What to do in the area....
A small selection of activities and sights in and around Estepona.
About Estepona
Estepona is a small town west of Marbella with a total population of 70,000. Despite its popularity as a tourist attraction due to its proximity to hotspots such as Puerto Banus, the town has retained much of its Andalusian charm with its quaint cobbled streets, local restaurants, bars and quaint shops and bodegas.
The area has eight golf courses, seven museums, a beautiful marina and a well-equipped beach. The municipality stretches for over 21km along the Mediterranean Sea and includes some of the best and quietest beaches on the Costa del Sol. The ‘old town’, as it is known, is set in lush countryside and sheltered by the surrounding mountains. With the Mediterranean at its feet, Estepona is quieter than other towns on the Costa del Sol.
Many of the streets are pedestrianised and are lined with whitewashed houses decorated with colourful geraniums.
The seafront promenade stretches for several kilometres. You can enjoy a lovely stroll along the town’s Blue Flag beaches. On the west side, just 8 minutes walk from the apartment is Estepona Marina, home to the fishing fleet and shops and restaurants, as well as a Sunday market. Estepona has excellent amenities and facilities including health centres, private hospitals, schools (including Colegio San José, which is often ranked as one of the best schools in Andalucia) and sports centres.
Marbella
The city of Marbella has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the south of Spain for many decades. This is mainly due to the excellent climate that prevails there all year round and the many beautiful hotels and accommodations that can be found there. Marbella is known for its excellent golf courses and there are no fewer than ten in the immediate vicinity of the city. The main attraction of Marbella is of course the boulevard where most of the restaurants and shops can be found.
Unlike many other seaside resorts in Spain, Marbella did not originate from a sleepy fishing village that later became a famous seaside resort, but was already a well-known place in Roman times, although Marbella was known as Salduba at the time. The city owes its current name Marbella to the Moorish rule.
The fact that Marbella is seen as a fashionable seaside resort is mainly due to Puerto Banús where the jet set has their yachts moored. Fortunately, there is little evidence of this in the other parts of Marbella.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory in the southernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula. The Treaty of Utrecht decided that this part of the originally Spanish territory would belong to the United Kingdom forever and ever. The peninsula has been in British hands since 1713. Over the centuries, they have managed to leave a significant mark on this former piece of Spain, for example, the official language is English and you don't eat tapas there, but fish & chips. To get to Gibraltar, you have to physically cross a border, where you are very likely to have to face passport control. Furthermore, there is a small airport in this overseas territory, where the main road has to be closed so that the planes can land. The most important attraction is the Rock of Gibraltar, part of which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The majority of tourists who visit Gibraltar come for a day trip to this special peninsula. From the Costa del Sol, Seville or other parts of Andalusia, you can easily reach Gibraltar. From Estepona it is about a 45 minute drive. How nice is it to visit a piece of British territory during your holiday. Everything about Gibraltar feels British, the food, the inhabitants and even the street scene. During a day in Gibraltar you can visit almost all the sights and highlights of Gibraltar. Most of them can be found on the Rock of Gibraltar or in the historic centre. In short, a day in Gibraltar is a must do during a holiday in the south of Spain.
Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey is a walking path that runs along the deep El Chorro gorge where the Rio Guadalhorce river flows through. It consists of several parts, but the most spectacular are the 2 parts where the walking path ‘hangs’ from the vertically steep mountainside.
SHOPPING MALL LA CANADA
This is the largest shopping mall on the Costa del Sol. Here you will find more than 150 shops and big brands such as: Mango, Tommy Hilfiger, Ranger, Zara, Oysho, Lacoste, G-Star RAW, Levis, Soho Fashion, Benetton, Topshop, H&M, Adolfo Dominguez and Cache Shoes. Of course you can park here for free. Tip: go early in the afternoon, then it is nice and quiet!
