Hotels in Estepona

Estepona: Costa del Sol's Garden City

Estepona sits on the western Costa del Sol, 85 km southwest of Málaga and 20 km east of Gibraltar. The town earned its nickname — the Garden of the Costa del Sol — through a civic flower programme that lines its old-town lanes with more than 50 murals and thousands of geranium pots. The Casco Antiguo (historic centre) radiates from Plaza de las Flores, a compact square ringed by whitewashed façades and tapas bars. Unlike its neighbour Marbella, Estepona preserves a working fishing harbour; the Lonja fish market opens weekday mornings where local boats unload sardines and sea bream.

Where to Stay

Hotels cluster along the Paseo Marítimo, a 3-km promenade fronting Playa de la Rada — the main sandy beach — and in the golf corridor inland on the N-340. Budget options concentrate near the port; 4-star resorts line the western beachfront toward Cancelada. The Selwo Aventura wildlife park, 3 km east on the A-7, draws families, which fills hotels on summer weekends.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Málaga Airport is 85 km east; the Avanza bus M-120 runs hourly and takes around 90 minutes.
• Beach season: Water temperatures peak July–September; sea breezes keep afternoon heat manageable.
• Old town timing: Arrive at Plaza de las Flores before 10 am to see the flower stalls before tourist crowds build.
• Currency: Card payments accepted widely; small tapas bars near the port often prefer cash.