Marbella is full of outstanding spots that are worth sharing. Here, we show you some of its most remarkable instagramable places.
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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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There are now 2 billion active Instagram users, not to mention, 2.9 billion people using Facebook. What we post on our social media channels matters, as it’s what we’re showing to the world about our lives, our success and our happiness. When we’re on our holidays, the social media content is even more important. We want people to see that we’re having a great time and create some envy, so we need to choose our location carefully!
Marbella is not only a fantastic place to holiday, not only an aspirational 5* destination, but it’s also gorgeous. This makes it the perfect place to generate that social media content which will having your Instagram blowing up, and everyone wishing they could be there with you.
As Marbella holiday experts, we can provide you with stunning holiday rentals in Marbella and also insider knowledge to make your stay the very best it can be. We are also always sharing beautiful pictures to inspire you on our Instagram and Facebook pages, so we’re very well placed to advise you on where to go to create amazing content!
Here’s our list of the top 6 most Instagrammable places in Marbella. Please tag us in any stunning pics you take of Marbella or use the hashtag #VacationMarbella and we’ll share the best on our socials!
Calle Ancha de Marbella
Calle Ancha literally means wide street, and is a beautiful street in Marbella’s Old Town. This street dates back to the 19th Century, when Marbella expanded beyond the city walls and Calle Ancha was built to link the city to the Northern area, which at that time was an area of farming and a place to raise livestock. Here you’ll find large houses of important figures from Marbella’s past, many with coats of arms on their facades. The architecture is Andalucian Baroque and features beautiful balconies, many filled with flowers and imposing doorways, leading on to patios.
The width of the street, with the church and its spire in the background, makes for a great photo. The vibrant flowers, bougainvillea and other climbing plants, gives an explosion of colour which contrasts with the white walls of the houses behind. That’s a great backdrop for a fantastic Insta post. On this street is the stunning French bistro of Casanis, which is a great restaurant, but also very Instagram friendly!
Marbella Old Town
The whole of Marbella Old Town is stunning and exploring its winding streets is a great thing to do when you’re on holiday in Marbella. You’ll find Instagrammable places all over the Old Town, from the beautiful Orange Square, with its bars, restaurants, orange trees and lovely architecture, to the old city walls and imposing main church. Don’t be afraid to get a little lost in the winding back streets, there’s beauty and that perfect shot waiting for you at every turn.
Great times for a seriously impressive and perhaps surprising Instagram post is during the Easter parades, when large sculptures of Jesus and Mary and carried through the streets on “tronos” by religious devotees. The Old Town also looks stunning at Christmas, with the lights twinkling and the nativity scenes set up in the churches and chapels.
We’re staying in Marbella Old Town for our next recommendation and taking you to the impressive old city walls and the remains of the castle, which dates back to the time when the Moors ruled over Marbella and the whole of Andalusia. They date back to the 11th and 12th centuries and originally had ten or eleven towers to defend Marbella from invaders and pirates, being used until the end of the 15th century and restored in the 18th century.
You can find these impressive walls and turrets along the following streets – Solano, Portada, Arte, Salinas, Trinidad, Carmen, Ortiz del Molinillo and Virgen de los Dolores. Following the walls and looking out for the towers is a great way to explore the Old Town and appreciate the history of this beautiful town.
A great Instagram location has to be the enormous walls opposite the Incarnation church, as you have the church, the square and the imposing and well restored walls, so you’re spoilt for choice. We love the contrast between the white walls, with pretty pots filled with flowers and then the imposing castle walls behind them. Walking up the steps from Calle Trinidad, with the old walls alongside you, also makes for a great picture.
Parque de la Alameda
The Alameda Park is a shady, tree filled sanctuary, which connects the Old Town and the Avenida del Mar, which leads you down to the sea. With benches, fountains and lush vegetation, it’s a great place to escape the heat and rest and relax. It also makes a stunning backdrop for an awesome Instagram post. The dappled light, is really interesting and there are some lovely little secluded corners to take some great shots. It often has things going on there too, like a Santa’s Grotto in December, book fairs and markets.
Just beyond there is the Avenida del Mar, with the sea in the background and 10 stunning bronze sculptures by Salvador Dali. There are some great pictures to be taken here too!
Puerto Banús
Moving away from Old Town Marbella now, we recommend exploring Puerto Banus for a very different set of Instagram posts. You can even take the catamaran ferry, which connects Marbella to Puerto Banus and get some fantastic snaps along the way.
Puerto Banus is Instagram gold! The port itself is really beautiful, with white washed buildings clustered around a marina, full of incredible yachts and power boats. It’s the playground of the rich and famous, so you’ll also find amazing supercars parked up, close to enormous and glamourous boats – perfect Instagram material!
It’s also designer shopping paradise, with boutiques from some of the world’s top designers and a picture of you popping out of Dior or Gucci with bags on your arm is sure to impress. A drink at the legendary Sinatra Bar offers some great photo opportunities too and a chance to rest weary feet.
When you’re rested, walk round the port to the viewing point Mirador del Muelle de Honor, for some fantastic shots out to sea and back to the beautiful port itself.
You’ll be spoilt for choice, day or night for stunning pictures from Puerto Banus and with our Puerto Banus vacation rentals you could be at the heart of all the action for your next holiday.
Sunset on the beach
Sunsets in Marbella are something else. The sky is a work of art, the light is beautiful and looking out to sea while the sun goes down is a wonderful thing to do. It’s also a perfect time to take pictures for Instagram. Whether you’re sitting on the sand, or sipping a sundowner in a beach bar, get that phone out and get snapping!
We’d love to see your favourite pictures of Marbella, so make sure to tag us on Instagram or on Facebook @vacationmarbella or use the hashtag #VacationMarbella and we’ll share the best with our followers.
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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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