# Marbella: a day trip from Málaga > Marbella is the Costa del Sol's best-known resort, an hour from Málaga at the foot of the Sierra Blanca. It has two sides: a white old town with the Orange Square and flower-hung balconies, and the glamorous Puerto Banús harbour of yachts and boutiques. Between them run beaches and a promenade, and Dalí sculptures line the avenue to the sea. Wandering is free; allow a day. Web page: https://yesgo.io/spain/malaga/marbella - City: [Málaga](https://yesgo.io/spain/malaga), Spain - YesGo score: 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 5 h - Opening hours: Town always open - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Getting there: Bus from Málaga ≈ 1 hour - Highlights: Old town, promenade, Puerto Banús - Time needed: A full day - Beaches: Venus, La Fontanilla, Puerto Banús - Location: ≈ 60 km south-west of Málaga - Coordinates: 36.51136, -4.88344 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 156,000** — residents, the province's second city (source: English Wikipedia) - **117 km²** — area of the municipality (source: English Wikipedia) - **Sierra Blanca** — the mountains above the town (source: English Wikipedia) - **Costa del Sol** — one of the coast's leading resorts (source: English Wikipedia) ## 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. > **Planning the day** Explore the old town in the cool of the morning, then walk down the Avenida del Mar to the sea and along the promenade. Spend the afternoon on the beach, and towards evening take a bus or taxi to Puerto Banús to see the yachts and the sunset. ## 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. ## How to get there from Málaga 1. Bus from Málaga or the airport, about 1 hour. 2. By car, about 45 minutes on the AP-7 or A-7. 3. From the old town to Puerto Banús, bus or taxi, ≈ 15 minutes. 4. Along the promenade on foot or by bike. ## 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. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Check bus times from Málaga - [ ] Have coffee on the Orange Square - [ ] Find the Dalí sculptures on Avenida del Mar - [ ] Walk the seafront promenade - [ ] Watch sunset at Puerto Banús ## Places in Málaga: compare and choose Places in Málaga rated by YesGo. - [Marbella](https://yesgo.io/spain/malaga/marbella) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 5 h · Free - [Torremolinos](https://yesgo.io/spain/malaga/torremolinos) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free - [Benalmádena](https://yesgo.io/spain/malaga/benalmadena) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 5 h · Free; cable car paid - [Nerja](https://yesgo.io/spain/malaga/nerja) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 5 h · Free; caves paid ## Don't mix it up Marbella is the town with the old centre; Puerto Banús is its yacht harbour a few kilometres to the west. ## Tips - Old town in the morning. - Lunch is cheaper in the centre. - Puerto Banús in the evening. - Beaches are free. ## Questions ### How do I get from Málaga to Marbella? By bus in about an hour or by car in 45 minutes. ### What is there to see in Marbella? The old town and Orange Square, the promenade, the Dalí sculptures and Puerto Banús. ### Does Marbella have beaches? Yes, long sandy beaches along the whole promenade. ### How long do you need in Marbella? A full day including the beach. ### Is Marbella expensive? Pricier than its neighbours, especially Puerto Banús; the old town is cheaper. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Transport times weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Marbella - Marbella tourism portal, turismo.marbella.es --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.