With 24 beaches stretching across 27 kilometres of coastline, Marbella has a beach for almost every kind of day by the Mediterranean.
Marbella’s coastline changes character surprisingly quickly. Around Puerto Banús and the Golden Mile, beaches are closely tied to hotels, restaurants and beach clubs; through Marbella’s centre, the promenade and Old Town are never far away; then further east, the coast opens into longer sandy stretches, dunes and quieter residential areas.
Ask five people in Marbella for their favourite beach and you may well get five different answers. Our selection of the best beaches in Marbella follows the coastline from west to east, highlighting the places that stand out for location, atmosphere, facilities and setting.
Our selection is based on what makes each beach particularly special, considering factors such as location, atmosphere, accessibility, nearby amenities and dining, space, natural surroundings and the type of beach experience it offers.
1. Puerto Banús Beach
Best beach in Marbella for the Banús lifestyle
Puerto Banús Beach sits immediately east of the marina and is one of the most recognisable beaches in Marbella, with calm, sheltered water and open views towards La Concha.
The beach holds the Q for Tourism Quality distinction and its location makes it particularly easy to combine swimming and sunbathing with Puerto Banús itself.
Restaurants, shops, water sports and the famous luxury marina are all within a short walk, making this one of the best beaches for experiencing the full Banús lifestyle.
Nagüeles Beach on Marbella’s Golden Mile, with the low-rise Puente Romano resort behind the shore and La Concha rising behind the coastline
For the classic Marbella Golden Mile beach experience, it is hard to beat the adjoining beaches of Nagüeles and Casablanca. Nagüeles beach runs directly in front of Puente Romano, while the neighbouring Casablanca beach continues in front of the Marbella Club.
Together, the two beaches are certified Blue Flag and both also hold the Q for Tourism Quality distinction. Nagüeles also offers seasonal assisted bathing for people with reduced mobility.
This stretch also has direct access to the Paseo Marítimo and a wide collection of excellent beachfront bars and restaurants. From here, you can walk east towards central Marbella or west towards
Venus Beach in central Marbella, beside the Puerto Deportivo marina. Located just a short walk from Avenida del Mar and the Old Town
Just east of Marbella's central marina, Venus Beach is one of the easiest beaches to reach from the heart of the city.
The beach sits directly below Avenida del Mar, the marble-paved avenue lined with bronze sculptures by Salvador Dalí. Follow it through Parque de la Alameda, cross the road and you are at the entrance to Marbella Old Town.
Venus shares a Blue Flag designation with neighbouring beach La Bajadilla, and also holds the Q for Tourism Quality distinction.
Its central location makes it particularly easy to combine the beach, Old Town, restaurants and seafront promenade in the same day.
Los Monteros Beach in Marbella East, where a wide sandy shoreline meets protected dunes
As the coastline opens up east of Marbella town, Los Monteros offers a noticeably more spacious beach experience.
The area is backed by one of Marbella East’s most established luxury residential communities, together with Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella and the iconic La Cabane beach club, redesigned in collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana and with cuisine by Dani García.
Continue east and the adjoining stretch of beach becomes more natural around La Adelfa, where the beach is backed by the protected Duna La Adelfa, part of Marbella’s ecological dune reserve.
The two neighbouring stretches are grouped together under the Los Monteros-Las Adelfas Blue Flag designation, creating one of the most open and varied sections of Marbella East. The area also holds the Q for Tourism Quality distinction.
Real de Zaragoza beach feels like discovering a secret gem. If your idea of a good beach day involves arriving in the morning and not leaving until after dinner, it is difficult to beat.
The beach offers an unusually good concentration of places to eat and drink beside the soft sand and playful waves. La Plage Casanis, The Beach House, Siroko Beach, Sabine Beach and SYLT Beach Bar, are just some of the fantastic stops for food and loungers located along this stretch.
It is a good example of what Marbella East does particularly well: generous beaches, residential neighbourhoods behind them and excellent beachfront dining without needing to head into busy areas.
Real de Zaragoza beach holds the Q for Tourism Quality distinction and offers seasonal assisted bathing.
Aerial view of Cabopino Beach in Marbella East, framed by the Artola dunes, Torre Ladrones and the mountains beyond
At Marbella's most eastern end, Artola-Cabopino opens up to more dunes and broad sand banks.
Directly behind the beach are the Dunas de Artola, a protected natural monument and one of the last significant surviving dune systems of its kind in Málaga province.
Wooden walkways cross the dunes towards the sea, while the Torre Ladrones watchtower and Cabopino marina give the area plenty to explore beyond the sand.
The beach holds a Blue Flag and also offers seasonal assisted bathing, including amphibious chairs and facilities to help people with reduced mobility access the water.
It is a fitting final stop on the route east, where Marbella's built-up coastline gives way to dunes, woodland and a more natural setting.
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Where can you do water sports in Marbella?
Parasailing from Puente Romano
Sometimes a beach day needs a bit of excitement. Marbella offers everything from paddleboarding and kayaking to jet skiing, parasailing, sailing and boat trips.
At Puerto Banús, Water Sports Banús is a good option that operates directly from the beach. In central Marbella, Marbella Sport Boats can be accessed from the main marina (Puerto Deportivo), and offers jet skis and boat hire.
Many of Marbella’s beach clubs and beachfront resorts also offer water sports during the high season, from pedalos with water slides and banana boats, to jet skis and kayaks.
Resorts like Puente Romano also offer e-foiling, parasailing, and paddleboarding, and Marbella Club has its own watersports station with eFoils and electric jet boards.
For a longer day out at sea, Puerto Banús and Marbella Marina are both convenient starting points for sailing trips, private yacht charters and coastal excursions.
Cabopino, Puerto Banús and Nagüeles are all strong choices, offering a mix of calm water, sandy stretches, nearby facilities and easy access to restaurants and promenades.
Are there dog-friendly beaches in Marbella?
Yes. During peak season, dogs are permitted at designated areas of El Pinillo and Ventura del Mar. Outside the summer bathing season, dogs are generally allowed on all of Marbella’s other beaches too.
Where is easiest to park for the beach in Marbella?
Parking is generally easier around Marbella East, with public parking available at Real de Zaragoza and Cabopino. Central Marbella and Puerto Banús have more paid public and private parking options.
Which beach in Marbella has the calmest water?
Puerto Banús Beach is one of the calmest, thanks to its sheltered bay.
What is the best beach near Marbella Old Town?
Venus Beach is one of the closest, sitting directly below Avenida del Mar.
Where are the best beaches in Marbella East?
Los Monteros, La Adelfa, Real de Zaragoza and Cabopino are among the best beaches in Marbella East.
Which Marbella beach is best for restaurants?
Real de Zaragoza is particularly good for beachfront dining, while Nagüeles has excellent Golden Mile restaurants nearby such as Chiringuito at Puente Romano.
Can you walk from Puerto Banús to Marbella along the coast?
Yes. The Paseo Marítimo connects Puerto Banús with the Golden Mile and central Marbella.
Which beaches in Marbella have Blue Flags?
Cabopino, El Cable, El Faro, La Fontanilla, Nagüeles-Casablanca, Los Monteros-Las Adelfas, San Pedro Alcántara-Guadalmina and Venus-Bajadilla.
