Places to visit/things do do in Costa del Sol
Plaza de Naranja (Orange Square)
A beautiful plaza that has everything you would need for a great evening. The labyrinth of tiny streets and alleys that surround Orange Square will reveal small local shops selling all forms of trinkets, fashion and souvenirs. Further, som of the best local restaurants are found in these streets.
Marbella promenade
Just near the large park in the middle of the city, is the Paseo Maritimo (Promenade). This is one of the favourite places for locals and visitors. The boulevard is filled with restaurants of all gastronomies; all overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
Puerto Banús
There are heaps of activities to keep a family occupied in Marbella, but if you want to venture out of town, pop down the road to Puerto Banus, making sure you stop off to visit some of the cool cafes and restaurants on the Golden Mile (Milla de Oro). Puerto Banus is notoriously known across the globe for its glitz and glam, chic and showy boutiques, clubs and yachting port. And it’s not far off the mark. If you have the cash to dash for a shopping spree, then here you can shop Gucci, Tom Ford, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo – the designer list is endless. If not, the port is still worth visiting and enjoying an evening walking around the port, eating on a restaurants, isn’t necessarily more expensive than going anywhere else.
San Pedro
The neighbouring town to Puerto Banús – San Pedro de Alcantara – combines a traditional old-town, with a more modern seafront. Here you find superb restaurants and a long, clean stretch of family-friendly beach.
Local areas
Head up into the mountains behind Marbella to enjoy day visits to some of the inland, whitewashed pueblos of the region. The closest village is Ojen, around 10 minutes drive from the coast, just between the Sierra Blanca and the Sierra Alpujata and just five minutes from the stunning Sierra de las Nieves natural park. A charming town, small but perfectly formed. Slightly further inland you have the villages of Monda, Coin, and Istan, which is reached from the Golden Mile. Many foreign residents have settled in these parts, but these villages has retained their charm from the past and are worth a visit.
Shopping
- La Canada: 7 minutes drive to La Canada the biggest shopping centre on Costa Del Sol. In total 180 shops.
- Puerto Banus: 12 minutes drive. El Corte Ingles: Biggest shopping mall on the Coast.
- Harbour area in Puerto Banus is fantastic. Here you find all the exclusive brands.
Beaches
Being a coastal town on the Costa del Sol, Marbella is certainly not short of beaches, and when it comes to beaches, Marbella has it all: beaches for familes, couples, friends and singles alike. Marbella beaches include a vast spectrum of watersports, chiringuitos, kids play areas, luxury beach clubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels and shops, so you are sure to find one that suits your wants and needs.
Sports
Golf
Andalucia is one of Europe’s foremost golfing destinations, with over 100 courses. Guaranteed warm temperatures all year round, endless hours of sunshine, and a spectacular variety of courses with both mountain and sea views, make this region a highly popular choice for golfers from all over the world. Marbella offers courses for all standards of players, on all terrains, and has some of the plushest club houses around.
Cycling
200 m. from the house you find the most fantastic cycling area. Up it goes. From 100 m to 1.000 m on top on the mountain La Marena. On top there is a Marvellous view overlooking large parts of the cost and the Mediterranean. From La Marena you can drive more than 200 km on small mountain roads with nearly no cars. You will love it and get tired.
Tennis
This bridal store stocks a wide range of designer and in-house bridal gowns to suit every bride’s individual style, personality and budget. All gowns can be ordered in sizes 2 to 30 and the price is under $1,500. Additionally best bridesmaid dresses, with an in-house alterations service, English Rose Bridal really does offer it all. In a word, English Rose Bridal is a worth visit with your bridesmaids.
At Santa Maria golf course you can find a large tennis club with several courts. These courts are often available as they are for the houses in the area. Just near Nikki Beach you find a more exclusive tennis club. A tennis club the Danish Crown Prince Frederik visited a couple of years ago.
Skiing
Two ours of drive from the house you find Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the region of Andalucia, in the province of Granada and, a little further, Málaga and Almería in Spain. It contains the highest point of continental Spain the third highest in Europe[note 1], after the Caucasus Mountains and the Alps, Mulhacén at 3,479 metres (11,414 ft) above sea level. It is a popular tourist destination, as its high peaks make skiing possible in one of Europe’s most southerly ski resorts, in an area along the Mediterranean Sea predominantly known for its warm temperatures and abundant sunshine. (Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_(Spain))
Shopping
As one would expect, Marbella is a wonderful shopping centre with several large shopping complexes, as well as hypermarkets, specialty food shops, designer boutiques, interior decor stores and much, much more.
Restaurants
As a popular holiday destination it is no surpirse that Marbella is teeming with restaurants, in Marbella you can find anything from Latin American to Morrocan to Oriental cuisine as well as the traditional Spanish and Andalucian, there is something for every palette.
Nightlife
Marbella is famous throughout the world for its glitzy image and glamorous night life. The most exclusive and classy venues are located in Puerto Banus and on the Golden Mile, which is also home to many superrich celebrities and members of the Saudi royal family. Visitors who come to this stylish resort come to party, and there is no shortage of late night bars, clubs and restaurants to keep them entertained.
