Marbella’s appeal lies in how it balances its glamorous side with its more contemplative one. You can promenade on the beach or dress to the nines for a night out if you like. You can also take a more relaxed approach, wander the flower-strewn old town and find the tapas bars the locals love. Best of all, you can do both.
A peach of a beach (or two)
There’s no shortage of beautiful beaches in Marbella, ranging from the large to the smaller and more intimate. You can take your own towels and lie on the soft sand on the Playa de la Fontanilla or hire one of the loungers and umbrellas you’ll find here. It’s a well-provisioned beach, with plenty of restaurants and cafes, showers and companies offering watersports. Playa de la Bajadilla, near the old fishing harbour, gets busy, but that’s because the water here is warm, shallow and safe.
A gentler pace
Seemingly a world away from the clubs and cooler beaches is Marbella’s old town – casco antiguo. Park up and wander on foot here, the streets are narrow and winding, filled with handsome houses, many of which have flowerboxes with a riot of blooms. Its heart is Plaza de los Naranjos, lined with orange trees, while there are numerous tapas bars and café perfect for whiling away an afternoon watching the people come and go. It’s a great place to shop to, with local handicrafts and food shops. Try to get a table at Paco Jimenez in the square here, an award-winning restaurant where you sample Spanish specialties as well as international classics such as duck confit or saffron-scented bream.
The upper crust
The place that really encapsulates many people’s idea of Marbella is the nearby port of Puerto Banus. It’s some five miles from Marbella itself, but worth the trip to see how a once sleepy fishing village has become a port full of superyachts. On shore, the cars are no less flashy – this has long been the rich and famous’ playground on the Costa del Sol. You’ll spot stars, oligarchs, Ferraris and yachts that could house an entire city.
Back in Marbella, blag your way into one of the area’s glitzy clubs. Bars and nightspots line the Golden Mile, with people dressing up to party.
Whether it’s the quiet life of pretty plazas and out-of-the way restaurants that appeals, or you can’t resist the lure of the super-clubs and beautiful beaches full of the bronzed, you’ll find it here. And with car hire in Marbella, you can have the best of both worlds.
