Marbella: bougainvillea, white houses and the bay facing the Mediterranean

Western Costa del Sol

Marbella, Andalusian elegance by the water

Beneath the silhouette of La Concha, Marbella has cultivated its own art of living since the fifties: manicured beaches, an old town of jasmine and orange trees, and a Golden Mile of villas hidden behind hedges. Its reputation for luxury hides a surprisingly gentle city to live in.

The Plaza de los Naranjos and its white lanes form one of the prettiest old towns on the coast. The seafront promenade runs all the way to Puerto Banús, its yachts and boutiques, past the Avenida del Mar and its Dalí sculptures. Beach clubs line the Golden Mile; golfers are spoilt for choice in the Golf Valley of Nueva Andalucía.

Behind the town, the Sierra Blanca offers cool hikes, and Ojén, Istán or Benahavís, white villages twenty minutes away, remind you that authentic Andalusia is never far.

Marbella

What to see and do in Marbella

The old town

Plaza de los Naranjos, flowered lanes and terraces beneath the orange trees.

The Golden Mile & Puerto Banús

Beach clubs, marina and boutiques: glamorous Marbella.

La Concha

The emblematic peak, to be climbed at dawn for views as far as Africa.

Benahavís

The coast’s gastronomic village, twenty minutes’ drive away.

Practical information

From Málaga airport: About 55 km · 45 min by road
Best season: April to October; winters remain bright and mild, ideal for golf.
Ideal for: Villa holiday with friends or family · Golf and wellness · Chic couple’s getaway

My advice