About Marbella

About Marbella

Outdoor living is part of the Marbella lifestyle; 300 days of sunshine a year draw residents and visitors alike to the beaches, golf courses, tennis clubs, spas and Andalucía’s beautiful countryside. Active or slow-paced, the effect is wonderfully relaxing.

Its popularity with the international jet-set gives Marbella a distinctly glamorous ambiance, yet this cosmopolitan region enjoys a vibrant social life of its own, with a diverse offer of restaurants, nightlife, daytime café society and a host of social and cultural events.

This part of Spain boasts the highest concentration of high quality golf courses in Europe. Mild weather & warm winters are the main reason why the sport took off here; & with increased popularity in the game many visiting golfers (including well known professionals) use the Costa del Sol as their winter training ground.

Marbella is the aristocrat of the Costa del Sol, patronised since the 1950s by princes, sheikhs and Spanish socialites, and developed as a playground for the rich and famous. This is most evident in the famous leisure port, Puerto Banús, where some of the world’s biggest and most expensive private yachts moor. For a taste of old Marbella, wander round the picturesque Casco Antiguo (Old Town) with its narrow whitewashed alleyways and flower-filled balconies. Around the exquisite little main square, Patio de los Naranjos,are some beautiful 16th- and 17th-century buildings.

Marbella is 55km (33 miles) west of Málaga and 50km (30 miles) west of Málaga Airport on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Gibraltar lies 71km (44 miles) south west.

Marbella comprises 27km (17 miles) of coastline with 24 named beaches, stretching from San Pedro de Alcántara (west) to Calahonda (east). Most are naturally formed from soft golden sand, some are grey and man-made. The popular ones offer all watersports, inflatable rides, beach bars, showers and other facilities. The most popular are the centrally located Puerto Banús, La Fontanilla, La Venus and La Bajadilla (the last two are also known as El Fuerte). Heading east, the beaches of Las Chapas, Artola/Cabopino, and Calahonda are rated by many visitors as the best. Cabopino is a naturist beach with dunes.

The Costa del Sol is also known as the Costa del Golf, with several championship courses dotted along the coast. There are also top-class tennis clubs and sailing opportunities locally. You can learn to water-ski the easy way (on a lake, by Cable Ski) at Parque de las Medranas in San Pedro de Alcántara.

On those rare rainy days, there are two important museum collections to visit. The Museo de Bonsai (Avenida del Dr Maiz Viñal) holds Europe’s finest collections of tiny trees. The Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo (Museum of Spanish Contemporary Engravings) at Calle Hospital Bazán, houses etchings by such famous names as Picasso and Miró.

Despite its jet-set image, Marbella is very well equipped for families. Funny Beach (Carretera N-340, Km 184) includes trampolines and mini-motorbikes plus water-skiing, jet-skis and go-karts for older kids and adults. At Puerto Banús, Cortylandia is designed for younger ones and includes gentle train trips, mini cars and canoe rides. Selwo Aventura (Carretera N-340, Km 162.5, between San Pedro de Alcántara and Estepona) is an impressive African-themed nature park where 2,000 animals and 700 birds roam in as-near-natural-as-possible conditions. Natura Aventura (Calle Santa Beatriz 32, San Pedro de Alcántara) is an outdoor pursuits adventure park for all ages, including canyoning, climbing, go karts, paintballing, and canoeing.

Shopping
You can buy just about anything in the way of fashion from Marbella, with all the big international and Spanish names represented among the hundreds of designer boutiques. For one-stop shopping there is a branch of El Corte Inglés at Puerto Banús, and two major malls: Málaga Plaza (Armengual de la Mota, 12) and La Cañada (Parque Comercial Autovía, Salida Ojén). Marbella market takes place every Monday at the Recinto Ferial (Zona de Las Albarizas). There are two flea markets in town on Saturday; one at Nueva Andalucía (Centro Plaza), the other at Puerto Banús, next to the bull ring.

Nightlife
Marbella enjoys a vibrant nightlife from sophisticated piano and cocktail bars to karaoke bars; authentic flamenco shows to imported rock music and exclusive members-only nightclubs to fun pubs and discos. Big name acts and visiting international DJs are commonplace in the summer. Remember to dress for the best.

Eating out
Marbella boasts top quality cuisine from every continent and school: French, Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, Thai, Moroccan, Greek, Russian, even Polynesian! There are also plenty of Spanish tapas bars and restaurants at more down-to-earth prices.

Getting Around Marbella
Marbella is a large and sprawling resort. Many holidaymakers drive but beware, particularly if you are considering a motorbike, that the main Carretera N-340 is very congested at peak periods and is renowned for its accidents. Local buses will take you quickly and easily to most places.

Exploring further afield
Mijas (33km/20 miles east) is an idyllic little Andalucian village which has been commercialised to accommodate the expectations of coach loads of daily visitors, but is still worth seeing, particularly at quiet times. At Mijas Costa (27km/17 miles east), Parque Acuático (Carretera N-340, Km 209) is a popular waterpark with the usual quota of white-knuckle flumes and rides. For more family attractions head 45 km/28 miles east to Benalmádena Puerto, The marina in Benalmadena, with its unusual architecture, is worth a visit with its shops, bars, restaurants and clubs. The marina also houses Seaworld.

Ronda (61km/38 miles north west of Marbella) is set above a spectacular ravine in the midst of classic rolling Andalucian countryside, and is one the region’s most attractive and historically interesting towns. The famous Ascari Race resort, a racing circuit for millionaires, is situated in the Ronda valley

Living the Highlife
There is no shortage of places in Marbella where you can blow the budget. If you want to do it on a meal try La Hacienda, a delightful quiet rustic spot 13km (8 miles) east of Marbella (Urbanización Hacienda Las Chapas, Carretera de Cádiz 193km/120 miles ). Or maybe The Beach Club (Rio Real Playa, Carretera de Cádiz), a buzzy beachside restaurant where you can spot celebs, listen to live music and tuck into lobster lasagne with truffles. If you want to spend yet more serious money after that, dress to kill and head to the Olivia Valere Discoteca (Carretera d’Istan, 0.8km/0.5 miles, near the mosque). The guest book includes Bruce Willis, Naomi Campbell and Joaquin Cortes!

Article written and edited by Trish Dynes
Editor and Writer
Amber Writing Services
Currently writing and editing articles for “Beautiful Living España” Magazine
Mobile: 34 652 514 635
Tel: 951 276 683
E-mail: patricia.dynes@gmail.com