Marbella is a world-renown destination for its glitz and glamour. It is one of Europe’s jewels and the ultimate playground for the rich and famous. Yet, many northern European families choose Marbella over other southern destinations to make their permanent move under the sun. We look at what Marbella has to offer its visitors and residents.
Located on the Costa del Sol, Spain in Europe’s most southern point, it is no secret that its year-round, beautiful, sunny weather plays a big role. But there are other lovely places in southern Europe with comparable weather and yet Marbella is one of the top-ranking destinations for holidaymakers and families who choose to relocate with their loved ones, start a new life and work here too.
It has a great cosmopolitan ambience, a lovely mix of the Spanish culture and a significant expat-community. It offers traditional living, intertwined with the comforts of a modern lifestyle. It is endowed with an infrastructure to cater to the needs of every member of the family. It has got a wealth of choice for quality education, a cultural heritage which runs deep in history, a vibrant café society, exceptional gastronomy sure to please the finest of palettes and a wealth of activities for all ages. Let’s have a look at 10 things you can do in Marbella.
A Day at the Beach
Marbella has a wealth of spectacular beaches to choose from. Its visitors and residents are also spoilt for choice when it comes to chiringuitos. From the jet-set, highlife glitz n’ glamour on the beach to a more quaint, tropical setting, the choice is yours to make. The food, fresh picks of the day, is to die for.
Paseo Marítimo
Stretching alongside the city’s beaches is the Paseo Marítimo (beachside promenade). Walking along the promenade, taking in the views, soaking up the ambience and enjoying Marbella’s spectacular sunsets, as the sun falls to the east, casting a lovely red, pink and purple glow onto the sparkling sea, illuminating the silhouette of Africa and Gibraltar. It is a unique and breathtaking view, typical to Marbella’s shores and one you can never get enough of.
The promenade offers a spectacular walk across Marbella, the city, all the way to Puerto Banus and further west to San Pedro. It is a fantastic way to enjoy the Mediterranean fresh air, take in the spectacular sceneries and it can all be done with the entire family, including your pets. Many choose the paseo to go for a jog, walk or a bike ride across the three coastal towns of the Marbella region. The paseo is filled with chiringuitos, restaurants and cafés, where you can stop and have a drink, a snack or a full meal.
El Casco Antiguo
Marbella’s historic Old Town, (Casco Antiguo) is a hidden gem. The Old Town is located in the centre of the city, just north from the Avenida Ricardo Soriano – the main boulevard, which runs through Marbella – and opposite La Alameda park.
With its picturesque, ancient architecture and maze of narrow cobbled streets full of boutique shops, funky art galleries, bars and eateries, the Casco Antiguo is a picturesque part of the city, surrounded by reminisces of its 1000s of years of history.
At the centre is Orange Square, a beautiful, typical Andalusian square dressed with orange trees, tropical plants and flowers. It looks and feels magical. The delicate scent of the orange trees fills the air – such a romantic and uplifting experience. The square is where you sit quietly in one of the many traditional cafés to enjoy a coffee, a glass of wine and watch the world go by.
The bustling Casco Antiguo is full of interesting nooks and crannies to explore. From ancient ruins to a choice of museums offering a rich cultural experience, to a wide range of restaurants serving everything from fine dining to authentic backstreet tapas, to local bars which are busy into the early hours of the morning.
La Alameda
South of Marbella’s Old Town, on the other side of the main road, lies el Parque La Alameda. This small park boasts a magnificent large central fountain decorated in traditional Andalusian tiles, huge tropical plants, mosaics a testament of its Moorish past and decorative benches.
This park is popular amongst locals and tourists alike as a tranquil place to take a break. It is also one of the main centres during the Feria de Marbella, the traditional local Flamenco fair. During the Feria, which takes place around the San Bernabe in mid-June and lasts approximately one week, the park is filled with BBQ stands, beer and wine with music blasting. Everyone is dressed in traditional Flamenco costumes, dancing, eating and laughing together.
The park is also home to one of Marbella’s landmarks, the Café Central Marbella. One of the oldest establishments, this wonderful Café offers delicious treats, pastries, as well as salty treats, sandwiches and other delights.
Avenida del Mar
Avenida del Mar is located right behind the Parque La Alameda and makes its way to the seafront promenade. It is a delight for lovers of art, boasting an impressive collection of original sculptures by Salvador Dali displayed in the open air. The wide pedestrianised avenue has a multitude of welcoming benches to rest your weary feet and admire the fantastic sculptures as well as the spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea.
Parque de la Constitución
Just up from the beach near the centre of the town is el Parque de la Constitución, a true oasis of calm in this bustling city. It is a great place to visit, with beautiful trees, colourful flowers, a children’s park, an astronomic observatory, a cafeteria and an open-air auditorium which hosts opera, theatre productions, concerts and other cultural events.
Shopping Fanatics
Marbella is heaven for shoppers. The city centre is filled with artisan boutiques, gift shops, art craft, local designer boutiques and the trendy brands including Zara, Mango and Massimo Dutti. Up to the north, just on the outskirts of the city, there is a large shopping mall, La Cañada, where you can find anything from haute couture designer boutiques to the famous brands including M&S, Footlocker, Dorothy Perkins and the list goes on. There is also a very large food shop, and a multitude of restaurants and fast food joints as well. FNAC and other speciality shops including designer furniture shops, health and beauty salons as well as jewellery stores, you name it, it’s there for you.
Culture
Not as well known is Marbella’s cultural aspect. Marbella has a number of theatres, art galleries and museums as well as a busy cultural programme of concerts, dance, jazz and theatre during the summer months.
In Marbella, the Black Box Theatre offers plays in Spanish and English; the unusual Bonsai Museum features one of Europe’s most important collections of Bonsai Trees; and the Museum of Spanish Contemporary Engravings exhibits works by Picasso, Miró, Tapies, Chillida and several other important Spanish artists. The best art gallery close to Marbella is the Sammer Gallery, Puerto Banús, which is one of the largest modern art galleries in Spain.
The iconic Starlite Festival is celebrated in Marbella during the summer months. The festival hosts concerts by some of the biggest names in music as well as fashion shows, art exhibitions, cinema premieres and a charity gala. Starlite is celebrated north of Marbella in a unique open-air amphitheatre where you can enjoy spectacular performances under the stars.
Family Activities
Marbella is known for its excellent balancing act of contradictions. Whilst it is the jet-set, glitz and glamour of southern Europe, Marbella equally offers an array of entertainment for kids.
There is a go-karting track, trampolines, video games, electric bikes and cars, a pool, children’s rides, as well as a restaurant serving kiddie-friendly fare and a bar. All on the beachfront.
For active children looking for adventure there is Aventura Amazonia in the Elviria area just a 10 minutes drive east of Marbella centre. This park is great fun for both kids and adults offering all kinds of activities climbing trees and swinging like Tarzan and ropes, all nestled in spectacular natural surroundings.
Now very popular for the entire family are bike rentals and Segway tours where you can discover the city having fun.
If you are happy going a little further afield, just a 15 minutes drive from Marbella, are the Fuengirola Water Park and Bioparc Zoo. Further down the coast heading towards Malaga, you have Tivoli World, an Amusement Park in Benalmadena, the Crocodile Park in Torremolinos and easy of Marbella, on your way to Gibraltar, you’ll find the Selwo Safari Park in Estepona. These are all within half an hour’s drive of the city.
For teenagers, there are many good organisations on the coast who offer fantastic adventures including scuba diving, quad-biking, jeep safaris in the National Parks, mountain treks on horse-back, canyoning in the region’s gorges, and paintball wars.
For Foodies
Marbella is a food lover’s paradise. Spoilt for choice and with fresh ingredients, Marbella is the place for food fanatics.
To begin with, you have an abundance of choice of delicious, traditional Spanish tapas and the healthy Mediterranean diet. It is a way of life in Spain and food is the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean culture. You can enjoy the catch of the day, seafood and paella in one of the chiringuitos on the beach. Venture into the winding streets of the old town to find quaint restaurants serving Mediterranean and traditional cuisine or head to the promenade for an international selection. Marbella is not short of restaurants to suit all budgets and tastes.
