Marbella never seems to go out of fashion. It was one of the first locations on the Costa del Sol to become fashionable and remains the most glamorous town on the coast.
For many the former fishing village that became a hub for wealthy sun-seekers in the 1950s hits all the right notes. And it’s not just the glamour of the five-star hotels, beach clubs or the luxury villas to be found there. It’s the mild winters, good airport access, great golf courses, restaurants, shopping and family-friendly amenities.
In 2025, it’s again one of the top five most searched-for areas in Spain on aplaceinthesun.com – the top location outside the Costa Blanca. Nearby Estepona is the second favourite on the Costa del Sol. But with Marbella you can have the traditional charm of the orange-tree shaded square of the Old Town, the old-money elegance of the Marbella Club, the glitzy new money vibe of Puerto Banus or the bucket-and-spade resorts close to hand. It got awarded 11 Blue Flag beaches in 2024 – the most for Andalusia.
La Concha mountain gives Marbella area its microclimate and it’s got the year-round buzz, thanks to its wide range of businesses, international schools, tourism and - increasingly - digital nomads. Malaga is Spain’s fourth busiest airport, offering plenty of flights all year round. There’s even skiing within easy reach with the Sierra Nevada, or closer to Marbella, the lovely, white-washed village of Ojen perched in the hills.
Over 45,000 foreigners are registered with Marbella town hall there are people from 153 countries - and the British lead the way, above Moroccans. Lifestyle benefits aside, it is also a popular choice for investors because its appeal is so diverse in terms of nationalities and also budgets: there’s strong demand for all. With property values steadily climbing and rental demand strong, Marbella offers stable returns. Its vibrant tourism and digital nomad scene make it a hotspot for both short-term rentals and medium-term (or seasonal) rentals.
Asking prices in Marbella have risen, on average, by 13.7% between June 2023 and June 2024, reaching an all-time high of €4.812 per square metre, double the average asking price 10 years ago, according to Idealista. Yet a quick look online and you’ll find a bamboozling array of homes for sale that claim to be in Marbella, but many are not. But there many areas close to the town that are popular for different reasons – and come at different price points.
Marbella: many different markets
Whether you are spending €300,000 or €3m, you can find a home within reach of Marbella. Buyers with smaller budgets might need to look to its fringes – on the edges of the ‘Golden Mile’ that runs from Plaza Bocanegra to Puerto Banus including Nagüeles.
This 7km stretch to the west of Marbella contains expensive pockets like Nueva Andalusia – where palatial properties sit next to apartment blocks – as it’s close to the designer shopping of Puerto Banus marina, three golf courses and Aloha College, one of the area’s popular international schools. But you can find two-bedroom apartments there for €300,000. Other exclusive pockets include the gated estate of Sierra Blanca, or La Zagaleta - where most homes sell for at least €4-6m but can go up to over €10m.
West Marbella, or the so-called New Golden Mile, has become an extension of the exclusive stretch. San Pedro de Alcantara in this area has increased hugely in popularity and price on the past decade – it’s a great town with its own vibe, great beachside boardwalk and restaurants. You will need around €250,000 for a three-bedroom apartment there.
Next along is Estepona which has been on the up for a while – you can still find homes with a budget of €150,000 but it’s not really Marbella. Historically East Marbella has been more affordable than West Marbella – with the Elviria (very green and tranquil), Cabopino (great marina) and Los Monteros (close to the beach) are all popular areas. You can buy a three-bedroom townhouse in Cabopino for from around €315,000.
SEARCH FOR PROPERTY IN MARBELLA
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