Our Big Summer Adventure Part VII: The Fairy-Tale Old Town of Marbella

Hello friends!

Welcome back to the second post dedicated to Marbella, one of the destinations we had the pleasure of discovering during our big summer adventure.

In the previous post, I shared our experience staying in Playa Real, enjoying Marbella's beaches, and exploring the laid-back atmosphere of Elviria. But today, I would like to dedicate an entire post to a place that completely stole my heart:

Marbella Old Town.

It was so enchanting that I felt it deserved a story of its own!

This was our last full day in Marbella.

The next morning would reveal another destination, another chapter of our journey.

Our suitcases were already mostly packed. Documents had been checked, plans reviewed, and bags reorganized for the next leg of the trip.

We had spent the day exactly as one should spend a summer day on the Costa del Sol: alternating between Playa Real's swimming pool and the beautiful Mediterranean beach, before enjoying a wonderful meal at the beachfront Pavillon restaurant just steps from our apartment.

By late afternoon, the rest of the family was firmly in relaxation mode.

I, however, was operating under an entirely different state of mind.

I still had a list.

And if you've been following this travel series, you probably know by now that every destination comes with its own carefully researched "must-see" list.

Almost everything in Marbella had already been checked off.

Almost.

One major item remained:

Marbella Old Town.

So I started gently encouraging my husband.

Repeatedly.

With increasing enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, I was facing two serious obstacles.

The first was a 25-minute drive through Marbella's summer traffic in the middle of a hot July evening.

The second was even more challenging.

That evening, Morocco was playing France in the World Cup.

As a reminder: my husband is Moroccan.

Let's just say convincing him required advanced negotiation skills.

But somehow...

I won!

First Impressions: A Pleasant Surprise

As we drove toward the city center, we passed through modern Marbella, where most residents live and work.

To be completely honest, I was initially underwhelmed.

The area felt busy, densely built, somewhat chaotic, and rather gray.

Had someone dropped me there without context, I might never have guessed I was visiting one of Spain's most famous seaside destinations.

For a brief moment, I wondered whether dragging the entire family away from the beach had been a mistake.

Then we followed a road climbing gently uphill toward the historic center.

Near the entrance to the old town, we found one of the public parking garages that I highly recommend using. Parking inside the historic center itself is virtually impossible, as many of the streets are pedestrianized and incredibly narrow.

After a short walk uphill, we entered the old town.

And everything changed.

A Mediterranean Fairy Tale

It felt as though we had stepped through a portal into another world.

Whitewashed houses.

Flower-filled balconies.

Hidden courtyards.

Orange trees.

Bougainvillea cascading down walls.

Tiny cobblestone streets leading to unexpected little squares.

After the gray modern buildings we had just passed, Marbella Old Town felt almost like a charming Mediterranean island.

The historic center dates back centuries and still preserves traces of Marbella's Moorish past. Visitors can wander through a labyrinth of narrow streets, discover remains of the old Arab walls, admire traditional Andalusian architecture, and explore beautiful squares such as the famous Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square), the heart of the old city.

Surrounding the square are historic buildings, elegant cafés, restaurants, boutiques and several important landmarks, including the Town Hall and old chapels that reflect Marbella's rich history.

As evening approached and thousands of small lights illuminated the streets beneath the bougainvillea, the entire neighborhood began to resemble a fairy tale.

The Best-Dressed People I Have Ever Seen

There is something funny I must mention.

I have been fortunate enough to visit many European cities over the years: Paris, London, Vienna, Rome, Nice and several others.

But nowhere, and I genuinely mean nowhere, have I seen so many impeccably dressed people.

Perhaps Monte Carlo, which I visited years ago, comes close.

The atmosphere was effortlessly elegant.

Everyone simply appeared to belong to this glamorous Mediterranean setting.

Morocco vs. Marbella

Meanwhile, my husband had only one mission.

Find a restaurant, coffee shop, wine bar, terrace, or practically any establishment equipped with a large screen broadcasting the match.

After an intensive search, a suitable venue was located.

Once seated, he made it very clear that he would not be moving until the referee blew the final whistle.

The boys, equally uninterested in flower pots, hidden alleys, and boutique shopping, joined him and ordered pasta.

My daughter, however, became my perfect exploration companion.

And so, hand in hand, we began discovering Marbella.

Exploring with My Daughter

This ended up being one of my favorite moments of the entire trip.

Free from negotiations about football, restaurants, and boredom levels, we wandered wherever curiosity took us.

Together we explored:

• Plaza de los Naranjos

• quiet flower-lined streets

• charming boutiques

• artisan shops

• hidden alleyways

• picturesque corners decorated with colorful ceramic pots

• historic churches, including the beautiful Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation

• small plazas filled with outdoor cafés and restaurants

  
  

One thing that impressed me was the variety of dining options available.

From traditional Andalusian taverns serving tapas and fresh seafood, to elegant wine bars, Italian restaurants, trendy cocktail lounges, crêperies, and sophisticated international eateries, Marbella perfectly reflected its cosmopolitan character.

Eventually, we stopped at a charming crêperie for coffee.

Because every successful exploration deserves coffee.

And because I firmly believe that all great travel memories should include at least one café stop.

Of course, we brought sweet crêpes back to our football fans.

Peace offerings are important in family travel!

Eventually the match ended, Morocco lost, spirits recovered, and together we continued exploring the old town long after sunset.

Final Thoughts

Our Marbella stay ended in the best possible way.

Had we skipped Marbella Old Town, our impression of the destination would have felt incomplete.

While we loved the beaches, the Costa del Sol, and the relaxed atmosphere of Elviria, it was the historic center that gave Marbella its soul.

It was the biggest surprise of our stay.

The place we still remember most vividly.

And the place that transformed Marbella from a pleasant beach destination into a destination I would genuinely recommend.

Little did I know that the following day would bring one of the most adventurous chapters of our entire trip.

A day that would take us through fear, uncertainty, frustration, relief, and gratitude, sometimes all within the same hour.

But that's a story for next time.

Stay tuned!

Love, Katerina

Continue the Journey

This summer adventure took us across Portugal and Spain before arriving in Marbella. If you'd like to follow our route from the beginning, you may enjoy reading:

·       Lisbon

·       Lagos

·       Benagil Cave & the Algarve

·       Seville Part I

·       Seville Part II

·       Marbella Part I

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