See the sights and take in some incredible culture in between partying at Hard Rock Hotel Marbella and lounging on the beaches of Costa del Sol. Visit Puerto Banús, savor the typical Mediterranean tapas, explore the traces left by different cultures throughout history. Find some of our favorites below and find a few of your own!
Surrounded by many sophisticated shops and tourist residences, the luxurious Marina of Puerto Banús has become one of the most exclusive and glamorous enclave in the world, usually frequented by celebrities who have fallen in love with its luxury-village style and enjoy the harbour where the largest yachts are moored. Designer boutiques, sport cars’ parades, exclusive nightspots and restaurants are just the beginning of what you'll experience in Puerto Banús.
Named Casco Antiguo de Marbella (Ancient District of Marbella) in Spanish, Marbella Old Town dates back to the 15th century, right after the Christian Reconquista. Featuring winding streets, typical Andalusian houses with balconies decorated with fresh flowers, historic buildings and a great choice of cool restaurants and small boutiques, the Old Town offers something to see and enjoy at every corner. Colourful and tidy, Marbella Old Town has a warm and pleasant atmosphere.
The Plaza de los Naranjos: located in the heart of the old town and belonging to the end of the 15th century, it is one of the first Christian designs created after the Reconquest. It was built in accordance with the existing tradition in Spanish cities, but without arcades. Here, you can find the Casa del Corregidor, the Town Hall, and the Hermitage of Santiago.You can also find the Capilla de San Juan de Dios and the Hermitage of Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz, both from the 16th century.
Avenida del Mar is a 5,500 sq m rectangular square that stretches between the Alameda Park and the beach, right next to Puerto Deportivo de Marbella, the oldest port of the city. Lined with shops, bars and restaurants with terraces shaded by wooden pergolas, Avenida del Mar is also an open-air museum, home to 10 Salvador Dali sculptures.
An unmissable stop on the cultural route through the city is Cortijo Miraflores centre of culture. This 1704 mansion was a sugar cane press and mill. Today it houses the Museo del Aceite, rooms for temporary exhibitions, a library and a municipal art gallery. Behind the building, remnants of ovens and a rupestrian chapel from between the eighth and tenth centuries were found.
Museo Ralli dedicated to the promotion of European and Latin American contemporary art. Furthermore, in the Avenida del Mar you can admire a collection of bronze sculptures by Salvador Dalí. This artery connects Marbella Marina with the Paseo de La Alameda, designed in the nineteenth century.
Santa Maria Encarnación´s Church is a majestic white building that dates back to the 17th century. Also called the ‘Cathedral of Marbella’, it’s nicely ornamented with paintings and statues, and the Rococo sculpted front door’s frame is worth special attention.
The castle walls dating from the XI and XII centuries, which offer a very picturesque view of Marbella. This is the most important vestige of the Muslim civilization in the city which you can find on the perimeter of the streets Solano, Portada, Arte, Salinas, Trinidad, Carmen, Ortiz del Molinillo and Virgen de los Dolores.
Alameda Park is a beautiful place gather to escape in minutes of the city. It has, as its core, a large fountain surrounded by lush vegetation, palm trees, beautiful Andalusian tile benches and shade everywhere.