Marbella

Marbella is the flagship municipality of the Costa del Sol, stretching 27 kilometres along the Mediterranean coast between the Sierra Blanca mountains and the sea. Its population reached 173,420 registered residents on the municipal roll (padrón) as of January 2026, up from 156,295 just three years earlier – a gain of over 17,000 people in three years, with more than nine in ten new arrivals coming from outside Spain. Roughly 36% of residents hold a non-Spanish nationality across 155 countries; Morocco is the single largest foreign nationality (over 6,100 residents), followed by large British, Colombian and Northern European communities.

Six distinct sub-markets make up the residential landscape: the western beachside neighbourhoods of Guadalmina and San Pedro de Alcántara, the golf-rich hills of Nueva Andalucía, le prestigieux Golden Mile corridor et l'historique vieille ville, et la longue bande côtière orientale de Los Monteros to Cabopino.

How Marbella Became Marbella

Marbella’s transformation from fishing village to international byword for luxury traces back to 1947, when the Spanish-German aristocrat Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe bought land here. In 1954 he opened the Marbella Club as a private retreat for friends and their circle – it drew Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra and a growing roster of European royalty and industrialists, and effectively invented the town’s jet-set reputation. A decade later, developer José Banús built on that momentum: construction on Puerto Banús began in 1965 under architects Antonio Lamela and Noldi Schreck, deliberately designed as a low-rise Andalusian village rather than the high-rise blocks originally proposed, and the marina opened in 1970. Puerto Banús now holds around 915 berths for craft up to 50m, among the most expensive marinas in Europe to moor in.

Sur le flanc occidental, Guadalmina Baja et Guadalmina Alta proposent des parcelles viabilisées avec villas à côté des terrains de golf de Guadalmina. San Pedro de Alcántara est une vraie ville espagnole animée avec un boulevard redessiné, un marché hebdomadaire et une vie locale tout au long de l'année. À l'intérieur des terres depuis Puerto Banús, la Nueva Andalucía Golf Valley se regroupe autour de Las Brisas, Aloha et Los Naranjos clubs de golf, en faisant l'une des zones de golf les plus denses d'Europe.

La Golden Mile relie Puerto Banús à la vieille ville de Marbella, bordée du Marbella Club Hotel, Puente Romano Beach Resort et les clubs de plage de référence. Au-dessus, Sierra Blanca et Nagüeles proposent des domaines clôturés en flanc de colline avec vue panoramique sur la mer. Le Casco Antiguo (old town) centres on Plaza de los Naranjos, laid out in 1485 after Marbella passed peacefully to the Catholic Monarchs; its Renaissance-style town hall, built in 1568, still carries plaques in Old Spanish commemorating the 1485 conquest, and the adjoining Ermita de Santiago is the oldest religious building in the city. Whitewashed lanes, tapas bars and a growing gallery scene fill the streets around it.

À l'est du centre, le littoral traverse Río Real, Elviria, Santa Clara, El Rosario et Las Chapas, chacun offrant un mélange de villas en bord de mer, de résidences sécurisées et d'écoles internationales telles que Swans et l'English International College. Cabopino ferme la commune avec une petite marina et des dunes naturelles protégées. À l'intérieur des terres, Palo Alto est un éco-projet de charme près du village d'Ojén.

Dining in Marbella

Marbella’s restaurant scene runs from Michelin-starred fine dining to beach-club glamour. Skina, in the old town, holds two Michelin stars. Puente Romano’s dining strip includes Nobu Marbella, COYA, Dani García’s LEÑA et GAIA. Along the coast, beach clubs like La Sala by the Sea in Puerto Banús and Nikki Beach in Las Chapas anchor Marbella’s daytime social scene.

Informations pratiques

• Population: 173,420 (January 2026 municipal register), up from 156,295 in 2023; around 36% foreign nationals across 155 nationalities
• Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP): 45 to 60 km west, roughly 35 to 50 minutes by car
• Hôpital : L'Hospital Costa del Sol (public) et Quirónsalud Marbella (privé) desservent la commune
• Marina: Puerto Banús, around 915 berths for craft up to 50m, opened 1970
• L'autoroute AP-7 et la route côtière A-7 relient tous les sous-marchés
• Year-round average temperature is 18°C, with over 300 days of sunshine
• Property prices (2026): Average asking price around €6,075/m² (Tinsa/Crinoa data puts verified sale prices closer to €3,421/m²), ranging from around €5,450/m² in San Pedro de Alcántara to nearly €7,000/m² on the Golden Mile; entry points from around €250,000 to well above €20 million for hillside mega-villas

Nouveaux programmes à Marbella

Le marché du neuf de Marbella comprend des appartements sur la Golden Mile, des villas à Nueva Andalucía et des complexes en bord de mer. Voir tous nouveaux programmes à vendre à Marbella.

Questions fréquentes

How big is Marbella and how many people live there?

Marbella’s municipal register counted 173,420 residents as of January 2026, up from 156,295 in 2023 – a gain of over 17,000 in three years, driven overwhelmingly by international migration. The municipality stretches 27 km along the coast.

What’s the difference between Puerto Banús and the Golden Mile?

Puerto Banús is the marina and entertainment district built by José Banús from 1965, opened in 1970, with around 915 berths and a concentration of designer shopping and nightlife. The Golden Mile is the 6 km residential and hotel corridor connecting Puerto Banús to Marbella old town, home to the Marbella Club, Puente Romano and a string of beachfront estates.

How did Marbella become known for luxury?

It traces to 1954, when Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe opened the Marbella Club as a private retreat that drew European royalty and Hollywood stars. José Banús’s Puerto Banús development, opened in 1970, built on that reputation with a marina designed to rival Saint-Tropez.

What does property cost in Marbella?

Average asking prices were around €6,075/m² as of January 2026, though actual verified sale prices run lower, closer to €3,421/m² per Tinsa data. Prices vary sharply by area, from around €5,450/m² in San Pedro de Alcántara up to nearly €7,000/m² on the Golden Mile.

Is Marbella a real town or just a resort?

Both. The old town (Casco Antiguo) functions as a genuine Andalusian town centre around Plaza de los Naranjos, while areas like San Pedro de Alcántara have their own local, working-town character. Alongside that sits one of Europe’s most internationally established resort economies – beach clubs, golf resorts and five-star hotels concentrated along the coast and in the Golf Valley.

What healthcare is available in Marbella?

Hospital Costa del Sol is the public hospital serving the municipality; Quirónsalud Marbella is the main private hospital. Both are well used by the international resident population.

Marbella's Neighbourhoods

Chacun avec son propre caractère. Du bord de mer aux hauteurs, voici les secteurs que nous recommandons.

Nous avons actuellement 21 propriétés à vendre à Marbella. Voir les annonces →