It is no wonder that celebrities and millionaires have come here for decades. For the curious, there are many small discoveries to be made around the resort, be they Renaissance palaces in the old town or remnants of Roman villas hidden between the luxury complexes.
Let's explore the best things to do in Marbella:
1. old town
The oldest part of Marbella is a real discovery. It's a labyrinth of pedestrian streets with red tiles and a crazy pavement.
The buildings are all whitewashed and topped with terracotta roofs, and many date back to the Renaissance. Some are wrapped in bougainvillea; in fact, the whole region is illuminated with flowers.
The houses are all set in streets resembling corridors that lead to small squares like the Plaza de los Naranjos, where the restaurants of the place are installed in a small garden in the French bordered with orange trees.
2. Alameda Park
A few steps south of the old town is a park that looks like a private garden.
Under a thick canopy of tropical foliage are paved marble walkways, fountains and benches where you can sunbathe in the afternoon or sip a cup of coffee in the morning.
Most of the benches are dressed in azulejos, hand-painted traditional Andalusian tiles that represent the monuments and history of the city.
On both sides, the park is also delimited by a balustrade, which only adds to the sense of refinement.
3. resort beaches
There are 20 beaches along the Marbella front, most of them with dark sand, and all are served by facilities such as chiringuitos (beach bars). Rescuers are on duty in almost every camp since Holy Week until the end of September.
One of the choices is El Faro, on the west side of the harbor.
At 200 meters, it is not the biggest, but it was awarded the blue flag in 2016 and has a bow of sand bathed by the water up to the knees, which is ideal for little boys who like to feast.
4. Avenida del Mar
This beautiful alley leads from Alameda Park to Playa de la Venus, next to the Marbella marina.
It is a wide pedestrian avenue with palm trees, carefully carved hedges and several works of art.
The bronze sculptures were designed by the surrealist Salvador Dalí of the twentieth century. So you can easily spend a few minutes studying them, perhaps from one of the beaches along the way.
There are shops and bars along the footbridge. If you visit Marbella by car, you will find a convenient car park under this esplanade, which will allow you easy access to the old town and beaches of Marbella.
5. Puerto Banús
A few kilometers east of the old town of Marbella is the busiest part of the resort
If Marbella makes comparisons with the French Riviera, it's shops, super yachts and luxury sports cars that await you everywhere in Puerto Banús.
The area deserves some of your time just to see the ostentatious displays of wealth, but you should go to the great rhinoceros sculpture, also of Salvador Dalí, which weighs 3.6 tons.
Go for a few hours on the sandy beach or dress up in the evening in one of the chic restaurants - if you can book a table!
6. Iglesia de la Encarnación
The historic monument of Marbella is a magnificent baroque and Renaissance church completed in the mid-eighteenth century.
The city was "reconquered" by the Moors only at the end of the 15th century, much later than almost everywhere else in Spain.
This ancient mosque was immediately sanctified and became a place of worship.
Part of the architecture of the building has just been adapted to Christian use.
Take the church steeple, which was once a minaret.
7. Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engraving
Hidden in an alley in the old town of Marbella is the only museum devoted to engraving in Spain.
The coming is part of the experience. It is a sixteenth century Moorish style palace built for the Naval Order Alonso de Bazán, which he bequeathed to the city as a hospital for the poor.
The collection contains some 4,000 engravings, etchings, aquatints, xylographies, lithographs and other graphic elements designed by some of Spain's most celebrated artists.
Goya, Picasso, Miró, Chillida and Dalí all have works on display.
8. golf
Convenient as a playground for the rich, Marbella has many golf courses.
There are 32 less than half an hour from the resort, including chic, invitation-only clubs, sumptuous resorts with stunning green fees, and a more affordable, no-frills option for beginners and gamers alike. rusty.
If you are new to this sport, then Monte Paraiso is for you. it is a few minutes from the center of the resort and features relatively short level 3 holes that forgive newcomers but still provide a test for seasoned golfers.
9. Nautical activities
At the edge of the sea of Marbella, the Mediterranean will challenge you and, fortunately, there are all kinds of ways out.
If you're a thrill-seeker, there are several marina-based companies offering jet skis, parasailing, wakeboarding and powerboats.
If you do not dream of the sea at 50 km / h, you can always rent a luxury yacht to discover the lifestyle of ultra-rich Marbella, if only for a day.
If you gather with friends or family, a yacht with captain is surprisingly inexpensive.
10. The beaches for excursions
Maybe you want to change the landscape or find a less touristy place by the sea.
You will never have to go far; Estepona is just after the western boundary of the municipality of Marbella where El Padrón is located, with cafes, restaurants, the Puro Beach Club and a large shopping center nearby.
If serenity is in order, San Roque is about 40 minutes from the coast, but secluded Cala Sardina is worth every minute of driving, with only a few whitewashed villas on the hills behind it.