The Golden Mile is the posh part of Marbella. This two-kilometre strip between the Old Town and Puerto Banús is where the five-star hotels, gated villa compounds, and the King Fahd Mosque line the coast road. It has been the luxury centre of the Costa del Sol since the 1970s.
Sierra Blanca, the hillside neighbourhood directly above the Golden Mile, is even more exclusive, though harder to access without a car.
More on this below, or if you’re planning a visit, see our where to stay in Marbella guide.
The Golden Mile
The Marbella Club opened in 1954 as a private guesthouse for Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe and his friends. It set the tone for everything that followed. The Puente Romano came next, then a string of smaller boutique hotels and residential developments.
The area has a different rhythm to the rest of Marbella. It’s quieter than the Old Town, more manicured, and the beach clubs (Nikki Beach, the Beach House) are the kind where you book a sunbed.
Sierra Blanca
Above the Golden Mile, Sierra Blanca is Marbella’s most expensive residential neighbourhood. Villas here sell for several million euros and sit behind high walls with views down to the sea. There are no hotels, no shops, and no restaurants. It’s entirely residential.
I drove through it once out of curiosity. The streets are wide, the gates are tall, and you don’t see many people walking.
Puerto Banús
Puerto Banús is flashy rather than traditionally posh. The marina has superyachts, the boutiques carry Gucci and Louis Vuitton, and the restaurants charge accordingly. It draws a younger, louder crowd than the Golden Mile.
If you want luxury with peace, the Golden Mile is the better choice. If you want luxury with atmosphere, Puerto Banús has more life to it.
For the full area breakdown, see where to stay in Marbella.
