The best day trips from Marbella
If you can drag yourself away from the beaches, the restaurants and the attractions of Marbella, why not take a day trip to one of the magnificent cities or towns nearby?
Some of the best day trips from Marbella include:
Cordoba
Cordoba has the second largest old town in Europe, and the city has been declared World Heritage by UNESCO. The most important building and symbol of the city is the incredible Great Mosque of Córdoba, and current cathedral, built alongside the magnificent Roman Bridge, which attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Some of the most intriguing sites to visit are the Roman Temple, the Roman Theatres and the remains of the Palace of the Emperor Maximian. The stunning Mosque is situated in the Jewish Quarter, amid old, winding streets and quaint pavement cafés.
Santa Cruz Day is celebrated in Cordoba each year with the Crosses of May Festival. Crosses are beautifully decorated and adorned with flowers, and represent the different areas of Cordoba.
Cordoba is approximately a two-hour drive from Marbella.
Nerja
Famous for its spectacular caves, Nerja is one of the most natural and unspoilt resorts in Andalucia, and lies just a 90 minute drive east of Marbella.
Much of the old town remains the same as it has for centuries, with winding streets, cobbled squares and whitewashed houses. The famous caves are home to archaeological treasures such as 20,000 year old paintings and other pre-historic remains. One of the enormous natural caverns has been transformed into a concert hall, where many performances are staged during the summer, and visitors flock from all over the world to visit this amazing area.
The equally impressive Balcon de Europa, once the site of a Moorish castle, is now a promenade stretching along the cliff edge, offering visitors stunning views of the Mediterranean and the craggy shoreline below. Although Nerja is well known for its beautiful, unspoilt beaches, it is also a mecca for scuba divers, as there are plenty of rocky coves to be found along the shore.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar offers visitors a wealth of things to see and do. Gibraltar is just one hour´s drive from Marbella and Puerto Banus, and if you want to explore a little piece of England on the Mediterranean, there is no better place to visit.
Gibraltar´s history evolves from its strategic position at the southern-most tip of the Iberian Peninsula, where Europe meets Africa, and still remains to be an important base for the British Navy. The territory shares a border with Spain to the North. Gibraltar was granted by Spain to Great Britain in perpetuity in 1713, under the Treaty of Utrecht, and although Spain insists it should be returned to them, it remains British territory.
Estepona
Having retained much of its original Spanish charm, Estepona is one of the few resort towns on the Costa del Sol which has remained relatively untouched by development, and it lies just a 20 minute drive west of Marbella. Most of the new buildings are on the outskirts of the town, and the main centre retains its Andalucian charm.
Due to its natural environment, surrounded by the sea and Sierra Bermeja mountains, Estepona has a micro climate with over 325 days of sunshine per year. Estepona has many facets which make it a popular holiday destination. It has two EC Blue Flag beaches, a marina area with many tapas bars and restaurants and a white-walled town offering shopping and picturesque squares.
Regular excursions run from central Marbella to all parts of the Costa del Sol, which are also easily accessed by public transport or hire car.
Marbella is a popular destination for ex-pats to buy property because it is surrounded by nature on the shores of the Mediterranean and within easy reach of other Costa del Sol towns which make this part of Spain so attractive.
If you can drag yourself away from the beaches, the restaurants and the attractions of Marbella, why not take a day trip to one of the magnificent cities or towns nearby?
Some of the best day trips from Marbella include:
Cordoba
Cordoba has the second largest old town in Europe, and the city has been declared World Heritage by UNESCO. The most important building and symbol of the city is the incredible Great Mosque of Córdoba, and current cathedral, built alongside the magnificent Roman Bridge, which attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Some of the most intriguing sites to visit are the Roman Temple, the Roman Theatres and the remains of the Palace of the Emperor Maximian. The stunning Mosque is situated in the Jewish Quarter, amid old, winding streets and quaint pavement cafés.
Santa Cruz Day is celebrated in Cordoba each year with the Crosses of May Festival. Crosses are beautifully decorated and adorned with flowers, and represent the different areas of Cordoba.
Cordoba is approximately a two-hour drive from Marbella.
Nerja
Famous for its spectacular caves, Nerja is one of the most natural and unspoilt resorts in Andalucia, and lies just a 90 minute drive east of Marbella.
Much of the old town remains the same as it has for centuries, with winding streets, cobbled squares and whitewashed houses. The famous caves are home to archaeological treasures such as 20,000 year old paintings and other pre-historic remains. One of the enormous natural caverns has been transformed into a concert hall, where many performances are staged during the summer, and visitors flock from all over the world to visit this amazing area.
The equally impressive Balcon de Europa, once the site of a Moorish castle, is now a promenade stretching along the cliff edge, offering visitors stunning views of the Mediterranean and the craggy shoreline below. Although Nerja is well known for its beautiful, unspoilt beaches, it is also a mecca for scuba divers, as there are plenty of rocky coves to be found along the shore.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar offers visitors a wealth of things to see and do. Gibraltar is just one hour´s drive from Marbella and Puerto Banus, and if you want to explore a little piece of England on the Mediterranean, there is no better place to visit.
Gibraltar´s history evolves from its strategic position at the southern-most tip of the Iberian Peninsula, where Europe meets Africa, and still remains to be an important base for the British Navy. The territory shares a border with Spain to the North. Gibraltar was granted by Spain to Great Britain in perpetuity in 1713, under the Treaty of Utrecht, and although Spain insists it should be returned to them, it remains British territory.
Estepona
Having retained much of its original Spanish charm, Estepona is one of the few resort towns on the Costa del Sol which has remained relatively untouched by development, and it lies just a 20 minute drive west of Marbella. Most of the new buildings are on the outskirts of the town, and the main centre retains its Andalucian charm.
Due to its natural environment, surrounded by the sea and Sierra Bermeja mountains, Estepona has a micro climate with over 325 days of sunshine per year. Estepona has many facets which make it a popular holiday destination. It has two EC Blue Flag beaches, a marina area with many tapas bars and restaurants and a white-walled town offering shopping and picturesque squares.
Regular excursions run from central Marbella to all parts of the Costa del Sol, which are also easily accessed by public transport or hire car.
Marbella is a popular destination for ex-pats to buy property because it is surrounded by nature on the shores of the Mediterranean and within easy reach of other Costa del Sol towns which make this part of Spain so attractive.