The Costa del Sol/Malaga Region:
Marbella is a city in Andalusia, Spain, by the Mediterranean, situated in the province of Málaga, beneath La Concha.
Marbella is an important beach resort of the Costa del Sol. The town is famous for once being a playground for the rich and famous. Marbella is seen as a favourite destination for wealthy tourists from Northern Europe, as well as the well-heeled from the UK, Ireland and Germany. The area around Marbella is particularly popular with those who like golf.
It is easy to reach other places, like Málaga and Algeciras, by bus. The area is also served by the A7 autovia, and the closest airport is at Málaga.
Marbella Town:
The town is a strip of land that extends along the coast at the side of the Sierra Blanca mountains. The coast is low lying and sandy, with good beaches. Marbella is protected by the Sierra Blanca mountains which create a micro climate, with an average annual temperature of 18° c.
There are many restaurants providing varied cuisine, both national and international.
Typical dishes are: fried mixed fish, spitted sardines, gazpachuelo (mayonnaise and potato based soup), gazpacho (cold, vegetable soup), ajo blanco (chilled almond soup), scrambled eggs with asparagus.
Typical deserts are tortas de aceite (sesame and aniseed flat cakes), roscos de vino (wine and sesame flavoured round cakes), borrachuelas (fried buns flavoured with brandy and spices), torrijas (bread pudding) and churros (deep fried donuts).
Something for all the family:
With 27 kilometres of coastline and 24 different beaches to choose from Marbella has something for everyone. Whether you're into jet-ski-ing, sailing, star-spotting, balloon flights, cable skiing or simply enjoying some of the best fresh seafood in the world you'll find it all at Marbella's seafront and watersports centres. Most of the beaches are well served with all the usual 'essentials' like foot baths, lifeguards, children's play areas, sun loungers, sunshades and a variety of watersports - jet skis, pedaloes, wind surfers and banana rides.
You can hire a jet ski or water bike from many of the bars and safety standards are high - wearing a life jacket is obligatory and there are safe access lanes to avoid accidents with swimmers.
