I am heading to Marbella, Spain during the first week of August. Based on things I've read, it's a very touristy place. I'm looking for any ideas of things to do or things to see in the area. I'm interested in seeing Spain, not resort areas. I'll have a car and am willing to drive a bit.
Thanks!
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
You're within daytrip range of Granada (and its marvellous Alhambra), Ronda, Arcos de la Frontera (and many other little "white villages through the mountains behind the coast), Gibraltar, Tarifa, and Sevilla. I would probably plan an overnight in Sevilla, though, to have the time to see the city properly. You might want to combine that with another night in one of the white villages as you swing up and back through that area. The roads are excellent....the toughest you will find is the windey road from Marbella north to Ronda. If you go to Gibraltar, let me know and I'll send you the coordinates of an excellent parking garage just inside the Spanish border.
Posted by
Los Angeles/Madrid
14 posts
Sevilla/Granada are the two big 'Andalucian' cities in the South. Both provide incredible sights (La Giralda tower, la Alhambra, Plaza de Espana de Sevilla etc.) and are not terribly far from Marbella. Sevilla is especially good with nightlife in and around its old Jewish Qtr. Both cities have fantastic Andalucian sunsets.
Have a nice trip.
Posted by
Boscombe, Dorset, UK
964 posts
Hi Tom,
I just got back from the Marbella area, my fourth visit. I go to visit friends and I love it there, but the area from Malaga to Marbella (and a bit beyond) seems more like an outpost of the UK and Germany than Spain, and is a concrete jungle. I usually head further along the coast to Estepona, whcih is a more relaxed seaside town with some Spanish influence.
The suggestions made by the other posters are great- also you might like to consider visiting Cadiz and Jerez.
And there's Malaga itself. The outskirts are like any city, but the old town is lovely with plenty to see- the Cathedral (known as the one armed lady), a Roman ampi-theatre, and the Alcazaba, for a start; and hardly a tourist in sight. The people seem laid back and it's not wildly expensive. And the light is lovely!
i just hope that if you go, you enjoy it as much as I do.
Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Boscombe, Dorset, UK
964 posts
Hi Tom, here's a couple of websites that i've found really useful.
www.andalusia.com and www.mijas.es . Mijas is a village not too far from Marbella and it's lovely.
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