Marbella
TownMarbella is the glamorous heart of the Costa del Sol, pairing a pretty whitewashed old town with the luxury marina of nearby Puerto Banús.
Why visit Marbella
Marbella has two distinct sides. Its old town is a pretty maze of whitewashed lanes, orange-tree squares and small restaurants, low-key and walkable. A short way west lies Puerto Banús, a glossy marina lined with yachts, designer shops and nightlife that gives the town its glamorous reputation. Between them run long beaches and a palm-lined promenade, making Marbella an easy mix of old-world charm and resort polish.
Whitewashed lanes
A pretty old town of whitewashed lanes and orange-tree squares.
Luxury marina
A short way west, Puerto Banús is a glossy marina of yachts and designer shops.
Resort polish
The marina gives Marbella its glamorous, polished reputation.
Long & sandy
Long beaches and a palm-lined promenade run between the two.
Charm & polish
Marbella mixes old-world charm with modern resort glamour.
On the map
Practical information
- Getting there: on the western Costa del Sol in Málaga province; about 40 minutes by car from Málaga airport (AGP).
- What to do: wander the whitewashed old town, see the Puerto Banús marina, and relax on the long beaches.
- Good to know: the old town and the marina have very different moods — both are worth seeing.
- Best time to visit: late spring to early autumn for warm beach weather.
Explore more of the Costa del Sol
Marbella is one of many destinations on the CostaMap interactive map — browse beaches, villages, parks and viewpoints across the whole coast.
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