25 reasons to visit Marbella, a unique place you will not want to leave

f there is a place with an authentic Andalusian lucky charm, that province is undoubtedly Málaga, where its white villages, flower-filled courtyards and beaches create a unique space full of charm. Once you arrive, the challenge is to choose a place that has these characteristics. Marbella is the great classic of the Andalucian coast thanks to its climate, natural setting, coasts, important sports complexes and, above all, the friendliness of its people. We tell you what to do in Marbella so that you can organise your holidays in Marbella, where the sound of the Mediterranean and the gentle aroma of jasmine and the ladies of the night will form part of the best tourist experience you will ever have.

Given all this, if you choose a Marbella getaway, here are some of the things you will enjoy. Take note!

 

1. The Weather

 

 

Marbella enjoys 320 days of sunlight during the year, and an average temperature of 19°C. This is due to its micro-weather, given that Marbella is surrounded by the warm Mediterranean and the Sierra Blanca, which protects it from harsher meteorological conditions. Winters in Marbella are very mild and bright, while summers are warm and dry.

 

 

2. The Beaches

 

 

Marbella is a synonym of beaches. From Cabopino to Guadalmina, there are 30 Km of beaches to choose from. You can pick the wildest ones, such as Artola, or the most urbans, such as Playa de La Venus, at the center. Each of the beaches has its own characteristic charm.
Each year, they are awarded the blue flag, which is given by the European Environmental Education Foundation to the beaches and ports that comply with a series of environmental and infrastructure conditions.

Do you know Marbella’s best beaches?

 

 

3. Chiringuitos and Beach Clubs

 

 

The beach clubs of Marbella are the ideal places to enjoy the best leisure by the Mediterranean Sea. The beach clubs in the capital of Costa del Sol offer, in addition to a safe environment, a design and a wide range of services (from spacious Balinese beds, to spas with beauty treatments and therapeutic massages, through bar and music services in alive…). All designed to enjoy the beach and the sun, without giving up the comfort that gives you a personalized service. In Marbella you will find beach clubs as luxurious as Trocadero Arena, Puro Beach or Amare Beach Club. Although the most famous are undoubtedly the Ocean Club and the Nikki Beach in Víbora beach.

So if you visit Marbella do not hesitate to visit one of these wonderful places, it will be, without a doubt, the best memories that you take from your Malaga vacation.

Discover the best beach clubs in Marbella and the Costa del Sol

 

 

4. Promenade

 

 

In Marbella it is not necessary to go far to enjoy a fantastic walk through nature, because only here you will find more than 15 kilometres of promenade, you can walk until you get tired. However, if you don’t feel like walking, you can also enjoy this bike route or even book a Segway tour, where they will show you the most chic part of the city.

What to see and do between Puerto Banús and Marbella, route along the Promenade

 

 

5. Gastronomy

 

 

How good the food in Marbella is! There are wonderful options for everyone besides enjoying the local specialties; you also have to cease the opportunity to taste the wines of the region, especially those from Ronda.

Let us remember that Marbella has in Dany García its prodigal son, who opened several restaurants including Calima and La Moraga, which earned him several Michelin stars. He is nowadays working at “Dani García Restaurante”. There are two other restaurants with Michelin stars, Skina, located in the old town, and El Lago, at Greenlife Golf.

Discover the most luxurious restaurants in Marbella and relish in their Michelin Stars

 

 

6. Marbella’s Old Town

 

 

One of the best features of Marbella are its stone-paved streets and its colorful doors. With a typically Arabian design, the places you must visit in the old town are the Castillo (Castle), an Arabian medieval building that will take you back in time. You must also visit the Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Square), home of the political and social heart of the city. The historic center of Marbella features the Spanish Contemporary Engraving Museum, which is considered one of the best of its kind in Spain.

Marbella: a tour of its Old Town

 

 

7. Puerto Banús

 

 

Puerto Banús is the jewel in Marbella’s crown. It is located to the west of the city, just before San Pedro de Alcántara. Puerto Banús is the coolest marina on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the most famous on the European continent.

Since its opening in 1970, which was attended by personalities of the stature of the Monaco royal family, it was clear that this port would be one of the favourites of the rich and famous. It is almost impossible to walk its streets without taking a photo next to a super elegant yacht, or even a world famous actor. It is also the perfect place for shopping, since it is one of the fashion world’s hotspots. Here you will find boutiques of the like you would find in Milan. Of course, if you like shopping, this port will meet all your needs.

 

 

8. Marbella Marina

 

 

Marbella Marina is the perfect spot for enjoying all the leisure of the capital of the Costa del Sol. Here you can choose from more classic places, such as Lemmon or Maya that, along with many others, liven up Marbella’s nightlife.
This marina is organised on two levels: above, we find the amazing and fun “marina terraces” that often organise a multitude of events and shows, while below you will find the sailing facilities. Marbella Marina has around 377 moorings and endless services to keep the boats docked in it in top condition.

 

 

9. Parks

 

 

The parks in Marbella are those quiet places, away from the urban noise. Natural centres to enjoy long walks and disconnect and forget everything and everyone. Parks like La Alameda and La Constitución are the lungs of this city, where you can enjoy the view of many different plants, among fountains, walks and banks. But these two parks are not the only ones since you can also enjoy other places like the Pinar de Nagüeles Park (perfect for barbecue) or the Vigil de Quiñones Park, which you can find a short distance from the city centre

10 parks and natural attractions in Marbella for relaxing and chilling out

 

 

10. Water Sports

 

 

Drop your suitcases and head to the beach, you have just arrived at paradise! At many beaches, tourists can rent pedal boats as well as jet-skies, banana boats and kayaks. For those who wish to enjoy the Mediterranean without getting wet, there is the possibility of renting boats and yachts at Puerto Marbella and Puerto Banús.

Enjoy the top 12 water sports in Marbella

 

 

11. Marbella VIPs

 

 

Have you ever been curious about how the rich and famous live their lives? Marbella’s elite is formed by famous actors, pop stars, oil magnates and soccer stars from all over the world. We are not short on celebrities her in Marbella! In addition, Puerto Banús is the place to be for those who love partying. It features clubs such as Tibu and Aqwa Mist, which, for obvious reasons, dominate the club and pub scene. It is all about having a great time.

 

 

12. Shopping with Glamour

 

 

Marbella’s stores are luxurious and comfortable par excellence. They stand out because of their high standards, which are up to the challenge of pleasing the most demanding tourists. If something dominates this sunbathed population is its glamorous and varied character, housing all kinds of services to better your stay. Stores shine by their own merit in the Marbella scene, offering all kinds of luxurious benefits.

Shopping in Marbella full of luxury and glamour

 

 

13. Street markets

 

 

In the markets of Marbella you can find everything from emerging designer clothes, to decorative objects, through jewellery, articles of clothing or even for your pet. Thus, instead of a day of shopping, the markets in Marbella become an unavoidable date for the whole family.

Hippy chic, the most exclusive Marbella street markets. Let’s go shopping!

 

Nueva Andalucia Market

You will find it along the Pilar Calvo avenue every Saturday from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon and here you will find everything from new touches for your looks, stylish accessories, and even carpets , pictures and antiques. What else do you want!

Google Maps

 

Marbella Market

The Marbella Market is held every Monday until two in the afternoon in José Manuel Vallés Street. Here you will find more than 300 stalls where you can buy everything from fruits and vegetables, to handbags, jewellery, cosmetics and handicrafts.

Google Maps

 

Puerto Banús Market

The Puerto Banús Arts and Crafts Market is held each summer at Plaza Antonio Banderas in Puerto Banús. Here you will find an exquisite selection of artisans with an extensive offering of artisanal items from around the world.

Google Maps

 

 

14. Nightlife

 

 

Marbella is an internationally known destination, a place where you will be able to enjoy the nightlife in one of the many hip clubs that are open until very late at night.
If what you prefer is a more typical and low-key environment, you can visit Marbella’s old town, where you will find numerous bars and some pubs in which you can have some nice tapas or drinks on their terraces.
Marbella’s clubs usually open just before midnight and close at 6 or 7 in the morning.

Luxury clubbing: discover Marbella’s most elegant and glamorous clubs

 

 

15. Starlite

 

 

Thanks to Starlite, Marbella has one of the most important musical concert calendars in Spain, and thanks to this each summer becomes the epicentre of solidarity and international music. This festival has the support of the most prestigious public figures in the world and thanks to its fame, influence, popularity and power, they improve the lives of thousands of people.

 

 

16. Golf

 

 

Golf is another specialty of the Costa del Sol. Without doubt, you will have plenty of golf courses to choose from in Marbella and its surroundings. Marbella Golf y Country Club, Los Naranjos Golf Club, Aloha Golf Club and Marbella Club Golf Resort are some of the places where you may enjoy shooting some holes while overlooking the sea.

Golf in Marbella, a luxury for all the senses

 

 

17. Hiking

 

 

Marbella has endless splendid places to enjoy hiking. Any trekking lover that visits this city will find, between its fabulous locations, with the mountain sand the sea, the ideal place to enjoy this nature sport because you will have stone’s throw locations like Istán, the Serranía de Ronda, the Juanar Refuge, and many more beautiful routes.

6 amazing hiking and cycling routes in Marbella

 

 

18. Culture and Language

 

 

On the one hand, Marbella is bursting with museums and galleries, which provides a clear view of how art-inclined this city is. The museums are full of art pieces (including works by Picasso and Miro, among others), artifacts and sculptures.

On the other, Marbella is a wonderful place at which to study or learn Spanish. What better way to learn a language that practicing with the locals while doing a little sun bathing!

Discover the history of Marbella through its 5 most unique museums

 

 

19. Marbella´s short history

 

 

Marbella was in the first instance a mining town, then agricultural and finally the cradle of international tourism. The capital of Costa del Sol is an ancient and very noble town, few know the fact that the first settlements date from the Palaeolithic; that even today there is a deep Roman footprint in its municipal area, examples of this are the hot springs of Las Bóvedas or the town of Río Verde (do not miss its exceptional culinary mosaics). Marbella also has one of the best valued Visigoth monuments on the Peninsula, the Paleo-Christian basilica of Vega del Mar.

When the Catholic Monarchs take the Muslim Marbella, the handing over of the keys was carried out in front of a famous cross that today is kept in a small Malaga church: the Humilladero Cross. Already during the nineteenth century, this city became the capital of the steel industry with its blast furnaces reaching almost 75 percent of the iron that melted throughout the national territory, although this industry ended up falling victim to the irruption of materials cheaper.

After its economic collapse, Marbella regained its status thanks to tourism. The spectacular transformation began in 1940, when this city fell in love with artists such as Conchita Montes, Edgar Neville or Antonio “El Bailarîn”, it is at this time when hotels are created, such as El Fuerte, San Nicolás, Guadalmina or Salduba, and the emblematic Los Monteros and Don Pepe and the most famous macro project of Spain Puerto Banús begins.

All this evolution has not caused this city to lose its identity, because even today the traditional and marine character of this town is all around it. The sailors are aware of the importance of tourism but stand firm in the defence of their traditions. In conclusion Marbella is luxury and traditions, people, beaches and melting pot of cultures and above all you will not be able to say that you have visited the Costa del Sol if you do not walk through Marbella.

 

 

20. Tours

 

 

In the unlikely event you do not find anything to do in Marbella, there are plenty of nearby places you can visit. We recommend the beautiful white town of Casares to go camping in the mountains, an outing to Ronda if you are looking for a little history and enjoy the wonderful landscapes of a city that is famous for its architecture and its food. If you wish to have some outdoorsy adventures, you can go horseback riding in Coin, taking some horse routes to visit, for example, the sanctuary of the Virgin of the Fuensanta, the bridge over the Pereila River or the city of cinema.

Ronda day trips from Marbella, visit beautiful Ronda in one day

The coolest of Granada, ideas for an unforgettable day

 

 

21. Its festivals and fairs

 

 

Marbella as a getaway destination, even though it has a very cosmopolitan nature at the moment, has managed to combine it perfectly with the maintenance and enhancement of its festive traditions although, of course, it had to diversify the recreational offer in order to assist an increasingly heterogeneous citizenship in this respect.

If you come for tourism in Marbella do not miss the Feria de San Bernabé, in the first week of June, during the day you can have fun in the Arroyo de la Represa and at sunset the whole party moves to the fairground.  In addition, the different nuclei of the city also celebrate its own parties like Nueva Andalucía in July, Las Chapas in August or El Ángel in October. In addition, San Pedro Alcántara is adorned for four days to celebrate its patron, around October 19.

Marbella events guide, a five-star destination perfect to avoid boredom

 

 

22. Natural landscapes

 

 

Marbella is surrounded by the Sierra Blanca, a mountain range that gets its named because of the little vegetation that exists in it. You can make hiking trails to get to La Concha, its highest point. You can also enjoy hiking to see other points such as the Cerro de la Zarina, the Cruz de Juanar or the peak of the Lastonar.

You can also enjoy the Dunas de Artola Natural Monument, a spectacularly beautiful dune system that was declared a Natural Monument in 2001. In addition, you can visit one of the most unique monuments in the city of Marbella, the Torre Ladrones.

 

 

23. Health tourism

 

 

Marbella is much more than parties and concerts. The Costa del Sol capital hides in its interior a quieter slope where to spend a few days in a quiet and more relaxed environment. In Marbella you can find a wide range of high standing services for all those who want a few days off. And nothing better than visiting Marbella to relax and balance body and mind.

 

 

24. Easy Access

 

 

Marbella mixes the old with the new. Maybe that is the reason why it is at the top of the list for many tourists. To reach Marbella the best options are:

• Private taxis or minibuses hired at the airport of Malaga. They are a fast and efficient way to travel if you do not need to rent a car.

 

• There are currently no train lines to Marbella, although you could go to Fuengirola to take a bus from there.

 

• The most comfortable option is renting a car for the duration of your stay in Marbella.

 

How to get to Marbella

 

 

25. The people

 

 

There are many things to do in Marbella and you will come to Marbella for all the above, but we assure you that you will stay in this earthly paradise for its people. The marbelleros are many things, cheerful, friendly and above all kind, as they say: “they do not have anything of theirs”.

The best thing about Marbella is that its people are very kind and welcoming, which makes this city a perfect holiday destination for people all ages and interests.

However, beware: once you are here, you may not want to leave.

 

 

Practical Tips for Visiting Marbella

 

 

Best Time to Visit

• Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are ideal for enjoying pleasant weather without the summer crowds.
• Summer: The beaches are at their best, but there are more tourists, and prices are higher.

 

Weather and Clothing

• Summer: Bring light clothing, comfortable sandals, and swimwear. Don’t forget sunglasses and a reusable water bottle.
• Winter: While the days are mild, the nights can be cool. Pack a light jacket.

 

Transport

• Nearest airport: Málaga-Costa del Sol (40 minutes by car). Regular buses run from the airport to Marbella.
• Car rental: Recommended if you plan to explore nearby areas, such as Ronda, Mijas, or Puerto Banús.
• Within Marbella, walking or using taxis and local buses is practical.

 

 

Local Transport

• Buses: Public transport connects Marbella with other towns, such as Fuengirola, Málaga, and Estepona.
• Taxis and ride-hailing apps: Uber and Cabify operate in Marbella and are convenient for short trips or at night.
• Bikes and scooters: Rent a bicycle or an electric scooter to explore the promenade.

 

Parking

• The Old Town has narrow streets and limited parking. Use underground car parks, such as the one at Avenida del Mar.
• Puerto Banús offers paid parking, but it can be expensive. Consider nearby alternatives and walk.

 

Shopping

• Local markets: Visit the Marbella market (Mondays) or the Puerto Banús market (Saturdays) for crafts, clothing, and local products.
• Shopping centres: El Corte Inglés in Puerto Banús or La Cañada Shopping Centre are ideal for fashion and accessories.
• Souvenirs: Purchase Andalusian ceramics, olive oil, or handmade products in the Old Town.

 

 

Nearby Excursions

• Ronda: Renowned for its stunning bridge over the Tajo Gorge.
• Mijas Pueblo: A charming whitewashed village in the mountains.
• Estepona: Famous for its flower-filled Old Town and tranquil atmosphere.
• Gibraltar: Perfect for a day trip to see the famous monkeys and enjoy views of the Strait.

 

Local Culture

• Learn a few basic phrases, such as “thank you,” “please,” or “where is…?”.
• The pace of life is relaxed. Don’t expect quick service in restaurants; take time to enjoy the atmosphere.
• Participate in local festivities if your visit coincides, such as the Feria de San Bernabé in June.

 

Useful Tips

• Tipping: Not mandatory, but leaving 5-10% in restaurants is appreciated if the service was good.
• Language: While many locals speak other languages, knowing a little basic Spanish can be helpful.

 

Safety

• Marbella is a safe city, but:
  • Keep an eye on your belongings in busy areas and on beaches.
  • If renting a car, don’t leave items visible inside.

 

 

Discover our Amàre Events

 

 

Amàre Events

 

 

Where to stay

 

 

Marbella is a paradise in which to enjoy the city’s rich cultural, natural, historical, and gastronomic wealth. The options offered by this city are varied and spectacular. The Amàre Beach Hotel Marbella hotel is in the perfect location, on the seafront promenade and just 5 minutes from the historic centre of the city, so you will be in the ideal place to make any of your plans for your getaway to Marbella. It is perfect for adults who want to enjoy a peaceful stay in a unique place where you can relax and be pampered with all the attention you deserve.