Our Fuengirola park review series: Parque Syalis in Los Pacos
Rating ★★★★☆
Parque Syalis is one of Fuengirola’s residential parks, high up on a hill in Los Pacos. It has lawns for picnics, stone paths, a play area with swings and a small slide, exercise equipment for grown-ups, a drinking fountain, and plenty of benches in the shade.
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Review
My son, The Park Expert of this blog, says, “This is my favourite park because it has so many different areas, like trees, fences, flower beds and paths, so it’s really good for playing hide-and-seek and tag with your friends. There are also a lot of trees for shade and a drinking fountain if you get thirsty.”
Overall vibe:
★★★★★ Small, pretty suburban park.
Facilities:
★★★★☆ A small kids’ play area with swings and a slide, exercise equipment for grown-ups, benches, drinking fountain.
Beauty:
★★★★☆ Lots of jacaranda trees and some flowerbeds, plus pretty, winding stone paths.
Relaxation factor:
★★★★☆ Depends on the time of day. When school is out, it’s very quiet. During the school year, mornings and daytime can be hectic.
Cleanliness:
★★★★★ The last time we visited, we didn’t see any rubbish.
Accessibility:
★★★★☆
✓ Bus stop nearby
✓ Paved pathways, several benches
✓ Free parking nearby, but only available when school is out
✓ If you’re looking for sensory calm, evenings, weekends and school holidays are quiet
✗ Mornings and daytime during the school year are very busy and noisy
✗ Although paved, the walking surfaces are steep
Detailed description
Situated high up on the hill at the back of Los Pacos, the north-western suburb of Fuengirola, Parque Syalis is a pleasant park in a residential area. It’s a good park to come to with a group of kids so they can play together; there’s a small kids’ play area and plenty of space to run around.
The park’s vibe is residential and family-friendly. As there is a school next door, it gets very busy during school days, but less so at weekends. In the summer, it’s very quiet. There are lots of trees and lawned areas for picnics and a drinking fountain.
There is limited children’s playground equipment. There are two normal swings, plus a big group swing that several kids can pile in together. For toddlers, there’s a small slide and a spring-mounted rider.
There is outdoor exercise equipment for adults. The exercise machines include a static bike, a health walker, a waist trainer and two types of equipment for training arms.
The park is built on a slope. The paths are smooth and wide, so they’re suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. However, the terrain is at an angle which means it’s more challenging if you’re going uphill.
Plants
Syalis Park, albeit small, is really charming thanks to its jacaranda trees. They are especially beautiful in May when they bloom with purple flowers.
Other notable trees in the park include silk floss, redbud and tipu trees. There are also some flowerbeds along the fences that add bright spots of colour throughout the year.
Tips for your visit to Fuengirola Syalis Park
Remember that Syalis Park is at the top of a very long, steep hill. Take care if you’re walking there in the summer heat. If driving, there’s a nearby free parking lot on Calle Isabel la Católica. You can also get there on the L4 bus—see details below. School holidays and weekends tend to be quiet, if you want to escape the crowds. Early mornings and evenings offer most shade from the trees.
📍 How to get there
Name: Parque Syalis
Address: Calle Infanta Doña Elena
Hours: Always open, not gated
Map: Google Maps Link
Bus stop: Los Pacos Boliches, L4 bus, get off at CEIP-Syalis
Parking: Free parking lot on nearby Calle Isabel Católica
Wrap up
Fuengirola Parque Syalis is a small park where you can have a picnic and children have plenty of space to run around. I wouldn’t say it merits a special visit unless you live nearby. But equally, you can spend a pleasant evening there sitting on a bench while your kids play or using the exercise equipment.
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