Marbella is a city in southern Spain on the Mediterranean Costa del Sol, in the province of Málaga. At 1 January 2025 it had 159,786 residents, making it the second most populous city in the province after Málaga, and foreigners make up almost a third of its residents. Marbella is known for its marinas, beaches, old town and mild, sunny climate. Below we cover where Marbella is, what the climate is like and when to go, what to see, which beaches to visit and where to eat, and how to get there. If you are thinking not of a trip but of living in the city, everything about residence permits, districts, prices, schools and the Russian-speaking community is in the article moving to Marbella.
Where is Marbella
Marbella stands on the Mediterranean coast in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, 57 km from Málaga. The country is Spain, the autonomous community is Andalusia and the province is Málaga.
- Country — Spain.
- Autonomous community — Andalusia; province — Málaga.
- Population — 159,786 at 1 January 2025, up 13% since 2018.
- Area — about 117 km², with 27.9 km of coastline.
- Districts — five: Las Chapas, Marbella Este, Marbella Oeste, Nueva Andalucía and San Pedro Alcántara.
- Marinas — four: Puerto Banús, the Marbella marina, Cabopino and La Bajadilla.
- Language — Spanish, the only official language in Andalusia.
Marbella is not a village attached to a resort but a municipality in its own right, with its own city council, hospital and district boards; the official tourism website calls it a city. Besides Marbella itself, the municipality has a second centre, San Pedro Alcántara.
Marbella climate and weather
The climate is Mediterranean: mild winters, hot summers and little rain. AEMET does not publish climate normals for Marbella itself, so the nearest station, Málaga Airport, is used as a guide.
Almost all rain falls between October and April: the wettest months are November and December, while July on average has no rain at all. There are about 109 clear days a year.
When is the best time to visit Marbella
For swimming, people usually choose June to October. July and August are the hottest months, averaging 25.5 °C and 26 °C. May, June, September and October are better for combining the sea with walks without the peak heat. In winter the sea is too cool for swimming, but January averages 12.1 °C with many sunny days. The main event is the San Bernabé fair and festivities in June: 11 June is the day of the city’s patron saint; the daytime fair takes place in the centre, in the Alameda park and on Avenida del Mar, and the night fair at the fairground. San Pedro Alcántara honours its patron saint on 19 October.
What to see in Marbella
- The Old Town (Casco Antiguo) — Roman, Arab and Christian traces: remains of the Arab wall, chapels, squares and the church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación.
- Orange Square (Plaza de los Naranjos) — created in the 16th century, when buildings in the middle of the Muslim medina were cleared to make way for a square; the city hall stands on it.
- The castle and city wall — the remains of the Arab fortress around which the town grew in the Islamic period.
- Avenida del Mar — a street on the official list of the old town’s monuments; during the fair it hosts the daytime fair.
- Bazán Hospital and the Museum of Engraving — in the building of an old hospital founded under the will of Alonso de Bazán.
- Río Verde Roman villa — by the sea in the west of the municipality; nearby are the Las Bóvedas Roman baths and the early Christian basilica of Vega del Mar in San Pedro Alcántara.
- Puerto Banús — one of Marbella’s four marinas; the sea procession of the Virgen del Carmen sails from the Marbella marina to Puerto Banús.
- Sierra Blanca and La Concha peak — the mountains above the city that shelter it from northern winds; nearby is the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
- Artola Dunes — a natural monument.
- San Pedro Alcántara — the municipality’s second centre, 7 km from Marbella, which grew out of a 19th-century sugar colony.
Until 15 November 2026 Marbella is hosting the exhibition “Dalí — Diez recetas de inmortalidad” (Dalí: Ten Recipes for Immortality).
Marbella beaches
Marbella has 27.9 km of coastline and 24 beaches, mostly urban. In 2026 eight of them received the Blue Flag: Cabopino, El Cable, El Faro, La Fontanilla, Nagüeles-Casablanca, Los Monteros (Adelfas), San Pedro de Alcántara (Guadalmina) and Venus-Bajadilla.
Where to eat
According to the city council’s tourist office, Marbella has more than 600 restaurants, four of them with a Michelin star.
How to get to Marbella
The nearest airport is Málaga-Costa del Sol: according to the city council, it is about 40 minutes to Marbella by car. In 2025 the airport handled a record 26.8 million passengers. The Avanzabús coach runs from the airport to Marbella bus station. Gibraltar Airport is 80 km to the west. Marbella has no railway station: the nearest commuter train is in Fuengirola, 27 km away, and Málaga’s main station is 57 km away. The AP-7 Málaga–Guadiaro toll motorway runs along the coast. There are no direct flights from Russia — entry rules are in the article visa to Spain.
Living in Marbella
Marbella is a very international city: foreigners make up 31% of residents, with Moroccans, Britons and Colombians the largest groups. Its Russian and Ukrainian community is the largest of any municipality in the province: 2,794 Russian citizens and 3,859 Ukrainian citizens. Housing is one and a half times as expensive as in Málaga, but the city has several British schools and its own university hospital. Which residence permit to choose, which district to live in, how much housing costs and whether there is a Russian school is covered in the article moving to Marbella. The large neighbouring city is described in the guide Málaga.
Frequently asked questions about Marbella
Where is Marbella?
In southern Spain, on the Mediterranean Costa del Sol, 57 km from Málaga. The city is part of the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia.
What country is Marbella in?
Spain. Marbella is the second most populous city in the province of Málaga, in Andalusia.
What is the population of Marbella?
159,786 at 1 January 2025. Foreigners make up 31% of residents.
What is the nearest airport to Marbella?
Málaga-Costa del Sol: according to the city council, about 40 minutes by car. The Avanzabús coach runs from the airport to Marbella bus station. Gibraltar Airport is 80 km away.
Does Marbella have a train station?
No, Marbella has no railway station. The nearest commuter train is in Fuengirola, 27 km away, and Málaga’s main station is 57 km away.
What is the weather like in Marbella?
Mediterranean: at the Málaga Airport station, an annual average of 18.5 °C, 12.1 °C in January, 26 °C in August and 2,905 hours of sunshine. Rain falls mostly from October to April.
What is there to see in Marbella?
The Old Town with Orange Square, the remains of the Arab castle and wall, Avenida del Mar, the Museum of Engraving, the Río Verde Roman villa, the Puerto Banús marina and the Sierra Blanca mountains. In 2026 eight beaches received the Blue Flag.
