This palm tree lined promenade is located in the Costa del Sol in southern Spain in the province of Málaga. Estepona is classed as a true hidden gem in Spain’s crown; it’s kept its authentic charm with traditional street cafes, serving delicious Tapas with some of the best seafood restaurants that can be found in all of Málaga. The pretty old quarter is filled with whitewashed houses with colourful blue window boxes brimming with gorgeous fragrant blooms, just the same as the beautiful square of Plaza de las Flores. Close by are the bars, cafes and restaurants of Puerto Deportivo and the marina has 447 berths for boats and yachts and here you will find plenty of water sports on offer. On discovering wonderful Estepona you will be truly captivated by its undeniably traditional charm and ambience. Golfers in particular will be in their element with over 31 golf courses in and around the Estepona area.
History of Estepona
Originally its name was Astapa and it was conquered by the Phoenicians, Romans and the Arabs, however it was during the reign of the Romans that the town became fully established. San Luis Castle was built early in the 16th century to deter the Berber Pirates from landing at Estepona and the fortress held off its attackers so well that the area eventually became more populated. In 1502 there were just 25 families settled there, in 1792 it became a town in its own right, until then it was part of Marbella.
Authentic Spain can be found in Estepona
If you are searching for an authentic Spanish town, to truly experience the ambiance and flavour of Spain, Estepona will delight you. Splashes of colour adorn the village square with its cobbled streets and easy way of life. Nothing is hurried it is a slow pace without hordes of tourists and life is laid back. Estepona is famous for its picturesque 21km of coastline and its backdrop of the Serrania de Ronda mountain range. In-between this you will find forests, hills and lush valleys that make up this beautiful location in Andalusia. What about the beaches are they busy? Well, yes they are in the likes of nearby Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Marbella, but in Estepona they are uncrowded.
Estepona beaches
In Estepona even its main beach Playa Rada is not busy and that includes during the busiest months of July and August, which let’s be honest, beaches across the globe tend to be busiest during these peak summer months. Absolutely ideal for families with children is El Cristo Beach and fishing port, which is close to the marina in Estepona. It’s a sheltered cove and provides a haven for the little ones, and for the older members of the family there are lots of water sports on offer. This is well known to be one of the most spectacular bays along the Costa del Sol. It mostly attracts families due to the sandy beach and safe shallow waters.
Things to do in Estepona
If you don’t want to spend all day every day at one of Esteponas beautiful beaches you can walk along its mountain trails and take in the breathtaking beauty of this lovely area. Yet again this location is super for keen sports fans of water sports, golf, tennis, boating and sea fishing trips, swimming and basketball are just some of the activities on offer in Estepona. In the beautiful square of Plaza de las Flores you will find the Colección Garó, which is a wonderful collection of over 300 art works. In this gallery, you can see drawings, oils, sculptures, prints ceramics and some furniture. Exhibits from Mariano Salvador Maella, George Hayter and Picasso are just some of the celebrated artists you have the pleasure of seeing their work.
The secret square of Plaza Begines is also a very pretty location in the old town which is hidden away and is a gem of a find. The Archaeological Museum of Estepona is located in the Plaza Blas Infante which is a delightful square opposite the old city hall, the museum is dedicated to the memory and work of the Father of Andalusian Nationalism. The square is surrounded by fragrant flowers and orange trees plus bronze statues.
There are numerous marinas in Estepona and this is where most of the entertainment can be found. There are plenty of very good bars and excellent restaurants and cafes where you can sit and enjoy delicious cuisine and watch the world go by. Some of the marinas are quite close to the old town and it’s a lovely stroll along the palm fringed promenade.
In the village squares there are an abundance of orange trees and wonderful tapas restaurants where eating lunch can take several enjoyable hours. Why not get out and about and visit nearby Marbella for a lovely day out, it’s just a 25 minute drive away 33.0 km. Also close to Estepona is Puerto Banus 19 minutes’ drive (22.6 km) Gibraltar is a 48 minute drive (48.7 km) Malaga city centre is 64 minutes away (91.3 km) and a little further afield, but great for a day out or a few nights away exploring exciting cites are Granada 2 hours and 6 minutes (210.4 km) and Seville 2 hours and 16 minutes (226.6 km) away.
Related Area Guides in Spain
- Javea, Spain
- Alicante, Spain
- Villamartin, Spain
- Marbella, Spain
- Ibiza, Spain
- Altea, Spain
- Valencia, Spain
- Elche, Spain
- Mil Palmeras, Spain
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- Mijas, Spain
- Cumbre del Sol, Spain
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- Costa Del Sol, Spain
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- Cadiz, Spain
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- Majorca, Spain
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- Estepona,Spain
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- Malaga, Spain
Eating out in Estepona
As one would expect, fresh sea food is a speciality and is literally taken from the sea, cooked and taken to the table within minutes, paella and of course tapas.
However, Estepona has many restaurants serving international cuisine which is surprising as it’s only a small resort.
If you fancy Italian, Chinese or Indian it’s all here including Mexican too.
Getting to Estepona
If you fly from the UK to Malaga Airport it is only a 2 hour and 50 minute flight. Malaga Airport is the easiest for international tourists to fly in to and the transfer from airport to Estepona is a mere 54 minutes (83.5 km). This is a great transfer time which means you can holiday often in Estepona and enjoy long weekend breaks. As the transfer time from airport to resort is less than an hour it’s ideal for families with young children who just want to get to Estepona and enjoy the beach or pool as quickly as possible.
Climate in Estepona
The climate in Estepona is a Mediterranean climate with warm and dry summers from April to October and mild winters. The coolest temperature is 16°C in January and the hottest is 28°C in August. As Estepona is surrounded by the sea and mountains it has 325 days of glorious sunshine per year and August has the most days of daily sunshine with 11 hours per day.
At the moment, lovely Estepona is a unique location hidden away on the popular Costa del Sol, visit soon to take advantage of its gorgeous beaches and laid back lifestyle. If you are searching for a traditional Spanish way of lifestyle take a look at Estepona for you perfect holiday home or permanent residence. The upmarket resort of Marbella is just 25 minutes away and whilst you will pay top dollar for property in this resort, you won’t in Estepona – yet! If you are looking for an investment in Spain you literally cannot go wrong in lovely Estepona. Here the rental investment is lucrative, it’s in an ideal position being just outside some of the larger bustling resorts and you can dip in and out whenever you choose.
