I was fortunate enough to attend the incredible 2022 TBEX Europe conference and discover Marbella in the process. Marbella, Spain is a colorful city located in the Málaga province within Andalucía, also known as the Costa del Sol. As the name implies, this coastal city is sunny all year, making it a popular tourist spot. With a range of sights and activities, Marbella can be just as relaxing or exciting (or both) as you want it to be. Plus, Marbella has been named one of the most beautiful places in Andalucia. I stayed at the small, but charming and clean La Villa Marbella hotel. It is walking distance from the beach, shopping, and located right in Old Town. Here are my top things to do in Marbella, Spain.
Enjoy the sun at Marbella beaches
Marbella has 24 beaches. I spent most of my beach time at Fontanilla Beach, which is about a 15-minute walk from the Old Town where I stayed. Fontanilla was far less crowded than the busier Venus Beach, but the water was just as nice.
Along the long boardwalk are plenty of restaurants, shops, and vendors for anything you might need.
Visit Old Town Marbella
Old Town Marbella is a charming area with lots of colorful flowers and narrow cobblestone streets. In its center is Plaza de los Naranjos, a square lined by orange trees and a popular place for cafes and dining. There are many places in the area where you can get tapas or a full meal, but I also recommend walking all the side streets to view the scenery.
You can also see the remains of a castle and 11th and 12th-century walls on the border of the Old Town. The site is only a couple minutes walk away.
Stroll through Marbella’s parks
Aside from its coast, Marbella has other natural spaces within the city. Multiple parks with lots of greenery provide a relief from the heat.
Alameda Park is located just a few blocks from Old Town. Although small, it has a fountain, tall exotic trees providing cover from the sun, and tiled benches. It can get pretty lively with festivals throughout the year. When I was there in June, La Feria de San Bernabé was taking place across the city so the park was full of food vendors, festival-goers in traditional dress, and music.
If you walk toward the beach from Alameda Park, you’ll find yourself on the Avenida del Mar, which is a walkway featuring ten Salvador Dalí sculptures. Although rumored to be copies, they’re a nice addition to the area and worth a look. Also, Constitution Park is a larger park just a block up from the beach.
Go out for Marbella nightlife
Marbella offers nightlife options, as well. Bars are all over the place, but the port area called El Puerto Deportivo is a nightlife hotspot. If you’re looking for music and dancing, you can find clubs like Discoteca Old Vic or La Clave for Latin dancing.
Dine and drink in style
Marbella doesn’t disappoint in the food department. You can find your typical Spanish tapas, like albóndigas (meatballs), chorizo sausage, and croquettes, as well as upscale dining options like any of its multiple Michelin-starred restaurants.
During my time in the city, I enjoyed tapas at Mia Cafe in Old Town, had a more upscale Japanese-inspired meal at Cappuccino, and tried to get my fill of seafood and fresh fruit wherever I could.
If you’ve visited Marbella or elsewhere in Andalucía, let me know in the comments! If you haven’t been yet, what are your travel plans? And make sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more Marbella and Spain content.
If you liked this, check these out:
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A Long Layover in Lisbon, Portugal
What Is Slow Travel and Why Should You Do It?
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8 Comments
Beautiful place,love the 5 mile promenade walk to Puerto Banus from the Old City, cafes along the sea front , old city and Orange Sq great.
Would move there tomorrow if my wife would follow me !!!
Agreed! I don’t think I walked the entire 5 miles from Old Town, but I loved the part I did walk.
I am driving to Malaga. Staying in torrox, but goal is to visit marbella too.
Thanks for sharing insight. Hope there is public parking around this area.
Great, I hope you get to visit Marbella too.
Thanks so much for this inspiring report on Marbella! Makes me want to go back!
You’re very welcome!
It is so beautiful! The colors are amazing! I am thinking of going back to Germany to retire, but looking at this I wonder whether a place like this would be a better spot. I also like Javea, another place you have written about. I like your blog a lot, lots of beautiful pictures and useful information.
Thank you!