Where is Marbella? All Your Questions Answered (2023)

Lucia Poellae

Published:

Aug 27, 2022

Last updated:

Sep 19, 2023

If you’re not familiar with Southern Spain, you might wonder where exactly Marbella is located.

This article has all the answers you need!

Where is Marbella in Spain?

Marbella is a coastal town in Southern Spain, located in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It belongs to the province of Malaga.

Marbella is situated on the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, between Malaga and the Straight of Gibraltar. In the north, it is framed by the mountain range of Sierra Blanca.

Marbella’s neighbourhood regions include Benahavis, Istan, Ojen, Mijas, and Estepona.

See the location of Marbella on the map below.

What Region is Marbella in?

Marbella is in the autonomous region of Andalusia and belongs to the municipality of Malaga.

Which Airport for Marbella?

Marbella does not have its own airport. The closest airport for Marbella is Malaga Airport. The distance between Marbella and Malaga airport is around 50 km.

How do you get from Malaga airport to Marbella? There are a few options:

Malaga Airport to Marbella by Car

If you’re renting a car, you can pick it up directly at the airport and then head to Marbella via the AP-7 (tolls payable – see above) or via the A7. The journey will take under an hour, depending on your destination.

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Malaga Airport to Marbella by taxi

To get to Marbella by taxi, you can take any taxi waiting at the taxi rank at the arrivals. The journey is the same as with the car and takes about 1 hour (60km). The cost can be in the region of 60 euros, but if you want to secure the best price, you can check

Malaga Airport to Marbella by a bus

There is a frequent bus connection between Malaga airport and Marbella stations. Check the Avanza booking system for the detailed timetable of buses leaving from the airport stop (not all buses stop at the airport).

From the arrivals, follow the signs for the bus station to get to your bus stop. The journey should take between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours, depending on the connection you take.

Manuka Restaurant Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain

Where is Marbella Old Town?

Marbella old town is the oldest historic part of Marbella, which stretches between Av. Richardo Soriano (main city road) in the south and Calle Salvador Rueda in the north.

Location on Marbella old town on the map:

How Do You Get to Marbella from Malaga?

By car: The journey from Malaga to Marbella by car takes between 50 minutes to 60 minutes, depending on which highway you take.

The AP-7 is slightly faster (by only about 10 minutes) and less busy, but you have to pay tolls. The tolls cost 7.50 euros during the summer, and 4.60 euros for the rest of the year.

The other option is to take the busier A7, which has a lot more cars but it’s only 10 minutes longer and doesn’t cost anything extra. This road is also used by buses which stop on the highway frequently, so beware of that and keep your distance.

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By bus: There is a direct bus connection between Malaga and Marbella with frequent buses going roughly every 30-60 minutes.

The one-way tickets start from 6.50 euros and can be purchased on the Avanza website – in there you will also see the up to date timetable for the different buses. You can also buy the tickets at the booths at the station or from the bus driver.

By train: There are no direct train connections to Marbella. The train network stops in Fuengirola. If you want to use a train, you will have to get off in Fuengirola and change for a bus connection to Marbella. Take the train from Maria Zambrano station in Malaga and get off at Fuengirola main station. From there its only a short walk to the bus terminal in Fuengirola.