Marbella: Glamour, History and Sunshine on your Doorstep

The Old Town — The Real Marbella

For all its modern glamour, Marbella's greatest treasure is its oldest one. The Casco Antiguo — the old town — is a beautifully preserved quarter of narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and sun-drenched plazas that feels, gloriously, like stepping back several centuries.

The old town's streets date back to the Moorish era, and visitors can explore significant sites including the remains of Marbella Castle and the picturesque Plaza de los Naranjos. Expedia This is the heart of it all — Orange Square, as it's known in translation, is the emblem of the city and its most famous and characteristic corner, full of orange trees whose fruit releases an aroma of blossom that enraptures all who come close. Tripadvisor The square is lined with the Town Hall, the old Governor's House — a magnificent Renaissance building dating from 1552 — and the Chapel of Santiago, the oldest religious building in the city. Pull up a chair at one of the open-air cafés beneath the orange trees, order a coffee or a cold beer, and simply enjoy it. Very few things in life are this pleasant.

Calle Carmen is the most picturesque street in the historic centre, beloved for its pretty blue plant pots filled with red and pink carnations, the contrast of white and gold buildings, and glimpses of the Encarnación church at the end of the lane. Andalucia It is, to put it plainly, one of the loveliest streets in the whole of Andalusia — and entirely worth seeking out.

Shopping enthusiasts will find the old town home to a variety of unique independent boutiques alongside art galleries, handcrafted jewellery, bespoke leather goods, and local delicacies. Expedia The municipal market, tucked within the old quarter, is also well worth a visit — the mix of fresh aromas, local produce and artisanal products creates a culinary experience that invites visitors to explore and which is very much the beating heart of the town's gastronomic life.

The Golden Mile — Where Marbella's Legend Was Born

West of the old town, running along the seafront towards Puerto Banús, lies the famous Golden Mile — arguably the most prestigious stretch of coastline in the whole of Spain. It runs for approximately five kilometres along the coast, and is home to some of Marbella's finest five-star hotels, including the iconic Marbella Club Hotel and the Puente Romano Resort, alongside Michelin-starred restaurants and world-class amenities. Andalucia

The Golden Mile's story begins in the 1950s, when Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe opened the Marbella Club Hotel and effectively invented the concept of Mediterranean luxury tourism. The celebrities, royalty and jet-setters followed, and they never really stopped. Walking or driving along the Golden Mile today, past the grand hotel entrances and palm-lined promenades, it's easy to see why the area has retained its allure for more than half a century.

A beautifully maintained seafront promenade runs the full length of the Golden Mile, and walking it from the Marbella end towards Puerto Banús is one of the great leisurely experiences on the Costa del Sol. Ven a Mijas Along the way, keep an eye out for the old Roman bridge — incorporated, in the most elegant way imaginable, into the garden complex of the Puente Romano Resort. It was built in the first century as part of the Via Augusta, the ancient road connecting Rome with Cádiz, and it remains quite extraordinary that it still stands.

Puerto Banús — Spectacle by the Sea

At the western end of the Golden Mile lies Puerto Banús — a place that requires no introduction and defies easy description. It is a marina, yes. But it is also a theatre, a catwalk, a parade, and a singularly entertaining way to spend an afternoon.

The Puerto Banús marina is one of the most glamorous harbours in Europe, best known for its luxury yachts, designer boutiques, and high-end restaurants, making it a must-visit for those wanting to experience the full spectacle of Marbella's jet-set atmosphere. MedPlaya The boutiques are serious — Louis Vuitton, Versace, Hermès and their neighbours line the harborside — and the superyachts moored in the marina are genuinely staggering in scale. Even if you have no intention of buying anything, wandering the harbour and finding a table at one of the waterfront restaurants to watch the world promenade past is a wonderful way to spend a few hours.

Puerto Banús also has a fine beach of its own, and on the entrance roundabout stands one of the more arresting pieces of public art on the Costa del Sol: a towering 26-metre Dalí sculpture — the Rinoceronte Vestido Con Puntillas, or Rhinoceros Dressed in Lace — donated to the city in 2004 to mark the centenary of the artist's birth. Ven a Mijas It is, as you'd expect from Dalí, entirely unexpected. And rather magnificent.

El Oceano Hotel, Mijas Costa, spain

Find El Oceano right on the water-front between Marbella and La Cala de Mijas, on Spain's beautiful Costa del Sol. Getting here is easy, we are just a 30 minutes drive from Málaga Airport.

El Oceano Beach Hotel
Km 1026, Calle Cádiz de Torrenueva 31
Mijas Costa, Málaga, Spain.

Telephone (+34) 952 587 550
oceanohotel.com . info@oceanohotel.com
facebook.com/oceanohotel . instagram.com/oceanobeachhotel

Getting to Marbella from El Oceano

From El Oceano, Marbella is an effortless journey — around 15 minutes by car along the coast road, or a comfortable taxi ride if you'd rather not drive. The hotel team is always happy to help arrange transport, recommend specific restaurants or areas, or advise on the best times to visit depending on what you're planning to do.

If you prefer to arrive on foot — or as close to it as possible — the Senda Litoral coastal boardwalk continues westward along the coast from Mijas Costa, gradually connecting more and more of the shoreline. The project is ongoing and growing, and the stretches that are open are spectacular; it's worth asking at reception about the current extent of the walkable route in the direction of Marbella during your stay.

Marbella rewards multiple visits. Come once for the old town, once for the Golden Mile, once for Puerto Banús — and if time allows, once simply to wander without agenda and see where the city takes you. With El Oceano as your base, all of it is perfectly within reach.