pueblo for an artist’s gallery opening.
Evenings belong to the Paseo Marítimo. Tapas at La Carihuela. Jazz from a terrace in Los Pacos. A quiet drink before bed. No pretense, just tempo.
The Numbers Behind the Charm
Fuengirola’s evolution isn’t a speculative story—it’s anchored in infrastructure. The commuter rail linking the town to Málaga Airport in 27 minutes makes it an easy second home, while its walkability is fast making it a favourite for digital nomads and early retirees. Unlike Marbella, where a car is a necessity, Fuengirola invites you to live low-impact.
It also presents a smarter way to hold property on the coast. Several developments in the area offer strong rental yields, particularly during the spring and autumn shoulder seasons when digital workers, wellness travellers, and retirees seek short- to mid-term stays. With demand rising and hotel capacity capped, well-located new builds offer high occupancy potential.
And let’s talk sustainability. Many of the new builds here, including Higuerón West, are aiming for BREEAM or LEED certification. These aren’t just badges—they offer genuine advantages in energy bills, resale value, and (in the coming years) potential tax incentives.
The Verdict: Fuengirola, Reframed
This is not the Fuengirola of your uncle’s golf holiday. Nor is it the town clinging to past clichés of coastlines and cocktails. It has emerged with purpose. With taste. With infrastructure that works and real estate that speaks to the next chapter, not the last.
It is where the Costa del Sol meets coherence—walkable, connected, and culturally interesting. Ideal for buyers who value both their time and their space. Not loud. Not over-designed. Just right.
At Ultimate Lifestyles, we work with buyers who want properties that match their pace, not their profile. Whether you're looking to retire early, work remotely, or invest intelligently in Spanish real estate, Fuengirola offers more than just an address. It offers a future that functions.
Explore our current listings at ultimate-lifestyles.com or speak with one of our specialists.
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