Marbella is synonymous with exclusivity, luxury, and prestige. You can find activities for all kind of people. From chartering a luxury yacht, going on a buggy safari, enjoying fantastic hotels, Segway tours, artistical museums, charming festivals, designer shops, gourmet restaurants charity events, the best beach clubs, to golf camps and more!

Puerto Deportivo Marbella is the ideal destination for fun in the sun! Photo by gavilla, CC BY 2.0 June 2018

Every year, hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers flock to Marbella in pursuit of a fun holiday in the sun. Whether this is with friends, loved ones or as part of a tour group, the guaranteed sunshine and short traveling time make it an ideal destination for many Europeans. While there is nothing more relaxing than chilling out on the beach all day, sometimes, you want to try something a bit more action-packed.

Whether you fancy hopping on a bike and exploring the local area or maybe you want to try your hand at cooking the local cuisine, there are plenty of amazing things to do on holiday in Marbella. Not only are these fun things to do to keep you busy on your holiday, but you can also take these new skills or experiences away with you to utilize at home.

Puerto Banus, Marbella, Spain Photo by _Lolo_, CC BY 2.0 Caption: Enjoy the splendid beaches in Marbella!

Paseo MaritimoRanging in length from a few days to a few weeks, there are plenty of exciting festivals that you can enjoy while on holiday. Why not coincide with your trip to visit the Starlite Festival, which is a month-long extravaganza in Marbella? It is widely considered to be one of the most influential social and entertainment focused events in Spain.

This promenade is a must for anyone visiting Marbella. It is a beautiful walk along the coastline with bars, restaurants, and shops. About 6 km with fantastic places to stop and rest for a drink, or why not a swim in the sea and then continue. 

Marbella promenade June 2018

The Marbella boardwalk is a simple pleasure that doesn't cost you any cent. Along with the beach on one side and restaurants/shops on the other. A great place to walk for miles; all the way to Puerto Banus.

 

Bicycle rental

Gliding through the city with the wind in your hair, a cycling tour is a refreshing way to see Marbella. You can make the most of your holiday in Marbella spending a day out with friends or family on a bike.

Summer is almost here and so are the bicycle tours June 2018

Bicycle rental is offered in Marbella at an average of 20-30 € per day. You can find them near Puerto Banus or Casino Hotel.

Hiking La Cocha

For the most adventurous and the ones who enjoy hiking, La Concha Marbella's most famous peak can be an excellent place to get better views of the Costa del Sol, the Sierra de las Nieves all the way to Gibraltar/North Africa.

Well-known as “The Shell “ (La Concha) a mountain peak in Marbella June 2018

Located at 1200 meters above sea level, The hike starts at the natural park and resort hotel Juanar just 25 minutes from central Marbella and continues 8 km to the top. It's recommended to coordinate with an experienced guide since there are numerous paths and some parts of the climb are risky.

Marbella’s Old Town

A stroll through the Marbella's old town cannot be missed, get to know its whitewashed Casco Antiguo with narrow streets offering a lovely sight in every corner. Marbella's old town is compromised with lovely and white Andalusian buildings adorned with small flower-filled balconies, chic boutiques, and trendy cafes.

beautiful flowered balconies in Marbella old town June 2018

The central point of the old town in Marbella is the Plaza de Los Naranjos (Orange Square) with is filled with lively terrazas, fragrant orange trees, and remarkable Castilian Renaissance architecture.

Top Museums in Andalucia

Are you an art fan? Around the third week of June, Marbella’s International Art Fair will showcase many artworks in the Avenida del Mar. Who knows, maybe you can pick up a fantastic piece for your home or office?

Not very far from Marbella about an hour drive Malaga host one of the best museums in Andalucia, announced in 2017 as the ‘City of Museums’ hosting about 36 museums, Malaga can definitely be such an attractive adventure if you are a fanatic of art.

Inside the Picasso Museum dedicated to Pablo Picasso June 2018

In terms of art, probably the most important figure of 20th century Pablo Picasso who was born in Malaga has his own place of worship. Picasso Museum reveals the evolution of his painting career where you can admire up to 280 pieces of art including sketches, paintings, and sculptures. As a side note: this museum is located very close to the house where Picasso was born back in 1881. Get tickets and schedule here

Masterpieces of Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Francis Bacon, Max Ernst or René Magritte can be also found in Centre Pompidou Malaga if you consider yourself a fan of modern art this place should be included in your list. The exhibition space is filled with thought-provoking paintings, sculpture, architectural models and video art.

A preview of the wonderful Automobile Museum in Malaga June 2018

Hosting a collection of 94 well-restored classic cars as well as accompanying fashions. The Málaga Automobile Museum is the place to learn about the aesthetic evolution of the automobiles throughout the 20th century. The museum itself has an extraordinary collection of amazing vehicles in great conditions, accompanied by very interesting explanations and anecdotes. The museum is located at the old tobacco factory. You can find your tickets here 

If you love to combine art with food, then a trip to the Casino Marbella is a must. This elegant restaurant often showcases art and photography by providing a delicious tasting menu that is paired with a fantastic selection of wines and champagnes. Make sure that you work up an appetite when you go and consider checking out the casino, too, for some must-see events. In fact, the Casino Marbella hosts the second European leg of this season’s PokerStars Festival tournament, which will be a lot of fun to watch.

Popular Charity Events

Enjoying Charity Events with Famous Personalities - Marbella it's well known for hosting charity events bringing together the worlds of business, celebrity, and philanthropy raising money to improve the quality of the lives of communities, families, and children in need.

This year Global Gift Gala and Starlite Gala will honour such tradition starting with Maria's Bravo and Eva Longoria Global Gift Gala and then Antonio Banderas assisting to the Starlite Gala 2018 

So if you love helping people and supporting charity events this might be the best opportunity for you. Besides you can get to know a famous personality on the way!

Maria Bravo and Eva Longoria at the Global Gift Gala 2016 red carpet at Gran Melia Don Pepe Resort on July 17, 2016 in Marbella, Spain

Luckily for you, this year Marbella is celebrating on July 29th, one of the most dazzling worldwide charity galas in the emblematic Gran Meliá Don Pepe Resort. Hollywood famous stars like CSI actor and singer Gary Dourdan, Spice Girl Emma Bunton, Alex González from the tv series 'The Prince' among others will be part of Global Gift Gala counting this year its 7th consecutive edition. 

Antonio Banderas and Nicole Kimpel at the Starlite Gala 2015

And on the 11th of August, Starlite Gala will be holding the 9th edition with Antonio Banderas and Sandra García-Sanjuán as official host for the event. Worth to mention Banderas is having his 58 year birthday just one day before. 

Fairs & Carnivals 

Marbella Fair Feria de San Bernabe is held every year during the second week of June. It celebrates Marbella´s patron saint San Bernabé. The fair includes all the traditional elements of an Andalusian fair: food, drink, dancing, entertainment and of course, the trademark “casetas” that are set up just for the fair.

Another fair worth mentioning, San Juan Night, is a festival marked by ritual and celebrated throughout Spain commemorating the shortest night and longest day of the year. Traditionally held on the eve of June 23 and lasts until the wee hours of June 24th

Estepona Fair. This is one of the biggest funfairs of the summer. Attracting a wide range of tourists, this fair is a perfect family, so if you want to have some fun with your children look no more than this fair. This year the Feria takes place between the 3rd and 8th of July. So be prepared for a lot of music, colorful and traditional customs, dancing traditional shows. The Feria comes alive with fairground rides and music.

Festivals are coming! July and August are part of Marbella longest festival with more than 50 days of concerts. The famous Starlite Festival is a month-long music and cultural event celebrated at the Cantera de Nagüeles, in Marbella. Lineup artists confirmed thus far include Luis Miguel, David Bisbal, Luis Fonsi, Juanes, Steven Tyler, Jamiroquai, Pet Shop Boys, James Blunt, Romeo Santos among other important names. Get tickets and more info here

Starlite 2018: Marbella's Festival 2018

Nightlife & Clubbing in Marbella

Party time? yes! and especially here in Marbella, you have one of the best beach clubs, top DJs, bars, and restaurants where you can fully enjoy a night relaxing and enjoying. From the most popular clubs, we have to mention.

The famous Ocean Club Marbella which is located in the lively, trendy Puerto Banús, Marbella’s famous marina, with no doubts, this club is one of the most exclusive and full of VIPs spots from the entire Marbella coast.

A perfect place to spend a night out with friends enjoying a pleasant atmosphere, listening to live music and of course the spectacular swimming pool in the center. Ocean Club is famous for their white dress code parties

Olivia Valere Night club Marbella June 2018

Olivia Valere Located on “Milla de Oro” in Marbella. Olivia Valere is an oasis offering a seductive ambiance in a fanciful atmosphere that exudes timeless luxury. Where a list of celebrities including Bruce Willis, Enrique Iglesias among others have chosen to enjoy an unforgettable experience. The club also counts with a Babylon fine stylish restaurant

Marbella beach. Caption: Explore a wide variety of restaurants in Marbella. Photo by gavilla, CC BY 2.0

September is also an excellent time to visit Marbella; the sun is still hot, but the beaches are less crowded, and there are still many fun things to do. Verbena is one such activity, which is a neighborhood festival that takes throughout Marbella. You can expect to see fun demonstrations and musical performances as well as enjoying some delicious food.

Sporty September in Marbella, top-level tennis players return to Marbella on September 28 and 29 with the celebration of the third edition of the Senior Masters Cup at the Puente Romano Tennis Club.  Don't miss a chance to watch live Carlos Moya defending his title against two new ex-number 1 players: Juan Carlos Ferrero and Marat Safin among other players guaranteeing a high level of tennis show!

Heading out to Marbella this October? The San Pedro Alcantara Fair is widely considered to be one of the most exciting festivals and attracts thousands of visitors. The fair is in honor of the patron saint of this district and visitors can expect a wealth of color, flavor, and noise.

As you can see, Marbella is a great place to visit at any time of the year, but during the summer and autumn months, you can expect to experience some fantastic events and maybe learn new skills, too. Don’t dismiss Marbella as a destination where you might not experience any culture, there is so much more to this beautiful place than a place for sun worshippers. Will you be visiting Marbella this year?

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