Hotels in Marbella

Marbella: Sun, Sierra, and the Costa del Sol's Golden Mile

Marbella sits on Spain's Costa del Sol in Andalusia, 60 km west of Málaga and backed by the Sierra Blanca mountains. The city divides neatly between two worlds: the 16th-century Casco Antiguo (Old Town), with its whitewashed lanes and Plaza de los Naranjos dating to 1485, and the Golden Mile — the stretch of Marbella's N-340 coastal road lined with luxury hotels and private estates. Puerto Banús, 6 km west of the centre, adds a marina packed with superyachts and designer boutiques.

Who Visits and Why

Visitors arrive from the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, and the Middle East, drawn by 320 days of sunshine annually and a golf corridor that runs through Nueva Andalucía and San Pedro de Alcántara. The city hosts over 4 million tourists per year. Beach clubs anchor Playa de la Fontanilla and Playa de Venus close to the Old Town, while families favour the quieter sands around Río Real to the east.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is 55 km east; taxis take roughly 45 minutes.
• Getting around: Local bus line M-110 connects Marbella centre to Puerto Banús every 20 minutes.
• Best season: May–June and September offer warm temperatures without peak-August crowds.
• Currency: Euro (EUR); card payments accepted widely, though small Old Town bars often prefer cash.