The first destination for Gulf visitors in Spain: sun for more than 300 days a year, Puerto BanĂșs with its yachts and luxury shops, the old town of Marbella, many halal restaurants and the King Abdulaziz Mosque, with MĂĄlaga, Granada and Ronda close by for day trips.
Chapter One
âMarbellaâ is a small Andalusian town with a castle and walls. Ibn Battuta mentioned it in his travels, and in the 1950s it became the most famous resort on the Costa del Sol. It has King Fahd's palace and the King Abdulaziz Mosque (1981).
Figures of Marbella
Ibn Battuta
The Moroccan traveller passed through Marbella on his journey to al-Andalus in 1350 CE and described it in âTuhfat al-Nuzzarâ.
Alfonso de Hohenlohe
A prince founded âMarbella Clubâ in 1954, making the town a destination for the global elite.
Salvador DalĂ
The âSea Avenueâ (Avenida del Mar) in Marbella is decorated with a collection of his bronze sculptures.
Rey Fahd
He spent his summers at his palace in Marbella, and the King Abdulaziz Mosque was built next to it.
Chapter Two
2 hour-by-hour day plans I drew myself in Marbella, with the places to pray and eat where I marked them.
Chapter Three
93 places I chose, arranged in chapters. A gold star marks one of my favourite picks.
The old heart of Marbella, with white lanes decorated with flowerpots, surrounded by the remains of an Andalusi alcazaba from the 10th century built in the time of Abd al-Rahman III. Plaza de los Naranjos is the most beautiful square on the coast.
My tip
Stroll in the afternoon and sit in the square's cafés; look for the remaining section of the walls on Calle Carrera.
· Jimena de la Frontera
A fortress on a rock overlooking the Hozgarganta valley near Gibraltar. The Nasrids and the Marinids held it in turn in the 13th and 14th centuries, and it remained a border fortress until 1454 CE. What remains is walls, a round tower, cisterns and an ancient rock-cut cemetery.
My tip
Free and open until the evening. The road climbs and is narrow, so leave the car in town and wear suitable footwear.
La Perla Marbella
Mediterranean by the sea with sun loungers; breakfast, rice and fish. Homemade bread.
TryRice, grilled fish
âAn elegant Mediterranean restaurant suitable for guests.â
Booking advised · Casual · Suits families and children, couples and friends and groups
Casanis Bistrot
French bistro in the old town: duck, snails, Wellington. Dinner only; closed Sundays and Mondays.
TryDuck, beef Wellington, snails
âA French bistro in the old town with a quiet courtyard.â
Booking advised · Everyday clothes · Suits couples and business meetings
Morpho
Creative cooking by a chef with a career in Michelin restaurants, in a green courtyard; paella and tuna tartare. Closed Tuesday.
TryPaella, tuna tartare, rice
âMediterranean cooking with a beautiful sea view.â
Booking advised · Smart casual · Suits couples and business meetings
Pizzeria Picasso
Classic Italian on the Puerto BanĂșs promenade; huge portions, always busy.
TryLarge pizza, pasta
âA popular pizza place rated 4.5 with thousands of reviews, excellent for children.â
Casual · Suits families and children and friends and groups
Skina
Refined Andalusian cooking built on the quality of its ingredients; tasting menu only. Dinner only; closed Sunday.
TryAndalusian tasting menu
âTwo Michelin stars in an alley of the old town; the finest dining experience in Marbella.â
Booking essential · Everyday clothes · Suits couples and business meetings
Nintai
Kaiseki omakase with Andalusian produce and a wide range of sake. Closed Sunday and Monday.
TryOmakase menu, sushi, fish
âRefined Japanese cuisine with a Michelin star.â
Booking essential · Smart casual · Suits couples and business meetings
· Casares
A luxury Andalusian-style resort among the hills near Casares, with large high-ceilinged suites, gardens, quiet pools, a private beach club and a famous golf course.
My tip
Close to Marbella (30 minutes), with a privacy that coastal hotels do not offer. The large suites fit the whole family, and ask for transport to the beach club.
· Castellar de la Frontera
A whole village living inside the walls of a 13th-century Nasrid castle, on a summit overlooking the Guadarranque reservoir, with Gibraltar on the horizon. One of the rarest inhabited walled villages in Andalusia.
What to see
The Nasrid walls and gate · The flowering lanes inside the castle · The view of the reservoir and the Strait of Gibraltar · The old Roman road
My tip
In summer, park before the village and walk; early morning is the best time. Combine it with Jimena and the Los Alcornocales park.
· Casares
A white village climbing a hill between Marbella and Gibraltar, crowned by a 13th-century Islamic fortress with views over the Mediterranean and Morocco. Julius Caesar â according to the legend â had taken the cure in its baths, and it is the birthplace of Blas Infante.
What to see
The Islamic fortress of Casares and its walls · Views over the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and the Rif · Plaza de España and its fountain · Blas Infante's house (interpretation centre) · The Roman baths of âLa Hediondaâ near the village
My tip
â35 min from Estepona or 45 min from Marbella. Leave the car in the municipal car park, then climb on foot to the fortress (15â20 min, a steep climb). Entry is free; sunset is the best time.
· Puerto BanĂșs
From Puerto BanĂșs, the most luxurious yacht harbour in the Mediterranean, private trips by yacht or speedboat along the Costa del Sol with a skipper, with fishing or dolphin and Gibraltar sightings on clear days â an ideal choice for families who want complete privacy.
My tip
Ask explicitly for a boat with no alcoholic drinks and with halal/seafood hospitality. Mornings are calmer on the sea than afternoons.
· Estepona
An animal reserve in safari style across 100 hectares, home to more than 200 species in near-natural habitats, with tours in open trucks and suspension bridges.
My tip
A full day with a lot of walking on slopes; add the safari tour. It is 25 minutes from Marbella.
· Benalmådena
A marine park in BenalmĂĄdena with sea lion and bird shows and an icy penguin area, which can be combined with the BenalmĂĄdena cable car.
My tip
Allow two to three hours; the combined ticket with the cable car is better value, and check the show timetable.
· Marbella (Elviria)
The largest treetop adventure park in Andalusia: five levels of suspension bridges, ropes and zip lines, with trails for children and breath-taking trails for adults. About 3 hours in a pine forest, with a double safety system.
My tip
Book online to avoid the queue, and check opening days outside summer (it closes midweek). Maximum weight 130 kg; sports shoes are mandatory.
Jet skiing from the luxury Puerto BanĂșs marina along the Marbella shores, alongside the yachts with a view of La Concha mountain. GPS devices control the speed near the harbour for safety.
My tip
Suitable for families with an instructor. Mornings are calmer on the sea, and a small booking deposit is required.
· Estepona
A luxury all-inclusive resort on the Estepona beach, with a professional age-based children's club, several pools and varied restaurants. One of the highest-rated family resorts in Spain.
My tip
Prices are high but include food and activities; book the select restaurants as soon as you arrive.
The first mosque built in Spain in modern times (1981), on a hill between Marbella and Puerto BanĂșs, next to King Fahd's palace.
My tip
Friday prayer is usually between 13:30 and 14:30 (it may run later, to 15:00, in summer); check with the mosque beforehand. It opens only for prayer times and has a car park; the women's prayer room is on the left inside the entrance.
A halal butcher in Marbella selling beef, chicken and lamb, with kofta, burgers and seasoned wings ready for the grill.
My tip
Ideal for barbecue orders at villas; call ahead for large quantities.
A halal butcher in central Marbella on Avenida Ricardo Soriano, with Levantine food products.
My tip
Prices are sometimes not displayed; ask for the price per kilo before weighing.
· San Pedro Alcåntara (Marbella)
A family halal butcher that Marbella visitors praise for the honesty of its owner and for tender meat for barbecue parties.
My tip
Close to Puerto BanĂșs and Nueva AndalucĂa; Sundays until 17:00.
· Estepona
A halal butcher specialising in beef and lamb, making sausages, kofta and seasoned skewers in the Moroccan style.
My tip
Sundays until 14:00; a good option for residents of Estepona and Casares.
The legendary resort that made Marbella famous since 1954, with lush gardens by the sea.
My tip
Rooms overlooking the pool and the beach are the best.
· BenahavĂs (Marbella)
A resort of spacious serviced apartments in the hills of BenahavĂs, west of Marbella. It is quiet, overlooks the golf courses and the sea in the distance, and suits families who travel by car.
An Andalusian village by the sea around an old Roman bridge, with many restaurants and facilities inside.
My tip
Suitable for large families; book restaurants in advance.
An apartment hotel near Marbella harbour and the beach, with apartments that have kitchens and an outdoor pool. Suitable for families for long summer stays.
My tip
Book early for the summer season; ask for an apartment with a pool view. Check the tourist licence number (VUT/ESFCTU) in the listing, do not transfer money outside the platform, and beware of fake Idealista and Facebook offers.
A small boutique hotel on a flowering lane in Marbella's old town, with homely rooms and a breakfast terrace overlooking the mountains. Everything is within walking distance, with relative calm.
My tip
There is no parking inside the old quarter; use a nearby public car park and unload the bags first.
A small historic house converted into a boutique hotel in the heart of the old town, with elegant rooms and a rooftop terrace overlooking the clock tower. Warm, personal service.
My tip
There are few rooms; book early in summer. Suitable for a couple or a small family.
The most luxurious marina on the Costa del Sol, lined with superyachts, HermĂšs and Louis Vuitton shops and fine restaurants. The âGolden Mileâ (La Milla de Oro) runs from it along a street of palaces and luxury villas as far as central Marbella.
My tip
Evening is the best time; walk or cycle the seafront path from Marbella to it (about 6 km). Underground car parks are paid.
The biggest shopping centre in Marbella, with international brands, restaurants, a cinema and a hypermarket, and wide car parks.
My tip
Surface car parks are free; most shops are closed on Sundays.
The heart of old Marbella. It was laid out after the town fell in 1485, when the lanes of the Andalusi city were demolished to open a square in the Castilian style. It is surrounded by the town hall (1568), the Casa del Corregidor and the Santiago oratory. Orange trees and restaurant terraces make it the finest gathering place in the city.
My tip
Afterwards, wander the white lanes of the old quarter decorated with flowers, and look for remains of the nearby Andalusian alcazaba wall.
An icon of luxury in Marbella since the 1950s, with a thalasso spa with a warm seawater pool and a water circuit. It is on the beach along the âGolden Mileâ.
My tip
Book treatments early in summer. There is an adults' pool and another for families, and villas with private pools are the best choice for privacy.
A resort in Andalusian village style on the Golden Mile, with a Six Senses spa featuring a large water area, a hammam and a jacuzzi. The wet area of the spa in the morning is one of the finest experiences in Marbella.
My tip
Book a wet-area pass in the morning for quiet, and ask about double treatment rooms; non-guests can book subject to availability.
· BenahavĂs (Marbella)
A luxury palace in the BenahavĂs hills above Marbella, with the Anantara spa, Roman-style thermal baths, an indoor pool and a Turkish bath. Surrounded by golf courses and large gardens.
My tip
Ask about private suite treatments for couples and the private hammam; suites and private villas suit large families who want privacy.
· Casares
An ultra-luxury hotel and golf resort in Andalusian architecture in Casares, with a large spa featuring a huge indoor pool with columns, a Turkish bath and a thermal circuit. Very quiet and ideal for privacy.
My tip
Book treatments with your stay. Suites and villas with private pools give the family the highest level of privacy, and ask for a female therapist.
· Marbella (Puerto BanĂșs)
Widely considered the best men's barbershop in Marbella and Puerto BanĂșs, with a high professional standard and excellent reviews. Near the yacht harbour and the luxury shops of Puerto BanĂșs.
My tip
Booking through their Instagram account link is mandatory; open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday.
· Sotogrande
The most important polo grounds in Europe, at Sotogrande, hosting the International Polo Tournament every summer (from late July to the end of August) with the elite players. An elegant atmosphere, with a market, restaurants and a children's club during the tournament.
My tip
Watching matches is usually free, with free parking; seats and private areas must be booked in advance. To learn polo, contact the valley academies such as Ayala Polo Club or Polo Valley. Smart summer dress.
· San Roque (Sotogrande)
A historic club founded by the ZĂłbel family, founders of Sotogrande, with three professional polo fields and stables for 400 horses. It runs a polo school for beginners up to advanced riders, with no previous riding experience needed.
My tip
Ideal for anyone who really wants to learn polo: book private lessons in advance by phone. Summer matches are open to the public in the evenings. Smart summer dress.
The finest tennis club in Marbella, inside the luxury Puente Romano Marbella resort, founded in partnership with Björn Borg and hosting top stars. Excellent tennis and padel courts and professional coaches, next to the Golden Mile.
My tip
Private lessons and intensive programmes for adults and children must be booked in advance, and courts can be booked by non-guests of the resort. Parking is difficult in summer, so use a car with a driver. Preferred dress: white or smart sportswear.
· Sotogrande
Nicknamed âthe Augusta of Europeâ, it hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup and hosts European Tour tournaments. It is considered the best golf course in Spain, with perfect maintenance and refined caddie service.
My tip
It offers limited playing times for non-members, booked in advance through the club, with an official handicap required. Green fees are among the highest in Europe. A forecaddie is recommended, and official golf dress is mandatory.
· Nueva AndalucĂa (Marbella)
A gem of the âGolf Valleyâ in Nueva AndalucĂa, Marbella, designed by Robert Trent Jones, with water on most of its holes. A private, upscale club with a social club and a restaurant with lovely views.
My tip
A club mainly for members, which accepts visitors in limited numbers and at restricted times; book through your hotel or through a member. A handicap certificate is required. Official golf dress.
The leading private hospital in Marbella, serving residents and Gulf visitors on the Costa del Sol for decades. It covers most specialties and emergencies around the clock.
My tip
The hospital has an âinternational patientâ department with coordinators in several languages, including Arabic. Contact them before you arrive, especially in summer. Carry translated reports. Payment is private, or by a guarantee letter from your insurer.
Chapter Four
My view in brief: April to October; winters are mild. Pick a month to see its weather and events.
Among my best months An event or holidayBars: lowest and highest temperature
May15° to 24°
Warm (15â24°C) and quiet before the peak, very suitable for families. We recommend the beach and family beach clubs.
CelebrationRegion-wideExpect crowds
The RocĂo Pilgrimage
RomerĂa de El RocĂo
2026: 23â25 May · 2027: 15â17 May
Hundreds of thousands travel by cart and on horseback to the village of El RocĂo in Huelva over the Pentecost holiday. A unique sight, but the crowds are huge, the roads are closed and overnight stays are nearly impossible.
Chapter Five
From my own stays
I chose it for my guests
A resort of spacious serviced apartments in the hills of BenahavĂs, west of Marbella. It is quiet, overlooks the golf courses and the sea in the distance, and suits families who travel by car.
Where I wouldn't stay
Puerto BanĂșs late at nightPuerto BanĂșs (de noche)
Excellent for shopping and strolling by day and in the evening, but after midnight it becomes a place of nightclubs and loud partying; do not stay on the seafront itself with children.
Hotels I recommend in Marbella
Chapter Six
What deserves to come home with you from Marbella: the genuine article, and what carries a protected origin.
Mango and avocado
Mango y aguacate de la AxarquĂaFrom the nearby orchards east of MĂĄlaga, bought ripe from local markets between August and November.
Sardines grilled on skewers
Espetos de sardinasSardines skewered on sticks and grilled over wood embers in sand-filled boats on the beach, the most famous summer food on the Costa del Sol.
Ajoblanco
AjoblancoAndalusian cold almond soup, refreshing in Marbella's summer.
Custard apple
ChirimoyaCreamy and sweet, from the coast of Granada and MĂĄlaga, in season in autumn and winter.
Antequera oil
Aceite Antequera DOPâHojiblancaâ oil, the one closest to Marbella, balanced with a touch of artichoke.
Malagueña goat cheese
Queso de cabra malagueñaCheese made from the milk of the Malagueña goat breed, fresh or aged, produced in the mountains of Målaga.
Chapter Seven
There is no train in Marbella, and the car is the most suitable way for families to get around between the Golden Mile, Puerto BanĂșs, the old town and Estepona. From MĂĄlaga airport (about 50 km): the direct Avanza bus to Marbella's bus station in 45â60 minutes, or a taxi for about 80â100 euros, or a pre-booked private transfer (best with luggage and children). The APâ7 motorway takes about 40 minutes. Within Marbella there are local buses between the centre, San Pedro and Puerto BanĂșs, taxis are available, and Uber and Cabify work well on the Costa. Tips: rent a large car with child seats from the airport; in August the roads and car parks in Puerto BanĂșs get crowded, so leave early; the APâ7 is a toll road, and the Aâ7 is free but slower.
Last reviewed1 October 2026
