Marbella is known as a glamorous resort town and is a favourite location with the rich and famous, boosted by foreign residents who are seduced by the lifestyle. But there’s plenty for ordinary folk to see and enjoy too in southern Spain’s answer to St Tropez. The old town with its narrow cobbled streets and flower-filled plazas is packed with delightful shops and art galleries selling pretty clothes and accessories, and handmade wares. One of the prettiest spots is the fabled orange tree-filled Plaza de los Naranjos, which is located just off the main street and is home to the 16th-century town hall and tourist office, where you can pick up a detailed map and other visitor information. In terms of eating out, Marbella’s gastronomic scene is second to none, with everything from vegetarian and vegan cafes, to beachfront chiringuitos, and Michelin-starred restaurants including Spanish cooking star Dani Garcia’s – a feast for foodies. And of course the beaches are second to none – most visitors come to Marbella to enjoy the sun, sea and sand, which has been drawing expatriate communities since the 1950s when Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe fell in love with the place and built a beachfront house, drawing all the starriest Hollywood celebs.
The Golden Mile
The Golden Mile
The Golden Mile
Bahía de Marbella
Marbella
Altos de los Monteros
Marbella
Marbella
The Golden Mile
Sierra Blanca
Istán
Marbella