Is Marbella worth visiting in the Costa del Sol?
Marbella, Spain known in the Costa del Sol as the uber affluent and luxury destination that only attracts the same people that love to see excess. But as you can actually see, Marbella is a city of mixed levels and identity and that visitors can see everyday life outside of the golf courses, fancy resorts and luxury restaurants and gathering places. So in a word, if you want to see all of Marbella, it definitely is worth checking out and enjoying the main attractions and lifestyle here.
You’ll find a wide variety of activities, attractions and places to explore around Marbella and things can be yes pricey or affordable if you do a lot of the things on your own. Food, entertainment and activities definitely vary in price but for a day trip or short stay, you can definitely enjoy the city and do it to your own budget and must do activities or hobbies you enjoy while on vacation.
Seasonality plays a crucial role in the overall holiday expenses of visiting Marbella and during peak season in the summer months from June to August when demand is at a premium, you’ll be spending more for the time you visit.
Best time to visit Marbella
Of course, the peak season happens during the summer months, from June to August, when the demand is highest and the weather is ideal.
I’ve found that visiting in the shoulder season tends to be my favorite times in terms of milder weather during the late spring or early autumn. Choosing the shoulder season can also reduce costs without compromising on the weather or experience.
Deciding when to visit Marbella really depends on the weather, when tourists typically vacation and prices. Of course peak season visits from June to August when the weather is where you’ll expect to pay premium prices for from dining, accommodation to activities to come with a premium price tag and larger crowds.
Is Marbella expensive? |
Marbella is definitely one of the more luxurious places to visit in the Costa del Sol area and can be expensive depending on what things you like to do, see and eat while visiting the city. If you are just spending a day trip visiting the city, then the nominal costs of getting there and your day’s expenses can be within reason depending on what your interests and hobbies are in exploring the city. You can enjoy nice restaurants, shopping, golfing and recreational activities at a cost here, but you can also just visit and have a reasonable budget to eat and maybe sleep if you stay overnight.
For the average visitor, just exploring the main attractions visiting the beach and harbor areas and then the Old Town will give you plenty of opportunities to enjoy most of the monuments, historical areas and fun places to explore around the city.
If you plan on staying the weekend or longer, then expect pay for conveniences, shopping, eating and entertainment to experience the best of the city vibe, culture and lifestyle.
How to get to Marbella, Spain
Marbella located on the sunny Costa del Sol is located about 51 minutes or 58Km taking the A-7 expressway from Malaga.
The main entry to Marbella is through the main regional hub at Malaga Spain with its international airport, train and bus services and private cars or taxi services. The easiest route to get to Marbella is to travel to the regional hub at Malaga and take the regional train service direct to Marbella which takes about xx minutes to get there from the main Marbella train station. Bus service to Marbella is also regular and under an hour timeframe to get there.
Check out our post on how to get to Marbella below
How to get from Malaga to Marbella, Spain
Sightseeing Expenses
Depending on what you like to do either on a group tour to DIY exploring the city, there are many attractions to experience from free beaches, the oceanfront promenade, the harbor and many outdoor activities like hiking which is free. Eating out and touring activities like food tours, sailing or adventure experiences to museums will cost you for doing those types of activities depending on your interest.
Marbella’s is relatively compact so it’s easy to walk around and see most of the main attractions around the city and enjoy different parts of the city’s charming Old Town center, harbor area to the beach areas of town.
Cost of Food in Marbella
Marbella has plenty of excellent restaurants that are at various price points to attract every tourist and visitor. If you are in the harbor or beach areas or even the Old Town, expect to pay tourist prices for convenience, views and excellent location. In the smaller side streets or downtown areas, you’ll find more reasonable eateries that are affordable.
Along the main streets or smaller neighborhood areas, you’ll find fast food, take out venues or even ethnic restaurants that can be more affordable especially if you are on a budge. Another option is to go to the daily market and buy provisions for a picnic along the waterfront area and enjoy the views for free. The city also has many supermarkets that cater to all tastes and budget including: Aldi, Lidl, Mercadona and El Corte Ingles along with the traditional market that is called Mercado de Marbella.
Fun things to do in Marbella
There’s a lot of cool things to do and see around Marbella from the Beach boardwalk area, checking out the marina, visiting the main streets and shopping venues in the city. The Old town area of Marbella is right in the center of town with the popular
Here are some other fun things to do and see around Marbella on this quick day trip quide here for reference
When you want to explore and see more here some of the other popular attractions to visit in town:
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
Puerto Banús
Museo Ralli Marbella
Avenida del Mar
Paseo Marítimo
Old Town Beach Marbella centre
Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo
La Cañada Shopping
Entertainment and Nightlife
Night Out Costs
Marbella’s nightlife offers a range of experiences, from high-end clubs to cosy local bars that are low key and fun to hang out with locals. A typical night out in Marbella varies to the activity and where to spend your evening at a club, bar or some fun event or concert in town.
Going to a fun and trendy club or bar is a lot of fun but expect prices to be expensive especially if you opt for premium cocktails or bottles of champagne. The entry fees to these places also cost, with some of the most exclusive venues charging upwards of €30 just to get in the door.
There are plenty of local bars around the city that are a more affordable option, where you can enjoy a beer or sangria for a fraction of the price. Tapas and small bites are also available at these venues or you can go to any happy hour timeframes,
Check out these other fun places to explore around Marbella and area
Day trip visiting Marbella, Spain
How to get from Malaga to Marbella, Spain
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