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Marbella is the chicest resort on the Costa del Sol and has been a playground for the rich and famous ever since the 1950s, when the Rothschilds first arrived. Located between Malaga and Gibraltar, today the resort is where celebrities and Saudi emirs spend their summers and has lost none of its glitz and glam. The casco antiguo (Old Town) remains quaint and is still at the heart of the resort.
With its grand hotels, fine-dining restaurants and massive mansions, Marbella’s wealth is there for all to see. However, the spectacular backdrop, wonderful beaches and quaint Old town ensure there is more to the resort than just money. As early as 1954, the Marbella-Club Hotel opened its doors in the then village of Marbella. The late king of Saudi Arabia once spent 80 million euros on a summer holiday with 3,000 close friends in Marbella.
There are several districts and neighbourhoods within Marbella that are worth exploring. The Old Town district is where Marbella’s historic buildings and famous square, Plaza de los Naranjos, are located. This area is full of life and the narrow cobblestone streets are where you’ll find the ‘real’ Marbella. Downtown Marbella offers a busier, more commercial face of the city. Here you will find the shopping districts, restaurants and busy Tapas bars. The area around Avenida Ricardo Soriano is where you will find the highest concentration of these. Puerto Banus is an intriguing suburb, with plenty of accommodation options. It stands just a few kilometers to the west of the city centre. If you head east, you will reach the popular Fuengirola. This area is famous for the resorts of Torremolinos and Malaga, which are popular places to visit on day-trips out from Marbella.
Situated on the Mediterranean coast, beneath La Concha Mountain, Marbella is perhaps best-known as a playground for the rich and famous. If you get bored of sunbathing on Marbella’s magnificent beaches, you can visit the old-town, home to the oldest church in the city, the Iglesia de la Encarnación. You may even want to stroll down the Golden Mile, which features the late King Fahad's palace. This stylish Andalucían city hosts a WTA tennis tournament and boasts many excellent golf courses. You can’t go to Marbella without taking a trip to Puerto Banus Marina, where Rolls-Royces and Ferraris meet mega yachts. Marbella’s beaches are rightfully lauded and there are 24 beaches along the 27km of coastline. Several of the beaches carry the prestigious blue flag, that identifies their water quality, services and environmental impact as some of the the best in the world. The Playa de la Fontanilla and Playa Alicante are two of the most popular.
Marbella has an excellent food culture and is home to some of the very best restaurants in Spain. Beyond the fine-dining offered at some of Marbella’s glitziest restaurants, La Meridiana, Taberna del Alabardero and the Santiago to name a few, there are plenty of options for the more budget conscious traveler. A fantastic time to visit is during ‘La Ruta de la Tapa’, a festival that celebrates Marbella’s culinary status. There are notable restaurants that feature at this food festival, which are worth seeking out for the rest of the year. La Bodeguita Marbelli offers freshly made ensaladilla Ruse (Russian salad), La Sacristia serves a variety of wonderful charcuterie and an impressive drinks menu. Another place worth finding is El Burlaero, an intimate restaurant that offers fantastic tortilla de ajos tiernos (spring onion omelette). Sidrería Urogallo is an interesting restaurant that offers the best cider and snacks from the Asturias in northern Spain.
Malaga airport is the nearest major airport to Marbella. Transfers to the city take approximately 40 minutes by bus. You can buy a ticket from the vendor facing the arrivals lounge. Tickets cost just under € 5 and the air-conditioned bus leaves on the hour. It is worth trying to clinch a seat on the left-hand side of the bus if you want to take in the beautiful coastline as you approach Marbella. Train services currently run between only Fuengirola and Malaga, although the network is currently being expanded. Taxis in Marbella, unsurprisingly given the wealthy clientele, are abundant. You can catch a taxi from Malaga Airport to Marbella. The cost of the journey is fairly extortionate at € 68. Once you have arrived in Marbella, there are a host of car rentals available to you should you wish to explore the coastline further. Off-season, you can hire a car for a week for as little as € 90 euros.
Very good
Great place, clean and comfortabel. Nice swimming pool and very quit. The location is perfect can have breakfast by de Golf club friendly people and a very nice course. Happy with our stay there and for sure we will recommend this place...
We have spent 10 days in the beautifull appartment of Francia. The view on the old church is great! The appartment is a recommendation for any couple who want to stay in the old town of Marbella. It's close to everything you need (sup...
A fantastic and clean apartment and a fantastic host. Angeles was very professional and we are really pleased with our stay in this apartment.
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