Marbella
A Costa del Sol beach town with a whitewashed old town, a long beach strip, the Puerto Banús marina and golf, about an hour by road from Málaga.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Marbella is a beach resort on Spain's Costa del Sol, in southern Andalucía. Málaga has the nearest major airport, about an hour away by road. The town has a whitewashed old town of narrow streets and small squares, a long beach strip, and Puerto Banús, a marina with yachts and restaurants just west of the center.
Beach days, long lunches and golf bring most visitors. Where you stay sets the pace. The old town is compact and walkable. The Golden Mile, west of the center, has hotels and villas. San Pedro de Alcántara, farther west, is quieter and more residential. The trip suits couples, families and small groups who want a beach base with a city feel. Late spring and early autumn are the most comfortable months, since midsummer is hot and busy. Plan three or four days to cover the beaches, the old town and one day trip.
Marbella in five
- Land at Málaga, then take a bus or transferMarbella has no train station. Coaches and buses run from Málaga airport and Málaga center along the coast in about an hour, and pre-booked transfers suit late arrivals.Where to stay on the Costa del Sol
- Base in the old town for walking, not for sandThe Casco Antiguo, with Plaza de los Naranjos and whitewashed lanes, has the best evenings. The beach is a 10 to 15 minute walk away, and rooms are smaller and pricier than in the strip.
- Use local buses along the stripLocal buses connect the old town, the Golden Mile and Puerto Banús, so you can skip a car for beach days. Taxis cost more in July and August and queue at weekends.
- Swim before noon in July and AugustHighs reach about 30°C or more, and beaches fill by midday. Beach clubs and chiringuitos rent loungers and sell food, so check the price per lounger before you sit down.
- Flying in from outside Europe? Leave EES margin at MálagaOn a first Schengen entry, non-EU visitors are registered under EES at the airport. Leave extra time before a pre-booked Marbella transfer.EES explained
Need to know
- Airport
- Málaga-Costa del Sol (AGP), about 45–60 min by road
- Getting there
- Coach or bus from Málaga; no rail station in Marbella
- Getting around
- Local buses and taxis; the old town is walkable
- Best base
- Old town for evenings, Golden Mile or San Pedro for beach days
- Time needed
- 3 to 7 days as a beach holiday; a day trip from Málaga
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear7 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°MildFebruaryClear
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Spring, mildMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mild
- AprilPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Easter, warmAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, warm
- MayClear4 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Warm, quietMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 24 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low19°Beach, San JuanJuneClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach, San Juan
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Hot, peakJulyClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, peak
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh30°Low23°Hottest, peakAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, peak
- SeptemberClear4 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Mild, golfOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, golf
- NovemberClear6 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, quietNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- DecemberClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Mild, lightsDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, lights
Average daily high and low in Marbella, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Marbella
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 19°
- Humidity
- 67%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Marbella
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today21°17°0%Monday: Clear. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue20°16°25%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Wed18°16°61%Wednesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 61%.
- Thu19°17°33%Thursday: Rain. High 19°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Fri20°17°10%Friday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sat21°16°11%Saturday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sun22°18°60%Sunday: Rain. High 22°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 60%.
Updated 06:47 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Before you go to Marbella
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Marbella, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (exteriores.gob.es) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU travelers are fingerprinted and photographed at the Spanish border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- Spain's drink-driving limit is 0.5 g/l of alcohol in the blood. The limit is 0.3 g/l for drivers who have held their licence for under two years.
Plan around Marbella
Málaga, Marbella or Nerja compared as bases
Read the guideMálaga travel guideThe city, 1 hour east, for culture and the AVE
Read the guideEstepona travel guideA quieter old town and promenade further west
Read the guideMálaga ProvinceHill villages and gorges behind the coast
Read the guideAll of SpainBeach resorts, cities and the rules for visitors
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropeCheck whether your hotel adds a per-night tax
Read the guideMarbella FAQ
Is Marbella worth visiting?
Yes if you want a beach holiday with a proper old town and a lively marina. It is pricier than Málaga or Nerja, so go for the sand and evenings rather than for sightseeing, and use Málaga for museums.
How do you get from Málaga airport to Marbella?
By coach or bus along the coast road in about an hour, by taxi or pre-booked transfer, or by car. There is no train to Marbella, because the Cercanías line stops at Fuengirola.
Where should you stay in Marbella?
The old town for atmosphere and evenings, the Golden Mile for resort hotels by the beach, Puerto Banús for marina nightlife, or San Pedro for value and families. Beach hotels cost most in July and August.
Do you need a car in Marbella?
Not for the coast, because buses and taxis link the old town, the strip and Puerto Banús. You do want one for Ronda, the mountain villages, some golf courses and flexible airport transfers.
When is the best time to visit Marbella?
May, June, September and October for warm weather and open beach clubs without the worst crowds. July and August are hot and busy, and winter is mild but quiet, with some venues closed.