9 reasons Marbella might just surprise you

Robin McKelvie

Robin McKelvie

Marbella: the king of the Costa del Sol resorts, playground of the rich and famous. The very name oozes romance, glamour and serious cash. These days it's a year-round oasis, where millionaires, and even billionaires, come with their fancy superyachts to pose and preen in the local marinas.

Between mountain and beach, the popular resort of Marbella
Between mountain and beach, the popular resort of Marbella © Mazur Travel - Shutterstock.com

There are luxury hotels, swish restaurants and glitzy boutique stores aplenty. Just popping by for a half day, strolling the legendary 'Golden Mile', you could be forgiven for thinking this is not a resort for mere mortals and hot-footing it back to the less famed resorts.

But, and it's a huge but, Marbella* today is for everyone and there are myriad reasons it should be the Costa del Sol* resort for you, even if the closest you've ever been to being on a superyacht is rowing around a boating lake.

Getting there: find affordable breaks to Marbella with Jet2holidays*, which departs from airports across the UK.

The beaches

It's the beaches, as well as the idyllic climate, that first brought tourists here. The sands stretch on for miles through the town and east and west along the coast. In 2024, a whopping 11 Blue Flag beaches were recognised in the area.

Nikki Beach, Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain
Nikki Beach, Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain © eDomo - Flickr CC BY-ND 2.0

You can't go wrong with sweeping Casablanca; local favourite, 400 metre-long El Cable, El Faro (named after the resident 19th-century lighthouse) and jet set favourite Levante.

Everyone has their preference, so just ease along picking one of these, or just keep walking and find your own wee stretch of sandy paradise.

The glamour

You might not be able to afford your own superyacht, but that does not stop you people watching and schmoozing with the jet set in Puerto Banus. It's free to walk along the glamorous waterfront peering into those yachts trying to work out which celebrity owns which.

Puerto Banus, Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain
Puerto Banus, Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain © Philipbird123 - Adobe Stock Image

Ask half a dozen local bar staff and they'll all have a different answer. The waterfront is lined with big-name shopping boutiques if you fancy melting your credit card. There are cheapish pizzerias and bars too that everyone goes to. Pizza next to George Clooney, anyone?

Proper hiking

No, we're not talking about strolling through the shops or toddling along the sands. Marbella is backed by mountains, which are more than just a pretty backdrop. If you're well-equipped and fit, you can enjoy this vertiginous playground for the day and make it back to town in time for dinner.

View from the summit of La Concha
View from the summit of La Concha © Piet Theisohn - Flickr CC BY 2.0

La Concha is the big one, a 1,215-metre-high mountain that should not be taken lightly. It's not much lower than the highest point in the UK (Ben Nevis) and you have to tackle its very rocky slopes from sea level. It's a toughie, but a rewarding challenge, with epic views over the Costa del Sol and out towards Africa.

Wild watersports

That cobalt Mediterranean is not just for the rich and famous. There are plenty of watersports, from letting the wind take you windsurfing to bashing around on a jet ski.

Or how about kitesurfing or parasailing? And yes, even in classy Marbella they've got banana boat rides, which are brilliant fun. You can swim year-round here, though the locals will give you funny looks for braving the chillier waters in winter.

Fun hotels

No longer is Marbella the preserve of stuffy five-star hotels where you can hear a pin drop as everyone keeps themselves to themselves. The recent arrival of the super fun four-star Hard Rock Hotel Marbella* is a game changer from the moment you walk in, with live music invariably buzzing through the lobby.

Rock and pop memorabilia brightens from the walls from everyone from Beyonce to Prince and Madonna. You can order an 'air guitar' (a plectrum) to your room or even a real version.

The bars and restaurants are immense fun too with music and life everywhere you breeze through. A real tonic for all guests, not just those with a superyacht in tow.

Dolphins ahoy

Another reason you don't need a superyacht: a flotilla of boat companies ease out from the marina offering countless tours.

A sunset cruise aboard a small yacht is a great option. It's quite something savouring watching the sun melt over Gibraltar and Africa as a pod of dolphins skips in your wake. As the lights of Marbella blink into life you can kick off your evening with one of the free drinks that are invariably included.

Old Town

Yes, there are lots of modern buildings in this flashy resort, but there is an old core too alive with older whitewashed buildings. Here, the streets narrow and come dappled with fragrant flowers. Spanish artist Salvador Dalí was a fan; look out for his legacy on Avenida del Mar in the form of his striking bronze sculptures.

Unwind under the orange trees of Plaza de los Naranjos
Unwind under the orange trees of Plaza de los Naranjos © Wolf-Photography - Shutterstock.com

Wander around, then relax in, Plaza de los Naranjos, so named due to its orange trees. Look out for the 16th-century Iglesia de la Encarnacion, a dreamy church a world away from the modern waterfront.

Great seafood

The beaches buzz with a sprinkling of chiringuitos, Spanish beach bars offering affordable food and drinks right down on the sands. Local specialities include fresh fish and spicy pil pil prawns; delicious!

In Zengo, the Hard Rock Hotel Marbella has one of Marbella's best restaurants; think the likes of wagyu beef backing up the local seafood options. The menu and vibe lean towards Asia with chef Richard Sandoval at the helm. There's a superb wine list too, with some wines from the surrounding region.

A great base

Marbella has more than enough to keep you occupied for a whole holiday, but it's also a great base if you have itchy feet.

The city of Malaga* is just a bus ride away, an ideal day trip with its pedestrianised centre and revamped waterfront.

Or you could ease down to the geopolitical anomaly that is Gibraltar*, a surreal slice of Britain on the southern tip of Spain. An even more ambitious day trip is swapping continents, voyaging across to North Africa.

Climate in Marbella

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
Sea temperature °C

The above guide shows the climate in Marbella. Find out more about conditions across the region in our complete guide to the climate in Costa del Sol.

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More about the Marbella

Marbella by month

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Robin McKelvie

Robin McKelvie

Robin McKelvie is a Scottish travel writer, author and broadcaster. He has visited over 100 countries and regularly writes about Scotland and the Canary Islands. As well as frequently contributing to Weather2Travel.com, Robin writes for publications including The Telegraph, The Independent, The Guardian, The Times and Wanderlust, and has authored more than 30 guidebooks.

Posted on Thursday 16th January 2025 in: Beach Europe Summer

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