Marbella and Puerto Banus
Marbella
Marbella is a beautiful town, rich in Andalucian charm and cosmopolitan spirit.
Explore the old town with its cobbled back streets and famous Orange Square (Plaza de los Naranjos). Located just off the main street it is home to the 16th Century town hall and tourist office where you can pick up a detailed map and visitor information. With stately buildings, thriving shops, art galleries, bars, bistros and restaurants, Orange Square has a vibrant buzz around the clock. Explore the honeycomb of surrounding narrow streets where you can find a diverse range of shops, boutiques and cafés. There are numerous excellent restaurants ranging from those specialising in fresh fish and cordon bleu to the typical back street Spanish bars where you can enjoy some tasty tapas and copas de vino (glasses of wine) !
On the main street leading through Marbella you can find an abundance of shops including Mango and Zara, amongst many others, offering everything from clothes, shoes, accessories and make-up, to home interiors and novelty items. Please note in Marbella, like many other Spanish towns, shops open from 10am until 2pm then close for siesta, opening up again at 5.30pm until 8pm (often until 10pm in the summer months).
On the sea front in Marbella there is a beautiful promenade (paseo maritimo). Flanked by inviting restaurants, bars and shops this waterfront promenade is perfect for an afternoon stroll. The beaches here also offer the perfect haven for a spot of sunbathing and if you are feeling more adventurous there´s a myriad of watersports available.
At night Marbella comes alive with an array of different bars and restaurants. Whether you are looking for a typical Spanish bodega, cocktail bar or salsa bar, Marbella has it all. The port is a favourite nightspot for hen parties as it offers an array of different bars and drink prices are cheaper here than in Puerto Banus so you can party your tiara’s off without breaking the bank!
Please note that the Spanish are traditionally later goer outers so bars tend not to get busy until after 11pm! Most bars are open until 4am and clubs open until 7am so be prepared to party!
Puerto Banus
If you are looking for luxury, glamour and excitement, this is where it’s at!
Puerto Banus is the playground for the international jet set. With its designer boutiques, exclusive marina lined with super yachts and luxury motors, glamorous beach clubs and abundance of international cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs, Puerto Banus is THE hottest place to be seen on the Costa del Sol.
If you’ve got bucket loads of cash then you can shop til you drop in the chic designer boutiques such as Prada, Gucci, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Carolina Herrera and Hugo Boss to name but a few! For those of us with lighter wallets there’s also an abundance of main street shops such as Zara, Mango, Karen Millen and Hennes and Corté Ingles, the large department store offers every brand under the sun !
Looking to top up your tan? Puerto Banus has two excellent beaches and two exclusive beach clubs (Ocean Club and Buddha Beach) where you can often see the rich and (sometimes) famous. The beaches are also dotted with beach bars (chiringuitos) where you can enjoy a range of cuisine from fresh fish to burger and chips!
When dining out, Banus offers an eclectic mix of fine cuisine from around the world. Whether it’s a McDonald´s breakfast to cure your hangover (you can even have a hair of the dog beer in Spanish McDonald’s!) or a slap up dinner in one of the beautiful waterfront restaurants, Puerto Banus has places to suit all tastes and budgets.
At night Puerto Banus is bustling with people dining out, taking a stroll along the marina and frequenting the numerous bars and clubs. Whether you are looking for a fun night out or a night of glamour sipping champers at one of the top nightclubs such as Pangea Skylounge and TIBU, Puerto Banus has it all.
Puerto Banus has fast become a mecca for hen and stag parties, so you won’t feel out of place in your tiaras and fancy dress costumes! Plenty of bars now cater for hen and stag groups, offering special offers and packages and freebie shots and glasses of cava!!!
What is great about this place is that it is so compact so you can hop from bar to bar in your killer heels no problem ! Let the fun commence!
Be warned…. Most bars do not to get busy until after 11pm! The majority of bars are open until 4am and clubs are open until 7am so be prepared to party like a rock star!
Marbella and Puerto Banus are in fact only a 5 minute cab ride away so you can easily enjoy a bit of both worlds! There is a public catamarán that runs between the two ports (1st March to 30th November) and costs only 15€ return. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some time at sea and a few onboard drinks followed by a day on the beach, stroll around the shops or a tapas lunch.
