Although Marbella is popular for soaking up the sun and dining out as much as possible, it has far more to offer than just fancy bars and restaurants. With the city and its surrounding neighborhoods jam packed with cultural day trips, adventurous excursions, and action packed fun for all the family, you’re guaranteed to spend your break exactly as you please.
Fay Jones & Jess WhiteMy Destination local expert onMarbella
Beaches
As a coastal city in the heart of the Costa del Sol, a trip to Marbella wouldn’t be complete without a day spent luxuriating on one of the city’s 24 beaches. Ideal for every beach goer, the coastline provides endless entertainment for families, party animals, sunbathers and even nudists. Whether you’re looking to top up your tan, partake in any number of water activities or simply people watch, you’ll be in the right place. Lined with bars and restaurants, which are open all year round, it’s the perfect pit stop for a refreshing drink in the hot summer months or a warming meal on a crisp winter’s day.
Beach Clubs
With constant sunshine for 300 days of the year, Marbella is the perfect location for a beach club, and there are plenty to choose from. Relax at the luxurious Nikki Beach Marbella in Elviria, a little slice of heaven where you can chill on the most comfortable loungers and taste the finest foods in the restaurant. Sala Beach is an exclusive boutique beach club that takes its inspiration from Thailand and hosts LoveJuice once a month throughout the summer, voted the best pool party in the world! And for the ultimate in luxury, head to Ocean Club for its monthly Champagne Spray parties and sumptuous cuisine.
Nightlife
This exclusive holiday resort isn’t short of places to let your hair down and enjoy a night on the tiles. The cobbled street of the ‘Second Line’ is awash with late night bars and clubs, and the famous of the all is Linekers Bar. By day it’s a sports bar, but by night it turns into a late night bar where the dance floor is never empty. Tibu is one of the largest clubs in Puerto Banus and hosts some of the best DJs in Europe. Party your night away under the stars on their open-air terrace, or rub shoulders with celebrities that often frequent the nightspot.
Water parks
In the height of summer, when temperatures are soaring, there is simply nothing better than a trip to a water park to entertain the kids (and the adults), and Marbella has plenty to offer. Aqua Arena in front of the Estrella del Mar Beach Club in Elvira or Costa Water Park with two locations in Marbella and Puerto Banus, comprises slides, trampolines, jumping cushions and climbing walls all out in the middle of the sea; the ideal spot to keep the kids entertained whilst the adults relax, or have a go themselves!
Zoos
Marbella is a hotbed of animal parks. The classic Selwo safari park in Estepona is home to more than 2,000 species including rhinos, giraffes, elephants and bears all residing in acres of semi-wild parkland. However, if you fancy something more specific, the butterfly park in Benalmadena is the largest space dedicated to butterflies in Europe and the Crocodile Park in Torremolinos houses more reptiles than you can shake a stick at, with live demonstrations and the opportunity to cradle a croc.
Adventure
The mountain La Concha, which towers over the city, is the perfect location to stretch your legs. From base camp, opposite the Refugio de Juanar Hotel 10 minutes from Marbella, there are several routes of varying difficulty. The trail to the summit is quite challenging and often too dangerous for amateurs, so why not gently amble through the olive groves to the Fin de Sendero viewpoint where you’ll welcome a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the city. And if you’re looking for something more specific, why not give Experience Box Spain a call, where they can organize all sorts of adventures, including bungee jumping, off-road quad biking and rafting.
Culture
Famous painter Pablo Picasso was born and lived in the area, and 40 minutes to the east of the city, you can browse the house where he spent his childhood. Lined with self-portraits and his first artwork as a child, the building is a shrine to the artist. As well as this, the nearby Picasso Museum displays over 200 pieces of his work from his earliest studies right through to his last works in the 1970s. If you fancy something a little quirky, in the centre of Marbella you’ll find the Museo de Bonsai with one of the best collections of miniature trees in Europe, beautifully cultivated by owner Miguel Angel Garcia.
