Marbella suits couples and groups who want a home with a pool around Marbella, near the old town, Puerto Banús and a dozen golf courses. Homes are spread over about 12 km, so check where yours is, and expect to drive: Marbella has no railway station.
Marbella is a municipality of about 156,000 people strung along roughly 26 km of coast between Cabopino and Guadalmina, under the Sierra Blanca. The old town keeps nearly its 16th-century street plan inside the old walls, around the Plaza de los Naranjos and the town hall of 1568, and the Avenida del Mar carries ten Dalí sculptures. About 6 km west, Puerto Banús marina, in the Nueva Andalucía suburb known as Golf Valley, closes the Golden Mile. Our homes are spread around Marbella rather than in the centre, and the middle of them lies east of the old town. Most have a private pool and many a garden. The usual home sleeps four over two bedrooms, though a few take large groups. Every beach has a chiringuito, and the seafront promenade is where people join the evening paseo. Winters are mild, and snow sometimes dusts the high peaks behind.
The marina opened in 1970, about 6 km west of the centre, with big yachts, restaurants and international fashion shops.
Two villages in the Sierra Blanca behind Marbella; Istán is known for its springs, Ojén for its rich wildlife and plant life.
Torre Alcón, a square watchtower, stands in the sand dunes of Artola near Cabopino marina, at the eastern end of Marbella's coast.
A sizeable town less than 10 km from Marbella, with its own beaches backed by a seafront promenade and cycle path.
Málaga airport is about 50 km away, around half an hour by car, and Avanza runs an hourly bus to Marbella bus station that takes about 40 minutes. There is no train: the nearest station is near Fuengirola, 27 km off. With homes spread out, hire a car.
Summer is hot and dry, with almost no rain in July. Winters are very mild, and Marbella averages more than 2,900 hours of sunshine a year, but November and December are the wettest months. The dozen golf courses here can be played at any time of year, which makes spring and autumn a sensible time for a golfing week.
Spread over about 12 km of the municipality, with the middle of the spread east of the old town. Check each home's map before you book, because one in the hills is a drive from the sea.
No. Marbella is the most populous municipality on the Iberian Peninsula without a railway station. The nearest is near Fuengirola, 27 km away, so from Málaga airport take the hourly Avanza bus or drive.
A stretch of about 6.4 km from the western edge of Marbella town to Puerto Banús. The Marbella Mosque overlooks it just west of the centre, and boat trips show it from the sea.
Some are. El Faro, a 200-metre strip just west of the port behind a breakwater, is very busy, while Nagüeles and El Pinillo each run for about 1.5 km or more. All of them have a chiringuito.
Mild, if not beach weather. Marbella gets over 2,900 hours of sunshine a year and winters are gentle, though November and December bring most of the rain. Its dozen golf courses play year-round.
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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