Marbella and Puerto Banus Tourist Information

More information and photographs are below.

A short drive away from El Presidente is Marbella and its lovely promenade and beach. Once it was just a fishing village but now it is known as “the pearl of the Costa del Sol” with its cosmopolitan population, international visitors and reputation for being one of the Coast's most aristocratic resorts.

Here you have the beautiful old town of Marbella with the Plaza de Naranjos (Orange Square, shown above) at its centre. Narrow white-washed pedestrianized streets feed off from it, bedecked with colourful and fragrant flowers, offering a wonderful chance to explore the hidden delights of Marbella as you come upon attractive courtyards, the walls of the old Moorish castle and beautiful churches set in picturesque squares. Also along these narrow lanes in Marbella's “Casco Antiguo” are numerous shops offering artisan gifts, designer clothes and so much more for both tourists and the local people of Marbella. Then when you feel the need to relax you can choose from one of the old town's many outdoor restaurants, shady cafes or tapas bars for a reviving drink, tasty snack or freshly prepared meal. Just remember that the spanish tend to eat later in the evening so if you want to enjoy the best atmosphere wait until about 9 pm.

Adjacent to Marbella's old town is the newer commercial area with the main thoroughfare of the Avda. Ricardo Soriano containing many internationally known shops, as well as branches of all the major banks. Larger shopping centres, such as La Cañada, with even more retail shops, are to be found just outside of Marbella and in Puerto Banus.

There are also a number of beautiful and tree lined parks, such as the Parque de Constitucion, where outdoor summer concerts and children's theatrical productions are put on.

Indeed because of the nearby mountains that protect Marbella from the cold winds of the north, we are able to benefit from a a very special micro-climate that gives us milder winters and slightly cooler summer nights than Malaga and the rest of the Costa del Sol receive. Consequently we are able to enjoy the out-door life of Marbella throughout the year without suffering from either the freezing cold or sweltering and unbearable heat experienced elsewhere in Europe! This is definitely a major advantage!!

The beaches of Marbella are great places to relax and the sea is safe to swim in. There is also a palm fringed, marble promenade that stretches from Marbella to Puerto Banus and along which there are numerous restaurants, bars and pavement cafes, many which offer very good food at reasonable prices and from where you can soak up the local atmosphere of Marbella.

Puerto Banus itself has enjoyed the reputation as the playground of the rich and there are certainly many sleek, beautiful and extremely expensive yachts moored along the quay side. There are also numerous restaurants and designer shops around the marina along with bars and night clubs, most of which that do not really get busy until the early hours of the morning continuing through to dawn, especially during the summer months. Two bars, Saldubas and Sinatras are particularly popular meeting points!

For those who would like to have a more active holiday, there are numerous options, many of which are listed below. There are of course also the large number of golf courses that offer a very high standard of greens for golfers.

Close by there are also the lovely towns of San Pedro and Estepona which benefit from still maintaining their special spanish identity so that you can wander their lovely streets, many of which are pedestrianized and full of locals going about their normal lives and know that you really are experiencing the wonderful spanish culture.

Ten things to see and do when you visit Marbella!

1. Visit Puerto Banus market on a Saturday morning
2. Go on a Dolphin Safari and experience the dolphins at close hand
3. Visit at least one of the nearby white walled towns such as Casares, or the lovely towns of Ronda and Mijas, or the fascinating and historic cities of Seville, Granada, Cordoba and Malaga
4. Visit local attractions like Selwo Adventure Park, Selwo Marina, Fuengirola Zoo, Tivoli World or Mijas Aqua Park
5. If you go to the beach have lunch in a chiringuito (a beach/bar restaurant) and choose a selection of fresh seafood to tuck in to.
6. Join with the Marbella locals when they come out for their early evening stroll along the promenade and watch the world go by from a nearby cafe or bar.
7. Enjoy Puerto Banus's night life
8. Take the small ferry boat that goes to and from the marinas in Marbella and Puerto Banus.
9. Go for a walk in the hills and have lunch in a local "Venta" (country restaurant)
10. Join the locals and have a breakfast of churros, freshly squeezed orange juice and either chocolate or coffee for a memorable morning in Marbella

To really enjoy your visit to Marbella, why not stay in our luxury beachside rental apartment in the prestigious El Presidente complex?

With its spaciousness, quality and comfort, five swimming pools (one is heated), tennis courts, wonderful surroundings, beautiful gardens and fountains there's no better place on the Costa del Sol!

Click here to see why it is so special!