Marbella is not mere a tourist paradise for its sightseeing guarded with a splendid Mediterranean weather; the resort town of Costa de Sol also offers all kinds of food choices. From traditional Andalucían to Spanish special to a variety of international cuisine, you will find almost all to go well with your gastronomic interest.

Being a sea front place, fish occupies an essential part in Marbella food. In fact, the town itself doesn’t have any specialities in terms of cuisine but it serves typical Spanish favourites with a greater inclination towards seafood. However, at every corner of the city you will find some of the finest multi-cuisine restaurants on account of the growing cosmopolitan nature.

The city has a wealth of restaurants…there is Italian, Indian, Chinese and special Thai eateries lined up close to all the famous tourist spots. However, going by the nature of Spain, you will find some interesting options and one can even arrange a special culinary tour in and around Marbella.

Some of the most popular Spanish dishes those are well and frequently served in Marbella are: the Tapas, a snack served with alcoholic drink throughout; Paella, gregarious rice dish available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian; fried fish etc. You can even taste some typical hams, available in a variety of flavour; these are key components in Spanish cuisine.

Going by the preparation of any Spanish food item, food in Marbella is spicy and richly flavoured. Primarily, tomatoes, potatoes, chilli, citrus fruit and beans are widely used in most of the popular dishes. Locals and visitors also love to have some superbly prepared chicken and shellfish delicacies along with some other which include: Bacalao (salted cod), Butifarra (white sausage) and Chorizo (sausage).

But, the best way to taste some great cookery is to travel to any Andalucían village. In fact, the distinctive aroma of Spanish dishes lies in rural regions, especially inside Costa del Sol. Being once a fishing village, you will have a great variety of fish and seafood dishes prepared in a wooden woven releasing a flavour of its own.

Another principal and widely recognised food item of Spain, and so in Marbella, is Paella. Pronounced as paeya, it’s a delicious mixed rice dish which constitutes a variety of ingredients and recipe, including different types of meat and seafood. Although its origin is linked to the Valencia region, it can be found pretty much everywhere in Spain. And again, Paella in Marbella means applying the seafood formula with fish and rice in the pan.

However, over the years, the food in Marbella is greatly influenced by its own growth from a seaside village town to a flourishing cosmopolitan city. The thriving international business community and the growth of tourism as a major industry have encouraged the establishment of restaurants with some delicate Thai and Italian dishes.

Being situated on Spain’s Costa del Sol in southern Andalucía and renowned as the most favoured tourist destination, Marbella is synonyms to luxury and beauty. Apart from those fashionable beach resorts, elegant golfing courses and sightseeing; the city is considered as shopaholic’s paradise, going by the nature of the whole Spain which was involved in opening up early trade routes across the oceans.

Shopping in Marbella is an integral part in your travel to Costa del Sol. The resort town offers several large shopping complexes, super markets, retail outlets, specialty food shops, designer boutiques and handicraft stores from where you can buy almost everything from daily needs to designer clothes of the most exclusive brands.

If you are not either in mood to spend time in those luxury beachside villas or try your hands in golfing, shopping is the best replacement option for refreshment, while experiencing the flavour of some delicious cuisines. However, a simple walk along the streets could give you the right idea of the true colour of Marbella and the beauty of Spanish lifestyle.

There is a wealth of shopping centres, restaurants and cafes in Marbella city centre as well as in regions like Puerto Banus, Golden Mile and Estepona. The Marbella Old Town is alive with small shops that are treasure trove for art and craft items. Here, probably you can make your best purchase among a diverse range of items such as handicrafts, leather goods, shoes, perfumes, jewellery and souvenirs among others.

In shops like Ceramica San Nicolas and Artesania Espanola you can buy some beautiful hand-crafted ceramics. However, it’s natural to find those products expensive but a welcome bargain can land you at a good deal; so, it is better to shop around a bit. Among other hand-made works, there are glassware, embroidery, paintings, and ironwork that may suit your pocket.

If you are more fashion conscious, and have the price to afford, marina Puerto Banus is the best place to shop for. This is the place known for its designer’s stores and fashion boutiques, especially those world famous clothing and shoe brands. Centro Commercial Benabola and El Corte Ingles are two of the crowded shopping centres. The latter is considered as the largest department store of Spain and boasts hundreds of shops in a large shopping complex.

Besides, there are quite a few shops spread along the seafront which include: Ekseption, Emporio Armani, Spirit and Superga Store with an array of shop windows to suit everyone’s taste and budget. Alongside those top fashion boutiques, there is a also flea market held every Saturday where you will find the best shopping experiences while testing your haggling skills.

Situated in the Marbella bypass, Centro Comercial La Canada is a must shopping trip in your visit to Marbella. With over 150 shops including fashion boutiques, restaurants, cinemas, and many small variety stores, it is now the biggest commercial area in town. Here you can find almost everything: home decoration, gifts, expensive clothing, etc. Else, you may spend some quality time with your family while enjoying a movie in the multiplex or check out some weekly events at its exhibition space.

A little distance from the Marbella city centre, you can also check out Laguna Village situated in Estepona – Andalucia’s fishing port. This sumptuously built shopping establishment in between Marbella and Estepona is another must visit place to find a variety of items while experiencing a rich and lavish lifestyle. Of course, those spas, health centres and the fashionable Puro Beach Club further add worth.

Shops in Marbella are open from Monday to Saturday 10am – 10pm, while the shopping hours are reduced on Saturdays. During fiestas and summer months, some shopping malls are even open on Sundays. Lastly, travellers must not miss those colourful street markets spread throughout most of Marbella, as these are mirror to the real and vibrant culture of Spain as a whole.

The 18-hole Santa Maria golf course in Marbella is not only regarded as one of the finest courses in Costa del Sol for its amusing natural beauty, but for the varied characteristics of each individual hole. With a large number of permanent members, including those of many professional golfers of different nationality, it is now considered as one of the friendliest international golf clubs.

Opened in November1996, the course runs through two valleys displaying a picturesque beauty of those natural hazards with streams, lakes and long green vegetation. Now with continuous remodelling, adding together many elevated trees, long green fairways, uneven terrain and well placed bunkers; it’s been a great holiday place to go for.

The first nine holes were designed by Antonio Garc’a Garrido in 1991, while the later nine were placed by the technical staff of the Club. The Hole-1 is a straight forward shot of par 4, so to clear the fence- the Tea shot needs to be accurate enough to cross a lake. Here three bunkers guard a large but slightly slopping green.

The Hole-6 is the first among the newest block, and does not require a great skill to pass on. There is only a wide fairway and a deep water hazard on the left to be taken into notice. Hole-10 or “The Pit” is a par 3 and a challenging one considering the ugly slice, while the par 3 Hole-12 is even more tempting one with the presence of a large lake alongside.

Hence, each hole starting from the very first one to the final one (Hole-18), with tree lined water hazard and a high bank, has something interesting to invite for. Those unique characteristics of those holes have earned much popularity for Santa Maria among golfers around the world.

The golf course offers a great challenge to professionals, especially in the second half as many might find the first nine holes quite easy. Set up on the backdrop of the mountains of Andalusia along with those great varieties of holes, every golfer would like to keep this in his/her future outings as the ideal golfing vacation destination.

Facilities & Services

Out of the usual golfing facilities, Santa Maria Golf Club offers some quality time for the golfers and their family to enjoy some delicious foods in the restaurant designed in an incomparable setting with views of the long golf course and La Mairena hills.

Among other leisure activities, the club offers two hard tennis courts, which are free to members and a Bowls Club with coaching facility for newcomers. This apart, as in case of other golf courses, there is a Pro Shop full of all sorts of golfing equipments available at a competitive price to encourage visitors for future vacation trip to this exciting golfing spot.

Costa del Sol, the southern part of Spain, is one of the most popular tourist destinations around the world blessed with serene beaches, mountainous surrounding, and a soothing climate in common with a touch of urbanization. In fact, it has a mild climate that allures travellers all around the globe to have their vacation in a relaxing atmosphere.

As the name of Coast del Sol or “Sun Coast” suggests, one can only expect sunny days in summer i.e. a typical Mediterranean climate with warm summer and mild winter. Stretch over a 160-km long coastline, those white sandy beaches are preferred spots to hang on all day long.

Tourists from near and far countries flock to any of the resort towns to enjoy their holidays at a climate with an average annual temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. Only 60 to 65 days in a year remain cloudy while those 300 sunny days keep the visitors busy in exploring the maximum in a plethora of travel options: either on the beaches, golf courses, or a historical tour.

For those sun lovers, the average temperature of Costa del Sol during summer fluctuates between 28 and 29 degrees C with no rain. This is the time when water sports adventure tops the popularity chart among outdoor activities. July and August are the months with maximum temperature; so, make sure to have your sunscreen lotion in your travel kit.

If one asks about the most favourable time to visit Costa del Sol, it is certainly the spring season. Although the temperature remains warm and hot, it doesn’t exceed 24 degrees C; during night, it even comes down in 10-15 degrees Celsius. Golfers took this time to display and try their golfing skills in a pleasant weather.

As far as rain drops are concerned, it is only during the winters that one can experience few uneven days of showers, especially in November and December. Again, it is not such a long period of rainy days but a maximum of 3/4 continuous downpour. January is considered as the coldest month in Costa del Sol region with the minimum temperature dropping to 5 degrees C or less. So, unlike the north, the weather in winter is quite pleasing with no chilling cold or snow.

In view of the overall mild climate, the weather remains tourist friendly all year round, allowing all kinds of outdoor activities and leisure time in all most all the famous tourist places; some of them are discussed below just to help you plan your vacation days.

Marbella: The premier resort town of Costa del Sol, Marbella, boasts a “micro-climate” protected by the Sierra Blanca Mountains and the Mediterranean coastline. A warm sunny summer and a mild winter are its unique selling points while attracting tourists to its long coastline lined with first class beaches, luxurious marinas and world class golf courses accompanied by exquisite natural beauty.

Summer average daily temperature remains below 20 degrees C while it rises about 30 degrees C during July and August being the hottest months. Winter is comparatively cold with an average maximum of 12 to 13 degrees. Spring, on the other hand, is the preferable time to visit Marbella when the temperature rarely gets extreme.

Malaga: Placed in the heart of sunny Costa del Sol and Andalucia, Malaga has a warm climate and one of the hottest areas of Costa del Sol. The average temperature during spring is usually recorded somewhere between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius while it is around 18-29 in summer. The winter temperatures, however, vary between 8 and 17 degree C, which is the best time to visit those beautiful landscape and picturesque villages of Malaga.

Fuengirola: Moving south from Malaga, it is the third largest resort in Costa del Sol which enjoys a subtropical Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. Here, the maximum summer temperature can go up to 35 degrees C while the winter is quite pleasant with an average daytime temperature of 18 or 20 degrees C. The 8-km long beautiful coastline which offers magnificent views of the sea is very much in tourist attraction of almost all seasons.

Estepona: The weather here is just about the same as other Costa del Sol regions as mentioned above. The summer is comparatively hot with an average day temperature of 22/23 degrees C, though it rises above 30 in few occasions, during July and August. Very often, the coastal Mediterranean breezes simmer down the temperature after the sunset. If you want to experience the rainy days in Costa del Sol, December winter in Estepona is the time with a wet weather.

Sotogrande: Tourists, who come to enjoy the cool weather of Costa del Sol, might find the climate here a bit extreme. Average summer (June to Sep) temperature is recorded around 26 degrees C and reaches to its crest during July and August with 29/30 degrees. Although winter is pleasing with an average high of 16 degrees C, the night becomes quite cold with an average low of 9 degrees, which can even go below 1 degree in the month of January.

Gibraltar: It has all characteristics of a Mediterranean climate with pleasant winter and warm summer. In a sunny and dry summer day, the average maximum and minimum temperature revolves around 30 and 13 degrees C. The climate remains hot and humid throughout summer, and hence the winter attracts more and more visitors with a standard day temperature ranges between 16 and 18 degrees C. Typical drizzling can be experienced in winter season making the weather more enjoyable.

Another popular mode of transportation to roam in and around Marbella is bus. The Marbella bus service is quite reliable and comfortable which runs through all major towns in Andalucia and connects even the interior parts of Spain. Tourists, who don’t want to hire a car and enjoy the bus ride, can easily board a bus to get more information about any exact locale.

There is a wide-range of bus from local, domestic to international service available from enrolled points such as airports and railway stations. The frequency of bus service inside Spain is quite good, while the availability of modern air-conditioned buses during summer makes the journey even more comfortable.

Marbella Bus Station
Main Marbella Bus Station or Portillo Bus Station is located slightly north on the outskirts of Marbella on the Avenida Trapiche, and hardly takes a five-minute ride from the centre of the town. From here, you can catch a bus to the Victoria Bus Station in London, a bus to the Alhambra in Granada and a bus journey to Sevilla and La Linea on the border of Gibraltar.

The bus station is on 24 hours operation and almost links all destinations around the Costa del Sol. The fares depend on the destinations, and also vary among air-conditioned, non-air conditioned, express and local minibuses. During summer months, the service is quite good, but during the low season, in the winter, the frequency is reduced.

Beside, you can locate a taxi stand, parking lot for private vehicles, shopping area, cafeteria and restaurants in the premises of the bus terminal. Again, just outside the Marbella bus station, one can easily get shuttle coaches and minibuses to travel in a group.

Malaga Airport to Marbella
The airport is one of the important entry points to Spain, and hence well-connected with all important cities of Spain including Marbella. The Special Malaga Airport bus service takes you directly to the Marbella bus station from where you can arrange your taxi for further journey.

The drive between Malaga Airport and Marbella is on the toll road with no major bus stops in between. This makes it pretty trouble-free in reaching at the bus terminal and then to your primary destination with a taxi or car of your preference.

Thus, if you are planning a vacation in Marbella then it’s better to take advantage of cheap and reliable domestic bus services here in Marbella. Transport communication links, especially the public bus service, have improved a lot in the recent years. Once you are here, just take the option of bus riding and reach even at some of most visited sites to explore the scenic beauty while discovering traces of ruins of this medieval city.