Estepona

Estepona was once a small fishing village, but it is now a bustling town and tourist destination. Although very popular with visitors, it has managed to retain much of its Spanish charm and offers a more traditional way of life than its more glamorous neighbours further along the coast. In recent years the town has promoted itself as the “Garden of the Costa del Sol”, transforming the town with a project that has involved adorning walls with murals, planting one million flowers, lining the streets with hanging flowerpots and pedestrianizing many areas.

Estepona is located 33Km west of Marbella and is approximately 1 hours drive from Málaga Airport with easy connections to the AP7 (Toll Road).

The municipality of Estepona stretches from Benahavis along the New Golden Mile right down to the entrance of Sabinillas and has a municipal area of 137km2 which comprises of some long sandy beaches overlooked by the dramatic mountains behind.

Attractions
At the Beach
Shopping
Sports
Eating Out
Hotels

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Attractions

Wander in the old town

Through the cobbled streets that take you back in time to a more authentic Spain. Have a coffee in the renovated Plaza de las Flores and watch the world go by or stop and look in the many small shops and bars in the winding streets.

Orchidarium

With more than 4,000 different species of orchid, Estepona’s stunning Orchidarium is the largest in Europe.

Los Pedregales

Los Pedregales is the municipal park and situated at the foot of the Sierra Bermeja mountain and has open air facilities that include camping, BBQ areas, artificial lakes and delightful forest paths.

Escuela de Arte Ecuestre Costa del Sol

Escuela de Arte Ecuestre Costa del Sol is located close to Estepona is also worth a visit. Combining teaching with entertainment and culture in a unique environment, the covered exercise ring with seating for 1200 people is a great place to enjoy events and horse competitions.

Estepona Murial Route

This incentive was implemented back in 2012 and to this date there are over sixty murals on the streets of Estepona with new ones being added every year. The council has made an online version of their printable map to help you locate all murals.

Selwo Aventura

Selwo Aventura is located on the A7 between San Pedro and Estepona is a must-see attraction for the kids on a good weather day. An extensive outdoor wildlife park with over 100 hectares of open-air enclosure, visitors can see more than 2000 animals from over 200 species and enjoy a hands-on petting zoo and 4×4 off road safari trip.

Other notable places of interest are the Iglesia de los Remedios in the Plaza san Francisco which dates back to the 13th century, the Clock Tower and the remains of the Castillo de San Luis. On the tree lined avenue out of town is the Exhibition and Congress Center that hosts many events throughout the year ranging from its annual dog show to ‘The Over 50’s Show’ and other special events. For those of you looking for local history, the Municipal Museum in Estepona’s old bullring is an interesting way to spend a couple of hours as you browse the collection of exhibits dating back as far as 100,000 years to the Paleolithic era.

At the Beach

Estepona’s coast stretches over 21km and with 17 beaches to choose from you can expect wide sandy areas, clean water and good facilities. With lots to do such as children’s play areas, pedalos and beach volleyball. La Rada in the center of Estepona town is the largest and most popular due to its easy accessibility and blue flag status, or head to the bay of Playa El Cristo, to the west of Estepona port. This beach consists of a 700-metre long bay that earned the Blue Flag distinction since 2019. It’s in the southwest of Estepona next to the marina. It has dark sand and clean, calm waters. With amenities like numerous play areas and a grove of trees that offer natural shade that’s perfect for cooling off from the summer heat. These make this beach an ideal choice for families. It’s easily accessible either by car or by foot, with a car park for those choosing to drive. The beach has two beach bars where you cannot only delight in regional dishes but also listen to live music at the weekends during the summer season.

Estepona has a beautiful promenade which is bustling with life both night and day Running the length of the town, you can enjoy kids play areas, exercise equipment, statues, fountains, rides, restaurants and shops. At the west end of the seafront, you will find Estepona Marina which is a popular area for visitors to wander during the day and for nightlife you can drink and dance until the early hours in the many bars and discos. There is a great range of restaurants and bars lining the quayside serving everything from traditional Spanish to specialty regional cuisine.

Shopping

Estepona has a large range of shops in the town centre. Alternatively, for a more authentic shopping experience you can visit the indoor market which opens each morning near the castle ruins. Laguna Village, located along the beach towards San Pedro has a good selection of top-end outlets selling everything from designer fashion to accessories for the home. Sundays are dedicated to the market located in the marina.

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Sports

Estepona has a fantastic range of sporting facilities that includes top golf clubs such as Estepona Golf, La Serena, Atalaya Golf, and El Paraiso. Horse lovers also have the pick of facilities in Estepona with several riding schools that teach students of all ages and abilities. For something more strenuous try to reach the summit of the Sierra Bermeja, You can actually drive pretty well all the way but much more rewarding is a short but beautiful walk via the quiet pine-forested slopes on its northern flank. For tennis and padel lovers head over to the Las Mesas sports centre.

Eating Out

In Estepona you will find everything from small cozy tapas bars to luxury restaurants, A varied selection of restaurants both in the city itself and in the surrounding areas. In the old town you will find many good tapas restaurants, serving the best of authentic traditional Spanish cuisine, as well as many restaurants serving both fish and meat dishes, as well as paella’s. Walk around in the old town and you will also find some hidden gems.