Marbella
Spain
- Coastline
- Med chic and fabulous beaches, darling
- Coast life
- Shopping, schmoozing and sunbathing
A bustling city with 24 beaches, this Spanish hotspot has more to it than the usual Costa del Sol tourist route.
Reborn as a players’ destination, Marbella oozes old-school glam. The Costa de Sol’s classiest joint is looking spruce, its avenidas made over with palm-trees and marble pavements. Go for the exclusivity of the boutiques, the rat-pack appeal of the casinos, and the unashamed glitz of the nightlife, but don’t miss the old town, with the Plaza de los Naranjos at its heart.
Pictured: Town House
Boutique hotels in Marbella
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Marbella
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Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Marbella has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Marbella.
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Smith Maps
Our interactive map of Marbella and the Costa del Sol will help you find your way among the whitewashed lanes to your Smith hotel.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- Cabs are cheap, but not always metered. Those that aren’t should carry an official book of rates, so check with your driver before you set off. Taxis display a green ‘libre’ notice or green light at night. You can ask your bar or restaurant to call one for you.
- Tipping culture
- The Spanish are fairly relaxed about tipping and many places don’t add service charge, but feel free to reward where appropriate. About ten per cent shows you’ve had a good time, and a few coins is fine for taxi drivers.
- Packing tips
- Suntan lotion, big shades, small bikini.
- Recommended reads
- Ernest Hemingway’s bull-running classic Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises will get you in the mood for some Spanish passion.
- Cuisine
- Tapas are great-value and delicious. There are great seafood paellas to be had here too, and the cooling gazpacho is gorgeous.
- Currency
- Euro.
- Dialing codes
- Spain: 34; Marbella: 952.
- Do go/don't go
- With 320 days of sun a year, and the lowest average temperature around 12 degrees in January, Marbella is pretty wonderful whenever you go.
