Marbella is a thriving Spanish coastal destination, rich in culture, gastronomy and nightlife. Millions of visitors each year either realise this as returning visitors or discover this fact as first timers.
Money has been pumped into the ever-expanding infrastructure making Marbella more accessible and increasingly more popular not only for holiday makers but also for those who live and work there. Marbella has one of the best climates in Europe and with more flights becoming available at lower costs it’s the perfect destination.
The Spanish are very family orientated and this is a major contributor to the large local government budget that funds the facilities and amenities, normally only a stone’s throw from the beach.
Whether it’s a weekend break, a week-long rest or longer, Marbella has it all and we hope you visit and experience Marbella for yourselves.
Here is our top ten selection of ways to enjoy Marbella during your stay:
Enjoy the beaches of Marbella
1. Sun and Sand
The fantastic climate of Marbella allows visitors access to its great beaches for most the year. The long stretches of sandy beaches are mostly bordered by an impressive boardwalk. Some of the best beaches in Marbella are east based and not only stretch on for kilometres but beach goers get to enjoy warm water shallows, ideal for paddling. In addition, if you are with the family, it is much safer for children to enjoy as well. Life guards are stationed along these beaches during high season.
Food and refreshments can be found at regular intervals all along the Costa in “Chiringuitos” (beach bars) which normally serve food and drink all day.
Walk and Talk on Marbella Paseo Maritimo
2. Walk and Talk
Mentioned previously, the Paseo Marítimo (board walk), has been constructed and extended in recent years to span much of the Marbella coastline. It is the perfect setting to walk the length of the coast enjoying the stunning, glistening sea as you stride. Spanish families frequent the Paseo Marítimo at the weekend, enjoying the clean fresh air and some traditional tapas.
Shop til you drop in Marbella
3. Shop till you drop
Renowned for shopping, Marbella has one of the most varied selections of boutiques on the Costa. From small, family owned boutiques in the back streets of Marbella, to the top brands and designer names located in the prestigious area of Puerto Banús. The biggest variety of brands can be found in El Corte Ingles, which is THE department store in Spain.
For another shopping experience in the form of a mall, head to the top of Marbella where you’ll find La Cañada, home to a huge selection of shops, restaurants, a cinema, a huge DIY store and if you have a vehicle problem, Narauto, located at the entrance of the commercial centre.
Parque de la Constitución in Marbella
4. Centres Park
Parque de la Constitución is an old park located close to Marbella’s lighthouse. This large park is a 2-minute walk from the board walk and once again is full of Mediterranean flowers and fauna. The park has a play area for children, a small cafe, an astronomic observatory and an open-air auditorium which hosts concerts and events throughout the Summer months.
Beautiful Old Town Marbella
5. Back to the Future
Marbella is home to some of Spain’s oldest historical buildings which can been found in an area known as Marbella Old Town, or Casco Antiguo. Located in the heart of Marbella, this beautiful area of narrow streets and quaint boutiques is very popular with visitors and locals. You should certainly see the stunning Orange Square, named so because of the abundance of orange trees grown there, and a favourite haunt of TV’s Gloria Huniford. Is is only a short walk from Avenida Ricardo Soriano, Marbellas main road.
Marvel at the Marbella Museums
6. Culture Club
Many people do not associate Marbella with the word culture, assuming it’s all about the nightlife. However, there is plenty of culture to be found here. Marbella hosts one of Europe’s most important plant museums, The Bonsai Museum, located in Parque Arroyo de la Represa. There is also The Spanish Contemporary Engravings exhibit showing works by Picasso, Miró, Tapies, Chillida and several other important Spanish artists. There are numerous art galleries in both Marbella town and Puerto Banús.
One of the most recent additions to Marbella comes in the form of entertainment which is held each summer – The Starlite Festival; a purpose-built concert area at the top of Marbella hosting all the biggest names in music from classical to rock and pop. Recent shows included Lenny Kravitz, Placido Domingo, Lionel Richie and Andrea Bocelli. Not only do the best music stars perform here, there are also cinematic events, all surrounded by bars and restaurants and in the beautiful evening temperatures of a Costa del Sol summer.
Lark in the Park Marbella
7. Lark in the Park
Located on the opposite side of the road from the Old Town is La Alameda Park, which is formed around a beautiful ornate fountain. Surrounding the fountain are typical tropical plants and trees making it the perfect place to have a break from walking around the town. There are similarly decorated benches from which to appreciate your surroundings, and take a break.
Salvador Dalí originals in Marbella
8. Sculpture Street
Avenida del Mar stretches from La Alameda Park down to the board walk in Marbella and is famous for the sculptures which line its marble pedestrianised area. If open air art is your thing and you would like to see these original Salvador Dali works then it is a must see.
Family Fun in Marbella
9. Family First
The Spanish are family orientated and as such try to help families enjoy the outdoors (and indoors) as much as possible by laying on rides, bikes, buggies, trampolines and many more distractions most of which can be found along, or close to, the board walk. In addition to these there are exercise areas to encourage pretty much everyone to improve their health and fitness in the beautiful outdoors.
Aside from these free activity areas, there are also places along the Costa which specialise in fun. If you are into heights and adventure, located in West Marbella you will find the High Wire experience – Aventura Amazonia, which also caters for birthday parties.
Closer to Marbella on the outskirts of the town is Funny Beach. They have a variety of sports on offer including Go-Karting, Jet Skis, Paddle Boats, trampolines and much more.
During the Summer months, there is also Costa Water Parks. These consist of well supervised, large inflatable activity areas floating in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. They are setup just off-shore and at €10/hr, they are a great way for the family to safely experience inflatables in the coastal waters. And they are great fun!
If you are looking for an activity indoors, just past Puerto Banús, in San Pedro de Alcantara, is Costa Jump. This is a huge indoor trampoline area. Bounce all day! It’s great exercise and extremely good fun.
Gastromic experience in Marbella
10. Gastronomy Club
Spain is synonymous with great Mediterranean food, and Marbella is no exception. There are hundreds of restaurants dotted in and around Marbella, with a variety of cuisines available. Being on the coast many of the restaurants have a great range of sea food. If this is not for you there are no shortage of other options. You must try traditional Spanish tapas – small portions of just about anything, from meatballs to fried octopus. They are cheap and delicious and there are tapas bars dotted all over Marbella. To visit Marbella and not try tapas would be like visiting Las Vegas and not gambling!
The price ranges also can vary greatly but this too is reflected in the quality of food you will receive.
There is so much to do down here on the coast that you would have to try very hard to not enjoy Marbella. Whatever time of year you visit there is always a friendly, welcoming atmosphere in Marbella. Everyone is here to enjoy themselves, and to relax! We hope to see you here soon.
