What do you think of when someone mentions Marbella? Tourist hotspot, flashy cars, wild nightlife? Well, all of this is true – but there is so much more to the pretty seaside Andalusian city that it has become one of the top destinations for people moving to Spain.
Here are some of the reasons why Marbella could be your new home from home:
Well connected
Marbella (which literally means “beautiful sea”) lies to the south of the Costa del Sol, just 45 minutes’ drive from Málaga and its international airport. It is also close to the AP7 motorway and fast trains will take you to Madrid in two hours and 45 minutes. It is therefore very well connected, which is one reason to consider choosing it as your new home.
Various districts
Marbella is made up of several districts, all of which have their own identity.
Casco Antiguo, the old town, perched atop a hill, is one of the prettiest in Andalusia with its white houses, little squares and brightly coloured bougainvillaea. Traffic here is restricted, making it a tranquil place to live.
There are two other interesting residential areas: Miraflores, north of Casco Antiguo and Divina Pastora. They are both pleasant neighbourhoods with plenty of green areas, supermarkets, health centres, tapas bars, restaurants and everything else you would need in daily life.
There are several upmarket urbanisations and gated communities, as many wealthy people choose to live close to Marbella. For those who have a yacht, there are quite a few lovely marinas.
Casco Antiguo is one of the prettiest towns in Andalusia
Great climate
The Costa del Sol has a wonderful climate and that alone attracts many to live there. Year round outside living in Marbella, water sports, golf, terraces and more combine to make it a good place to set down roots.
Winter isn’t cold, with an average of 16ºC (61ºF) and summers rarely get unbearably hot, with a range of 25ºC to 30ºC (77ºF to 86ºF). Rainfall is limited to 50 days a year.
It is worth noting that the town becomes much quieter during the winter months as there are fewer tourists and some restaurants and shops are closed.
Active lifestyle
Golf reigns supreme in Marbella. A total of 34 golf clubs surround the city, with many located in beautiful surroundings. The most famous is Marbella Golf & Country Club, set in the verdant hills above the town. Villa Padierna Flamingos is another highly reputed golf club which strives to maintain its exclusivity.
Other sports are available in Marbella, including tennis, padel, swimming, hiking, fishing, cycling and football. The beaches offer water sports as well as relaxation.
Good schools
Another attraction of Marbella is the high number of international schools. Three that are English-speaking are The British School of Marbella, Swans International School and The English International School. Others are bilingual and there are also Swedish, German and French schools.
Eating and drinking
There are many bars and restaurants in Marbella
Marbella offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars and tapas bars. Some line the pretty Paseo del Mar, with views of the sea, others are tucked away in side streets. People eat late in Spain – anywhere between 8pm and 11pm – but there are eateries that serve food throughout the day, which will appeal to those used to eating dinner earlier.
You are likely to dine with celebrities in the more expensive restaurants, as many have homes in Marbella and Puerto Banús – which is a stone’s throw away – including Simon Cowell (he owns a home on the Golden Mile), Antonio Banderas and top club footballers.
You will still find a simple menú del día in local restaurants where you can enjoy a three-course meal for €12 to €18.
Shops and markets
Marbella has a wealth of boutiques and other shops to suit all budgets. Being a holiday town, many cater to tourists, but you will find good local outlets and upmarket stores as well.
The Monday Market is home to 360 stalls selling everything from tomatoes to towels and ham to hosiery. You will also find second-hand designer clothes.
Puerto Banus holds a market on Saturdays that’s known for local produce, artisanal goods, jewellery and other smaller items.
Nueva Andalucia Artisan Market, also held on Saturdays, has 120 stalls and is the place to go to for handicrafts.
Laidback way of life
Marbella has a very relaxed feel; little is done in a hurry. This might take some getting used to, especially if you come from a big city.
On the other hand, it does get pretty crowded during the summer when parking can be difficult, and traffic is rather chaotic.
The cost of living is high compared to other towns and cities in Spain, but Marbella is still 43 percent cheaper than London.
You can have a laidback lifestyle in Marbella
Property
Property in Marbella comes in all shapes and sizes and for all budgets. Of course, there are some extremely expensive villas in private gated communities such as La Zagaleta. The district of Nueva Andalusia is a reasonably priced neighbourhood, though it is true that property in general is more expensive than in other Spanish towns due to supply and demand.
At the high end, homes can cost as much as €30 million but for most buyers, around €500,000 will buy a four-bedroom townhouse and for €700,000, you can get a three-bedroom apartment close to the beach.
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