Top 5 prettiest plazas on the Costa del Sol

• Table of contents
• 5 of the prettiest plazas on the Costa del Sol
• 1.Plaza de los Naranjos – Marbella
• 2.Plaza de las Flores – Estepona
• 3.Plaza de Andalucía – Ojén
• 4.Plaza de la Virgen de la Peña – Mijas Pueblo
• 5.Plaza de la Merced – Málaga

Marbella’s old town revolves around Plaza de los Naranjos, a square filled with orange trees that bloom in spring and provide shade in summer, and landscaped with impressive flower beds filled with vivid flowers that change with each season. Whitewashed buildings with terracotta roofs surround the square, including the 16th-century town hall with its carved stone doorway and traditional balconies. Terraces from the restaurants and cafés spill across the cobblestones, making this one of the best spots to sit with a coffee, churros con chocolate or a plate of gambas pil-pil for lunch whilst watching the rhythm of Marbella life.

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Estepona is known for their flowers, from the stunning roundabouts to the hanging plant pots, their plaza’s are unsurprisingly a riot of colour, and the Plaza de las Flores is appropriately named. Located in Estepona’s charming old town, bright geraniums cascade from every balcony, orange trees add shade, and a large fountain with ceramic tiles bubbles in the centre. Small traditional cafés with parasols line the square, offering the perfect place to linger with a café con leche. It feels like a garden within the town, and it captures the slower pace of Estepona perfectly.

Just a ten-minute drive up the mountain from Marbella, Ojén feels worlds away from the bustle of the coast. Its Plaza de Andalucía is the village’s heart, framed by the Church of Our Lady of the Encarnation with its striking bell tower. A pair of tiled fountains splash gently in the centre, giving the square a tranquil soundtrack. Locals gather under the shade of leafy trees while children play around the benches. Sit here with a caña and tapas, and you’ll understand why Ojén is considered one of the Costa del Sol’s hidden gems.

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Right in the centre of Mijas Pueblo, Plaza Virgen de la Peña is one of those magnetic squares where everyone seems to gather at some point in the day. The plaza is spacious, shaded by tall trees and has a quaint fountain feature, with a children’s playground opposite. Bordered by plenty of well-positioned benches, cafes and restaurants, one of the biggest attractions is tucked into one the corners: Mayan Monkey Mijas, a small bean-to-bar chocolate factory where you can make your own chocolate! With ample space, plenty of places to sit and eat, this is the kind of plaza that captures the easy pace of life on the Costa del Sol.

Plaza de la Merced is a wide, lively square framed by colourful buildings with tall shutters and wrought-iron balconies. In the centre stands the Torrijos obelisk, a reminder of Málaga’s revolutionary history, while one corner holds Picasso’s birthplace, now a museum. The cafés and tapas bars here buzz day and night, especially with students and young Malagueños. If you want a plaza that mixes history, art, and nightlife, this is the one.

The plazas on the Costa del Sol are more than just pretty corners, they’re the heart of the communities that make this region so special. From Marbella to Estepona, and the big city of Málaga to the quiet mountain villages such as Ojén, each square has its own story and atmosphere.

At Panorama, we know these neighbourhoods inside out, and many of our properties are just minutes away from the very plazas that give each town its unique charm. If you’re looking for a home where you can stroll to your local square for a coffee or a relaxed evening paseo, we would be delighted to help you find it!