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Why go to Marbella

A Spanish St Tropez, Marbella has it all: beautiful beaches, fantastic bars and some seriously swanky boutiques. It’s not hard to see why it’s regarded as one of Europe’s top beach destinations, and over the past 60 years (the first dedicated beach hotel opened in 1943), it’s transformed into a family-friendly paradise which combines the best bits of Europe’s chicest beach resorts with oodles of old-school glamour.

Located on one of the sunniest stretches of Spain's Mediterranean coastline, the town is perfectly situated for exploring the surrounding villages, as well as the region’s luxurious resorts, beautiful forests (including the famously fragrant El Juanar forest, to the north) and sandy coves. It’s also a quick 45 minutes to get from Marbella to Malaga International Airport (AGP).

Fancy splashing some cash? Head to the Puerto Banus marina, with its neat rows of beachfront boutiques, including Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana and Jimmy Choo. This is where you’ll find some of the region’s best restaurants, whether it’s the Oak Garden and Grill, with its delicious seafood platters and enormous steaks (we recommend the Galician fillet) or D-Wine, with its Bible-like menu of over 5,000 wines. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Puerto Banus is also a brilliant people-watching spot, and despite the super yacht-packed harbour and endless designer boutiques, you don’t need to be a billionaire to enjoy it. Restaurants such as the Hard Rock Café and the Pasta Factory (nab a spot on the latter’s roof terrace if you can) are both incredibly affordable and family-friendly.

Travel Information

Language

Spanish

Currency

Euro (€)

Average flight time(from London)

3 hrs

When to go to Marbella

Located on the Costa del Sol, Marbella lives up to its region's name (“Sun Coast”) by offering year-round sunny skies

If you’re planning on making the most of Marbella’s nightlife, consider a visit in June, July and August, when the bars and clubs are at their liveliest. These months are also the hottest, with average daytime temperatures hovering around the mid-20s. The downside? Hotel rates are also at their highest during these months.

What to do in Marbella

There’s so much more to Marbella than its stretches of soft, white sand. Leave your sun lounger to discover gorgeous mountain hikes, kid-approved amusement parks, curious sculptures and more.

Climb La Concha

Towering over Marbella, La Concha (meaning “shell”) is one of the highest mountains on the Costa del Sol. You’ll find it in the southern section of the Sierra Blanca mountain range, which forms part of the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park.

There are two routes to the top – one starts from the town of Istán and the other from nearby El Refugio de Juanar. Neither are particularly tough, but allow between three and five hours for a round trip on either of the two routes.

Get an adrenaline fix

Thrill-seekers, flock to Aventura Amazonia; it boasts a huge network of treetop zip-lines and six separate circuits. It’s also easily accessible, right in the centre of Marbella.

For some water-based fun, cool off at Aquamijas, a 30-minute drive from Marbella. The wide range of slides includes the nail-bitingly fast Kamikaze and the Crazy Loop.

Adrenaline junkies, meanwhile, will love Tivoli World, a thrill ride-packed theme park a short drive from Marbella. There’s plenty for younger visitors here too, including go-karts, a haunted house and dodgems.

Explore the Dunes of Artola and Torre de Los Ladrones

You’ll find these two in Cabopino, 14km (around 9 miles) east of Marbella. Head here to admire the towering sand dunes, sculpted by the fierce winds that blow from the north, before checking out the Torre de los Ladrones, a defensive tower built in the fifteenth century.

Take a sculpture selfie

Marbella may not be an obvious place for an art fix, so you’ll probably be surprised to discover several Salvador Dali sculptures on the leafy Avenida del Mar.

Several depict Greek gods and goddesses (one of the most spectacular examples depicts Perseus beheading Medusa), although it’s the enormous rhinoceros that gets most talking. This three-tonne statue, located about a 15-minute drive away in Puerto Banus, is one of Marbella’s most popular selfie spots.

Explore the old town

Craving some time out? Head for Marbella’s beautiful old town – with its cobbled streets, independent art galleries and quaint cafés, it’s a world away from the bustling beachfront.

Take time to reflect in Los Naranjos Plaza (its name translates to orange tree square), filled with fragrant orange trees and other tropical plants, before heading to one of the nearby cafés for a caffeine fix. Make a beeline for Café Flore, with its wonderfully cluttered interior (think faded photos on the walls and hanging baskets exploding with greenery) and delicious homemade cheesecakes. Alternatively, for something more substantial, try the grilled octopus.

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