Marbella: a day trip from Málaga

About Marbella

Marbella lies on the Costa del Sol between Málaga and the Strait of Gibraltar, at the foot of the Sierra Blanca. With about 156,000 residents it's the second-largest town in Málaga province. The mountains shelter the coast from wind, giving mild, sunny weather almost all year.

Marbella has two faces. The old town is a maze of white lanes, flowers, little squares and tapas bars. To the west lie Puerto Banús, with its yachts and boutiques, and the Golden Mile of villas and hotels. Between them stretch long beaches and a seafront promenade.

What to see in Marbella

• Plaza de los Naranjos — the heart of the old town.
• The old town — white lanes full of flowers.
• Avenida del Mar — an avenue of Dalí sculptures.
• The promenade — kilometres of seafront walks.
• Puerto Banús — a harbour of yachts and boutiques.
• Alameda Park — shade and tiled benches.

The old town and Orange Square

Marbella's heart is the Plaza de los Naranjos, the Orange Square, with orange trees, a fountain and the white town hall. Café terraces ring it, perfect for coffee or tapas, and narrow old town lanes lead off in every direction.

The old town is a place to wander aimlessly: white walls draped in bougainvillea, balconies full of potted flowers and small shops selling ceramics and souvenirs. Look for the Church of the Encarnación with its Baroque portal and the remains of the old walls, a few towers surviving between the houses.

The promenade and Puerto Banús

From the old town, the Avenida del Mar leads to the sea past fountains and bronze sculptures by Salvador Dalí set along the walkway. It meets the promenade, which runs for several kilometres beside the beaches, busy with walkers, joggers and cyclists, while beach bars called chiringuitos serve grilled fish on the sand.

Puerto Banús, a few kilometres west, is a harbour of big yachts, with restaurants and designer boutiques along the quays. Even if you're not shopping, it's fun to stroll in the evening, admire the yachts and supercars and dine overlooking the marina.

Tips for your trip

Marbella is pricier than other coastal towns, especially in Puerto Banús. To save, have lunch in the old town, where the menu of the day is good value, and stick to a coffee with a view in the harbour. Beaches are public and free; you pay only for sunbeds and umbrellas.

In summer, especially August, Marbella is very busy and accommodation is at its dearest. Spring and autumn are calmer, with the sea still warm, and winter is mild and sunny, ideal for promenade walks.

With children, the promenade and parks are easy going and the beaches shelve gently. For mountains, trails in the Sierra Blanca offer coastal views.

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How to do it right

• Old town in the morning.
• Lunch is cheaper in the centre.
• Puerto Banús in the evening.
• Beaches are free.

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