Marbella
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Logistics
Getting There
Malaga is a common entry point to the Andalucia region of Spain. Found on the southern coast of Spain, Malaga has a sizable airport with direct flights to many places in Europe, and even outside of Europe (shockingly including a few fights to the US). To reach Marbella from Malaga airport, it will be about a 45 minute drive. For those who do not rent a car, there are shuttle buses available and for those wanting to take a taxi, the cost will be about 75 euros.
Getting Around
In order to take full advantage of the Andalucia region, it’s recommended to rent a car. This allows you flexibility to visit different areas including various towns, the coast, and the mountains. The airport has many typical car rental options, making it easy to start your road trip right after arriving.
The old town and beaches around it are walkable. That being said, when visiting Marbella you may be traveling to a few different areas including over to Puerto Banus. Puerto Banus is more upscale than the old town and is found about 7 km from the Old Town. This can make for a very nice walk or run along the beach, but if transferring between these areas, expect to use the bus or a taxi.
Accommodations
Marbella is sitting right on the Southern coast of Spain. On a clear day, one can see Gibraltar and also even see Morocco from the coast. Marbella has a few main areas making up the resort area. There’s the Old Town of Marbella, with a few beaches immediately accessible from this area.
Moving towards the west, the area between the Old town and Puerto Banus is called the Golden Mile and is known for having luxury hotels. Puerto Banus is an area known for being more glamorous and upscale than the Old town, bringing in higher prices with the designer shops and fancier accommodations here. Looking north from Puerto Banus is Nueva Andalucía, which is more commonly known for hosting golf clubs and villas.
With a variety of different options, picking where to stay in Marbella is dependent on what you are looking to do and your budget in Marbella. We stayed within walking distance to the Old Town to have easy access to restaurants and the beach. This was a good location for a short trip where we were looking to relax and enjoy the sunshine, but did not need the extra frills and fancier options with a bigger price tag.
Things to do and see
Marbella Old Town
Wander through Marbella’s old town, finding places to grab a coffee or fresh squeezed orange juice, and stop into a few shops. It’s also a good area to plan a dinner in the town one evening. It can be quite a touristy area though so keep an eye out for tourist traps.
Walk along the beach
Walk from Marbella’s Old town along the boardwalk to Puerto Banus. The walk is about 6-8km, and is perfect for a warm morning to get some steps in and enjoy the nice weather. Plan to grab a coffee or brunch in Puerto Banus and then either make the walk back, or take a bus or taxi back to your starting point.
For those who enjoy running like me, this is a lovely path for a morning run and you’ll see many people out and about with the same idea!
Puerto Banus
Quite a posh area, Puerto Banus is known for bringing in visitors looking to spend a bit more and travel in luxury. This is evident by many of the big yachts in the Puerto Banus port, as well as the types of designer shops around. If this is your vibe, plan some time here or just grab a coffee or drink after a walk along the beach.
Day trip to Ronda
When visiting Marbella, heading out to Ronda is a nice way to spend a day. The town of Ronda is frequented by other tourists, but is still worth a visit. It’s also an easy place to stop on the way from Granada elsewhere, if you’re continuing on a road trip.
Once in Ronda, start by exploring the streets in the Old Town. Be sure to look at the Mirador de Ronda, with views out into the mountains. Walk by the Plaza del Toros and onwards towards Puente Nuevo. If you want a nice view of the bridge, walk down to Mirardor de Cuenca.
Food and Drinks
Restaurante Paellas y mas
Dinner
Marbella
Found near the Old Town of Marbella, this is a great spot to indulge in a big serving of Paella
Bodegas La Venencia Marbella
Lunch
Marbella
A bustling spot in the middle of the day, with lots of high top tables outside. This is a good place for some tapas in the afternoon when you’re looking for an afternoon snack.
Other Notes
Duration
Andalusia is the southern region of Spain, and spans the whole southern coast. As the second largest of Spain’s 17 regions, there is a lot to explore here. For that reason, I’d recommend 7 – 10 days to make the most of the visiting this region. That being said, there are many places within the region you can visit for shorter periods of time, and there’s always the opportunity to come back another time.
When visiting Marbella, 2 nights is a nice amount of time to see the town and enjoy a day at the beach. Personally, I did not enjoy Marbella. I liked having the beach and sea there to cool off for a swim, but the area is very much a holiday and resort destination for visitors. With this in mind, it lacked culture and would only recommend for those visiting for sunshine and beach days!
Sample Itinerary to explore Andalusia
Day 1: Arrival in Malaga and explore
Day 2: Drive from Malaga to Frigiliana to Nerja to Granada
- Head out of Malaga and drive 45 minutes to Frigiliana to walk around the white village and find a spot for a coffee
- Drive about 10 minutes to Nerja and check out the sea, before finding a spot for lunch
- Continue onward to Granada to spend the night
Day 3: Explore Granada
- Visit the Alhambra (book in advance!)
- Enjoy Spanish tapas for lunch
- Visit the Cathedral
- Take a siesta
- Grab drinks at a wine bar and enjoy a later dinner
Day 4: Drive to Ronda to Marbella
- Spend a few hours walking around the town
- Don’t miss seeing the iconic bridge
- Continue onward to Marbella
Day 5: Marbella
- Walk along the boardwalk
- Enjoy a beach day relaxing
Time of year
Located in Southern Spain, this region can be very hot in the summer. As Marbella is right on the coast, it’s a great summer destination to enjoy some warmer temperatures, while still having access to the sea to cool down if temperatures get too high! It’s very much a beach and relaxing holiday destination with less to do around here in the cooler months.
Hours
Dinner in Spain tends to be much later than in many other European countries. It can be quite normal to sit down for dinner at 10pm. That being said, many places do open earlier to accommodate norms from other cultures. The Spanish also embrace the siesta, especially helpful in the hotter months, to avoid the hottest parts of the day.