Marbella is one of the original resorts, made famous by becoming the holiday and residence destination for the rich and famous, the movie stars and royalty. There are the multi-million dollar yachts and Ferraris. There are the immense villas from 3 to 12 million Euros for the jet-set, Arabs and multimillionaires from allover the world.

But Marbella is also a very normal town with extensive tourist resorts and urbanizations for the “normal and medium” budget. Being only 35 minutes drive from the Malaga airport and with the increase in airlines providing cheap flights, Marbella is within reach for most people.

The older parts of Marbella town still remain and hold the traditional Spanish atmosphere. In general, Marbella is not for cultural visits. Marbella is predominantly characterized by its hotels (even 1+ or 2* hotels), golf courses und excellent beaches.

The back streets of the Old Marbella have still buildings that date back to the 16th century with many small traditional shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, and galleries. In the town center you can find world-class shops. The Avenida del Mar is the town’s principal seafront promenade with countless bars and restaurants for any budget.

Marbella has numerous towering apartment buildings. The famous Golden Mile is lined with luxury residences, shops and beautiful gardens. In the area are many new urbanizations built of excellent quality.

The 16th century town hall in Plaza de los Naranjos (Plaza of the Oranges), has among the most beautiful gardens in town. The plaza is named after the numerous orange trees lining the streets there. The plaza is considered the heart of the city and has numerous galleries, shops, bars, churches and bistros.

The city has a vibrant City Theatre of Marbella (Teatro Cuidad de Marbella) which features many music events and shows through out the year.

Mabella has 28 km beaches. From Cabopino to Guadalmina, passing through the ports of Marbella and Puerto Banús, the coastline is fine sand all the way. The Paseo Maritimo borders the sandy beaches and stretches from Marbella right along to Puerto Banus.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the "La Concha" mountain Marbella is a mixture of old and new, with stylish buildings. Typical Andalusian houses are situated along the picturesque alleys of Marbella's Old Town. Marbella's main boulevard is home to many stylish boutiques and shops, while the gardens at "Parque de la Alameda" make a nice place to sit and relax.

Marbella has a distinctly cosmopolitan atmosphere.