Rebirth of Tivoli World – here’s what it will look like

Benalmadena council took a historic step on June 19, as the municipal council officially approved an urban planning agreement to resurrect Tívoli World, the beloved amusement park that defined generations of the Costa del Sol community. 

Shut down since 2020, Tívoli was more than a mere fun fair. It was a cultural icon, a hub for family entertainment, and a symbol for the Costa del Sol. Now it is about to undergo a new rebirth, and will become the focal point of a cutting edge tourist and retail complex.

The revamped Tívoli World will cover almost 70 thousand square metres, slightly bigger than its previous footprint, but with a bold vertical design that nearly triples its buildable area to 42,220 square metres. The expansion will include two new hotels, a 58,000 square metre shopping center and the amusement park remains the core of the project. The council agreement mandates that Tívoli reopen before or alongside the broader complex, maintaining its symbolic and functional role.

The amusement area will cover a plot of 35,860 square metres, and an additional 34,000 sqm will be integrated onto the roof of the shopping centre. Backed by a €100 million investment from the Tremón Group, the site’s owners, the project is expected to create over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction and operation. The agreement stipulates that Tivoli World will rehire its former employees who looked after the park and watched over it while it was closed. The vote in plenary session in the council chambers clears the way for Mayor Juan Antonio Lara to sign the agreement with Tremón.

The project represents a turning point in Benalmadena. Years of stagnation under previous administrations and legal disputes have been resolved. Since the current local government took office in July 2023, it has worked to rebuild ties with Tremón and unlock the site’s potential while remaining firmly on the side of public wishes to retain the amusement park.