In the heart of the Costa del Sol, right on the coast of Spain lies Marbella. The city is considered the seaside resort in Andalusia and attracts many visitors who want to spend a relaxing vacation in Marbella.
Marbella, for many visitors that sounds like jet-setting, wild beach parties and always nice weather. The city got this reputation in the early 50s of the 20th century, when Prince Alfons von Hohenlohe discovered the place for himself. He belonged to the so-called jet-set scene and was co-founder of a club in Marbella that quickly made a name for itself. It attracted not only aristocrats, stars and starlets, but also, unfortunately, people who tended to earn their fortunes from shady dealings. This quickly destroyed the reputation of the city and the money-making stars looked for other vacation and party places.
In the 1980s, Marbella’s then-mayor managed to restore the city’s reputation by increasing security. The desired public returned to vacation in Marbella. In 2007, when it turned out that not only the mayor but also numerous other officials of the city were involved in corruption scandals, the confidence of the city’s residents and visitors plummeted again.
Today, attempts are being made to continue the splendor of the old days and vacationers are returning to the coastal town. On long beaches with a well-visited promenade you can relax wonderfully. Impressive ships are moored in the city’s marinas again, and there are many good restaurants and classy stores that add to the city’s flair. The stroll through the beautiful alleys of the old town is the real highlight of Marbella that you should not miss.
If you stay a little longer in the city, you should take the time to go hiking in the region. You can make great mountain tours and discover small towns in the hinterland.
Vacation in Marbella – what to do
Good and cheap food in Marbella is quite possible. What can you eat? Where can you find good beer?
Marbella has more to offer than beach and shopping. The old town of Marbella in particular invites you to take a stroll.
Marbella has an amazingly long waterfront promenade that leads in one direction to Puerto Banús. Here the port with the huge yachts is the focal point for visitors.
Travel information about Marbella
Arrival
By plane
About 45 kilometers from Marbella is the international airport of Málaga.
Buses run between the airport and Marbella, leaving directly in front of the airport. It is best to buy the tickets online in advance. However, there are also sales counters on site.
Another option is to drive to the city by car via the highway.
By train
Marbella has no train station.
By Bus
Marbella has a central bus station from which numerous connections depart to the region, the larger cities of the Costa del Sol and other places in Andalusia. For example, trips to Málaga are offered almost every hour.
By car
The city is located on the A-7 coastal highway and the AP-7 toll highway.
By boat
There are two marinas in Marbella. Here private boats can anchor.
On the way in …
By bus
There are numerous buses in the city, which also offer connections to the surrounding region. It should be noted that some regions are rarely served, especially on weekends.
By Taxi/Uber
Short distances can be covered very well by Taxi or Uber.
On foot
The old town area is wonderful to explore on foot. Many of the old town alleys are not open to car traffic. The waterfront promenade invites you to take a long walk.
Parking
There are some public paid parking garages.
Here are some parking options:
- The parking garage Avenida del Mar is located in the center of Marbella, directly behind the Parque de la Alameda. The access is via Calle Macintosh and Calle El Fuerte.
- The public parking of the Hotel Fuerte Marbella is located in the center of the city and just a few meters from the beach. The entrance and exit of the parking lot are on Calle el Fuerte.
- The parking lot of the Amàre Beach Hotel Marbella is also public and just a few minutes walk from the old town of Marbella. The access is through Calle Francisco Pedrazuela.
- The Plaza de la Victoria parking lot can be reached from Calle Huerta Chica.
- The public parking garage El Molino is located in the center of Marbella on Calle Gomez de la Serna.
But also in many streets you can find parking spaces, but most of them are paid. The rates in the public parking lots are not cheap.
Many vacation accommodations offer the possibility to use an underground car park during a vacation in Marbella.