Because it offers two holidays in one — the glamour of Puerto Banús, the Golden Mile and the beach clubs, and the whitewashed Andalusian charm of its old town, all on the sunniest stretch of the Spanish coast. Beyond the jet-set image there are pretty plazas, good beaches and chiringuitos, a strong dining scene at every price, and a mild, near-year-round climate, with the white towns of Andalusia and the cities of Málaga and Ronda within easy reach.

Is Marbella worth visiting beyond the glamour?

Yes — that is the half most first-timers miss. Marbella's Casco Antiguo is one of the prettiest old towns on the Costa del Sol, a maze of whitewashed lanes, orange-tree squares and Moorish remains, full of honest tapas bars. Add the beaches, the mountain backdrop of the Sierra Blanca, and day trips to Ronda and Málaga, and there is far more to the town than the marina. The glitz is optional; the Andalusian charm is the constant.

What is the best area to stay in Marbella?

It depends on the trip. The old town and Marbella centre suit those wanting Andalusian character, walkable tapas and better value; the Golden Mile is the address for grand beachfront hotels and spas between the centre and the marina; and Puerto Banús is the base for nightlife, beach clubs and the glamorous scene. Quieter, more rural luxury lies just along the coast towards Estepona and Casares.

How do you get to Marbella?

Marbella has no airport of its own; most visitors fly into Málaga, about 40 minutes east by car or bus along the coast motorway, with Gibraltar a similar distance to the west. A hire car is useful for exploring the wider Costa del Sol, the white towns and Ronda, though Marbella town and Puerto Banús are linked by frequent buses and taxis and much of the centre is walkable. The coast road ties the whole resort strip together.

When is the best time to visit Marbella?

Spring and early autumn — May, June, September and October — are the finest, with warm days, a swimmable sea and fewer crowds than high summer. July and August are hot, busy and glamorous, the peak of Marbella's social season; winter is mild, bright and quiet, good for golf and a sunny break. With around three hundred days of sun a year, the Costa del Sol rarely disappoints, but the shoulder months give the best balance of weather and calm.

Boutique Hotels in Marbella, Spain

Where to go in Marbella

The two sides of Marbella sit a few kilometres apart. Begin in the Casco Antiguo, the old town — a tangle of whitewashed lanes and wrought-iron balconies around the Plaza de los Naranjos, the orange-tree square at its heart, with the remains of the Moorish castle walls and a parish church nearby. It is the Andalusian Marbella, all tapas bars, small plazas and shade, and the prettiest part of the town to wander. From here the famous Golden Mile runs west along the coast, a strip of grand hotels, villas and beach clubs linking the centre to Puerto Banús.

Puerto Banús is the glossy counterpoint: a marina of superyachts and sports cars, designer boutiques, and the beach clubs — Nikki Beach, Ocean Club and the rest — that draw the summer crowd. Between and around them are the beaches and their chiringuitos, the seafood grills on the sand, and a long seafront promenade good for walking or cycling. Inland the Sierra Blanca offers mountain air and views, and the coast is a springboard for day trips: the cliff-top town of Ronda, the city of Málaga to the east, and the quieter resort of Estepona just to the west.

Eating, the coast and where to stay

Marbella eats across the full range, from plaza tapas to marina glamour. In the old town the tables spill into the squares for grilled sardines, fried fish and Andalusian classics at honest prices; along the Golden Mile and at Puerto Banús the dining turns glossy and international, with celebrated beach clubs and smart restaurants where the bill climbs with the view. The coast's pleasures are simple and sunny: the chiringuito on the sand for fried fish and a cold beer, the long lunch by the sea, and the warm evenings that run late through the summer.

For where to stay, the club's choice is along the coast to the west: Finca Cortesín, an independent golf-and-spa resort near Casares, about half an hour from Marbella, with a championship course that has hosted the Solheim Cup, a vast spa and a beach club of its own. It is a calmer, more rural counterpoint to the resort itself — a place to play, swim and unwind, with Marbella and the wider Costa del Sol within easy reach.

When to go

The Costa del Sol earns its name, with some three hundred days of sun a year, so Marbella works almost any time — but spring and early autumn are the sweet spot. May, June, September and October bring warm days and a swimmable sea without the height-of-summer heat or crowds, ideal for the beaches, the old town and the golf alike. July and August are hot and at their busiest, when Marbella's social season peaks and Puerto Banús is at full glamorous tilt — high summer if that is the draw, crowded and pricey if not. Winters are mild and bright, rarely cold, good for golf, walking and a quiet, sunny escape. For the best balance of weather and calm, come in late spring or early autumn.