Marbella is the city. Puerto Banús is a purpose-built marina district 7 kilometres to the west, and although the two are the same municipality they feel like different places entirely.
Plenty of people write Marbella Puerto Banus as though it were one destination, which is where the confusion starts. It isn’t. Marbella has a 3,000-year-old Old Town, a Moorish castle wall and a compact centre full of restaurants; Puerto Banús has superyachts, designer shops and nightclubs that run until dawn.
I stayed in both on the same trip and the contrast was hard to ignore.
There’s more to it than you’d think, and I’ll cover it all below. If you’re planning a visit, my where to stay in Marbella guide is a good place to start.
Marbella Old Town
The Old Town is the historic heart. Streets are narrow and whitewashed, the Plaza de los Naranjos has been the main square since 1485, and the castle wall sections date back to the Moors. Restaurants here lean toward traditional Spanish, so tapas, grilled fish and local wine.
The pace is slower. Shops close for siesta, people eat late, and the beach is a five-minute walk from the plaza, with most of what there is to do in Marbella inside that same square kilometre. Accommodation ranges from small boutique hotels to holiday apartments, mostly under €150 a night.
Puerto Banús
José Banús opened the marina in 1970, modelled on the harbour villages of the French Riviera. It drew European royalty and celebrities from the start. Today it’s more commercial, with boutiques selling Gucci and Versace, restaurants charging a premium for the marina view, and bars that fill up after midnight.
The marina itself is impressive. Superyachts line the waterfront, and La Concha mountain rises directly behind the port. But the side streets behind the marina have a generic resort feel that Marbella Old Town doesn’t.
Which Should You Choose?
For a first visit, I’d pick the Old Town. It has more character, better food for the price, and you can walk to the beach and the castle in the same afternoon. Puerto Banús is worth an evening, but staying there limits you to the marina.
If nightlife is the main draw, Puerto Banús wins. If you want to feel like you’re in an actual Spanish town rather than a resort, Marbella Old Town is the clear choice.
For the full comparison of every area, see where to stay in Marbella.
The rest of the questions people ask about Marbella are answered in facts about Marbella.
