7 AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN MARBELLA
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This post is all about why you should visit Marbella, Spain and what to do when you’re there
If you’re after a luxury beach destination on the Mediterranean you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere better than Marbella. It definately rivals the French Riviera for Mediterranean glamour.
It has a feel of Monaco with it’s marinas filled with high-end yachts and designer boutiques There’s also high end boutiques, Michelin-starred restaurants and a long chain of sandy beaches.
It’s a hugely popular beach destination on the Costa del Sol. You can spend your time just relaxing enjoying the sun but if you want to explore a little there are some great things to see and do whilst staying in Marbella.
If you fancy a day trip you can’t go wrong with the enchanting Ronda that is less than an hour away by car if you’ve hired you own or you can book a tour to Ronda from Marbella.
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This post is all about why you should visit Marbella, Spain : the luxury Spanish resort town in the Costa del Sol and what to see and do when you get there.
Old Town
I love a good Old Town and it’s always my most favourite part of any town and Marbella Old Town is no different. It’s a beautiful area of Marbella with narrow pedestrian streets, cobblestones and bougainvilleas.
All of the buildings have a typical Andalusian feel with whitewashed walls and terracotta roofs. There are many planters around with flowers. I particularly love the rows of blue planters on one wall. There are bougainvilleas everywhere which remind me of my childhood Spanish holiday home in Las Fuentas, a little north of Marbella.
Wandering around Old Town it really takes you back in time. You can get lost around the labaryinth streets that lead on to small squares like Plaza de los Narajos, which is filled with restaurants, formal gardens and orange trees.
Alameda Park
As you wander to the south of Old Town you will stumble across Alameda Park. It’s a wonderful, shady area which has a canopy of tropical trees with marble paved walkways lined with benches where you can relax away from the crowds and the bright afternoon Spanish sunshine.
At one end is a beautiful fountain and a childrens fairground with a carousel and a few arcade type games.
It’s a wonderful place to pass away a little time, watching the world go by.
Beaches
There are around 20 beaches along the front of Marbella. My favourite is the smaller El Faro which is to the west of the port. It has been awarded the Blue Flag in 2016, has a wonderful arc of sand and sunbeds for hire.
There’s a wonderful structure in the sea with seats. It’s a wonderful shaded area to sit, splash your legs in the sea and relax. The perfect place to enjoy the Mediterranean sea without the blazing sunshine on your back.
There are chiringuitos for you to grab a refreshing drink or small snack from.
Avenida del Mar
This is a spectacular walkway leading from Alameda Park to Playa de la Venus which is just east of the marina.
It’s a wide pedestrian avenue with a huge car park underneath if you’re after some parking in Marbella. It’s lined with restaurants, fountains, hedges and many Salvador Dali art pieces down the centre.
The art pieces are interesting bronze sculptures to look at as you wander down with names such as ‘The Man on the Dolphin’ and ‘Capricorn’
It’s a great place to relax on a bench or grba a bite to eat as you people watch.
Iglesia de la Encarnacion
Marbella’s main historical landmark is a beautiful baroque and renaissance church which was completed in the mid 18 th century.
It is a former mosque and when the city was reconquered from the Moors at the end of the 15th century it was sanctified immediately and became a place of Christian worship.
There are lots of features left over from it’s time as a mosque : the church’s tower was once a minaret.
We arrived during the Sunday service and the place was full of worshippers and the bells were ringing out.
WATCH THE WALKING TOUR OF MARBELLA
Puerto Banus
If you want flashiness and ostentatious wealth Puerto Banus is for you.
It’s a few kilometres west of Old Town Marbella and can be accessed by a short bus ride or a taxi.
Puerto Banus draws alot of comparisons to the French Riveria and it reminds me of Monaco with it;s super yachts and luxury sports cars.
It’ s a good place for a day trip if you’re staying in Marbella Town as you can while away a few hours on the sandy beach or get dressed up for a dinner in one of the posh restaurants.
On a roundabout near the beach there’s a huge rhino sculpture ‘Rinoceronte vestido con puntillas’ (Rhino Dressed in Lace) which is worth checking out. It is a Salvador Dali piece which weighs 3.6 tonnes
Roman Villa
Between Puerto Banus and Old Town Marbella close to the mouth of Rio Verde are the remnants of the city Ciliana, which stood where Marbella is 200 years ago.
The walls of the villa are unfortunetly no longer there but the villas amazing mosaics are still intact and look beautiful!
It’s a interesting trip for an hour or so.
It’s only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11:30 - 13:00.
The best time to visit Marbella
Marbella enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long hot summers and relatively short mild winters.
If you love the sun the best time to go to Marbella is between June and September. The hottest month of the year is August with an average daily maximum of 31 C and an average low of 23 C. This is the summer holidays in Europe so it’s also the busiest and most expensive time to visit.
Instead of the height of summer, if you don’t mind slightly coolder temperatures you may enjoy visiting during early autumn - September or October. The sea is a wonderful temperature at this time.
Which airport serves Marbella
Malaga is the nearest airport to Marbella.
It is just over 50km away and takes about 40 minutes by car.
I personally hired a car at Malaga airport and it’s how I’d recommend getting to Marbella as it allows you to explore other places around the south coast such as Ronda, Seville or Sentenil de Bodegas.
I recommend renting a car through RentalCars.com as they search the biggest brands in car rental, have flexible rentals and no hidden fees. Book your rental car here.
How to get around Marbella
Walking is the best way to get around Marbella. It’s not a very big town so it’s easy to get to most places on foot.
Old Town has some cobbled paths so pack a good pair of walking sandals to make the walks easier.
Marbella does have local bus services that can connect you to surrounding areas that are a little too far to walk such as Puerto Banus. Marbella Bus Station is located on Avenida del Trapiche, just north of the town centre. Marbella Bus Station has services that link directly to Málaga Airport, and Madrid.
You can find timetables of services from Marbella Bus Station here.
The Fly Blue catamaran offers daily cruises between Marbella and Puerto Banus if you want to head over there. The journey takes around 30 minutes and costs 15 euros for a return ticket.
If you’re driving, there are lots of car parks in Marbella that are all close to the center that are decently priced. Rent your car from RentalCars.com
Where to stay in Marbella
Firstly you need to decide on the area you’d like to stay in.
Old Town
A lot of Marbella is a huge resort town but Old Town has retained a lot of it’s original charm with it’s white washed buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. There are lots of hotel options, small boutiques and tapas bars to enjoy.
Stay here if you’re looking for culture and tradition.
Hotels in Old Town
Hotel Marbella Fusion for beautiful rooms at an affordable price in the heart of Old Town.
Linda Boutique Hotel a stunning hotel located right by Plaza de los Naranjos that serves a delicious breakfast.
Marbella Orange Square Apartment if you’re after a stunning self catering home in Old Town.
Downtown
Downtown is determined by the area’s proximity to the bustling Avenida Ricardo Soriano which is the main street that runs through the city. The entire street goes on for miles and is crammed with hotels, restaurants and markets.
The area is close to the beach and the Paseo Maritime promenade.
Stay here if you want to be where the action is. It’s right in the centre with everything you could want nearby.
Hotels in Downtown
The Beach House is a great 3 bedroom apartment a 5 minute walk to the beach.
Valdecantos is a great value apartment near the harbour with beautiful sea views.
Apartamento Marbella Centro right near the heart of all the action a short walk to the beach.
Puerto Banus
Around 7km west from the central Marbella, Puerto Banus is luxury! There are lavish yachts, fancy sports cars and celebrities aplenty.
If you choose to stay in this area be prepared to spend some cash.
The nightlife in Puerto Banus is excellent with lots of clubs and cocktail bars to keep you entertained until the early hours of the morning.
Stay here if luxury is what you’re after with upscale dining and shopping areas and a beautiful beach.
Hotels in Puerto Banus
Apartamento Arunda is a great 2 bedroom apartment for Puerto Banus on a budget.
Marina Banus is the height of Puerto Banus luxury.
Park Plaza Suites offer stunning sea views in a 2 bedroom apartment near the harbour.
Andalusia Guide Books & Good Reads
Where else can you visit in this area of Spain?
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