Estepona

Why visit Estepona

Estepona has kept more of its traditional character than most towns on the Costa del Sol. Its old town is a maze of whitewashed streets decorated with thousands of flowerpots, and a project to paint huge murals on apartment blocks has turned the town into an open-air gallery. A long promenade runs beside the beaches, and the mountains of the Sierra Bermeja rise just behind. Estepona suits families, golfers and couples looking for a relaxed, attractive base on the coast, with Marbella and Gibraltar close by.

What to see and do in Estepona

Wander the old town's streets, where every block seems to have its own colour scheme of flowerpots, and look for the remains of the castle of San Luis and the Plaza de las Flores. The Orchidarium, a striking glass dome, holds one of Europe's largest collections of orchids. Beaches stretch for kilometres: La Rada and El Cristo near town, and quieter stretches at Arroyo de las Cañas, Casasola, Guadalmansa, El Castor and El Padrón. The marina has restaurants and a Sunday market. Golfers can choose from Atalaya, Azata, El Paraíso, Estepona Golf, La Resina and Valle Romano, and families have the Selwo Aventura safari park. Above town, the Sierra Bermeja's red peridotite mountains and the Los Reales pinsapo forest make good walks.

A day in Estepona

Wander the old town's flower-filled streets and murals in the morning, then visit the Orchidarium. After lunch at the marina or a beach chiringuito, spend the afternoon on the beach, play golf, or walk in the Sierra Bermeja.

Food and local life

Fish and seafood dominate: fried fish, espetos and paella on the beach, and fish stews in the old town. The Mercado Santa Ana and the bars around Plaza de las Flores are good for tapas.

Around Estepona

Estepona is in the Costa del Sol comarca. Casares and Gaucín are short drives inland, Marbella and Puerto Banús are to the east, and Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar lie to the west. Boat trips leave from the marina, and on clear days the Rif mountains of Morocco are visible across the sea. The Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja area, above town, has walking trails among red rocks and rare pinsapo firs.

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Getting there and around

Estepona is in the Costa del Sol comarca, about 1 hour from Málaga airport and 45 minutes from Gibraltar by car. There is no train; buses link it with Marbella, Málaga and Algeciras. The climate is mild year round, and the coast is busiest in July and August.