It is one of the chief tourist centres on the western Costa del Sol. The wide range of facilities and services are complemented by an international amusement park.

The municipality of Benalmádena runs from the foothills of the Sierra de Mijas mountains to the small strip of land on the coast. The town is located on a hill, which means there are magnificent views to be seen. Further down are the buildings of Arroyo de la Miel, where most of the population lives, and lastly, Benalmádena-Costa, which has a great many hotels and golf courses, a casino and a marina. Strikingly original is the Castle of Bil-Bil, a curious structure built on the beach front in 1934 in the neo-Arabian style and which the city council uses to stage exhibitions and cultural events. Also of interest are the Muro gardens, a blend of plants and water designed by César Manrique.