Guide to Marbella with luxury hotels, intense nightlife and golf

Marbella is one of the most visited cities on Costa del Sol. The city is mainly known for Puerto Banus, the large marina full of luxury yachts located outside the city. The area around Puerto Banus has perhaps the most extensive range of bars, clubs, luxury hotels and restaurants on the entire Costa Del Sol . (note, tips on cheap flights and hotels in Marbella at the bottom of the article).

Do you want to rent a property in Marbella? Hotel, apartment or house? Best selection and prices can be found on Hotels.com.

Subscribe to our newsletter with the most affordable homes for sale in and around Marbella.

Marbella has long been famous for attracting wealthy visitors from all over the world – the jet set. In addition to exclusive restaurants and large luxury yachts in the harbor, there are also lots of fine golf courses around Marbella. Perhaps the most popular golf course is called Atalaya. Read our article about Golf trips to Spain.

Marbella came into the world's focus again in August 2010 when President Obama Barack and his family spent their holiday in the city. It was hoped that this would lead to Marbella becoming as uniquely exclusive a jet-set resort as it was in the 60s when, among others, John F. Kennedy and famous Hollywood stars danced in the city's nightclubs (in 2026, Seven Nightclub is one of the trendiest clubs to visit) together with European royalty. Now it didn't quite turn out that way (the really big celebrities flock to Ibiza), but the city is still a haunt for international tourists with a lot of money. Already in June after the corona crisis, it was also clear that Marbella , like so many other municipalities on Costa Del Sol was recovering from the crisis. Additional luxury hotels are being built in Marbella , which will increase from 8 luxury hotels to 12. Already with 8 five-star hotels, Marbella was the city with the most of these in Spain.

Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Marbella:

El Lebrillo: A new restaurant from star chef Dani García, opened in December a few years ago. The restaurant serves modern Spanish cuisine with a focus on local ingredients
Hard Rock Hotel is a relatively new concept that is a great success.
The Garden of Olives: A new restaurant with a roof terrace overlooking MarbellaBay, recently opened. Focus on modern European cuisine.
El Jardín Botánico de Marbella: A new botanical garden with over 3,000 different plant species has opened. The garden is located on a hillside overlooking the bay of Marbella.
Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo: A new museum of contemporary Spanish graphics, opening in January 2024. The museum is located in a beautiful historic building in Marbella town center .
Marbella Film Festival: An international film festival, held in Marbella in October. The festival shows a selection of new films from around the world.
The Andalucia Tennis Experience organized in the spring.

Guide to things to do and attractions in Marbella

People come here mostly to party, sunbathe, shop and just feel good. Marbella is a very clean city and in 2019 it was found that no town in Andalusia with more than 100,000 inhabitants has cleaner air than Marbella. This is thanks to its location by the sea in combination with the fact that there are many trees in the area. The city offers lots of water and beach activities, such as sailing, jet skiing, windsurfing, beach volleyball, etc. Another experience industry that is very large in the area is various establishments that offer massages, beauty treatments and spas. In addition, activities such as horse riding, "laser war" (a new form of paintball), paragliding, etc. are organized.

One of Europe's best destinations for fishing trips

The area was also recently named one of Europe's "best fishing destinations" by the world's largest fishing trip booking site: FishingBooker. According to these experts, Marbella is an excellent destination for fishing trips (on a par with, for example, Dubrovnik and Santorini) partly because the rocky seabed is an attractive environment for young fish (the rest of Costa del Sol is very sandy in comparison). There are plenty of options to choose from and you can rent fishing boats for 4, 5 or 8 hours for a relatively cheap price. Fish you can catch include tuna, sea bass and red snapper.

Marbella Train is a popular tourist train that takes you sightseeing around the old town (casco Antiguo) of Marbella in about 25 minutes.

A big favorite for many tourists is to splurge and charter a dinner on one of the marinas' luxury boats that sail around the beautiful and sunny surroundings. while enjoying the delicious food. Should you book a trip with a real luxury yacht However, you should book at least one day in advance. Sometimes several days in advance during high season.

A slightly cheaper but equally pleasant excursion is to walk along the beautiful the promenade from Marbella to the marina Puerto Banus.

Do you like wine? For a wine tour in Marbellaarea, most people recommend Vina & Bodega Remsamen. They walk you through the entire process of growing wine.

The city is not exactly known for having many museums, but Alvaro Reja Art Gallery Highly recommended. Here you will find local and international artwork of high international standard.

The nightlife is most intense around Puerto Banus, with lots of nightclubs and casinos. This is also where you have the best chance of catching a glimpse of an international star. But here you can also see the back of the city after midnight, with widespread prostitution and hordes of pickpockets.

Marbella is becoming increasingly popular for film shoots

Marbella, along with Málaga and Nerja, has recently become a popular location for film production again. After a downturn during the pandemic, Málagaregion has seen a strong recovery in the film industry. According to Málaga Film Office and its partners in Andalusia, local production companies have been at the heart of this recovery, but the area has also attracted over 20 British and several German film projects.

Some films that have been shot in Marbella over the years:

Marigold Hotel (2015)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
James Bond: You Only Live Twice (1967

Eating in Marbella

There are restaurants for all budgets but a big favorite among the beautiful and wealthy is the restaurant La Meridana on the Camino de la Cruz. Andalusian food is served here in a nice setting.

There are restaurants and tapas bars for all tastes and budgets (very varied, international selection). At the time of writing, there are 3 restaurants in the city that have received one or two stars in the Michelin guide. 1 star: Skina and El Lago (Elviria Hills), and Dani Garcia with 2 stars. The popular chain Hard Rock Hotel Marbella opens its doors in 2022, Puerto Banus.

Weather in Marbella

The weather in Marbella is very pleasant thanks to the microclimate. It rarely gets too hot in the summer, and during the winter months it is unusual for it to fall below 10 degrees. Even the winter months can offer a lot of beautiful and sunny days. Marbella is high on the list of the best weather in Europe.

Shopping in Marbella

If you like shopping Marbella is the city for you. Here you will find everything from four flagship stores for major fashion brands, smaller specialty shops, markets, department stores and large modern shopping town center . We recommend that your shopping tour starts from the main shopping street Avenue Ricardo Soriano which is full of exclusive shops.

The old town with all its small specialty shops, crafts and art is also well worth a visit. A large and good shopping town center for fashion is Canada Shopping Center, in the center of Marbella. Marina Banus Shopping Center on Avenida Ramon Areces is also a really good "shopping mall".

Don't miss visiting Saturday market in Puerto Banus which in recent years has developed into a commercial meeting place similar to the trendy markets in cities like Paris and London. The focus is on original products, and a large selection of interior design, clothing, etc.

If the accident occurs – important phone numbers (for Swedes)

The Swedish Consulate is located in Malaga, more precisely at Calle Córdoba 6. Opening hours are normally 10-13. Telephone number for the consulate: +34 952 604 383
Embassy of Sweden in Madrid +34 917 02 20 00
If you are involved in a crime, it is best to visit the police station in Marbella. Av. Arias de Velasco, 25, 29601 Marbella, Málaga, Spain. Telephone: +34 952 76 26 00
Emergency number in Spain is the same as in Sweden: 112.
If you need to contact the police by phone, call 091.
Swedish Church in Fuengirola is still active. Even though so many people may not turn to them when they encounter problems, it is still good to know that they have a hotline: +34 675 945 929.

The housing market in Marbella

The price trend has been enormous in recent years and despite the Corona crisis, prices have not decreased in Marbella. Quite the opposite. Many believe that prices are too high in Marbella in relation to other parts of Costa Del Sol , while some believe that it is quite natural that prices are resilient in the area as investments in this area generate higher income. This is certainly true when it comes to the luxury segment, but for those looking for a somewhat simpler 2-bedroom apartment, it should be borne in mind that the area is significantly more expensive than other resorts on Costa Del Sol .

We have agents on site in Marbellaarea. We also collaborate with several companies in and around Marbella and can offer houses and apartments in Marbella in different price ranges. Right now we believe that the Nueva Andalucia area is the most affordable (most of the best has sold out in central Marbella). San Pedro is a very good area for those who want to buy an affordable home around Marbella. Here you will find beach promenades, cheap homes, 10-12 minute beach walk to Puerto Banus. Easy to get to and from the airport (compared to, for example, Estepona). It is close to all amenities so you don't need a car. In San Pedro there are also key-ready newly produced apartments.

Through our lawyers and contacts, we also find, on assignment, fine luxury villas and exclusive apartments in Marbella. Email to info@spanskafastigheter.se

If you have any tips on what to visit or do when you are in Marbella , please feel free to share them with us. Write your tips and expand this guide to Marbella in the comments below!

Flights to nearby Malaga.

The best car rental companies on Costa Del Sol .

Collection of newly built houses and apartments in and around Marbella.