Life in Marbella
Buyers choose a life, not only a house.
A morning of padel, a viewing, then lunch by the sea.
01Life in Marbella
Every viewing becomes a day.
The coast at dusk from a terrace in the hills, as the lights come on below.
Golf Valley before the heat of the day. Nueva Andalucía, early morning.
Whitewashed streets, flowers and quiet squares. Plaza de los Naranjos before the crowds.
Padel is the local passion; tennis the classic. Mornings at the clubs in the hills.
Long lunches at the beach clubs on the Golden Mile: a table in the shade, grilled fish, the sea.
La Concha, a morning's climb from town; the Sierra de las Nieves less than an hour away. The view down to the coast from the trail.
02Days and weekends
What a week here looks like.
- Brunch and long lunches
- Slow mornings and long lunches, the local way.
- Andalusia
- Day trips to Ronda, Granada and Seville.
03The Marbella guide
Schools, clubs and places to know.
The questions we hear most after "which area?": where the children go to school, where to play padel, where to work and where to spend an evening.
Schools
International schools within easy reach of our areas. Places fill early, so apply well ahead of a move.
- Aloha College
- Nueva Andalucía · ages 3 to 18British curriculum with the IB Diploma or A-Levels in the sixth form; an IB World School since 1990, run as a not-for-profit foundation.
- Swans International School
- Sierra Blanca and El Capricho · ages 3 to 18British-style primary, IGCSE and the IB Diploma on two campuses in Marbella; founded in 1971.
- British International School of Marbella
- Nagüeles · ages 2 to 18The English National Curriculum through GCSE and A-Level, close to the Golden Mile; a member of COBIS and NABSS.
- The English International College
- Marbella East · ages 3 to 18A British school since 1982, teaching IGCSE and A-Levels; a NABSS member since 1984.
- Laude San Pedro International College
- San Pedro Alcántara · ages 2 to 18British and Spanish curricula on one campus, so pupils can choose A-Levels or the Spanish Bachillerato.
- Deutsche Schule Málaga
- Elviria, Ojén · ages 3 to 18The German school: bilingual German and Spanish teaching up to the German International Abitur, with the seal of an excellent German school abroad.
Universities and colleges
For university in Marbella itself, or a short drive away.
- Les Roches Marbella
- Río VerdeHospitality and sports business degrees and master's programmes taught in English, on a campus in the hills since 1995.
- Marbella International University Centre
- El PinilloSmall classes and British bachelor's and master's degrees in business, law, psychology and international relations, awarded by the University of West London.
- Universidad de Málaga
- Málaga · about 40 minutes by carThe region's large public university, with bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, mostly taught in Spanish.
Gyms and clubs
Padel is the local passion. These clubs combine courts with gyms, classes and a place to meet people.
- Puente Romano Tennis Club
- Golden MileClay tennis and glass padel courts, a gym and Pilates at Puente Romano; it hosted Spain's Davis Cup tie in 2025.
- Nueva Alcántara Club
- San Pedro AlcántaraA padel club with sixteen courts, coaching for every level and tournaments.
- Real Club Padel Marbella
- Nueva AndalucíaA full sports club since 2008: a gym and classes, padel courts and an academy, boxing and martial arts, a spa and a kids club.
- Manolo Santana Racquets Club
- Road to IstánFounded in 1996 by the tennis champion Manolo Santana: tennis and padel courts, a gym, a pool and a restaurant.
- Los Monteros Racquet Club
- Los MonterosClay and hard tennis courts and glass padel courts at the Kimpton Los Monteros resort, with court passes for non-members.
- Villa Padierna Racquet Club
- Villa Padierna, New Golden MileFifteen padel courts, tennis and croquet at the Villa Padierna resort, with yearly membership.
Places to go
Where our clients spend their evenings and weekends.
- Old Town and Plaza de los Naranjos
- Old townWhitewashed lanes and the Plaza de los Naranjos, framed by the town hall and lined with café terraces.
- Avenida del Mar
- Town centreA pedestrian avenue from the Alameda gardens to the sea, with ten bronze sculptures designed by Dalí.
- Paseo Marítimo
- Marbella to Puerto BanúsThe seafront promenade, for a morning run, a bike ride or a walk to lunch at a beach bar.
- Puerto Banús
- Nueva AndalucíaThe marina built by José Banús in 1970: yachts, designer boutiques, restaurants and nightlife.
- Nueva Andalucía Saturday market
- Nueva Andalucía · Saturday morningsA large street market of clothes, leather, antiques and crafts beside the Nueva Andalucía bullring.
- El Chiringuito, Puente Romano
- Puente Romano, Golden MileThe resort's beach club: daybeds by the sea, Mediterranean food and music into the evening.
- Nikki Beach Marbella
- ElviriaThe coast's best-known party beach club since 2003, open from spring to autumn.
- Benahavís village
- BenahavísThe hill village known as the dining room of the Costa del Sol, with restaurants along its main street.
- Dunas de Artola
- CabopinoThe calm choice: protected dunes with boardwalks to the sea and a sixteenth-century watchtower.
Coworking
Desks, offices and meeting rooms, by the day or by the month.
- The Pool
- Golden MileA business hub and members' club above El Corte Inglés El Capricho, with meeting rooms for hybrid calls and frequent events.
- Centro House
- Nueva AndalucíaHot desks, private offices and meeting rooms, with a pool, a gym and a rooftop terrace.
- Our Space
- MarbellaHot desks, private offices, meeting rooms and day passes in a business centre on the coast road, with room for events.
- WeCowork
- San Pedro AlcántaraDesks by the day, private offices, meeting rooms and virtual offices, open around the clock with free parking.
- Work in Marbella
- Atalaya, New Golden MileHot desks, private and virtual offices, meeting rooms and coliving.
A short list from public information and each place's own website, checked in October 2026. Opening hours, admissions and fees change, so please check with each one before you go.
