Located in the foothills of Sierra Blanca between Malaga and the Straits of Gibraltar, on Spain’s illustrious Costa del Sol is the city of Marbella known for its unique combination of adventure, luxury beach resorts, designer boutiques and a long chain of sandy beaches.
It’s no surprise that celebrities and jet-setters from around the world flock to these luxury resorts to soak up the sun and get a taste of conventional Andalusia. But apart from its vibrant social life, the town has this glamorous aura with its picturesque alleys and renaissance places.
Here’s a list of the things you could do while you’re vacationing in Marbella:
Old Town – The oldest part of Marbella is a maze of narrow pedestrian streets lined with beautiful boutiques and buildings topped with terracotta roofs, many of them date back to the Renaissance. At the heart of Marbella’s Casco Antiguo, the lively Plaza de Los Naranjos makes for a delightful place to enjoy live flamenco performance or sip a cup of coffee in the shade of fragment orange trees.
Puerto Banus – Situated at only a mere 6 km to the southwest of Marbella is the most modish marina in Spain. Puerto Banus offers everything from sandy beaches and high-end shopping to fantastic nightlife. If you’re a jet-setter or want to get a glance at how the rich and the famous play, this is the place to be. The reason Marbella draws any comparison with French Riviera is because of the boutiques, sports cars, and super yachts that meet your gaze everywhere you look.
Alameda Park – A few steps to the south of Marbella’s old town you’ll find the Parque La Alameda, which gives you the feel of a private garden. This small park boasts a magnificent central fountain decorated in plain Andalusian tiles, tropical plants and benches clad with traditional Andalusian hand painted tiles where you can hide from the sun in the afternoon and enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning. The park is bounded on two sides by a balustrade and is popular amongst locals and tourists alike as an idyllic place to take a break.
Avenida del Mar – It’s a broad pedestrian avenue with palm trees, meticulously-trimmed hedges and a collection of original sculptures by Salvatore Dali displayed in the open air in the heart of Marbella that present a sight to behold. Shops and bars line the walkway with plenty of welcoming benches to rest your tired feet and commend the remarkable sculptures.
Beaches for Day Trips – With so many exciting things to offer and places to visit, it’s sometimes easy to forget that Marbella is a beach destination. The beautiful town has a glorious 16-mile coastline divided over 24 fine sandy blue flag beaches. All along these beaches are bars serving drinks and typical Mediterranean cuisine right on the sand.
