Things to do in Marbella

With an international reputation, Marbella is one of the most luxurious and glamorous destinations of the whole Mediterranean area. It offers you absolutely all you might expect from such a luxury beach destination: marinas with high-end yachts, sandy beaches, Michelin-starred restaurants, golf courses and the most exclusive designer boutiques.

All these factors have contributed to make of this town a favorite destination for celebrities and millionaires who have been coming here for decades, though it is open to everybody and all budgets.

The best way of properly enjoying your stay is by renting a luxury apartment in Marbella.

Now, let’s explore the best things to do in Marbella:

Sunbathing in sandy beaches

There are 20 beaches along the front of Marbella, most of them with dark sand, and all served with facilities like chiringuitos (beach bars). Lifeguards are on duty at nearly all of the high season which goes from Holy Week right the way through to the end of September.

Sight-seeing in the old-town

The old part of town is a true gem, a maze of pedestrian streets laid with red tiles. All buildings are whitewashed, some of them wrapped in bougainvillea, and topped with terracotta roofs. Many of them date back to the Renaissance.

You can relax in its little squares like the ‘Plaza de los Naranjos’. There you will find a number of pavement cafes and restaurants serving traditional food and drinks in the shade of the delicious fragrant orange trees. A very romantic spot!

You can’t miss Marbella’s main historic landmark, the Iglesia de la Encarnación, a splendid renaissance and baroque church completed in the mid-18th century.

Strolling around Alameda Park

This beautiful park is just a few steps south of the old-town and feels a little like a private garden. There are marble-paved walkways surrounded by tropical foliage, fountains and benches clad with ‘azulejos’. On two sides the park is also bounded by a balustrade, which makes it quite refined.

It is the perfect place to shelter from the sun in the afternoon or enjoy an early cup of coffee in the morning.

Shopping in Puerto Banús

Marbella’s glamurous reputation it’s down to the boutiques, super yachts and luxury sports cars that you can only find in Puerto Banús.

Theis part of town is a shopper’s paradise. In the marina of Puerto Banús you will find every designer you can imagine with clothing, jewelry and shoe shops one after the other. If you prefer the department store approach with everything under one roof, El Corte Ingles in Puerto Banús is one of the best in Europe.

Playing Golf

Marbella is an international golf destination. It has a wide range of golf courses, from the super exclusive, invitation-only clubs, plush resorts with eye-watering green fees to the more affordable no-frills option that will suit novices and rusty players.

Enjoying water activities

A couple of companies based around the marina provide jet-skis, parasailing, wake-boarding and white-knuckle powerboat rides to cater those thrill-seekers.

You could also charter a luxury yacht to experience the lifestyle of Marbella’s ultra-wealthy, if only for a day. If you pool together with friends or family a yacht with captain is surprisingly inexpensive.

Fine Dining

Gastronomy is a fundamental piece of Spain’s culture, being famous for its richness and variety. The restaurant offer in Marbella is endless.

Dani Garcia is the only one with three Michelin stars in the area. It is an invitation to share an original culinary experience and the innovative vision that this Chef has of Andalusian cuisine. Without denying any of his roots, he plays with the textures, savours or the contrast of warm and cold. 

Skina has been winning acclaim since 2008 for its Andalusian-style cuisine with avant-garde inflections, while El Lago has a “zero kilometre” philosophy, with a menu with produce sourced in the Málaga province.

Hiking in La Concha

Hiking La Concha, Marbella’s most famous mountain is a must for those that enjoy nature and want to experience a unique perspective of Marbella that few get to see. It can be started from Juanar just 25 minutes from central Marbella.

We recommend you coordinate your first summit with an experienced guide, as some parts of the climb are treacherous. Just bear in mind that this hike is not recommended for children under the age of 12.