Plaza de Los Naranjos, situated in the heart of the Marbella old town, is the liveliest place in town and one that you can’t miss on your visit.
It perfectly captures the spirit of the old town, even though at times it can feel very touristy and busy. As you would expect for such a hotspot, it’s home to overpriced restaurants and in the summer months, it’s predictably overcrowded.
Despite the above, it still has the feel of an old village square where elders gather to discuss the latest gossip and locals meet for Sunday feats of churros.
The Orange Square is home to Marbella’s Town Hall and a great starting point for exploring the old town of Marbella.
When to Visit Plaza de los Naranjos
The first time I visited Plaza de Los Naranjos was just after the 3-month long lockdown in Spain has been lifted. I was among the first tourists arriving, and Marbella was refreshingly empty and peaceful, as you can see from the first few photos below.
On the second visit, it was quite a different story. It was the middle of the summer, the city was so crowded that you had trouble navigating the narrow streets of the old town without bumping into people, let alone finding a spot to sit and enjoy the atmosphere at the square.
On the last trip to Marbella this November, it again feels much more peaceful and enjoyable – definitely one of the best times to visit.
If you’re staying in Marbella at the height of the season, the best time to see the old town and Orange Square is early in the morning.
The light is beautiful, the streets are empty and the first few cafes are just opening up, so you get a chance to snag the best spot for a breakfast in one of the local restaurants with a view.
Where is Plaza de los Naranjos in Marbella
The Orange Square is only about 10-minute walk to the coastline, located at the heart of the old town, around Plaza de Los Naranjos road.
How to Get to Plaza de los Naranjos
Navigating the streets of Marbella’s old town is quite a bit of a challenge, I would therefore recommend parking the car somewhere outside of the old town and walking there.
Parking options:
The closest option is at Parking PARKIA – Plaza de la Victoria Casco Antiguo, and if you don’t mind a bit longer walk (around 15 minutes), the Indigo – Avda del Mar. is very popular parking for locals.
History of Plaza de Los Naranjos
The Orange Square dates back to 1485.
Following the Christian takeover of the city from the Moors, it was decided that the area will be cleared out to create the centre of the city.
The central part of the square is dominated by a fountain, and an array of orange trees were planted all around, from where the square takes its name.
Not much else is known about the history of the square. Today it is considered the centre of city life and home to its more important building – the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento de Marbella).
Where to Stay Near Plaza de Los Naranjos
The old town is full of historic old buildings, so locating a hotel nearby is not easy, but a few options exist.
If you’re looking to stay as central as it gets, you will have more luck looking at Airbnb and renting out an apartment.
Few hotel options are available just North of Orange Square, along the Calle Peral and Calle Ancha.
The accommodation options include:
- Hotel San Cristobal – just at the edge of old town by the main road (N-340)
- Hotel Monarque el Rodeo – on the opposite side of the road, further down the street (N-340)
- Hotel Lima – near Parque de Alamada, about 15 minutes walk to old town and the coastal area
- Hotel Maison Ardois La Cuidadela Marbella – in the heart of old town, north of Plaza de los Naranjos
- Puerta de Aduares – close to the previous hotel, budget option
- Linda Boutique Hotel – at Calle Ancha
- La Morada mas Hermosa – at Calle Ancha
- Hotel Claude Marbella – at Calle Ancha, comes highly recommended
What to See & Do in Plaza de Los Naranjos
Plaza de Los Naranjos is perfect for people-watching and enjoying a refreshing drink in the summer.
It does not have any attractions in that sense but is a great base for starting your exploration of the old town.
The square branches out to a few narrow streets with some of the most beautiful alleyways, I have marked my favourites here.
- Calle Nueva – this is the street right behind the fountain and it leads to beautiful flower decorated alleway
- Calle Chin Chillas – at the end of this short road you will find one of the most photographed spots in Marbella old town – staircase decorated with blue flower pots. If you look towards your right side, you will also get a beautiful view of the Plaza de Iglesia and its church – Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación.
- Calle Ortiz de Mollinillo and junction with Calle Virgen de los Dolores – this is a gorgeous street with flower pots and overgrown greenery, a very picturesque spot.
If you would like to have lunch in the old town, I would personally suggest avoiding Orange Square.
First of all, it does get very crowded, so enjoying a peaceful meal can be a bit of a challenge, not even talking about the speed of service. The restaurants here are fairly overpriced and you’re essentially paying for the location, not for the food quality or service.
It’s perfectly fine to enjoy a drink, light snack or some churros, but I would not venture out here for any culinary experiences, even though the Tripadvisor reviews might indicate otherwise.
Check the Chapel & Fountain
There is a small chapel at the edge of the square, next to Churreria Ramon. If you’re in luck it might be open and you can get a glimpse inside. There is an information board next to it which will tell you more about it.
From the side of the chapel, you will see its wall beautifully decorated with red flower pots – a great backdrop for some photos.
The fountain is also right next to the chapel.
Enjoy a Drink in one of the Restaurants
As I said earlier, I would not recommend eating out in the restaurants on the square, but they are perfectly fine to enjoy a refreshing drink in the summer.
The restaurants have seats available in the middle of the square, or under the shade of the orange trees (beware of the falling oranges!).
Try Some Churros
If you fancy a snack while exploring the old town, you have to try churros dipped in hot chocolate!
Something of a staple of Spanish cuisine, locals normally have it at weekends, sometimes in place of breakfast. The best place for those is Churreria Ramon, but the quality doesn’t vary among the other restaurants a lot, so you can have them anywhere.
Wander in the Streets of Old Town
The square branches out into a labyrinth of small alleyways, but it’s almost impossible to get lost.
Start exploring from Calle Chin Chillas and head right towards the Church Square (Plaza de Iglesia).
Restaurants at Plaza de Los Naranjos
- Restaurante Casa del Corregidor
- Restaurante Mena
- CafeterÃa Los Naranjos – where I usually stop for drink or light snacks
- The Orange Tree Restaurant
- Restaurant Paco Jimenez
- Cafe Bar Central
This concludes the tour of the Plaza de los Naranjos in Marbella, I hope you found it useful and I have popped some other recommended articles about Marbella below.
Most Popular Experiences in Marbella
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Marbella: Tour of the Old Town with Tapas & Wine – a treat for all your senses, experience the culinary side of Marbella with a local guide.
Marbella: Catamaran Tour with Dolphin Watching – see Marbella’s coastline on board of a modern catamaran, and if you’re lucky you will have dolphins for company!
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Full Day Trip to Cordoba with Mosque Entrance Tickets – enjoy a trip to the heart of Andalusia and admire one of the most famous churches in Spain, the Mosque Cathedral of Cordoba.
Day trip from Marbella to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas – one of the most beautiful towns of Andalusia is within your reach with this short and affordable day trip from Marbella.
Local Transport Guides For Marbella
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Southern Spain Travel Tips
BEST CAR RENTAL
To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award winning price comparison site for car rentals.
BUS & TRAIN TICKETS
To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
LOCAL TOURS
Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
HOTELS
I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and it’s the best place to book your hotel.
LUGGAGE STORE
If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage in all the destinations in Spain.
LOCAL SIM CARD
If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards.
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