Hotels
Marbella hotels: where to stay, from the old town to Puerto Banús
Marbella is two towns sharing one coastline. One has orange trees and whitewashed lanes, the other has superyachts and beach clubs. Where you stay decides which of them you see most of.
In short
For a first visit, our pick is Amàre Beach Hotel. It sits on the seafront promenade, two minutes from Venus beach, and guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.6. Nobody under 16 can stay, so families should look at Don Carlos instead.
Our first choice: See rooms at Amàre Beach Hotel
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At ten in the morning, Plaza de los Naranjos is still in shade. Waiters drag chairs out under the orange trees, and the whitewashed town hall has yet to meet its first tour group. A few miles west, in Puerto Banús, the sun cream has already gone on.
Marbella runs for almost 17 miles along the coast, and the distances matter. Stay in the centre and you can walk to both the old town and the beach. The Golden Mile and Elviria give you more space and more quiet. You will also call a taxi more often than you expect.
Which Marbella hotel suits you?
Couples who want to walk everywhere: Amàre Beach Hotel
A classic five-star by the old town: El Fuerte Marbella
The full resort: Puente Romano
Nightlife and the marina: Hard Rock Hotel Marbella
Families with children: Don Carlos
The centre and the old town: Marbella on foot
This is the Marbella that existed before the golf courses. The old town, the Casco Antiguo, is a tangle of narrow streets around Plaza de los Naranjos, five minutes up from the promenade. Down by the old fishing port you will also find Davero, the small Italian family restaurant we have written about.
Right on the promenade
From the loungers on the terrace there is nothing but sand between you and the Mediterranean.
Amàre Beach Hotel Marbella
Amàre stands right on the promenade between Venus and Bajadilla beaches, two minutes from the sand. It takes no guests under 16, so the pool stays calm even in high summer. A good fit for couples who want the beach by day and the old town by night, without ever getting into a car.
Book your stay: See rooms at Amàre Beach Hotel
Dusk over the sea
As the sun goes down, the terrace at El Fuerte looks straight out over the Mediterranean.
El Fuerte Marbella
El Fuerte is the five-star hotel of the town centre. The beach is directly below, there are three outdoor pools and a spa, and Plaza de los Naranjos is a five-minute walk away. It was refurbished in 2022, and guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.4. Choose it if you want an old-school seaside hotel and still want to live in town.
Book your stay: See rooms at El Fuerte Marbella
The Golden Mile: gardens, space and a Roman bridge
This stretch between the centre and Puerto Banús is where Marbella first became a playground for the rich and famous. Hotels here sit in large gardens, with the beach below.
The bridge behind the name
The first-century Roman bridge still stands in the middle of the garden.
Puente Romano Beach Resort
The resort takes its name from the bridge in its gardens, a Roman bridge dating from the first century. Around it you will find five outdoor pools, around 20 restaurants and a tennis club, so many guests barely leave the grounds. For an evening in the Casco Antiguo, a taxi is the easiest option.
Book your stay: See rooms at Puente Romano
Puerto Banús: yachts and late nights
Puerto Banús is the marina where the coast's biggest boats tie up, lined with designer shops and bars that stay open well past midnight. If you are coming to go out, this is where to stay.
Evening by the pool
In the evening the dome above the pool lights up, and the Puerto Banús marina is a short walk away.
Hard Rock Hotel Marbella
Hard Rock is in Nueva Andalucía, a 13-minute walk from the marina. It was completely refurbished in 2022, with pools both indoors and out, a spa and two poolside bars. It is recommended for adults. The catch is the sea: the beach is a walk of almost 20 minutes.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hard Rock Hotel Marbella
Elviria: quiet beaches east of town
East of the centre the beaches grow longer and the hotels have more room. Several of the coast's beach clubs are here, Nikki Beach among them.
Room for the whole family
Through the white arch you look out over the pool and palm trees at Don Carlos.
Don Carlos Marbella
Don Carlos is our choice for families. Children get their own pool and a free kids' club, parents get nine tennis courts, and Nikki Beach is a six-minute walk away. Getting into town means a taxi.
Book your stay: See rooms at Don Carlos Marbella
Before you book
Choose the area first. Elviria and Puerto Banús are around ten miles apart, and there is no train along this stretch of coast.
Book summer early. July and August are high season, and the beachfront hotels fill up well in advance.
Consider a hire car if you stay outside the centre. With your own car, Ronda and the white villages in the hills make an easy day trip.
Marbella hotels: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay in Marbella?
For most visitors the town centre is best. You can walk to the old town and the promenade, and you will not need a car. Amàre Beach Hotel and El Fuerte both have the beach on their doorstep. If nightlife matters more, Puerto Banús is the area to choose.
Which Marbella hotels are on the beach?
Amàre Beach Hotel and El Fuerte both sit by the beach in the town centre. On the Golden Mile, Puente Romano has the sea at the bottom of its gardens. Hard Rock Hotel Marbella is set back in Nueva Andalucía, almost 20 minutes on foot from the beach.
What is the best family hotel in Marbella?
Don Carlos in Elviria is the strongest choice for families, with a children's pool and a free kids' club. Amàre does not accept guests under 16, and Hard Rock is recommended for adults, so both suit trips without children better.
How far is Marbella from Málaga airport?
Marbella town centre is about 30 miles from Málaga airport. Direct buses run from the airport, and a taxi or hire car is quickest. Trains only go as far as Fuengirola, so you will need a bus or a car for the rest of the journey.
When is the best time to visit Marbella?
May, June and September bring warm swimming weather without the biggest crowds. July and August are high season, with busy beaches and higher hotel prices. In winter Marbella is quiet, and the narrow lanes around the orange square are yours.