5 top things to do on Marbella- A travel guide
Planning a trip to Marbella and wondering what to do? Discover the top five must-visit attractions and activities in this charming Spanish coastal town in this itinerary. Marbella is one of the most popular destinations in Europe in summer. The city has been attracting tourists for decades because of its beautiful beaches, warm climate, and lively nightlife. So if you are after some travel tips, this is the post for you. For 5 top things to do on Marbella- A travel guide then read on.
CLOSEST AIRPORT TO MARBELLA
The closest airport to Marbella is Malaga airport, located at a distance of 51.2km. Which is around a 40 minute drive. You can get a bus outside the airport to Marbella which is every hour or so. It is best to check the timings on a website like this before travelling.
Type of holiday: This is a party destination, like Dubai or Ibiza. There are tonnes of beach clubs and a lot of rowdy brits! If that’s not your cup of tea, there are also some upmarket areas/restaurants if you want more of a quiet and put together holiday. Read on for a travel guide to Marbella Spain.
Ocean Beach
Where to stay IN MARBELLA
We stayed in Puerto Banus just above the Tango restaurant. We booked an apartment called Homelystay through booking.com. Then, we paid £150 each split across 5 people for 4 nights for our Airbnb on the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. The accommodation could do with a makeover however the location was incredibly central and within walking distance of a lot of the places on our list to visit. The apartment was across the road from a McDonalds— which was an added bonus. Also, as the apartment was in the slightly more upmarket end around Marbella, there were fewer rowdy party goers walking around (with the exception of McDonalds).
Credits: Booking.com
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN MARBELLA
1. Explore Puerto Banus
First on the list of the Marbella attractions. Arguably Puerto Banus is the best city to visit as it attracts the rich and famous.
This is where we stayed and nearby were some recommended spots such as restaurants like Breathe, Beach Clubs like Ocean Beach or Night Clubs like News Café. This area is known to attract the rich and famous, so anticipate seeing expensive yachts and high end shops. Marbella’s upscale marina and shopping district. Marvel at the luxury yachts, stroll along the promenade lined with designer boutiques, and dine at waterfront restaurants offering panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.
During the day you can get a catamaran from Marbella to Puerto Banus which is only 7 miles away, and you can also hire a yacht/ boat to take you to some of the beach clubs or hire a jet ski for a few hours!
2. EXPLORE MARBELLA OLD TOWN (Casco Antiguo)-
You can explore the narrow streets of the old town during the day, stop off for a coffee and browse the boutique shops. Step back in time and wander through the picturesque streets of Marbella Old Town. Admire the traditional Andalusian architecture, vibrant flower-filled plazas, and quaint cobblestone alleys. Don’t miss Plaza de los Naranjos, a historic square surrounded by charming cafes and shops.
3. INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES TO VISIT IN MARBELLA
Next on the top things to do in Marbella is some instagrammable top spots. Immerse yourself in Marbella’s thriving art and culture scene. Visit the Museo Ralli, a museum showcasing contemporary Latin American art, or explore the outdoor art installations along the Avenida del Mar.
Some well known streets for photo spots are Calle Carmen, Calle Nueva, Calle Gloria, Calle Caballeros
Whilst for churches: La Encarnacion church –the church has white décor and gold chandeliers or Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz Church.
Credits: mylittleworldoftravelling.com
4. VISIT SOME OF THE TOP BEACH CLUBS IN MARBELLA
Soak up the sun on Marbella’s beautiful beaches. From the popular Playa de la Fontanilla to Nikki Beach Club, there’s a variety of beach clubs. Enjoy swimming in the crystal-clear waters, sunbathing on luxurious loungers, or indulging in beachside cocktails.
Nikki beach, Puro Beach, Ocean Beach and Sala Beach were recommended to us before visiting whereas clubs like Mistrals beach club were described as more suited for families.
Ocean beach- This is the first beach club we went to. This was only a short walk from our apartment. Despite it being slightly overcast we enjoyed it here, the music was pretty decent and the staff were lovely. We joined our friends here so we didn’t have to pay for any beds.
Nikki beach- There are plenty of things to do in Marbella, including visiting the famous Nikki Beach nightclub. This club was named to honor owner Jack Penrod’s daughter Nicole, who died in a car accident when she was 18. This, like many of the Nikki beach clubs, isn’t very central so we got an uber which took around 30 minutes. I’d recommend booking as Nikki beach can get quite busy. We prepaid £78 for the beds and a bottle of champagne each. You need a wristband to have pool access and you can also just pay for the pool access and chill there for the day instead of paying for a bed.
Playa padre: If you’re looking for something more relaxing than partying at a nightclub, then head to the beaches of Marbella. You can enjoy some sunbathing, swimming, surfing, fishing, or just relax by the pool. This again involved an Uber trip but was only 15 minutes drive. We paid £40 on arrival for the beds and paid for food on top of that. This was our favourite beach club, it has calming music and chilled vibes in the day — perfect if you are hungover. Later on, the restaurant turns into more of a party with a DJ playing inside, so it’s super fun if you start drinking at lunch! Service was really good for the majority of our time here. Food was however quite expensive at 22 euros for a small pasta portion as one of the cheapest options on the menu.
5. TRY OUT SOME TOP FOOD SPOTS IN MARBELLA
Another on the top things to do is to try out the best bars and restaurants. Treat your taste buds to the flavors of Andalusian cuisine at Marbella’s top restaurants. Sample traditional tapas dishes like gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) and patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), paired with local wines or refreshing sangria. Be sure to dine at El Lago, a Michelin-starred restaurant offering innovative Mediterranean cuisine.
Breathe – Stop here for dinner and cocktails.
The sky lounge– perfect spot to watch the sunset at this rooftop bar.
Breathe Marbella
MOSH Fun kitchen– From the same owners of Playa Padre and Momento club this was our favourite dinner spot and it turns into a club later on inside and is open until the early hours. I’d suggest going here for dinner before heading to a club.
MOSH Kitchen Marbella
NIGHT CLUBS IN MARBELLA
Tibu, Momento and Club Olivia Valere– were the next popular clubs to head to.
Linekers Bar– Not a place to go for a sophisticated night out but a fun night spot to head to with your close friends.
Restaurants to visit in Marbella
If you are after Marbella best restaurants or specifically best restaurants in Marbella Old Town. Read this post, where we highlight some of the tastiest foods whether it be in a beach club or a top spot to visit before a night out for more of a vibe.
WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN MARBELLA
Marbella is mainly split into two parts Marbella and Puerto Banus. While we spent a majority of our time at the harbour (Puerto Banus), Old town Marbella is also worth a visit. Here, you can wander the quaint streets and explore the boutique shops so I’d check it out. The beach clubs, restaurants and bars we decided to go to were pretty pricey but this is similar to Dubai/Ibiza. I’d anticipate not spending any less that 20 euros for a main meal at dinner and cocktails are cheapest we found at 12 euros. So save before you head over!
Travel- Our flights were pretty expensive given it was the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. At £410 each without bags for an easy jet flight.
Delays- There are currently a lot of issues with flights at airports at the moment with a shortage of staff after the pandemic so take that into consideration when planning how far in advance you want to arrive at the airport. We didn’t have an issue checking our luggage but heard horror stories of some people queuing for two hours. We were made to go to our gate despite the two hour flight delay being announced and had to stay there with a large number of people waiting on the floor as all seats were taken. On our way back we faced similar delays and waited at our gate for 3 hours.
WEATHER IN MARBELLA
Marbella has a mediterranean climate with relatively warm dry summers and mild winters. When is the best time to visit Marbella? For warm weather go between June to September.
Any Advice
Brunch- If you, like us, plan to head to beach clubs in the day and have nice dinners out, I’d suggest having a larger breakfast at a brunch spot like Beity or Milk and Honey. Most of the beach clubs you can book from lunchtime onwards and they are unlikely to give away your bed until after 1:30 pm. (This was the case for Playa Padre). Lunch at the beach clubs are usually expensive and we found them to be quite small portions. If you are drinking as well, this does add up. A lot of the beach clubs aren’t located near restaurants and you are unable to leave and come back. So this will help to stop you spending too much!
Book- I know this may sound obvious but if you are heading during the summer or on a particularly busy weekend most of the beach clubs will be fully booked or only available at off peak times if you don’t book in advance.
Bus- There is a bus from Malaga which is just under an hour to Puerto Banus. The ticket place is located just outside arrivals, close to the restaurant. They run quite frequently and the bus actually has big comfy chairs. This is a lot cheaper than an uber/taxi ride. We did this then got a short uber journey from the bus stop to our Airbnb.
Playa padre
Ocean Beach
Nikki Beach
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Thank you for these super specific travel tips! My bf and I are looking to take a European vacation soon and this article makes Marbella sound like the perfect place.