Today, it’s all about the beautiful Marbella sights. To be honest, we only knew the city from television before. “Goodbye Germany” often featured expats who were starting a new life in Marbella. Glitter, glamour, splendor, expensive cars, and large yachts – that was our image of Marbella. From Tarifa, we set off for the Mediterranean coast, the “Costa del Sol.”

While it was still quite cloudy in Tarifa, the coast on the other side lived up to its name. Sun, sun, sun! We reached Marbella after a 90-minute drive in perfect weather. We parked our cool little Fiat 500 in a small side street. In the following article, we reveal our most beautiful Marbella sights, highlights, and tips.

• 1. Getting to Marbella
• 2. Accommodation in Marbella
• 3. Best time to visit Marbella
• 4. Sights in Marbella
  • The beautiful old town of Marbella
  • Paseo Maritimo beach promenade
  • Splendor and glamour at Puerto Banus
• 5. Beaches in Marbella
• 6. Tours and excursions
• 7. Our conclusion about Marbella

1. Getting to Marbella

Most vacationers probably arrive in Andalusia by plane. Malaga Airport is just 33 km away. From Malaga, buses run daily between Malaga and Marbella during the summer. You should allow at least 20 to 30 minutes for the journey. In the colder seasons (autumn and winter), buses run every two hours. You can purchase tickets at the ticket counter, on the bus, or at the airport. A one-way trip costs around €4. You can also take a taxi, but it will cost you considerably more (around €50).

From Malaga airport, you can drive straight off with a rental car. You can get one for around €100 in the off-season. We usually use the website www.billiger-mietwagen.de for booking and have been very satisfied for years. Make sure you select “no excess” and the “full/full” fuel policy. This will ensure you are well-equipped for your road trip to Marbella.

2. Accommodations in Marbella

In Marbella, you will find numerous good and affordable accommodations. The Hostal Tak is located right in the city center. Not only does this hotel have great reviews, it’s also located in Marbella’s beautiful old town. The rooms are comfortably furnished and have a private bathroom. In summer, you can get a night for under €50.

Hostal La Pilarica is also located in the center. Here, too, you can expect simple rooms in a perfect location. A double room costs around €50 per night in summer. Also worth a look is Hostal Enriqueta. This guesthouse is just 400 meters from Venus Beach and offers an Andalusian terrace and lounge. The rooms are bright and simple, but do have a private bathroom.

Other accommodations in Marbella

• Hotel Central Boutique*
• Bluebelle by Pillow*
• Hotel Baviera*
• Selin Star Light PB*

3. Best Time to Visit Marbella

You can basically visit Marbella all year round. It’s not for nothing that the coast here is called the “Costa del Sol,” or Coast of the Sun. Marbella enjoys an average of 315 days of sunshine per year. Crazy, isn’t it? In the dry summer months, Marbella gets really warm, while the winter months are pleasantly mild. Even in March, the thermometer often climbs to almost 20 degrees Celsius.

It gets really pleasant in May, when the long summer begins. You can then expect good swimming weather until October. The water temperatures are already quite pleasant at 20 degrees Celsius at the beginning of June. A beach holiday is best between June and October. Most of the rain falls between November and February. In summer, the thermometer climbs to 30 degrees Celsius and more. 12 hours of sunshine a day are normal here.

The best time to visit Marbella is between April and October. We recommend traveling outside of peak season (July and August). For one thing, it’s not as hot, and there are guaranteed to be fewer tourists.

4. Sights in Marbella

Marbella is a diverse and exciting city in Andalusia. Whether beaches, fortresses, castles, museums, or the harbor – Marbella offers a diverse program. In the following section, we’ll tell you about some of the city’s sights and highlights.

The beautiful old town of Marbella

Again and again, we found ourselves in small cobblestone streets with Arabic-style houses and picturesque squares. A few left turns, a few right turns, and we arrived at the beautiful “Plaza de los Naranjos.” Here is the historic town hall from the 16th century. Everywhere you’ll find the characteristic tapas bars, restaurants, and cafés, offering freshly squeezed orange juice and Spanish specialties.

It’s said to be especially beautiful here in the morning, when the locals are still among themselves. A visit during the traditional semana santa (Christmas week) is also delightful. Religious parades and processions take place in the alleys and streets. Hundreds of tourists and worshippers attend this spectacle.

Among the highlights of the old town are the old fortification walls, the remains of the Arab castle, the town hall, the Church of the Hermitage of Santiago, and the Casa del Corregidor. In the many shops, you can also often find Spanish handicrafts and exclusive clothing. Time and again, you can see Spanish grandparents sitting on tiled benches under tall trees by babbling fountains, watching their frolicking grandchildren. Pure Spanish serenity and friendliness!

Paseo Maritimo Beach Promenade

Marbella is located directly on the sea, so you can take a leisurely stroll along the lively Paseo Maritimo beach promenade. Completely renovated in 2008, it is now wheelchair accessible. The beaches in this area are not as beautiful as those on the Atlantic coast, but you can still enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea here in the summer. The beach promenade is full of small shops, restaurants, bars, and cafés. We treated ourselves to a few delicious Montaditos and fresh coffee.

Splendor and Glamour at Puerto Banus

After a quick snack, we went back to the car and walked 6 kilometers back to the famous Puerto Banus marina. We were excited to see what we would see there. We passed a few cool beach clubs, which at one point seemed pretty deserted. Although the music was blaring loudly from the speakers, there weren’t many visitors at this time of year. In summer, it’s probably really crowded there. There are also many restaurants and, above all, expensive shops along the waterfront. Gucci, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana are just a few of the many expensive brands available here.

We immediately stopped because in front of us was a bright red Lamborghini Aventador. You can get a sports car like that for around €350,000. And directly behind us was a really large yacht, which certainly wasn’t exactly cheap. Here, people often live on five floors – bigger than any hotel room or apartment. And that wasn’t the only yacht in the Puerto Banus harbor. We also passed Hummers, Ferraris, Porsches, and Bentleys on the street.

We don’t even want to imagine what goes on there in high season. The nightlife is also said to be famous. Discos can be found throughout the city, but especially in Puerto Banus. Many of these clubs don’t open until after 1:00 a.m. Afterward, you can squander all your money in a drunken stupor at a casino. A truly crazy, incredibly expensive, but nevertheless interesting world.

5. Beaches in Marbella

If you come to Marbella in the summer, you’ll certainly want to take a dip or two in the Mediterranean. Not far from the old town are the two beaches Playa de Venus and Playa de La Fontanilla. These are unfortunately often overcrowded, especially in summer. Alternatively, you can head to the beaches near Cabopino. There’s also a nudist beach there, of which there are only a few on the Costa del Sol.

One of the most famous beaches is San Pedro de Alcántara Beach, with its beautiful promenade and many beach bars. It’s quite crowded here during the high season, but very quiet in the off-season. Among the most beautiful beaches is Las Chapas Beach, which is not overly crowded. And of course, let’s not forget the beaches of Puerto Banús, which are among the most famous in Marbella.

6. Tours and Excursions

You can take various tours in Marbella or excursions in the surrounding area. How about a day trip to Malaga, Gibraltar, Tarifa, or Ronda and Nerja? From Marbella, you can reach many great highlights in Andalusia in less than 1 to 2 hours. Get your Guide offers a wide selection of excursions and tours.

7. Our conclusion about Marbella

Marbella is and remains the city of the rich and beautiful. We noticed this at the harbor, as we passed huge yachts and admired luxurious and very expensive cars. Nevertheless, we found it really beautiful there. The beach promenade is perfect for strolling, and the old town captivates with its Andalusian charm and serenity.