The Costa del Sol lives up to its name with over 300 days of sunshine a year, and Marbella, at its heart, is blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches in southern Spain. From golden stretches backed by luxurious villas to hidden natural dunes, Marbella offers a beach for every mood. Whether you’re travelling with kids, searching for a glamorous hangout, or looking to explore an untouched coastline, this guide reveals Marbella’s best beaches and beach experiences.
Between the long walks of the paseo maritimo, Playa de la Cable in the Golden Mile, Real de Zaragoza and Cabopino in the east, Casablanca and San Pedro in the west, Marbella offers a range of beautiful beaches along the coast, with all kinds of chiringuitos to suit your style.
Based on the southern coast of Spain, Marbella offers a stunning natural environment between the beautiful La Concha mountain backdrop and the Mediterranean sea. Given Marbella´s growing fame as Europe´s best destination in 2024, and fame for it´s unique combination of nature, fantastic year-round weather, traditional culture and luxury living, Marbella is consistently on the map for one of Europe´s most popular and growing residential tourism locations.
It´s for this reason that Marbella is sometimes referred to as one of Europe´s holiday resorts. Well it is not a resort- it is a large town, but it is a beautiful one that offers gorgeous beaches and a fantastic well rounded lifestyle for locals and visitors alike. With all that attention, there is boundless talk about it´s beaches so this blog aims to answer your questions about Marbella´s beaches.
There isn’t just one “Marbella Beach” — instead, the municipality includes over 20 unique beaches, each offering a different experience. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea, Marbella’s coastline features calm, swimmable waters, soft sands, and a stunningly scenic backdrop of mountains and palm trees. The area’s famous microclimate, created by the sheltering Sierra Blanca mountains, ensures warm, comfortable weather nearly all year round.
Another thing that makes them special is the very many fantastic chiringuito beach restaurant, cafes and bars that make any beach a comfortable place to meet, relax and dine. These chiringuitos usually offer sun lounge rental by day, and music, each setting their own specific ambiance in style, and sometimes with live music. However perhaps the most lovely thing about chiringuitos is that you always have the refreshments and bathroom access you need to enjoy your time at the beach – many times in a relaxed environment, and even dining on the sand. You find most will be open from mid-morning until after sunset in summer months, while a few remain open from around mid-day to at least sunset, all year round. Marbella´s beaches offer stylishly decorated chiringuitos every 100 metres or so, meaning the beach is always there for you to enjoy with a nice coffee, meal, cocktail or wine – even if you don´t come prepared.
Combine with that the calm waters of this large Mediterranean bay and you have a glistening field for fun throughout the year – perfect for children to play, paddle boarding, sailing, kayaking, water skiing, jet skiing and basically, whatever calm water sport your heart desires. Perhaps best of all, the south facing beaches of Marbella enjoy sunshine until the sun goes down, allowing long relaxed days by the beach throughout the year – even including swimming in the winter months for the most brave.
Well there are many fantastic beaches in the Marbella area – and mostly one close to where you are staying. From exclusive beach clubs to family-friendly shores, Marbella’s coastline is diverse and packed with options. From the paseo maritimo of central Marbella beaches and the Golden Mile, to the wide untouched beaches flanked by sand-dunes in Marbella´s east, you will find many beautiful beaches in the Marbella area. Below, we break down the best beaches in Marbella based on location, vibe, facilities, and natural beauty, ordered by location.
Situated near Marbella Club and Puente Romano on the Golden Mile, this beach is known for its upscale atmosphere. Think luxurious sunbeds, designer sunglasses, and beachfront fine dining. The golden sand, wooden pier, and scenic backdrop of palms make it one of the most picturesque spots on the Golden Mile. Stroll, ride or even rollerblade along the paseo maritimo, dine at one of the very many up-market chiringuitos, hire a sunbed, or simply take a dip in the sea – Playa de Nagueles offers a variety of activies in heart of the Golden Mile. Paid parking is available behind Puente Romano.
Known locally as “Bounty Beach” after the popular beach bar that once stood there, Playa del Cable has retained its youthful energy and informal charm. Located just east of Marbella’s city centre and main port, it’s a go-to for locals looking for a relaxed, social atmosphere. Beach volleyball courts, casual chiringuitos, water-sports rentals, and a good music scene make it especially popular with younger crowds. The beach is easily accessible by public transport, and searching carefully you will always find parking on nearby streets, making it a favourite for weekend gatherings in central Marbella.
Playa de la Fontanilla is ideal for those who want a beach experience without leaving the city. Located in front of the paseo martimo near Marbella’s bustling Old Town, this central stretch of coastline is lined with a lively promenade, offering everything from cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs to ice cream stands and boutique retail stores – you will never get bored in this part of town. You will also find a range of iconic chiringuitos and beach bars on the sand, offering both sides of Marbella life. The calm, shallow waters and reliable lifeguard presence make it a smart choice for families. It’s also one of the best-connected beaches in Marbella, within walking distance of major hotels and public transport. Hire a bike and ride along the paseo maritimo, laze on a sunbed, or let the children play on one of the beach playgrounds while you sit back and sip your sunset cocktail – this beach has something for everyone.
Casablanca beach blends understated elegance with convenience. Tucked between Marbella town and the exclusive hotels of the Golden Mile, it’s popular with early risers and those who enjoy long walks on the seafront promenade. With easy access to stylish chiringuitos like Trocadero Petit Playa, it’s well suited for a leisurely lunch or sunset cocktail. The calm atmosphere and wide promenade also make it a favourite for joggers, cyclists, and dog walkers.
Tucked between Playa Nagüeles and Playa Casablanca, Playa Puente Romano is a narrow strip of beach directly in front of the iconic Puente Romano Beach Resort. While not officially marked as a separate beach, this stretch of coastline is closely associated with the resort and shares its stylish yet relaxed ambiance. The sand is soft, the beach is well-maintained, and the beachside promenade connects seamlessly to Marbella town. Guests of the resort and day visitors alike enjoy access to beachfront dining at spots like El Chiringuito and Sea Grill, making it a favourite for those seeking both convenience and quality.
Just steps from the high-end boutiques and luxury yachts, Playa de Puerto Banús offers an appealing mix of glamour and practicality. The breakwater shelters the beach, making the waters calm and safe for children. Restaurants, beach clubs, and sunbed rentals are close at hand, along with views of the marina and surrounding mountains. It’s also a favourite for people-watching and a quick dip between shopping and dining. Parking around Puerto Banus is paid, and parking can be difficult so this is better to suited to people who live or are staying nearby.
Located just east of Puerto Banús, Playa Río Verde offers a balance of natural beauty and practical access. It’s a broad, sandy beach with clear waters and excellent views toward La Concha mountain. The beach is adjacent to the Río Verde archaeological site, adding a layer of cultural interest for those exploring the area on foot. Its location makes it popular with guests from nearby hotels and residential complexes, and there are several beach clubs and restaurants nearby. It’s also within easy reach of the coastal path that connects Marbella to San Pedro, making it a great stop for walkers and cyclists along the Paseo Maritimo.
This broad, well-kept beach is the highlight of San Pedro de Alcántara’s coastline, offering a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere just west of Puerto Banús. Backed by a spacious palm-lined promenade, it’s ideal for walking, cycling, or stopping at one of the many laid-back chiringuitos that line the seafront. The beach itself has fine darker sand and calm waters, making it safe for swimming and great for children. With nearby playgrounds, beach volleyball courts, and plenty of parking, Playa de San Pedro caters well to both locals and visitors looking for a more residential, low-key beach experience. It’s also known for its cleanliness and regular Blue Flag certification, reflecting the area’s investment in maintaining quality public spaces.
East Marbella offers a particulatly stunning stretch of beaches enjoying sand dunes, mountain views, and a relaxed feel. Many locals call east Marbella beaches their favourite, travelling there from acorss the Costa del Sol. Given the stretch is so untouched, it is perfect for long walks along the sand and relaxed afternoons surrounded by natural beauty. This section is more of a guide to the variety of beaches in Marbella east, as the beaches all flow into one another and are all stunning in their own way, and really locals base their choice on their favourite chiringuito.
One of Marbella’s longest, most beautiful and spacious beaches, Real de Zaragoza offers a more tranquil experience than many of its more central counterparts. With fine golden sand, sometimes untouched sand dunes, stunning mountain backdrop, and relatively low foot traffic, it appeals to those looking for space and serenity, especially families. The beach is well-serviced by high-quality chiringuitos, including the well-known Nosso Summer Club, Playa Casanis, the Beach House, Pearla Blanca and more, and you will also find water sports hire around Beach House. The beach is bordered by some of Marbella East’s most exclusive private villas. If you can´t find space in one of the free beachside carparks, you will driving around the nearby narrow streets.
Cabopino Beach sits beside the protected Artola Dunes nature reserve, offering a rare blend of scenic beauty and laid-back coastal life. The boardwalk that winds through the dunes creates a striking approach to the beach, which is flanked by pine trees and open sand. Adjacent to the charming Puerto de Cabopino marina, the beach features both family-friendly areas and a designated nudist zone. It’s also a top choice for paddleboarding, sailing, and beach walks in a less developed setting. Andys Beach is a relaxed chiringuito on the sand in the western corner, which is located near the little port marina that offers a range of restaurants in a relaxed environment. There is ample parking behind the boardwalk, but it gets full in summer months in which case you can search on nearby streets.
Best known for hosting the iconic Nikki Beach Marbella, Playa de la Vibora combines luxury beach culture with natural beauty. Located near Elviria, this beach draws an international crowd looking to pair sunbathing with live music, champagne, and curated menus. Away from the music and glamour, the wider beach offers open space, clean sands, and views of the surrounding coastline. There’s ample parking nearby, and the area remains well-kept and secure.
Favoured by residents of the Los Monteros area, Playa del Alicate stands out for its soft, golden sand and low-key elegance. The beach maintains a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere while still being close to stylish beach clubs and villas. It’s a great spot for swimming thanks to its clean and calm waters, and you’ll often find locals walking their dogs or enjoying coffee at one of the understated beachfront cafés. For those staying nearby, it’s the kind of beach that becomes a daily habit. Home to Trocadera Playa restaurant beach club and many beautigul urbanisations, it is popular with kite surfers and offers rentals.
Located in the residential area of El Rosario, Playa Hermosa or Playa del Rio Sequillo offers a quieter alternative to Marbella’s busier beaches. With calm waves and a smaller footprint, it’s ideal for those seeking a more intimate beach day. The beach is home to a few well-reviewed eateries, including the stylish Bonos Beach and Luuma beach restaurant which draw loyal local crowds. It’s a reliable option for families, couples, or anyone after a low-key day by the water.
Known for it´s long sandy beaches and shallow waters, most Marbella beaches are fantastic for small children. With surf usually quite calm, you can often go out far without any sudden depth changes or strong waves, especially when it´s low tide. On top of that, low tide will often leave shallow pools perfect for the littlest members of the family to sit and splash – which apart from being practical, also makes a beautiful setting to relax and soak in the stunning beautiful environment. In the summer months, lifeguards wander the beaches to keep an eye on you, and flags will indicate whether the beach is generally safe, but apart from that it is up to the individual to take care of themselves and their families.
Because tides move the sand, occassional rocks and shell patches around, really the best thing is to scout out the beach when you arrive and choose the best spot to suit your family- and set limits as to what you consider safe and are comfortable. Having said that, the following beaches are known for being particularly good for families – but honestly, most Marbella beaches probably are!
Marbella’s coastline offers more than just sunbathing—it’s also a hub for water-based activities ranging from leisurely kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, sailing, jetskiing to adrenaline-fuelled kitesurfing. Thanks to the region’s mild climate and calm Mediterranean waters, most activities are available year-round, with the peak season running from May to October.
For boating and yacht charters, the marinas at Puerto Banús and Puerto Deportivo Marbella serve as the main departure points. There are many companies that offer private yacht charters, sunset cruises, and day trips along the Costa del Sol, catering to both families and groups looking for a luxury on-water experience. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) can be found throughout the coast. There are various companies that offer guided kayak tours and SUP rentals, including excursions along Marbella’s coastline and into the nearby natural areas so a google search or wander along your favourite beach is recommended.
Kitesurfing, while more restricted due to weather conditions and local regulations, is best in windier areas such as Playa de Los Monteros and Playa de Río Real. For equipment rental and lessons, Kitesurf Marbella, located near Río Real, provides training for all levels, from beginners to advanced, along with gear rental and safety instruction. For those interested in a bit of everything, Playa del Cable (Bounty Beach) is a good all-rounder, offering jet ski rentals and banana boat rides in the summer months through various seasonal operators.
Yes. Cabopino beach Las Dunas de Artola is a nudist beach and is located on the other side of the timber boardwalk around the dunes. This beach offers the best of both worlds- the walk through the dunes and pine forest, the untouched fine sand beach, and even sometimes offers rougher waters for people searching waves. You can read more about the beach listing above.
Yes, dogs are allowed on certain beaches in Marbella, though it’s important to be aware of the regulations that apply. The city has designated a couple of beaches specifically for dogs, where pets can run off-leash and enjoy the water year-round. These dog-friendly zones are equipped with features like waste bins and sometimes pet showers, helping keep the area clean and convenient for both pet owners and other beach users. Outside these zones, rules tend to be more restrictive—especially during the high season from June to September—so checking the local regulations before heading out is always a good idea.
Two of the main dog-friendly beaches in Marbella are Playa Canina de Ventura del Mar and Playa Canina El Pinillo. Both offer dedicated spaces for dogs, with relaxed rules on leashing and access. El Pinillo, located just outside the town centre near Trocadero Arena, has been upgraded with dog-specific amenities and offers a quieter setting ideal for a long stroll or playtime in the surf. Ventura del Mar, on the western side of Nueva Andalucía, is open to dogs from March through September with no time restrictions, and generally remains accessible outside of those months as well. These beaches provide a practical solution for dog owners looking to enjoy Marbella’s coastline without compromising on pet care or local guidelines.
Given that Marbella sits on the Mediterranean Sea, not the Atlantic Ocean, you need to drive atleast an hour to find an ocean beach near Marbella. For those seeking ocean waves, Tarifa’s or Cadiz´s Atlantic coast is just under two hours away and offers excellent surfing and kiteboarding in one of the windiest places in the world. The beaches of Cadiz tend to be more wild and untouched, offering a more rustic experience than Marbella. Still, places like Conil offer more urban environments and a river for more calmer beach play – Playa de Bolognia is famous for it´s calmer cove beach and sand dunes, while beaches like El Palmar de Vejer and Zahora are long untouched beaches with sand dunes and the occassional chiringuito.
Marbella, being a growing town, is much easier for parking than other places in Spain. If you drive to your destination you may be lucky to find a park almost infront, but if not, you can usually find somewhere to park driving in the streets nearby. In some places including around beaches, you will find informal parking lots with an ´attendant´ often wearing fluroescent yellow. These attendants are volunteers and it is customary, although not compulsory, to give them a euro or two for their efforts.
If not, you will eventually find parking on a nearby street somewhere. Just note that it is forbidden to park on yellow lines (although you will see that many people do, but that is no guarantee that you won´t get a parking fine) or infront of a driveway, and ofcourse, be courteous not to block people´s pedestrian entrances to their houses either. White lines are fine to park for free, and blue lines are paid parking so make sure you pay either using the parking machine or the app such as EasyPark.
In most suburban areas and beaches you will find white free parking, but around the town centre and paseo maritimo you will most likely have to pay. There are underground parking stations in the centre too, which are great to park your car and not have to worry about when your parking runs out, but the fees for private underground parking are much higher than street parking.
For those seeking beachfront stays, Marbella has a range of exceptional hotels. Amàre Marbella Beach Hotel, an adults-only property near the Old Town, offers direct beach access, a rooftop bar, and a sophisticated atmosphere geared toward couples. In Elviria, Marriott Marbella Beach Resort is a favourite among families, thanks to its spacious layout, multiple pools, and proximity to calm beaches. Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa, located near Nikki Beach, is ideal for guests who want a mix of relaxation and access to Marbella’s livelier spots.
On the Golden Mile, Puente Romano Beach Resort remains one of Marbella’s most iconic addresses, combining luxurious suites, world-class dining, and a setting directly on one of the coast’s most desirable beaches. Marbella Club Hotel, across from our offices is another of our favourites, offering a high-end village experience infront of the best beaches on the Golden Mile.
Ready to explore Marbella’s coastal gems? Whether you’re planning a beach holiday or looking for beachfront property, Marbella has a shoreline that suits your lifestyle. If you are looking for a rental property in Marbella or interesting in discovering Marbella real estate, we have the local knowledge and excellent range of properties to smoothly find you what you are looking for in the Marbella, Benahavís or Estepona areas.
Melinda Rendina Content Writer & Marketing Creator
Melinda is an experienced writer specialising in real estate, urban planning, lifestyle, architecture and design. A seasoned Marbella resident, she holds an Undergraduate Degree in Social Science with Honours in Politics, and a Masters degree in Urban Planning.
Combined with her background working in local and national government, marketing, and Marbella real estate, her diverse experience empowers her to offer relevant and unique insights into Marbella life and the local property market.
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