The best part of Marbella to stay in depends entirely on what kind of trip you’re planning. For first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere and eat well, the Old Town is the strongest choice. For luxury hotels and a quieter beach, the Golden Mile. For nightlife, Puerto Banús. For a real Spanish neighbourhood at lower prices, San Pedro de Alcántara.
I’ve stayed in three of these areas on different trips, and the difference between them is bigger than most guides let on.
Read on for more, or skip ahead to our guide to where to stay in Marbella.
Old Town
The Old Town is walkable, compact, and has the best concentration of independent restaurants in Marbella. Streets are narrow and whitewashed, the Plaza de los Naranjos is the centre of everything, and you’re a five-minute walk from the beach.
The trade-off is noise. On summer weekends the bars around the plaza stay open late, and some of the streets echo. I’d pick it over anywhere else for a short trip.
Golden Mile
The Golden Mile runs two kilometres between the Old Town and Puerto Banús. This is where the five-star hotels sit: Marbella Club, Puente Romano, Don Carlos. The beach is wider and cleaner than in town, and the promenade is good for walking.
It’s expensive. A room at the Puente Romano starts around €400 a night in summer. But if you want a resort feel within walking distance of the Old Town, nothing else on the coast matches it.
Puerto Banús
Puerto Banús is the marina and nightlife district. Bars, clubs, designer shops, and a lot of noise after dark. If nightlife is the priority, this is the obvious base.
It quiets down during the day, and the beaches nearby (Playa de Puerto Banús, Playa de Levante) are fine. I wouldn’t stay here for a relaxing holiday.
San Pedro de Alcántara
San Pedro sits 10 kilometres west of the Old Town and feels like a different town entirely. It has its own pedestrianised centre, a boulevard with outdoor cafés, and prices that are noticeably lower. This is where many locals actually live.
The beach is long, flat, and uncrowded. If you want the Marbella coastline without the Marbella price tag, San Pedro is the answer.
For the full breakdown by trip type, see where to stay in Marbella.
