Central Marbella sometimes comes as a surprise to property hunters and tourists. They are expecting the glamour of Saint Tropez or Monte Carlo and then discover there’s so much more to the area than nearby Puerto Banús. The centre of Marbella is a busy, diverse town, with a Spanish and international vibe and a number of different zones with their own identity.

Marbella’s beach front area is wonderful, with a long, palm tree lined “paseo” lined with shops, bars and restaurants and a refined air. At one end you’ll find a working fishing port, with cute fishermen’s cottages and tiny bars and restaurants serving authentic Spanish food. At the other end, you’ll arrive in the designer paradise of Puerto Banús, where you’ll find supercars and superyachts at every turn.

In the middle, is the Puerto Deportivo, which is the leisure port and is filled with buzzing bars and restaurants, as well as offering a starting point for boat tours and watersports activities. This port is a favourite haunt of families, thanks to the great beach and playgrounds. It is also popular with the younger party crowd who head down as night falls, for late night drinking and dancing. It’s a great atmosphere, throughout the year and definitely a place to check out.

Walking up from the Puerto Deportivo, along the Avenida del Mar, you’ll find stunning sculptures created by Salvador Dali and find yourself away from the hustle and bustle in a leafy, calm square known as the Parque de la Alameda, which leads you into the hidden gem of Marbella’s beautiful Old Town, or Casco Antiguo.

This area of Marbella is full of history and charm, with white washed houses, winding streets, pretty squares and lovely bars, restaurants, shops and chapels tucked away in its midst. Make sure you don’t miss it on your next visit!

In between these areas you’ll find a busy high street with lots of shops and everything you could need. There are many parks and playgrounds, sports facilities, schools, shops and services. This is definitely a very complete town to live all year round, or enjoy during the holidays.

There are many different residential areas within central Marbella so there’s definitely something for every taste. You can find beachfront apartments, old fashioned houses, modern developments of apartments and townhouses, as well as the most extraordinary luxury villas and penthouses. Roccabox can guide you through the intricacies of the Marbella property market and help you find the property of your dreams. 

Not to be missed: Plaza de Los Naranjos (Orange Square) in the Old Town, the summer ‘Feria’ in June, a visit to the Puerto Deportivo

Fun Fact: Marbella used to be a tiny fishing town, just like any other in Andalucía but it was discovered by the aristocratic Hohenlohe family in 1947. They opened the legendary Marbella Club in 1954 and it became the destination for royalty, movie stars and the so-called jet set and still retains the glamour and the elegance from those extraordinary days.