8 essential things to do in Marbella

Posted on February 26, 2020
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Posted in Leisure
Reading time: 6 minutes

Marbella is undoubtedly one of the jewels of the Mediterranean, a beautiful city located in a spectacular setting and blessed with its own microclimate. Discover here 8 excellent ideas and activities in Marbella, without leaving the city.

Table of Contents

Around the Old Town

Impossible to be in Marbella and miss the old town. Stroll through the narrow streets and discover charming corners, whitewashed houses, colourful Bougainvilleas, drop in a terrace in a square and have a drink while watching life go by.

The emblematic epicentre of the old town is the Plaza de los Naranjos, a charming square named after the orange trees that flank it. By the way, if you visit the city in March, the aroma of orange blossom floods the streets, a divine scent!

If you continue walking from the old town towards the Paseo Marítimo (Seapromenade), you will also pass through the Alameda Park and arrive at the Avenida del Mar, where you can closely enjoy the statues of the artist Salvador Dalí.

Sea promenade & Beach

Being a Mediterranean city, Marbella’s greatest attraction is its beach. But its beautiful promenade also deserves to be highlighted for being one of the longest on the coast and without doubt the most beautiful.

While it has a greater affluence in the section that corresponds to the centre of the city, it is a stroll that takes next to the sea along7.3 kilometres to Puerto Banús, passing by one of the most luxurious urbanizations of the city between exuberant vegetation and magnificent views to the sea, where of course there is no lack of chiringuitos (Beach Bars) to quench the thirst. As you want to use the promenade, it’s your choice: by bike, walking, running or skating…

And we’re already at the beach! We do not exaggerate when we say that the beaches in Marbella are of fine clear sand which contrasts magnificently with the especially blue sky in Marbella. Have you ever tried paddle surfing I tried it for the first time last summer with a friend and we had a lot of fun, we fell down so many times that we actually spent more time in the water than on the board.

And if you prefer a quieter activity you can even rent a pedal boat. Or get a massage on the beachfront. Many chiringuitos and beach clubs also offer a massage service. Or simply enjoy a cold beer and celebrate life.

Oh, and speaking of celebrating life, this brings us straight to Puerto Banus and the nightlife. But first you have to eat, right?

Eating out

As you can imagine, the gastronomic offer in Marbella is almost infinite with a wide range of traditional, local and international cuisine. The only thing left to do is to choose way to do it.

A very Andalusian concept and highly recommended is the Tapeo. It consists of ordering a few beers along with some snacks and then changing bars and and so on. It’s a fun way to move around the bars of the old town and in this way try the local cuisine.

Going out for Tapas in the old town of Marbella

If you prefer to dine with more tranquillity or more style, you’ll be interested to know that Marbella is also the city with the most Michelin restaurants. So I am sure that even the most demanding palates will be satisfied.

Another more relaxed option is to eat at one of the many beachfront bars. You can’t leave Marbella without trying the famous fried fish! Check out our guide to the best Beach Bars on the Costa del Sol.

A stroll through Puerto Banus

We can say that there are basically two kinds of people who go to Puerto Banus. Those who come with their yacht or high-end sports cars and those who come to see them. We are simplifying a lot, but if this is basically Puerto Banus.

A glittering showcase of ostentatious wealth with high-end restaurants, boutiques and clubs. Many tourists come to take a picture next to one of these cars or yachts and see if they see any famous people.

Life is vibrant in Puerto Banus at all times.

Shopping

In Puerto Banus you will find the most exclusive international fashion brands and boutiques. But you can also comfortably shop in the centre of Marbella or go to the international shopping centre La Cañada a few kilometres from the centre.

Night life & Clubbing

And finally, night falls over Marbella. Like all coastal cities, Marbella also has a vibrant nightlife, which, due to the luxury tourism, also offers some first class clubs and discos with all glamour. Just like Restarants, there are plenty of them, which is why I have chosen something different for this edition: Visit a rooftop terrace!

Enjoying a cocktail with a view over the Mediterranean Sea at sunset is priceless. This is possible in Marbella at the Rooftop Bar Belvue of the Amàre Marbella Beach Hotel and at Pangea in Puerto Banus.

Spas

You need a little relaxation after all this activity? Easy! Immerse yourself in the well-being of a Spa. Marbella has a very high number of 5 star hotels, each with fabulous facilities to spend an afternoon between jets of water, different saunas and wellness treatments, a pure pleasure! The Senator Marbella Spa Hotel also features a terrace with views and Jacuzzis. And here is our list of the best spas on the Costa del Sol!

Parks in Marbella

And you also have the possibility to relax in the beautiful city parks of Marbella. The parks Parque de la Alameda, Parque de la Constitución and Parque de la Represa are the lungs of Marbella, where it is a pleasure to walk in the shade among an abundant amalgamation of plant species.

How to get there

From our Malagacar.com office at Malaga airport, the fastest and most comfortable way to Marbella takes you in 40 minutes on the AP-7 toll motorway.

More information in our article Mediterranean Motorway Malaga: A-7 versus AP-7.