Marbella is the choice of the rich and famous. The resort is large and stylish, with around 28km of beaches. While the main towns sea-front promenade offers little from the other Costa del Sol resorts the famous Puerto Banús is high-class and high-price-tag.This is where the elite classes and would-be famous are to be found. The area is lined with designer boutiques and elegant restaurants - not to mention where some of the world's most expensive yachts are moored. Local celebrities include King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, Sean Connery, who lives in the town most of the year. Tourists return year after year to Marbella for the emphasis on providing high quality service with a chic cosmopolitan resort.

The old town of Marbella is still characterized by small winding streets and you can enjoy strolling around the café lined Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square). Here expect to meet with stately buildings, small shops, art galleries, bars and bistros and is a hub of activity day and night. Depending on the time of year, the colours here can be vibrant, with the trees and exotic tropical plants set against a backdrop of dazzling white buildings and a deep blue sky.

Be sure to explore the honeycomb of surrounding narrow streets where homes and shops intermingle to create the atmosphere of a small village, rather than a cosmopolitan town. There are numerous excellent restaurants to choose from, ranging from those specialising in the predictably pricey exclusive cordon bleu to the gritty individuality of a backstreet Spanish bar where the Serrano ham is gently cured by tobacco smoke and the tapas cost 100 pts each and are both tasty and filling.

Our Comments on Marbella
"There are several tourist offices in Marbella who are very helpful. The beaches are wonderful. The Paseo Maritimo is one of the best along the coast. Walk the marble paseo and rest in one of the many bars & r restaurants. Located ajacent to the paseo is the beautiful La Almeda park with its water features, statues and beautiful tiled benches. If your visiting Marbella in Early June, they hold a really enjoyable feria around Almadea park".