Marbella – What to Do That’s Not the Beach

Marbella is famous for being one of the most popular and luxurious resorts in Spain attracting more than half a million of tourists each year, which flock to some of the best beaches on Costa del Sol for the sun, the sea and the entertainment. But what can you do in Marbella besides lying on the beach or drinking a cocktail in a chaise-long by the swimming pool of a posh hotel? What are the best things to do in Marbella that do not include the beach. Read further to find out.

I felt a bit reluctant to visit Marbella, as I knew the place was famous for the corruption scandals, the overtourism and the numerous villas of celebrities along the coast. Would I be able to appreciate Marbella beyond the stereotypes that I had in mind? Well, I was soon to discover. I visited Marbella for the TBEX conference and stayed there a whole week. This happened to be the week when Marbella celebrated their patron saint San Bernabé with a week-long feria at the beginning of June. I can’t imagine a better time to travel to Marbella than during the Feria de San Bernabé.

Marbella surprised me with its lovely old town, the cute squares with numerous restaurants, the colorful streets, and the Dali sculptures. I couldn’t get enough of this town, of the beautiful sea views an the lively atmosphere. Read further to find out what the best things to do in Marbella are.

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase via one of those links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost for you.

The visit to the equestrian show and the day tours to Mijas Pueblo, Ronda and the winery were provided by the Andalusian Board of Tourism during the TBEX conference in Marbella. All sightseeing in Marbella was organized and paid by myself. The opinions in this post are mine and do not reflect the policy of my hosts.

How to get to Marbella

If you have to organize it all by yourself, I mean if you are not staying in Marbella on a package holiday or going there on a excursion, it’s quite easy to get to Marbella. Marbella is located on Costa del Sol, some 60 km further south-west of Málaga. So the best option will be to fly into Málaga and then take the bus to Marbella or a private transfer.

There is a direct connection between Málaga Airport and Marbella, which is operated by Avanza. The trip takes about 40 minutes and there are about 2 buses per hour.

If you are staying in Málaga, or arriving there otherwise and not by plane, then you can take the bus to Marbella from the bus station (Málaga Estación Autobuses). The trip takes anywhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on the stops on the way. It is also operated by Avanza.

Both buses stop in Marbella at the bus station – Marbella Estación Autobuses. From there I strongly advise you to take a taxi to your hotel, as the bus station is located almost outside the town and the walk is at places pretty steep. I did however walk to my destination (Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones), which took me about half an hour, but at one point I regretted I didn’t take a taxi.

If you want to save all this hassle, you can also book a direct transfer from the airport to your hotel, or you may check with your hotel, whether they offer shuttle services from and to the airport.

Recommended tours in Marbella

If you are visiting Marbella only for a day and you don’t have time to explore the town extensively, then I can recommend taking a guided walking tour. Thus you can see all of Marbella’s attractions and hear the stories behind them without having to worry where’s this and where’s that.

What you can also do in Marbella is to combine strolling around the Old Town with a food tour savoring some delicious tapas and enjoying sightseeing in Marbella.

Best things to do in Marbella

If you had enough of the sunny beaches on Costa del Sol, the beach clubs and the all-inclusive resort entertainment, then a day trip to visit Marbella could be a good idea. Here are some of the best things to do in Marbella:

1. Stroll aimlessly in the Old Town

Marbella’s Old Town, or El Casco Antiguo, is a real hidden gem. Although the roots of Marbella can be traced back to Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans, in terms of architecture there hasn’t been left anything from those days. After Marbella was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1458, urban expansion commenced and the town saw rapid growth. Most of the buildings in the Old Town date back to this period.

Take a stroll in the Old Town and get lost in the tiny cobbled streets. Get from one small square to the other and enjoy the hidden corners you’ll come across here and there. I loved just walking aimlessly through the Old Town.

The loveliest streets in Marbella are Calle Carmen with the blue flowerpots hanging on the walls, Calle Nueva lined up with green plants, the quaint Calle Gloria, and the adorable Calle Caballeros.

I’ve already mentioned the small squares, little green oases, occupied by merry groups of people chatting and enjoying a drink or a meal outside in the cafes and restaurants. Make sure you stop by at Plaza General Chincilla, Plaza del Santo Cristo, Plaza de San Bernabé, Plaza África, Plaza José Palomo, Plaza Altamirano, and Plaza Santo Sepulcro. Did I miss something? For sure I’ve forgotten to mention a square, or two.

2. Enjoy a drink at Plaza de los Naranjos

Talking about squares, the most famous square in Marbella is Plaza de los Naranjos – the Square of the Orange Trees. Plaza de los Naranjos is the real heart of the Old Town and of whole Marbella. The square was built just after the Reconquista between 1487 and 1493 following the tradition of the Castilian squares.

At the square we can find some of the most emblematic buildings in Marbella: Casa Consistorial (now the Town Hall), the historical Casa del Corregidor and Ermita de Santiago (Hermitage of Santiago).

In the centre of the square there is monument of King Juan Carlos I. The square thanks its name to the orange trees that give shade to the square. And somewhere between the umbrellas of the restaurants you can spot a lovely fountain.

Lined up with restaurants, Plaza de los Naranjos is a favorite place for tourists and locals alike to go out for dinner.

3. Visit Iglesia de la Encarnación

Iglesia de la Encarnación (Church of the Incarnation) is the largest and most important church in Marbella. Like most of the churches in Andalusia, this one was also built at the place of a mosque following the Reconquista in the 15th century of this part of Spain. The church doesn’t boast sumptuous decorations, on the contrary, it seemed pretty sombre, but it’s still worth a visit.

Outside the church there’s a charming square – Plaza de la Iglesia (Church Square), lined up on one side by the church and on the other by the walls of the old castle.

There’s also a lovely fountain at the square and a statue of the patron saint of Marbella – San Bernabé. Plaza de la Iglesia is the square where all local festivities take place.

4. Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz

Walking around in the Old Town you’ll find yourself eventually at another lovely square with a fountain – Plaza del Santo Cristo.

There is also a small white chapel – Ermita del Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz (Hermitage of the Holy Christ of the True Cross), which dates back to the 16th century.

At the square you’ll find one of the most famous places in Marbella for live flamenco shows – El Tablao Flamenco Ana María.

5. Capilla de San Juan de Dios

Hidden in the maze of the Old Town is another lovely chapel – Capilla de San Juan de Dios.

It was built in the 16th century and was part of the Hospital Real (the town’s hospital) built by the Catholic Monarchs and that’s why called Royal Hospital.

6. Check out Marbella Castle

The Castle of Marbella (Castillo de Marbella) is the only construction from the Arab period of the city that has survived till the present day. Today we can only see the fortification walls of the Moorish citadel, which date back to 10-11th century. The castle itself doesn’t exist anymore. There isn’t much to visit there, but it’s nice to walk around the imposing walls and to imagine how it had looked like 1000 years ago.

The castle was built by Abderramán III, the first caliph of al-Andalus – the Muslim-ruled part of the Iberian Peninsula. In the construction of the castle were used parts of earlier buildings, like ashlars and Ionic capitals from the Roman period. The fortress walls date back to the 11th and 12th centuries and at one point there were 10 or even 11 towers.

7. Relax at Parque de la Alameda

A little green oasis just outside the Old Town and halfway to the sea is Parque de la Alameda. It looks more like a botanical garden than a park with its lush greenery, the magnificent Ficus Pandurata and lots of pinaceae, like the Pinus Pinae. The park was created in the 18th century and it underwent various modifications through the years.

In the middle of the park there’s a lovely fountain – Fuente Virgen del Rocío and everywhere you can find those beautiful benches all covered with ceramic tiles – real eye-catchers.

8. See Dalí at Avenida del Mar

Quite unexpectedly the art aficionados among us will find an amazing collection of 10 sculptures by Salvador Dalí in the heart of Marbella. Avenida del Mar is the boulevard that connects the sea promenade with the Old Town of Marbella via Parque de la Alameda.

Before visiting Marbella I didn’t know about this hidden art treasure. Although there’s no connection whatsoever between Dalí and Marbella, the city council bought 10 works of the famous surrealist and today we can see Mercurio, Perseo, Trajano a Caballo, Caballo con Jinete Tropezando, Elefante Cosmico, Hombre Sobre Delfin, Don Quixote Sentado, Gala Asomada a la Ventana and Mujer Desnuda Subiendo La Escalera, among others.

9. Walk the sea promenade (Paseo Marítimo)

Walking twice a day the sea promenade was my favorite thing to do in Marbella. I loved how it looked different in the morning and late in the afternoon. If you have the possibility, walk it in both directions as the views are different. It’s a very enjoyable walk.

Along the sea promenade (Paseo Marítimo) you can spot the Lighthouse of Marbella (El Faro de Marbella), which was built in the second half of the 19th century.

The seafront is lined up with numerous restaurants and bars, so you can have your early morning espresso with a sea view, or stop by for lunch or dinner there.

10. Check out the Fontanilla Spring

Not many know that the famous beach in Marbella – Playa de la Fontanilla takes its name from the freshwater spring which waters flow directly into the sea at the beach.

11. Stroll at Parque de la Constitución

Another nice place to see in Marbella is the Constitution Park – Parque de la Constitución. Built in the 1950s, this lovely park offers nice shades in the summer months, just one block away from the beach.

There’s an amphitheater in the middle of the park and a small astronomical observatory.

12. Do some water activities

It goes without saying that there will be an abundance of options for water activities in Marbella. You can’t expect it otherwise from a sea resort. You can charter a yacht, do a kayak tour, or stand-up paddleboarding at sunset. There are so many options to choose from. Here’s a small selection of the best water activities in Marbella:

• Costa del Sol group sailboat cruise with drinks
• Or you can charter a private sailing cruise with drinks on Costa del Sol
• Why not do a kayak tour in Marbella
• or even a catamaran cruise with dolphin watching
• Stand-up paddleboarding at sunset should be magical, I guess

13. Watch an equestrian show with flamenco music

Another typical Andalusian thing to do in Marbella is visit a cortijo and enjoy an equestrian show followed up by a flamenco show. Cortijos are the typical farmhouses in Southern Spain, which sometimes would even have a chapel on the grounds.

I was able to marvel the horses dancing at Cortijo De Cortés and enjoy a delicious dinner with local produce, followed by a show with flamenco music and dancers. It was an absolutely amazing experience that I can highly recommend.

My visit to the Cortijo was part of the TBEX conference, but you can book a similar experience in Torremolinos. The best part about it is that there’s a pick up by bus from Marbella and Puerto Banús, so you don’t need to worry about transportation or driving yourself and ultimately enjoy the show and dinner experience with a glass of tinto de verano or cava.

14. Dance your way through Marbella during Feria de San Bernabé

I was so lucky I was staying in Marbella during the Feria de San Bernabé! Well, this was my first feria in Spain and I absolutely loved it. There were lots of shows and the Alameda Park together with Avenida del Mar turned into a giant outdoor party area with lots of flamenco dancers from various local schools, bands playing at every corner and DJs, and people dancing and enjoying themselves.

The atmosphere was so captivating that you just walk from one caseta (marquee tent) to the other, dancing to the tunes of the music they were playing at the moment. As a solo traveller I found it quite easy to immerse into the feria and enjoy every minute of it.

San Bernabé is the patron saint of Marbella and is celebrated on 11 June. Depending on which day the 11th falls, the feria takes place either the first or the second week of June. A week before the feria a King and a Queen are chosen that would lead a whole week of festivities (Semana Grande). Almost everyone is dressed in a flamenco attire. The festivities open on Monday night with fireworks. Just make sure you get one of those program booklets so that you don’t miss a thing.

15. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engravings

Another must-do thing in Marbella is a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engravings (Museo del Grabado Contemporáneo Español). You might not be interested into this type of art, but this is the only museum in Marbella, so only this makes it pretty unique. The collection of graphic art is also quite good.

The museum is housed in the former Hospital de Bazán (1568), a beautiful example of Renaissance architecture, located in the Old Town.

16. Gather some stardust at Puerto Banús

Heading south from Marbella along the coast to Puerto Banús is the so called Golden Mile. This is the poshest area on Costa del Sol with houses and villas of some of the richest and most famous people in the world. Puerto Banús, built in the 1970s, is the yacht marina of Marbella with luxurious properties, shopping malls, bars and restaurants. So, if you want to gather some stardust, Puerto Banús is the place.

And just at the entrance of Puerto Banús you can spot the gigantic rhinoceros statue by none other than Salvador Dalí – Rinoceronte Vestido con Puntillas (Rhinoceros dressed in lace).

Day tours from Marbella

As Marbella is a popular holiday destination, lots of day tours depart from there. So, you can never be bored if you are staying longer in town. I went on 3 day tours out of Marbella – to Mijas Pueblo, to Ronda, and to Bodega Joaquín Fernández which included lunch with wine tasting, and I can highly recommend all of them.

• Book here a day tour to Ronda
• Book here a wine tasting with tapas
• Book here a day tour to Mijas Pueblo

Read more: What to do (and what not) in Mijas – the cutest white village in Andalusia.

Here are some suggestions for day tours from Marbella that I am sure you will love (click on the name to find out more):

• Gibraltar
• Granada, Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces
• Seville
• Córdoba
• Antequera
• Málaga
• Nerja
• Tarifa
• Tangier (Morocco)

Read more: Best things to do in Málaga and what to see in Granada

Where to stay in Marbella

Marbella has one of the most luxurious hotels an resorts in Europe. There is vast choice of hotels of various star-ratings, locations and prices ranges. Whether you choose a beachfront hotel or an Old-Town B&B, I am sure you will enjoy your stay in Marbella.

When I was searching for a hotel in Marbella, I wanted it to be within a walking distance to all attractions in Marbella. I wasn’t travelling on a budget, but I also didn’t want to spend a lot of money, so a mid-range hotel was the best option for me.

So, I chose for Hotel Monarque El Rodeo. This hotel is located just a few metres from Parque de la Alameda, halfway between the Old Town and the beach. I got a nice decent-sized room with a large balcony. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The hotel is serving good continental breakfast with a Spanish and a British touch.

I have though an advice, when you’re booking a room, ask explicitly for a room that’s not interconnected. There’s just a door between two such rooms and if your neighbors are noisy, it won’t be a nice experience. I was staying in such an interconnected room and as a solo traveller I was quite mindful of my safety.

Unfortunately, the hotel was fully booked because of the feria, so the first two nights I had to stay in my room. I had the choice to move to another room after that, but as there wasn’t any problem the first two nights and the hotel staff reassured me that the door was locked, I decided to stay there, and it was all OK.

Click here to see more reviews for this hotel:

See what other travellers have to say on TripAdvisor.

Now, reflecting back on my stay at Hotel Monarque El Rodeo, I can say I had a very pleasant stay and the hotel’s location is just perfect to explore Marbella’s highlights and attractions, exactly what I wanted.

You might be also interested in the following guides if you are preparing your trip to Spain:

Best Things to Do on Costa del Sol

12th June 2023

13 Best Things to Do in Mijas Pueblo (and What Not to Do)

9th January 2023

How to spend One Perfect Day in Málaga

10th December 2022