MarbsLifestyle.com

From the best beach parties to Old Town, Marbella has it all.

Marbella is famous for its beaches, luxury beach resorts, vibrant nightlife, and scenic views, but there's much more to this seaside town. Away from the glitz and glamor associated with the playground of the social elite, Marbella is a cultural and historical heritage.

Marbella is home to some of the oldest buildings in the world, most of which are functional and still in use today. Warm weather, scenic views, and stunning beaches attract millions of tourists to the seaside town every year.

Table of contents

The microclimate

With the sun shining 320 days a year, Marbella's weather is nearly always perfect for the outdoors. The warm climate draws millions of tourists from across the globe each year. The breathtaking Sierra Blanca mountains help moderate the weather, creating the perfect microclimate in the seaside town. Summers in Marbella are never sweltering hot as the average temperatures are 29 °C (84°F). The winters are mild, with average temperatures of 12 °C (54 °F). The combination makes Marbella an all-year tourist destination. Want to know more about the Marbella Micro Climate? Read our full article here

Some of the nicest spots

Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

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Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery
Some of the nicest spots

About Marbella

Expand gallery

Old Town Marbella

Old Town Marbella is a Spanish cultural and historical treasure trove. Stroll down the charming cobblestone streets while admiring the beautiful, whitewashed traditional Spanish homes with terracotta roofs.

Flower-filled balconies add to the lovely appeal of the town's color coordination, giving it a unique rustic charm. This beautiful enclave in Marbella dates back to the Renaissance and will have you wondering tirelessly for hours.

Beautiful Marbella Old Town

Most of these narrow, winding streets lead to Plaza de Los Naranjos, a lively town square dating back to the 15th century and an orange tree wonderland. Endless tapas bars, cafes, restaurants, and historical buildings surround the heart of the old town. The best restaurants in Old Town Marbella include Zozoi, The Orange Tree Restaurant, and Casa Eladio, and they offer outdoor seating in small gardens dotted with orange trees.

Stop by the Old Governor's House and the Town Hall for a chance to marvel at 16th-century architecture. The Town Hall boasts a world-famous Mudejar-style ceiling and murals from the same era. Visit the Church of St. Mary, a charming Baroque-style building that is over five centuries old.

Marbella's Castle showcases old Roman buildings from the 11th century, while the Bazan Hospital, built in the 16th century, houses a massive collection of 15th-century art.

Picturesque and steeped in historical culture, Old Town Marbella gives you the best of both worlds. It offers delicious foods, numerous photo opportunities, and some of the best shopping experiences. Stop by the boutiques and stores for terrific deals on clothes, souvenirs, and other keepsakes.

Calle Nueva, Carmen, Gloria, and Caballeros are some of the beautiful streets in Old Town Marbella.

The luxurious Golden Mile

The Golden Mile is the pinnacle of luxury living on the Costa del Sol. It's a privileged residential area in Marbella set in a lush green environment that stretches 5 km from the emblem of Marbella city to the entrance of Puerto Banus. The Golden Mile fronts the Mediterranean and comprises the grandest residences for the world's elite and aristocrats. Intermingling with these magnificent mansions and villas are iconic 5-star resorts in Marbella—Puente Romano and the Marbella Club Hotel.

The Golden Mile is comparable to Beverly Hills and is considered an international symbol of decadently sophisticated living. Exclusive neighborhoods, including Nagueles, Cascada de Camojan, and Marbella Hill Club, house residences of the world's most affluent families, including the King of Saudi Arabia. The sumptuous villas combine utmost privacy and luxury with spectacular sea views.

The Golden Mile is Marbella's most privileged section and has world-class beach resorts. The legendary Puente Romano resort offers fancy and stylish bars and restaurants, including Nobu, Sea Grill, Bibo, and La Plaza. Besides the sumptuous, Michelin-rated cuisine, the Golden Mile is one of the best shopping destinations on the Costa del Sol.

The area is brimming with luxury retail outlets by the world's prominent designer labels. It's also home to the fanciest nightclubs and bars in Marbella. From the exclusive Supper Club to the pulsating Mamzel, or the swanky Oliva Valere, you can party from dusk till dawn in Marbella's most exclusive nightclubs.

Puerto Banus Marina

Puerto Banus is the playground of the rich and famous, and the Marina is where they moor their expensive yachts and boats. Besides the extensive collection of beautiful ocean vessels, the Marina is a luxury destination in Marbella. It's a charming collection of gorgeous beaches, upscale stores, top-rated clubs, bars, and restaurants.

Puerto Banus in pictures

It is the best place to sunbathe, shop, and party while admiring some of the world's finest, most expensive boats. Keep an eye out for luxurious high-end cars, including Ferraris and Porsches, leisurely cruising the streets. Crown your high society tour by browsing various designer stores, including Gucci, Versace, Burberry, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Head to the Playa Rio Verde and enjoy soaking in the sun on the glorious beaches overlooking the glitzy Marina. Playa Nueva Andalucía comprises smaller coves and beaches for a more tranquil beach experience. Hire a jetski, pedal boats, flyboards, wakeboards, and more from the Water Sports Center if you wish for a more active beach experience.

Linger into the night to experience the exhilarating, world-famous nightlife in the nightclubs dotting the Marina. Puerto Banus is 8 kilometers from Marbella and easily accessible by car, bus, taxi, or a 30-minute ferry ride.

Restaurants in Marbella

Fine dining is part of Marbella's luxurious, charming dining scene teeming with offerings from various world-class restaurants. Marbella is a top beach holiday destination on the Costa del Sol with a very active and rewarding restaurant scene. The restaurants in Marbella range from Michelin-star restaurants to colorful tapas bars to local bistros with delicious baked goodies.

The dining scene in Marbella can eclipse the restaurant landscape in bigger cities in terms of diversity. It runs the gamut from fine dining establishments to casual, locally-owned eateries. Beneath the different offerings, restaurants in Marbella provide the best combination of food, ambiance, and services.

The best part of dining in Marbella is that the best restaurants are within walking distance from your luxury rental on the beach, Old Town, or each other.

The dining experience in Marbella is matchless. You can enjoy gourmet bistro fare in a picture-perfect outdoor court or street side terrace in Old Town Marbella. Some restaurants are housed in century-old, whitewashed houses with red terracotta roofs. Every dining experience here is both filling and educational.

The menus in some restaurants combine Spanish, Belgian, and French influences, but you can opt for specific cuisine if you wish. The menu offerings include Mediterranean, French, Italian, Asian, Japanese, Mexican, and more.

Marbella turns your visit into a gigantic, never-ending culinary adventure. You can explore the entire dining spectrum, from big-name restaurants with celebrity chefs to fun, family-owned restaurants serving freshly caught seafood by the Mediterranean.

There's a restaurant for you if you want a luxurious, formal dining experience or a quiet meal in a beautiful setting away from the tourist crowd. Some restaurants combine mouthwatering dishes with sweeping views of the Mediterranean for an unforgettable dining experience. Terrace sitting lets you catch the last golden rays as the sun sets across the ocean, creating beautiful vistas that heighten the dining experience.

Nightlife

Marbella is the world's party capital, and every aspect of the seaside town lives up to this hype. Marbella has earned notoriety as a playground for the world's elite thanks to its exclusive collection of high-end nightclubs. Celebrities and the world's social elite often jet-set to Marbella to sample its divine clubbing scene.

Partying in Marbella offers a rare opportunity to party with A-list celebrities, sports stars, and the world's richest people. It's the perfect party destination for an exclusive, luxurious party life. Marbella reserves the world's best and most luxurious nightclubs for its revelers.

You're guaranteed personalized, world-class service when partying in any of Marbella's top-rated clubs. The partying scene is a delightful combo of high-end cocktails, beautiful music, top international DJs, and a beautiful ambiance. Besides offering a world-class party environment, Marbella has some of the largest clubs in the world. Some clubs can hold up to a thousand revelers without feeling crowded.

You'll need to book a table in advance to secure a table for you and your company. You can reserve VIP seating and lounges when partying as a group or celebrating a momentous life milestone.

Some of the trendiest nightclubs in Marbella include La Suite, which draws inspiration from the globally renowned Studio 54 in New York. It offers a matchless ambiance where revelers can enjoy exclusive nightlife all year.

Olivia Valere offers an enchanting space where locals and tourists can club with the elite and international superstars. It's a beloved meeting point for high society and superstars. Pangea combines panoramic views of the Mediterranean, Morocco, and the Straits of Gibraltar with the best music to create an other-worldly party scene. Momento is the top noch tech-house club with one of the best restaurants in town. 

Shopping Places

Marbella offers some of the best shopping vacation experiences in Costa del Sol. The famous tourist destination features high-end boutiques from the biggest brands in the world. While the entire town offers numerous shopping opportunities, nothing comes close to Puerto Banus and El Corte Ingles.

Puerto Banus is a dream destination o if you love shopping for designer brands. Shopping in Puerto Banus lets you buy shoes, jewelry, clothing, perfume, and makeup from your favorite designer brands. You'll find luxury stores from leading designer brands, including D&G, Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Gucci, Dior, Michael Kors, and more. You'll find just about all major designer labels at the Puerto Banus.

The Marina Banus is a two-storied shopping complex opposite the El Corte Ingles. It comprises 17 stores, including high-end clothing brands such as Massimo Dutti, Oysho, Zara, and H&M.

El Corte Ingles is the biggest department store in Spain and a shopper's paradise for those craving retail therapy. The El Corte Ingles in Puerto Banus puts every imaginable luxury item under one roof. The store is centrally located, comprises six huge floors, and offers the lowest parking charges in Marbella.

The departmental store is a trove of quality and excellence with perfumes, makeup, fashion collections, leather goods, furniture, electronics, books, games, and more. If you hold a non-Spanish passport, bring it along and enjoy the tax-free benefits offered to foreign nationals.

Hipercor Supermarket occupies 50% of the ground floor alongside various cafeterias and shops selling jewelry, handbags, footwear, perfumes, makeup, and more.

The supermarket is an ideal shopping destination for people living in holiday rentals. It stocks everything from fine wines to fresh foods, electronics to toys, appliances to pet products, and more. The first floor houses many high-end boutiques selling the latest fashion collection. There's a champagne Bar on the second floor where you can sip on Chandon and Moet while enjoying gourmet bites and a long day of retail therapy.

Unlike local shops, international stores are open throughout the day. Local businesses and malls often close between 2 and 5 pm. They put an entire collection of luxury goods within reach while allowing you to shop till you drop, even late into the night.

Beach Clubs

The beach clubs in Marbella stand a cut above the rest when looking for a decadent party environment in the Mediterranean. The vibrant and dynamic party scene lives up to your every expectation when looking for an idyllic beach vacation.

The beach clubs in Marbella combine everything you love about a beach holiday with matchless comfort and convenience. They provide a personalized paradise where you can kick back, relax, and soak up the sun by the Mediterranean Sea. A beach club is a perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of your daily life and enjoy life.

You can spend your days lazing by the Mediterranean as the helpful, professional, and friendly staff wait on you hand and foot. Experience the beach while lying on a beach towel, a lounger, a sunbed, or a Balinese bed. For exceptional privacy, exclusivity, and comfort, you can kick the beach experience up a notch with a whole cabana.

There's more to Marbella's beach clubs than tanning on the beach. These clubs boast world-class facilities, including spacious rooms with all the luxury trimmings, such as walking showers, minibars, and king-sized beds.

You can pick between indoor and outdoor pools for a personalized holiday experience. Don't like the outdoors? You can lounge by the indoor infinity pool with seawater and have the sea come to you. Vibrant pool and beach parties spill over into the night when beach clubs transform into pulsating nightclubs with the best DJs, music, and a party ambiance.

Top 10 beach clubs in Marbella

Top 10 beach clubs in Marbella

Tips

Discover Marbella's top 10 beach clubs! Unwind in style with our expert guide on the best luxury spots for sun, sea, and unforgettable experiences.

Each beach club in Marbella takes you on a gastronomic adventure comprising local and international fare. Enjoy the best cuisine while working on your tan and enjoying scenic views. Some beach clubs provide dedicated table services, so you'll never run out of the best foods and delicious cocktails.

The ambiance varies between Marbella's best beach clubs so that you can pick the perfect avenue for a beach holiday. Some beach clubs offer a laidback environment to enjoy a quiet holiday getaway by the sea.

Others offer a vibrant party environment for party animals to get their groove on 24/7. Some beach clubs are family-friendly and have dedicated kids' facilities and activities to ensure your kids aren't left out.

Spa and Wellness

If you wish to hit the reset button, Marbella has plenty of picture-perfect destination spas that will help you relax, reshape or reprogram yourself. The seaside town is a treasure trove of health and wellness sanctuaries that will cater to your every need.

Booking a spa session in one of Marbella's luxury spas allows you to pamper your mind, body, and spirit. It's an excellent safeguard for your health and well-being while heightening your holiday experience. A session or two in the spa will eradicate the aches and pains to leave you feeling relaxed and ready for the beach. It's the perfect start to your beach holiday as it prepares you for the perfect tan.

Marbella offers some of the finest luxury spas in the Costa del Sol, and they're staffed with highly skilled professionals. You're guaranteed an indulgent world-class experience with every spa session. The best spas in Marbella use a holistic approach to help you achieve perfect relaxation. They will recharge your batteries, invigorate your senses, and rebalance your mind and body.

Since Marbella is a top tourist destination, the luxury hotels and beach resorts provide a world-class spa experience. The offerings range from sauna, hydrotherapy, steam rooms, experience showers, and hammams. Marbella has something for you, from getting a full body massage to getting your hair and nails done.

Choose between the most popular massages, including Shiatsu, Swedish, deep tissue massage, sports massage, Thai, and reflexology. You can book a couple's massage session and strengthen your relationship. You can sign up for a spa session by the beach if you're up for it. The best spas have a canopied cabana for a private outdoor massage session. The gentle breeze and the waves will lull you to sleep as the masseuse works magic on your body.

Six Senses Spa at Puerto Romano is among the top-rated spas in Marbella. It offers world-class amenities, including a cold plunge pool, hydrotherapy pool, herbal steam room, experience showers, and a hammam. Every aspect of this service is designed to deliver a fully immersive and refreshing spa experience.

Art galeries

With its collection of top art museums and galleries, Marbella has a vibrant and highly sophisticated art scene. The diverse and rich offerings in Marbella's museums and art galleries cover diverse interests.

You're guaranteed a great time even if you're not an art or a history buff. Some of Marbella's top museums and art galleries include Gallery Houses of Art, Municipal Exposition Gallery, Contemporary Engraving Museum, Bonsai Museum, Case Grande, and Museum Ralli.

The Gallery Houses of Art displays contemporary art and features artworks from different artists. The artists range from international artists to emerging local artists. The Municipal Exposition Gallery in Old Town Marbella carries a rich collection of ceramics, photographs, and exquisite sculptures. It also features paintings from local and international artists.

The Contemporary Engraving Museum in the old Hospital Bazan is a historic building dating back to the 15th century. It features historical engravings and artwork by Picasso, Miro, and other famous Spanish greats.

The Bonsai Museum features a unique collection of meticulously groomed dwarf trees from across the globe. You'll find many treasured miniature trees, including a 300- year-old olive tree, a 400-year-old juniper tree, and the endangered Spanish fir trees. The entire museum comprises exceptional works of art that are worth admiring.
The Ralli Museum devotes 10 exhibit halls to surrealist, contemporary art from Europe and Latin America. You can find beautiful works of art from world-renowned artists, including Miro, Braun Vega, Carmen Aldunate, and Eduardo Sarlos. It also exhibits life-sized sculptures of famous artists such as Dali and Gerardo Quiroz.

The Municipal Collection of Archeology is housed in a restored historical building dating back to the 16th century. It houses the best archeological finds in and around Marbella. Some notable pieces include Roman baths, remnants from the Roman Villa in Rio Verde, Trapiche ovens, and more. The pieces are between 3 million and 300,000 years old.

The Art Watson Gallery houses the best Spanish artworks from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. It has beautiful and spacious exhibit rooms with works from Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Marc Chagall, and more.

Drinks and night out

The drinking culture in Marbella is second to none. The hot weather makes having several tall cold drinks a daily requirement. Luckily, the seaside town offers a diverse range of cool and hot drinks to suit every age, taste, and preference.

Whether you're looking to cool down after a hard day exploring the sights and sounds of Marbella or winding down after a long day outdoors, their drinks selection is impressive. The choice of drinks ranges from carbonated water, alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, beers, soda, teas, coffees, juices, and more.

Marbella's impressive collection of bars keeps the fun times rolling by ensuring that you have the perfect drink in your hand. The cocktail bars offer a dizzying amount of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. These cocktails are often made from four basic ingredients – ice, choice liquor, fresh fruit, and natural ingredients. You're guaranteed the freshest, most delicious cocktails to help you unwind or cool. The non-alcoholic cocktails are equally impressive, so everyone can join in the fun without feeling left out.

Wine enthusiasts are in for a treat in Marbella as the seaside town is only a short distance from Malaga, Spain's largest wine-producing region. It's your chance to immerse yourself in the region's rich wine culture. You can sample the local wine brands in various bodegas and tapas bars. Sign up for a wine-tasting tour and improve your wine knowledge while touring some wineries.

You'll find the most exclusive cocktail bars in Puerto Banus, the most glamorous part of Marbella. Some of the best cocktail bars, including Air by Breathe, Astral Cock bar, and Sky Lounger, are found in Puerto Banus.

These bars offer a ritzy and glamorous environment where you can sip on your perfectly chilled glass of wine, champagne, or sparkling wine as you enjoy the beautiful views. They serve a range of high-end cocktails, including cosmopolitan, caipirinha, summer rye, sex on the beach, tequila sunrise, and watermelon-champagne cocktail.

Head to the Old Town if you wish to sample authentic Spanish drinking culture. Local bars such as Taberna Del Pintxo serve the best local wines and some vintages that aren't readily available on the market.

Experience the Best of Both Worlds

Marbella combines the past and the present to offer visitors the best of both worlds. The city landscape comprises architectural marvels from the Renaissance alongside modern villas, skyscrapers, and shopping malls. You can stroll down the cobblestone streets built in the 15th century and later speed down a modern highway in an exotic car. The seaside town offers you a unique chance to experience rich Spanish culture while providing the best holiday experience.