Costa del Sol location guide
Marbella
Marbella has the most expensive and most liquid property market on this coast. One name offers luxury living, golf, fine dining and a quiet family coast.
Average price per m25.950 EURJuly 2026.
Airport transfer35 to 45 minBy car to Malaga, on the AP-7 toll road.
Population166.999Municipal register, end of 2024.
Short term rentalAllowedWith registration and community rules since 2025.
Who buys here
Who is Marbella for
Marbella is not one market. It includes a glamour coast, a golf suburb and a quiet family coast. Each area suits a different buyer. These are the four buyers we most often help here. If one describes you, Marbella will probably work for you.
Second home buyersYou want a home that you can close and leave, then reach easily by plane. Marbella has a direct bus to the airport in under an hour. The old town and the seafront offer apartments that need less maintenance than houses. More buyers at this level now use the home for a real part of the year, not just two weeks in August.Lifestyle buyers who want golf, beaches and great foodMarbella has more golf courses, beach clubs and Michelin level restaurants in one town than anywhere else on this coast. You pay a premium for this concentration.Buyers at the top of the market who want privacySierra Blanca is on the hillside above the Golden Mile. It has some of the most expensive streets in Spain and is very quiet. Buyers here often also consider La Zagaleta, just over the border, for the same gated, guarded privacy. Most buyers above 2 million EUR pay cash. They buy for security and exclusivity as much as for the view.Families relocating with school age childrenMarbella already has schools and paediatric care. You do not need to build these services from scratch. Nueva Andalucia, San Pedro and Marbella East all sit near an international school.Marbella is not for you if you want the lowest entry price on this coast or a quiet, low tourist "real Spain" feel all year round. Both are easy to find in other towns nearby, and we will say so.
Prices and direction
Marbella prices are the highest on this coast, and they are still rising.The Marbella property market
Price per m2, whole municipality5.950 EURJuly 2026. Up 4.6 percent on July 2025.
5 year direction
2.953 EUR5.950 EUR20192026
Two data points only, 2019 and 2026. The line between them is not measured year by year.New build share of sales
7.94 percent92.06 percent resale
Most of the market is resale property. New build supply is scarce.Marbella prices are now roughly double the Spanish national average. They are still climbing after a sharp run up since the pandemic. 2024 alone added about 12.6 percent. The 2026 market report expects growth to continue, though at a slower pace.Marbella is mainly a resale property market. New homes make up less than 8 percent of sales. Most buyers choose existing stock rather than a brand new build. The few large new projects underway include Design Hills Marbella, the Four Seasons private residences, Epic Marbella and Karl Lagerfeld Villas. Most have completion dates years away.Villa stock is concentrated in Nueva Andalucia, Sierra Blanca and the hills above Benahavis. Golden Mile "consolidated" developments run 5.500 to 6.000 EUR/m2. A handful of beachfront addresses go far higher.
Inside Marbella
The micro areas of Marbella
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Golden MileUltra prime
The most famous address in Marbella. Grand villas and beachfront apartments between the town and Puerto Banus. The most exclusive beachfront addresses reach up to 35.000 EUR/m2.5.753 EUR/m2See properties
Sierra BlancaUltra prime
Hilltop calm above the Golden Mile. Some of the most expensive streets in Spain are here.See properties
NaguelesPrime
Grouped with the Golden Mile in most price data. Villas are on the hillside, close to the beach and the town.See properties
Nueva AndaluciaPrime
The "Golf Valley". Family villas and modern apartments around four golf courses, 4 km from Puerto Banus.4.225 EUR/m2See properties
Puerto BanusPrime
The marina. Designer shops, superyachts and a busy social scene rather than a family base.4.225 EUR/m2Busy and loud in summer. Fine for a holiday base, but less suitable for daily family life.See properties
San Pedro de AlcantaraBest value
A real Spanish town, absorbed into greater Marbella. It is the most affordable entry point.3.734 EUR/m2See properties
Elviria and Marbella EastPrime
A quieter, family focused coast with good sandy beaches. Popular with Northern European families.3.388 EUR/m2See properties
Old TownBest value
Traditional Andalusian streets around Plaza de los Naranjos. Walkable and popular with couples wanting a home that is easy to close and leave.3.967 EUR/m2See propertiesOn the market
Types of properties in Marbella
Browse what is on the market in Marbella right now, by the kind of home you want.
All properties in MarbellaEvery apartment, house and villa listed in Marbella right now, in one place.See properties
ApartmentsSea view, minutes to the beach and a south terrace move the price far more than size.See properties
Houses and villasThe widest price range on the coast. Plot, view and privacy decide the price.See properties
New buildsScarce here. The best projects sell from plans, with bank guaranteed stage payments.See propertiesCurrently listed in Marbella
Marbella Apartment
890.000 € - 2.105.000 €
2-5 Bedrooms 2-5 Bathrooms 130-284 m²
New build · Ready in 2027
Marbella Apartment
4.750.000 € - 17.500.000 €
3-5 Bedrooms 4-6 Bathrooms 173-421 m²
New build · Ready in 2028
Marbella Apartment
4.500.000 €10.227 €/m²
4 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 440 m²
Resale property
Marbella Apartment
4.750.000 € - 6.750.000 €
3-7 Bedrooms 4-6 Bathrooms 216-378 m²
New build · Ready Q2 2028
Marbella Villa
4.139.500 €
4 Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 397 m²
New build · Ready Q3 2026
Marbella Apartment
5.200.000 €
3 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 286 m²
New build · Ready Q3 2026
Renting out property in MarbellaNational registration Required since 1 July 2025Every short-term rental needs a registration number before Airbnb, Booking or Vrbo can list it. Advertising without one risks a fine up to 30.000 EUR. Community veto A 3/5 majority can block or allow itSince April 2025, a new short-term rental in an apartment building needs a 3/5 majority vote from the owners. Existing licences already running are not affected. How common it already is About 15.418 registered rentalsRoughly 10 percent of all short-term rentals in Andalusia are in Marbella, one of the highest concentrations in the region.
Can you rent out your property in Marbella?
Yes, you can rent a Marbella property short term, but the rules changed in 2025. You must check them before you buy, not after.What we check for youBefore you buy to rent out in Marbella, we check the building's community rules, whether the unit already has a valid licence, and whether the registration number is in place. We do this before you sign, not after.
Living here
What life in Marbella is really like
Marbella is not one town. It has a strip of very different micro markets under one name. Puerto Banus brings glamour, San Pedro is an ordinary Spanish town, and the east is a quiet family coast.About one third of Marbella's residents are estimated to be foreign born, though no official breakdown by nationality was found. The nationalities named most often are British, Russian, Ukrainian, Scandinavian and, at the very top of the market, Middle Eastern buyers.
High season is July and August. Beaches, restaurants and roads get very busy, and Puerto Banus is the loudest part of town at night. Winter is mild, around 16C, but many homes have no central heating, which surprises buyers from Northern Europe.Outside the old town and the seafront, you need a car. Buses cover the main routes only, and there is no train station in Marbella itself.Getting your NIE and residency takes time and patience, even though English is spoken almost everywhere, including at the town hall.Several foreign-language estate agencies sell property in Marbella. This shows real foreign buyer demand. We found no evidence of an organised Czech or Polish resident club, church or school here. If that community matters to you, ask us before you commit to this town.The golf clubs in Nueva Andalucia work as informal international social clubs as well as sports venues.
The coast
Marbella has at least 17 named beaches along its roughly 27 km coastline. About 8 to 9 of them have Blue Flag status this year. This status is recertified annually, so treat the number as approximate for any one season.Beaches in Marbella
Puerto BanusMarina front, beach dining nearby.Blue Flag
Playa CasablancaNear the golf courses and hotels.
Puente Romano and NaguelesGolden Mile beachfront, several chiringuitos.Blue Flag
La FontanillaCentral, long established beach bars.Blue Flag
Playa de VenusCentral, close to the old town.Blue Flag
El FaroTwo named chiringuitos right on the sand.Blue Flag
La BajadillaNear the old fishing port.Blue Flag
San Pedro de AlcantaraLaid back chiringuito strip.Blue Flag
Las ChapasMarbella East, several fresh fish restaurants.
Los MonterosNewly awarded Blue Flag for 2025, luxury beach clubs.Blue Flag, 2025
CabopinoIn the far east, backed by a natural dune system rather than a promenade.Blue Flag1 / 11
The golf valley
Marbella has one of the largest clusters of golf courses in Europe. One tourism guide counts 19 courses in the municipality. Most are inside "Golf Valley" around Nueva Andalucia.Golf in Marbella
Los Naranjos Golf ClubNueva Andalucia. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, opened 1977.
Real Club de Golf Las BrisasNueva Andalucia. One of the most prestigious clubs on the coast.
Aloha Golf ClubNueva Andalucia. Has hosted the Andalucia Open three times.
Magna Marbella GolfNueva Andalucia.1 / 4
Eating out
Food in Marbella
Marbella has five Michelin-starred kitchens. Skina holds two stars. Nintai, Messina, El Lago and Back each hold one.Puente Romano, on the Golden Mile, is its own dining district, with more than 20 restaurants including Nobu, Cipriani and COYA.Beach dining is its own culture here. Chiringuitos, grills and tapas bars along the main beaches, roughly every 100 metres in season, sit apart from the fine dining scene.
- Skina2 stars
- Nintai1 star
- Messina1 star
- El Lago1 star
- Back1 star
For families
Schools in Marbella
Aloha College MarbellaEnglish National Curriculum, IGCSE, A Levels, IB DiplomaNueva Andalucia. Ages 3 to 18. The first fully bilingual school in Marbella, founded 1982.
Swans International SchoolBritish curriculum, GCSE/IGCSE, IB Diploma optionSierra Blanca. Ages 3 to 18.
Laude San Pedro International CollegeEnglish National Curriculum plus Spanish qualifications, IBSan Pedro de Alcantara. Over 50 nationalities. Named one of Spain's best schools by Forbes, 2025.
English International CollegeBritish curriculum, GCSE, A LevelsEast Marbella, Las Chapas and Elviria area.
The British International School of MarbellaEnglish National CurriculumRocio de Nagueles, on the Golden Mile.
Colegio AlboranSpanish National Curriculum plus Cambridge English trackEast Marbella, Las Chapas and Elviria area.
Colegio San JoseSpanish National Curriculum plus IB DiplomaCampuses in San Pedro de Alcantara and Estepona.
MarbellaHealth
Healthcare in Marbella
Hospital Costa del SolPublic hospital, 24 hour emergencyAbout 7 km east of the centre, on the coast road. Around 400 beds.
Hospital Quironsalud MarbellaPrivate, 66 beds, 32 specialitiesCentral Marbella, above the old fishing port.
HC Marbella International HospitalPrivate, 12 rooms, an oncology unitWest of the town centre, on the N-340.
Hospital OchoaPrivate, 36 specialitiesCentral Marbella, beside the seafront promenade.
Helicopteros SanitariosPrivate 24 hour home doctor and ambulance serviceMultilingual house call service, running in Marbella since 1988.
Access
Getting to Marbella and around
By car from Malaga airport35 to 45 minutesFastest on the AP-7 toll road. The free A-7 coast road is slower.
By bus from the airportAbout 45 minutes, around 8 EURDirect Avanza bus, roughly every 30 minutes, 9am to 10pm.
By trainNo station in MarbellaNearest rail access is the line to Fuengirola. You still need a bus or a taxi onward.
Day to dayYou need a carBuses cover the main routes only. Only the old town and the seafront are genuinely walkable.
What to know
Honest pros and cons of Marbella
Pros
- This town has the most Michelin starred kitchens on the coast. Five restaurants here hold a star, more than in any other town on the Costa del Sol.
- The coast's highest concentration of golf courses, mostly inside Golf Valley around Nueva Andalucia.
- The most liquid and professionally served resale market on this coast, with agents, lawyers and notaries used to foreign buyers.
- Many international schools and hospitals are already in place, so a family does not have to build this from nothing.
- More buyers now choose Marbella for year round life rather than only a holiday home, and the market is shifting to match.
Cons
- Many restaurants are expensive, and without local knowledge it is easy to overpay in a tourist trap.
- The most expensive town on this coast, in property and in daily living costs.
- New build supply is scarce. Under 8 percent of sales are new build, so most buyers choose from resale stock.
- Short term rental income is no longer automatic. The building's owners can now vote to block it, and every listing needs a national registration number.
- Heavy summer crowds and traffic, mostly around Puerto Banus in July and August.
Keep comparing
Similar areas on the coast
Go deeper
Useful links for Marbella
Before you decide
Questions people ask about Marbella
Can I rent out my Marbella property short term?
Yes, but you need a national registration number, issued since July 2025. In many apartment buildings, the other owners can now vote to block new short term rental. If rental income matters to you, check the specific building before you buy.Which part of Marbella should I buy in?
It depends on what you want. Golden Mile and Sierra Blanca suit buyers seeking prestige. Nueva Andalucia suits golf and family life. San Pedro gives the best value. Marbella East suits a quieter family coast, and the old town suits a walkable, lock up and go home.Is Marbella too expensive compared to the rest of the Costa del Sol?
Yes, on average. Marbella prices run roughly double the Spanish national average, and above most of the rest of this coast. You pay for the schools, the healthcare and the resale market that already exist here.Does Marbella have good schools for foreign children?
Yes. Several British and IB curriculum schools operate here, mostly in Nueva Andalucia, Sierra Blanca, San Pedro and Marbella East.What is Marbella like in winter?
Mild, around 16C, and much quieter than summer. Many homes have no central heating, which surprises buyers used to it at home.Is there a train to Marbella?
No. Marbella has no train station. The nearest line runs through Fuengirola, so you still need a bus or a car for the rest of the journey.Which area of Marbella is best for golf?
Nueva Andalucia, known locally as Golf Valley. Los Naranjos, Las Brisas, Aloha and Magna Marbella all sit within a few kilometres of Puerto Banus there.How many beaches does Marbella have?
The coast holds at least 17 named beaches over about 27 km. Around 8 to 9 of them carry Blue Flag status this year. That count is re certified every year, so treat it as approximate.How many golf courses are there in Marbella?
One tourism guide counts 19 courses within the municipality. Most of them are inside Golf Valley around Nueva Andalucia. Treat the exact count as approximate, since marketing often blurs course boundaries and town lines.What happens if my building votes against short term rental?
Since April 2025, a 3/5 majority of owners in a building can vote to block new short term rental. A licence already running before that vote is not affected. Check the community rules before you buy if rental income matters to you.Written by Samuel Špreňar, buyer adviser on the Costa del SolUpdated 2026-08
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