Discover the five best places to watch the sunset in Marbella and marvel at the stunning skies and breathtaking views of the Costa del Sol. Not to be missed.
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[post_content] => Marbella is situated in the heart of the Costa del Golf, close to over 70 fantastic golf courses. It’s a paradise for golfers, thanks to all those courses in a small area and the beautiful climate. But when should you come and play? In this article, we’ll let you know when is golf season in Marbella.
Golf season in Marbella
You can play golf all year round in Marbella. We’re blessed with more than 320 days of sunshine, so you’ll be unlucky to have a rainy day on the fairways. Even if you come and visit Marbella in the middle of summer, you can grab a round or two. But although it’s the peak season for tourists, it’s not the most popular time for golf, due to the high temperatures.
Low seasons
If you check the golf courses in Marbella and look at their green fees, you can see the high and low seasons marked. Low seasons are considered to be January and February, June, July and August and mid-November to the end of December.
January, February, November and December are the coolest months of the year in Marbella, with the most rain, which is why they are considered the low season. But, if you’re coming over from the UK or Northern Europe, you definitely won’t find it cold, or wet. The lowest average temperature at night is only 8⁰C, and the maximum days of rain is 5 per month – so not too much to worry about!
June, July and August are beautiful times to be in Marbella, but most visitors at this time of year are wanting to be at the beach, or in the pool, rather than getting sweaty on the golf course.
High Seasons
Definitely, the most popular times to play golf in Marbella are definitely spring and autumn.
Autumn is a great time to be in Marbella, especially if you want to play golf. As soon as the school summer holidays are over, and the cooler September weather arrives, people flock to the golf courses. September and October are the very best times, as there’s very little rain, bright sunshine and blue skies, but relatively cooler and more comfortable temperatures to get active.
These months are such a lovely time to visit Marbella, with plenty to do and see. Following the summer the prices of flights and accommodation drop too, so it’s a great time to consider.
Spring is also a popular golf season in Marbella, as the temperatures start to climb from March, the air is fresh and although you can get a few showers, you’d be unlucky to get sustained rain during your stay.
In March, you’ll get highs of 20⁰C and lows of 10⁰C and in April highs of 22⁰C and lows of 11⁰C and there are only four days of rain each month on average.
May starts to really warm up, so if you love warm weather and would like to combine golf days with time at beach clubs, or hitting the clubs, this is an excellent month to do both, before the heat really kicks in.
Benefits of playing during Marbella’s golf season
The golf season represents the absolute optimum time to play golf in Marbella and so you’ll get the best weather for a round.
As it’s a popular time, the atmosphere in the club house will be great and you can time it for a golf event or two.
You’re likely to meet like-minded people at the club and out and about after your rounds and it’s a very sociable and fun time to play.
Marbella’s golf season also coincides with the off-peak season when it comes to other tourism. This means that it is considerably cheaper to fly and to find accommodation during this time. The restaurants, bars and clubs are also more able to handle big groups, as it’s quiet, and if you’re traveling in a larger group, you’ll be very well looked after.
Downsides of playing golf during golf season
On the flip side, the golf season represents the busiest time on the fairways, so preferred tee times might be hard to come by. Also, if you are inexperienced golfers, and may take longer than average to get round the course, you might be getting pressure from groups behind and feel uncomfortable.
It is also significantly more expensive to play golf in Marbella in the high season and deals are limited. Whereas in the low season, it is better value for money.
Tips to prepare for the Marbella golf season
Hit the driving range – Get prepared for your golf holiday in Marbella back home, by practicing on the driving range and perfecting your shots, so you are at your best when you arrive.
Pre-select your courses – With so many courses to choose from it can be very hard to know where you want to play. You can check out our recommendations of the 10 best golf courses in Marbella as a great place to start. Then look at the green fees to decide which ones are in your budget. Finally, plan your trip and decide if you want to play every day, or have days where you go sightseeing, or relax and unwind, and choose your dates. When you’re ready, you can book Green Fees through Vacation Marbella for great deals and prices.
Book your flights and accommodation – Look for available flights into Malaga Airport and then into availability of accommodation in Marbella. We’d recommend searching for vacation rental properties near the best golf courses and look at larger properties that you can share with your golf group. This can work out cheaper per head than hotels, and offer a fantastic space to relax and hang out after a round. Alternatively, you might decide that you’d rather be at the heart of all the action, if going out on the town in the evenings is a high priority.
Think about transport – You’ll need to either hire cars to get you around, or look into transfers and private drivers in Marbella.
Get to know the courses – Check out the hole-by-hole guides, to familiarize yourself with the courses you’re due to play and get tips on how to have the best game. You can also check out the services to see if there are driving ranges or putting greens which you can use to make sure you’re fully prepared for the round. You can even decide to hire a golf instructor in Marbella, to help you improve your game, or to accompany you around the course.
Can you play golf in winter in Marbella?
Absolutely! Although winter is considered to be the low season for the golf courses, it’s also a great time to play golf in Marbella, as it rarely gets cold here or rains. In November, you’ll get highs of 20⁰C and lows of 11⁰C and in December highs of 18⁰C and lows of 9⁰C and there are only five days of rain each month on average.
As it's the low season, you can also benefit from some great deals and reduced green fees, alongside the cheapest accommodation, so it’s the best value time to take a golf holiday in Marbella.
Do golf courses close in Marbella in winter?
No, most golf courses are open all year round and you could even play on Christmas Day if you want to.
Many golf clubs also host special Christmas and New Year events too, so you can spend a special Christmas in Marbella with the family and play golf too. The perfect present!
Check out our guide on enjoying Marbella in the winter, for more tips on visiting Marbella at this time of year.
Where to stay for a golf holiday in Marbella?
There are so many golf courses in and around Marbella, that you can really take your pick of places to stay, but here are two areas with the highest density of courses and good access to post game activities.
Stay in Nueva Andalucia: To be very close to many golf courses, and also within easy reach of restaurants, bars and nightlife, rental a property in Nueva Andalucia is a really good choice. Nueva Andalucia is known as golf valley, with Aloha, Las Brisas, Los Naranjos, La Quinta and Magna Marbella right on the doorstep. It is just up the hill from the bright lights of Puerto Banus, so you will have the best of both worlds and limited travel time to the fairways.
Stay in Benahavis: Another area with a lot of courses in a very small area is Benahavis, with 11 golf courses within the municipality. It’s also a gorgeous white village, famous for the many restaurants and charming atmosphere, so rental a property in Benahavis is a lovely option for dining and drinking after your round.
Contact us for recommendations on the best places to stay when you have the courses you’re considering and the group size and we’ll send you a list of options.
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[post_content] => On your next holiday in Marbella, why not get to know the area, and sample some wonderful local wines and traditional dishes through a wine tour?
Wine is an important part of the history of Andalucia, believed to be brought to the area by the Phoenicians, around 1100 BC. The area around Marbella, particularly Manilva and Ronda have become famous for wines, and Spanish wines in general are growing in popularity for their quality and excellent value for money.
You’ll find great wines in restaurants in Marbella and some fabulous wine shops in Marbella as well to stock up and sample many Spanish and international wines.
In this article we’re uncovering the options for wine tours in and around Marbella. Read on to find out more….
Why do a wine tour in Marbella?
Marbella Old Town is a stunning warren of narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses, pretty squares and historic buildings. You’ll find fabulous shops, bars and restaurants tucked away at every turn and it’s a lot of fun to explore.
But it can get a little confusing, and it’s easy to go around in circles and miss the best bits. It is also hard to know where the best wine and food can be found and also know what to order, if you’re just visiting.
A wine tour of Marbella Old Town solves both problems by touring the best bits of this historic area, with an experienced and knowledgeable guide. They will make sure you see the most important sites and the most picturesque corners and answer your questions about the history and culture of the area. They have also chosen the best places to go and take the guesswork out of everything by ordering the best food and wine and taking care of everything for you.
From our point of view, this is a great way to sight-see – with stops for food and wine along the way!!
We also have some great vacation rentals in Marbella Old Town if you want to get to know it even better.
What's included with wine tours in Marbella Old Town?
Most wine tours around Marbella Old Town last for three hours. They include a sightseeing tour of Marbella, with a private guide, to introduce you to the history and culture and take you around the most beautiful spots. They will take you for a wine tasting, and to some great tapas bars, where they will pair Spanish wines with delicious local dishes. Many of the tours also include a tasting of olive oils, which is a wonderful experience.
There are group tours which you can join, or private tours that you can organize. The best option for you depends on the size of your group and the level of your knowledge or particular preferences or allergies. If you don’t know too much about Spanish wines yet, and are flexible with what you try and where you go, then join in with a group. If you are quite particular about your wines, or have a large group and prefer to keep the experience just for you, then private is better, but obviously it is a more expensive option, especially if you’re a small group.
We’d recommend that you ask at the tourist office closest to your vacation rental in Marbella for their recommendations on the wine tours that are currently running in Marbella. You can also see the selection of wine tasting tours in and around Marbella on TripAdvisor, so you can see what suits you best and read the reviews. Viator also has a good selection.
Many of the tours focus more on the tapas, then accompanying these dishes with wines, rather than doing pure wine tasting experiences. But we’d definitely recommend these too.
If you’re looking for experiences more focused on the wines, here are two things we’d recommend.
The company Wine & Senses is offering an exciting way to learn about the world of wine in Marbella. They offer a sensory tasting experience with activities and games and 5 different wines to try.
One of the best wine shops in Marbella is Casa Pablo, which we’d definitely recommend for any wine lovers. This great shop also offers monthly wine tasting events and you can also book private wine tastings at Casa Pablo too. Most wine shops will arrange tastings for you, as will some wine bars with extensive wine lists, so don’t be afraid to ask!
Best companies for wine tours Marbella
Get Your Guide offers a selection of Marbella wine tours including tapas, wonderful wines and a tour of different parts of the town. This is a great way to find a wine tour in Marbella that suits you and your group. There’s an option to walk around Marbella and visit the food market to discover the food and wine of this region. There are also wine, olive oil and tapas tours to try, which includes wine tasting in Marbella Old Town. You can find all the information including routes and itinerary on their website.
Rootz wine tours has a range of tours with pick-ups from Marbella exploring the different wine regions within easy reach of Marbella, where you can see beautiful scenery, explore inland Costa del Sol, learn about Spanish wine and wine production and of course enjoy sampling some great wines with an experienced guide.
The tradition of wine in Marbella
Although the most famous Spanish wines on a global level come from the area of Rioja, the Malaga region is also home to a strong wine making tradition. Wine was being made in this area long before the Romans arrived and they continued the practice and improved the quality of the wines, before the Moors arrived and took it to the next level.
Malaga’s most famous wines are sweet, dessert wines, made from muscatel and Pedro Ximenez grapes, using the hot sun to enhance the sweetness of the grapes and make them taste delicious. But it’s not only sweet wines being produced here. We also have dry, aged wines called Fino, which are very popular during Feria time, and best served very cold.
You’ll find excellent red wines being made in Ronda, sweet wines in Manilva and Axarquia, and if you’re happy to travel a little further, you can visit the home of sherry – Jerez, under 2 hours away.
Wine tours, tastings and experiences near to Marbella
If you want to visit the bodegas and see how local wines are made, you will need to leave Marbella center, but you won’t need to travel far. In around an hour, you can be in the beautiful town of Ronda, which is growing in popularity worldwide as a highly respected wine producing region. There are lots of great vineyards, producing wonderful wines and welcoming guests to take wine tours and tastings. Check out our article with tips to help you enjoy the amazing wines and vineyards of Ronda.
On the Western Costa del Sol, a half an hour drive from Marbella is Manilva, a famous producer of sweet wines. There is a wine museum where you can learn about the history and the art of wine making and then go to the vineyard itself and enjoy a wine tasting, overlooking these ancient vines and the sea beyond. Highly recommended if you like dessert wines.
The region's fabulous restaurants often do great tasting menus, with wine pairings, to showcase local wines too.
Spanish wines are a really wonderful part of any holiday to Marbella and we’d definitely encourage you to embrace them!
Browse our Marbella holiday rentals and choose your perfect property for your next trip.
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[post_content] => Foodies are in luck during a holiday to Marbella. The traditional dishes that you can find on every corner are absolutely delicious and packed full of history and culture. A great way to try loads of different dishes during your holiday is to visit the tapas bars and have a selection of small plates to share in each place or visit the best restaurants in Marbella. Cruising around tapas bars on a hot summer’s evening is a pleasure and if you ask the waiter for their best dishes, you can get a real culinary education.
Marbella is part of the Málaga province and so Marbella’s dishes come from the rich history of Málaga and Andalucia, as well as being part of the wider Spanish cuisine that has become so famous around the world. The Costa del Sol was made up of fishing villages, and you can still head out to sea and catch a wide variety of fish off our shores. So, there’s no wonder that fish and seafood dominate the list of traditional dishes, but we have some inland dishes on this list as well for a taste of the mountains just behind the coastline.
Let’s dive in and take you on a tour of Málaga’s ten most traditional and best loved dishes.
1. Espeto de sardinas
Sardines are plentiful along the Costa del Sol and the most traditional way to cook them is over fire, on a skewer, with olive oil and a generous sprinkle of salt. You’ll see most beach restaurants o chiringuitos with old fishing boats, filled with sand and a fire burning away on top. The fish and seafood skewers are stuck in the sand and the talented “espeteros” turn the fish, angle it and move it around, to get the perfect char and smokiness, and ensure the flesh is succulent and cooked through. Enjoy these sardines fresh from the fire, with a squeeze of lemon.
2. Fried fish
You’ll find “Fritura Malagueña” on most menus, especially in the coastal parts of the Malaga province. Essentially, this is just a selection of small fish and squid, whatever the fisherman would have caught that day, covered in seasoned flour and deep fried, until crispy and delicious. These are the smaller and less prized seafood, such as squid, red mullet and anchovies, but it can consist of anything that was plentiful in the daily catch. Enjoy with a salad, some aioli and a generous squeeze of lemon.
3. Concha fina
These large clams are served oyster style, raw, and in open shells over ice and are delicious. They are sweet, salty and really fresh, served simply with a few grinds of black pepper and some lemon juice and slurped down with gusto! The texture is much less challenging than an oyster and they are smaller, but packed with flavor. You can often buy these in seafood restaurant or tapas bars individually, so you can give them a try, even if you’re not a raw seafood lover.
4. Málaga potato salad
There are two names for this dish that you might see on menus, “Ensalada Malagueña” or “Ensalada Cateta”. It’s a really interesting combination of boiled potatoes, hard boiled eggs, salt cod (bacalao), orange, onion, olive oil and salt. There are many different recipes, so you may find it with peppers, tomatoes and cucumber and even have the salt cod replaced with tuna. Whatever the combination, it’s a very interesting, and filling salad and while combining potatoes, eggs, orange and fish may sound weird, we’d definitely suggest giving it a try.
5. Eggplant with honey
Here’s another seemingly strange combination that tastes amazing - Berenjenas con miel (eggplants or aubergine with molasses). The “miel” is translated as “honey” but it’s actually “miel de caña” which is a kind of black treacle made from sugar cane. The eggplant is cut into rounds, or chip shapes, covered with seasoned flour and fried until golden and crispy. Salt is then added and it is drizzled in a good amount of black, sweet molasses and eaten hot. This is a delicious bar snack or side and perfect for vegetarians.
6. Porra antequerana
We’re moving away from the coast and into the mountains for this next dish, which comes from the pretty town of Antequera, around an hour inland from Málaga city. This cold soup is very similar to salmorejo, featuring tomatoes, bread and olive oil as the stars. The main difference between salmorejo and porra being that porra has red and green pepper added and is heavier on the bread, for a slightly thicker texture. Whichever of these soups you choose, expect it to be topped with diced ham and eggs and be a very satisfying and rich soup, perfect for lunch on a hot summer day.
7. Ajoblanco
Ajoblanco is another chilled soup, but this time there are no tomatoes to be seen. It’s also based on stale bread, but also has almonds, garlic and vinegar, blended to a smooth consistency, chilled and served with grapes on top.
8. Plato de los Montes de Málaga
Literally translating as the plate of the Mountains of Malaga, this is a hearty dish that you’ll find inland in any of the small “ventas” or cafes along the roadside. Be hungry when you order this, as the portions are always generous! It usually consists of chips, egg, and one or two kinds of sausage (often chorizo and black pudding, but this varies) and a fried green pepper.
9. Campero Malagueño
This is a typical Malaga style sandwich, served on a large white bread roll called a Mollete, which is traditional to Antequera. It can be filled with absolutely anything, but we love it with chicken.
10. Crazy cakes
We’re finishing our top 10 with something sweet. “Tortas Locas” or Crazy Cakes are sweet pastries which are essentially a sandwich of two puff pastry discs, filled with a chilled custard/ crème patissiere and then topped or covered with an egg yolk cream, a sweet glaze and a glacé cherry on top. Find this in a bakery and enjoy with a strong coffee.
This is just the tip of the culinary iceberg in the Málaga province. You’ll eat well here, especially if you dare to eat with the locals and try new things. If you need a bit of guidance, there are some great food tours where knowledgeable guides will share their favorite dishes, and show you around.
We’d love to hear if you’ve tried any of these dishes on your holiday, or if there are any that we’ve missed. Bon appétit, or as they say here – ¡Buen Provecho!
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At sunset in Marbella, the stunning sea, beautiful beaches and magnificent views take on a magical quality. This iconic stretch of the Costa del Sol is blessed with wonderful year-round weather, great light and on a clear evening, you can even see the Atlas Mountains in Africa. As the sun dips beneath the horizon, the sky appears painted with pinks, oranges and reds and this natural show will take your breath away. The very best sunsets take place in the winter months, from November to February, when the sky is clearest and you have the best chance of catching a glimpse of Africa. But they are stunning all year round.
Marbella sunsets are second to none and today we’ll give you the insiders’ guide to where to see the sunset in Marbella and enjoy this stunning sight to the full.
On the Beach
Marbella is blessed with 27.9km of beautiful beaches and they are a magnet for sun worshippers all year round. But they are not just a place for topping up your tan, they are also one of the best places to catch an iconic Marbella sunset.
We’d recommend heading down to El Faro Beach in central Marbella to catch the last of the sun in this sheltered cove. The water is shallow and calm and with the bars of Marbella Port behind you and the Mediterranean stretching out in front of you, you can see the lights of the seafront promenade and Puerto Banús start to twinkle, as the sun starts to dip. Then you’re in the perfect place to enjoy some of Marbella’s best bars and nightlife when the sun has gone down.
But that’s just one of the 24 fantastic beaches in Marbella. Some other beautiful blue flag beaches to watch the sunset in Marbella are El Ancón Beach on the Golden Mile, Guadalmina Beach, Nueva Andalucía Beach and if you’re happy to go a little further out from Marbella centre itself, Cabopino Beach and the beaches of Riviera are highly recommended.
Insiders’ Tip – We love to take a little picnic onto the beach to enjoy the sunset. Why not sip some delicious Spanish cava on a blanket, as the sun goes down and the stars come out?
Puerto Banús
Puerto Banús is Marbella’s most exclusive marina, home to superyachts, supercars and designer boutiques. It is also home to some fantastic bars and restaurants, just back from the water’s edge and these are great places to catch a Marbella sunset in style. There are some legendary spots, like Picasso Pizzeria and Sinatra Bar, which have hosted many famous faces over the years. All areas of the frontline Puerto Banús offer wonderful places to see the sunset in Marbella, overlooking some of the world’s most beautiful boats. But, for uninterrupted views, we’d recommend exploring the less well-known side of the port, by the Benabola development, where the tables are closer to the sea and the views are breathtaking at sunset.
Insiders’ Tip – Stroll around Puerto Banús at early evening to enjoy the buzz of the bars and restaurants and a little retail therapy. You can walk out to a viewing point right on the tip of the harbour, called Mirador del Muelle de Honor and have incredible views. This is Marbella sunsets as you’ve never seen it before!
Exclusive beach clubs and beach bars
We love going to a beach club for sundowners, especially on warm summer evenings. Getting dressed up and heading down for cocktails as the sun goes down is highly recommended. With cool music, beautiful people and a great atmosphere, they are the hottest places to people watch and be seen during the summer months. There are loads of wonderful options to choose from along the Costa del Sol. Some of the most popular are La Sala by the Sea, Mistral Beach Club, Ocean Club, Playa Padre and of course Nikki Beach. Taking a table at an exclusive beach club is an unforgettable setting for a Marbella sunset.
There are also hundreds of beach bars, along the long seafront promenade, which offer great places to see the sunset in Marbella. Grab a drink, or a bite to eat as the sun goes down and you won’t be disappointed.
Up on a Rooftop
Some of the very best views of sunsets in Marbella can be found from one of the many rooftop bars and restaurants. You can enjoy a few drinks, or a lovely meal, with a 360⁰ view. Several hotels in Marbella allow non-residents access to their rooftop terraces and bars. There are also some great bars, restaurants and nightclubs in Puerto Banús which offer rooftops to drink, dine and dance al fresco. For sunsets in Marbella, we’d recommend checking out the rooftop bars at Breathe in Nueva Andalucia, the Benabola Sky Lounge, the NH Hotel in San Pedro and the Virazón rooftop bar in Marbella Old Town.
From a sailboat
Last, but definitely not least, we’d recommend taking to the water at sunset to really feel part of one of the legendary Marbella sunsets. From the sea, you not only enjoy the view of the sun setting over the water, but also get an unbeatable view of the Costa del Sol coastline. As the sun sets and hits the iconic mountain of La Concha, it turns it the most spectacular shade of red.
There are a number of ways to do this, the most economical being taking a later Fly Blue Ferry from Banús to Marbella. This large catamaran offers a scenic 30-minute voyage, sailing every hour from 11.00 to 19.00 from March to November. Check out the time of the sunset for when you’re visiting and then time your trip to perfection and arrive in Marbella for dinner in an unforgettable fashion.
There are also many companies running sunset cruises on beautiful sailing yachts and motor boats. You can charter a boat from Puerto Banús and Marbella, for the whole day, or just a few hours at sunset. There are private hire options where you can include catering and entertainment for a private and luxurious experience, or you can join a group sailing to keep costs down.
Conclusion
Wherever you choose to enjoy a sunset in Marbella, we hope you’ll love the display. For us, it is one of the highlights of visiting the area. Vacation Marbella are here to help you find the best holiday rentals on the Costa del Sol and make your experience unforgettable. You can browse our selection of vacation rentals on our website and contact our helpful team for advice and practical support to make your holiday the very best it can be.
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[post_content] => Marbella is situated in the heart of the Costa del Golf, close to over 70 fantastic golf courses. It’s a paradise for golfers, thanks to all those courses in a small area and the beautiful climate. But when should you come and play? In this article, we’ll let you know when is golf season in Marbella.
Golf season in Marbella
You can play golf all year round in Marbella. We’re blessed with more than 320 days of sunshine, so you’ll be unlucky to have a rainy day on the fairways. Even if you come and visit Marbella in the middle of summer, you can grab a round or two. But although it’s the peak season for tourists, it’s not the most popular time for golf, due to the high temperatures.
Low seasons
If you check the golf courses in Marbella and look at their green fees, you can see the high and low seasons marked. Low seasons are considered to be January and February, June, July and August and mid-November to the end of December.
January, February, November and December are the coolest months of the year in Marbella, with the most rain, which is why they are considered the low season. But, if you’re coming over from the UK or Northern Europe, you definitely won’t find it cold, or wet. The lowest average temperature at night is only 8⁰C, and the maximum days of rain is 5 per month – so not too much to worry about!
June, July and August are beautiful times to be in Marbella, but most visitors at this time of year are wanting to be at the beach, or in the pool, rather than getting sweaty on the golf course.
High Seasons
Definitely, the most popular times to play golf in Marbella are definitely spring and autumn.
Autumn is a great time to be in Marbella, especially if you want to play golf. As soon as the school summer holidays are over, and the cooler September weather arrives, people flock to the golf courses. September and October are the very best times, as there’s very little rain, bright sunshine and blue skies, but relatively cooler and more comfortable temperatures to get active.
These months are such a lovely time to visit Marbella, with plenty to do and see. Following the summer the prices of flights and accommodation drop too, so it’s a great time to consider.
Spring is also a popular golf season in Marbella, as the temperatures start to climb from March, the air is fresh and although you can get a few showers, you’d be unlucky to get sustained rain during your stay.
In March, you’ll get highs of 20⁰C and lows of 10⁰C and in April highs of 22⁰C and lows of 11⁰C and there are only four days of rain each month on average.
May starts to really warm up, so if you love warm weather and would like to combine golf days with time at beach clubs, or hitting the clubs, this is an excellent month to do both, before the heat really kicks in.
Benefits of playing during Marbella’s golf season
The golf season represents the absolute optimum time to play golf in Marbella and so you’ll get the best weather for a round.
As it’s a popular time, the atmosphere in the club house will be great and you can time it for a golf event or two.
You’re likely to meet like-minded people at the club and out and about after your rounds and it’s a very sociable and fun time to play.
Marbella’s golf season also coincides with the off-peak season when it comes to other tourism. This means that it is considerably cheaper to fly and to find accommodation during this time. The restaurants, bars and clubs are also more able to handle big groups, as it’s quiet, and if you’re traveling in a larger group, you’ll be very well looked after.
Downsides of playing golf during golf season
On the flip side, the golf season represents the busiest time on the fairways, so preferred tee times might be hard to come by. Also, if you are inexperienced golfers, and may take longer than average to get round the course, you might be getting pressure from groups behind and feel uncomfortable.
It is also significantly more expensive to play golf in Marbella in the high season and deals are limited. Whereas in the low season, it is better value for money.
Tips to prepare for the Marbella golf season
Hit the driving range – Get prepared for your golf holiday in Marbella back home, by practicing on the driving range and perfecting your shots, so you are at your best when you arrive.
Pre-select your courses – With so many courses to choose from it can be very hard to know where you want to play. You can check out our recommendations of the 10 best golf courses in Marbella as a great place to start. Then look at the green fees to decide which ones are in your budget. Finally, plan your trip and decide if you want to play every day, or have days where you go sightseeing, or relax and unwind, and choose your dates. When you’re ready, you can book Green Fees through Vacation Marbella for great deals and prices.
Book your flights and accommodation – Look for available flights into Malaga Airport and then into availability of accommodation in Marbella. We’d recommend searching for vacation rental properties near the best golf courses and look at larger properties that you can share with your golf group. This can work out cheaper per head than hotels, and offer a fantastic space to relax and hang out after a round. Alternatively, you might decide that you’d rather be at the heart of all the action, if going out on the town in the evenings is a high priority.
Think about transport – You’ll need to either hire cars to get you around, or look into transfers and private drivers in Marbella.
Get to know the courses – Check out the hole-by-hole guides, to familiarize yourself with the courses you’re due to play and get tips on how to have the best game. You can also check out the services to see if there are driving ranges or putting greens which you can use to make sure you’re fully prepared for the round. You can even decide to hire a golf instructor in Marbella, to help you improve your game, or to accompany you around the course.
Can you play golf in winter in Marbella?
Absolutely! Although winter is considered to be the low season for the golf courses, it’s also a great time to play golf in Marbella, as it rarely gets cold here or rains. In November, you’ll get highs of 20⁰C and lows of 11⁰C and in December highs of 18⁰C and lows of 9⁰C and there are only five days of rain each month on average.
As it's the low season, you can also benefit from some great deals and reduced green fees, alongside the cheapest accommodation, so it’s the best value time to take a golf holiday in Marbella.
Do golf courses close in Marbella in winter?
No, most golf courses are open all year round and you could even play on Christmas Day if you want to.
Many golf clubs also host special Christmas and New Year events too, so you can spend a special Christmas in Marbella with the family and play golf too. The perfect present!
Check out our guide on enjoying Marbella in the winter, for more tips on visiting Marbella at this time of year.
Where to stay for a golf holiday in Marbella?
There are so many golf courses in and around Marbella, that you can really take your pick of places to stay, but here are two areas with the highest density of courses and good access to post game activities.
Stay in Nueva Andalucia: To be very close to many golf courses, and also within easy reach of restaurants, bars and nightlife, rental a property in Nueva Andalucia is a really good choice. Nueva Andalucia is known as golf valley, with Aloha, Las Brisas, Los Naranjos, La Quinta and Magna Marbella right on the doorstep. It is just up the hill from the bright lights of Puerto Banus, so you will have the best of both worlds and limited travel time to the fairways.
Stay in Benahavis: Another area with a lot of courses in a very small area is Benahavis, with 11 golf courses within the municipality. It’s also a gorgeous white village, famous for the many restaurants and charming atmosphere, so rental a property in Benahavis is a lovely option for dining and drinking after your round.
Contact us for recommendations on the best places to stay when you have the courses you’re considering and the group size and we’ll send you a list of options.
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[post_content] => On your next holiday in Marbella, why not get to know the area, and sample some wonderful local wines and traditional dishes through a wine tour?
Wine is an important part of the history of Andalucia, believed to be brought to the area by the Phoenicians, around 1100 BC. The area around Marbella, particularly Manilva and Ronda have become famous for wines, and Spanish wines in general are growing in popularity for their quality and excellent value for money.
You’ll find great wines in restaurants in Marbella and some fabulous wine shops in Marbella as well to stock up and sample many Spanish and international wines.
In this article we’re uncovering the options for wine tours in and around Marbella. Read on to find out more….
Why do a wine tour in Marbella?
Marbella Old Town is a stunning warren of narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses, pretty squares and historic buildings. You’ll find fabulous shops, bars and restaurants tucked away at every turn and it’s a lot of fun to explore.
But it can get a little confusing, and it’s easy to go around in circles and miss the best bits. It is also hard to know where the best wine and food can be found and also know what to order, if you’re just visiting.
A wine tour of Marbella Old Town solves both problems by touring the best bits of this historic area, with an experienced and knowledgeable guide. They will make sure you see the most important sites and the most picturesque corners and answer your questions about the history and culture of the area. They have also chosen the best places to go and take the guesswork out of everything by ordering the best food and wine and taking care of everything for you.
From our point of view, this is a great way to sight-see – with stops for food and wine along the way!!
We also have some great vacation rentals in Marbella Old Town if you want to get to know it even better.
What's included with wine tours in Marbella Old Town?
Most wine tours around Marbella Old Town last for three hours. They include a sightseeing tour of Marbella, with a private guide, to introduce you to the history and culture and take you around the most beautiful spots. They will take you for a wine tasting, and to some great tapas bars, where they will pair Spanish wines with delicious local dishes. Many of the tours also include a tasting of olive oils, which is a wonderful experience.
There are group tours which you can join, or private tours that you can organize. The best option for you depends on the size of your group and the level of your knowledge or particular preferences or allergies. If you don’t know too much about Spanish wines yet, and are flexible with what you try and where you go, then join in with a group. If you are quite particular about your wines, or have a large group and prefer to keep the experience just for you, then private is better, but obviously it is a more expensive option, especially if you’re a small group.
We’d recommend that you ask at the tourist office closest to your vacation rental in Marbella for their recommendations on the wine tours that are currently running in Marbella. You can also see the selection of wine tasting tours in and around Marbella on TripAdvisor, so you can see what suits you best and read the reviews. Viator also has a good selection.
Many of the tours focus more on the tapas, then accompanying these dishes with wines, rather than doing pure wine tasting experiences. But we’d definitely recommend these too.
If you’re looking for experiences more focused on the wines, here are two things we’d recommend.
The company Wine & Senses is offering an exciting way to learn about the world of wine in Marbella. They offer a sensory tasting experience with activities and games and 5 different wines to try.
One of the best wine shops in Marbella is Casa Pablo, which we’d definitely recommend for any wine lovers. This great shop also offers monthly wine tasting events and you can also book private wine tastings at Casa Pablo too. Most wine shops will arrange tastings for you, as will some wine bars with extensive wine lists, so don’t be afraid to ask!
Best companies for wine tours Marbella
Get Your Guide offers a selection of Marbella wine tours including tapas, wonderful wines and a tour of different parts of the town. This is a great way to find a wine tour in Marbella that suits you and your group. There’s an option to walk around Marbella and visit the food market to discover the food and wine of this region. There are also wine, olive oil and tapas tours to try, which includes wine tasting in Marbella Old Town. You can find all the information including routes and itinerary on their website.
Rootz wine tours has a range of tours with pick-ups from Marbella exploring the different wine regions within easy reach of Marbella, where you can see beautiful scenery, explore inland Costa del Sol, learn about Spanish wine and wine production and of course enjoy sampling some great wines with an experienced guide.
The tradition of wine in Marbella
Although the most famous Spanish wines on a global level come from the area of Rioja, the Malaga region is also home to a strong wine making tradition. Wine was being made in this area long before the Romans arrived and they continued the practice and improved the quality of the wines, before the Moors arrived and took it to the next level.
Malaga’s most famous wines are sweet, dessert wines, made from muscatel and Pedro Ximenez grapes, using the hot sun to enhance the sweetness of the grapes and make them taste delicious. But it’s not only sweet wines being produced here. We also have dry, aged wines called Fino, which are very popular during Feria time, and best served very cold.
You’ll find excellent red wines being made in Ronda, sweet wines in Manilva and Axarquia, and if you’re happy to travel a little further, you can visit the home of sherry – Jerez, under 2 hours away.
Wine tours, tastings and experiences near to Marbella
If you want to visit the bodegas and see how local wines are made, you will need to leave Marbella center, but you won’t need to travel far. In around an hour, you can be in the beautiful town of Ronda, which is growing in popularity worldwide as a highly respected wine producing region. There are lots of great vineyards, producing wonderful wines and welcoming guests to take wine tours and tastings. Check out our article with tips to help you enjoy the amazing wines and vineyards of Ronda.
On the Western Costa del Sol, a half an hour drive from Marbella is Manilva, a famous producer of sweet wines. There is a wine museum where you can learn about the history and the art of wine making and then go to the vineyard itself and enjoy a wine tasting, overlooking these ancient vines and the sea beyond. Highly recommended if you like dessert wines.
The region's fabulous restaurants often do great tasting menus, with wine pairings, to showcase local wines too.
Spanish wines are a really wonderful part of any holiday to Marbella and we’d definitely encourage you to embrace them!
Browse our Marbella holiday rentals and choose your perfect property for your next trip.
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[post_content] => Foodies are in luck during a holiday to Marbella. The traditional dishes that you can find on every corner are absolutely delicious and packed full of history and culture. A great way to try loads of different dishes during your holiday is to visit the tapas bars and have a selection of small plates to share in each place or visit the best restaurants in Marbella. Cruising around tapas bars on a hot summer’s evening is a pleasure and if you ask the waiter for their best dishes, you can get a real culinary education.
Marbella is part of the Málaga province and so Marbella’s dishes come from the rich history of Málaga and Andalucia, as well as being part of the wider Spanish cuisine that has become so famous around the world. The Costa del Sol was made up of fishing villages, and you can still head out to sea and catch a wide variety of fish off our shores. So, there’s no wonder that fish and seafood dominate the list of traditional dishes, but we have some inland dishes on this list as well for a taste of the mountains just behind the coastline.
Let’s dive in and take you on a tour of Málaga’s ten most traditional and best loved dishes.
1. Espeto de sardinas
Sardines are plentiful along the Costa del Sol and the most traditional way to cook them is over fire, on a skewer, with olive oil and a generous sprinkle of salt. You’ll see most beach restaurants o chiringuitos with old fishing boats, filled with sand and a fire burning away on top. The fish and seafood skewers are stuck in the sand and the talented “espeteros” turn the fish, angle it and move it around, to get the perfect char and smokiness, and ensure the flesh is succulent and cooked through. Enjoy these sardines fresh from the fire, with a squeeze of lemon.
2. Fried fish
You’ll find “Fritura Malagueña” on most menus, especially in the coastal parts of the Malaga province. Essentially, this is just a selection of small fish and squid, whatever the fisherman would have caught that day, covered in seasoned flour and deep fried, until crispy and delicious. These are the smaller and less prized seafood, such as squid, red mullet and anchovies, but it can consist of anything that was plentiful in the daily catch. Enjoy with a salad, some aioli and a generous squeeze of lemon.
3. Concha fina
These large clams are served oyster style, raw, and in open shells over ice and are delicious. They are sweet, salty and really fresh, served simply with a few grinds of black pepper and some lemon juice and slurped down with gusto! The texture is much less challenging than an oyster and they are smaller, but packed with flavor. You can often buy these in seafood restaurant or tapas bars individually, so you can give them a try, even if you’re not a raw seafood lover.
4. Málaga potato salad
There are two names for this dish that you might see on menus, “Ensalada Malagueña” or “Ensalada Cateta”. It’s a really interesting combination of boiled potatoes, hard boiled eggs, salt cod (bacalao), orange, onion, olive oil and salt. There are many different recipes, so you may find it with peppers, tomatoes and cucumber and even have the salt cod replaced with tuna. Whatever the combination, it’s a very interesting, and filling salad and while combining potatoes, eggs, orange and fish may sound weird, we’d definitely suggest giving it a try.
5. Eggplant with honey
Here’s another seemingly strange combination that tastes amazing - Berenjenas con miel (eggplants or aubergine with molasses). The “miel” is translated as “honey” but it’s actually “miel de caña” which is a kind of black treacle made from sugar cane. The eggplant is cut into rounds, or chip shapes, covered with seasoned flour and fried until golden and crispy. Salt is then added and it is drizzled in a good amount of black, sweet molasses and eaten hot. This is a delicious bar snack or side and perfect for vegetarians.
6. Porra antequerana
We’re moving away from the coast and into the mountains for this next dish, which comes from the pretty town of Antequera, around an hour inland from Málaga city. This cold soup is very similar to salmorejo, featuring tomatoes, bread and olive oil as the stars. The main difference between salmorejo and porra being that porra has red and green pepper added and is heavier on the bread, for a slightly thicker texture. Whichever of these soups you choose, expect it to be topped with diced ham and eggs and be a very satisfying and rich soup, perfect for lunch on a hot summer day.
7. Ajoblanco
Ajoblanco is another chilled soup, but this time there are no tomatoes to be seen. It’s also based on stale bread, but also has almonds, garlic and vinegar, blended to a smooth consistency, chilled and served with grapes on top.
8. Plato de los Montes de Málaga
Literally translating as the plate of the Mountains of Malaga, this is a hearty dish that you’ll find inland in any of the small “ventas” or cafes along the roadside. Be hungry when you order this, as the portions are always generous! It usually consists of chips, egg, and one or two kinds of sausage (often chorizo and black pudding, but this varies) and a fried green pepper.
9. Campero Malagueño
This is a typical Malaga style sandwich, served on a large white bread roll called a Mollete, which is traditional to Antequera. It can be filled with absolutely anything, but we love it with chicken.
10. Crazy cakes
We’re finishing our top 10 with something sweet. “Tortas Locas” or Crazy Cakes are sweet pastries which are essentially a sandwich of two puff pastry discs, filled with a chilled custard/ crème patissiere and then topped or covered with an egg yolk cream, a sweet glaze and a glacé cherry on top. Find this in a bakery and enjoy with a strong coffee.
This is just the tip of the culinary iceberg in the Málaga province. You’ll eat well here, especially if you dare to eat with the locals and try new things. If you need a bit of guidance, there are some great food tours where knowledgeable guides will share their favorite dishes, and show you around.
We’d love to hear if you’ve tried any of these dishes on your holiday, or if there are any that we’ve missed. Bon appétit, or as they say here – ¡Buen Provecho!
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