Estepona Area Guide

30th October 2024 · 11 min. read

Estepona, a town neighbouring Marbella, has been given the beautiful title ‘The Garden of the Costa del Sol’ because its urban fabric has been designed with plenty of beautiful vegetation. In fact, it boasts more than a million flowers on its streets. Its newly constructed buildings are built in the same luxurious Mediterranean style as the rest of the Costa del Sol.

• Table of contents
• Where is Estepona?
• Why choose Estepona as a place to live or invest?
• What types of properties can I find in Estepona?
• Does Estepona have sea views?
• What is the environment and landscape like in Estepona?
• What is the connectivity and accessibility like in Estepona?
• What services and amenities are in Estepona?
• Best restaurants in Estepona
• What international schools are in or near Estepona?
• What else can I do in Estepona and its surroundings?
• Is Estepona a safe place to live?
• Our top reasons for choosing Estepona

Estepona is a 137Km² municipality with a 21 km coastline and 17 beaches in the province of Malaga. It is located in the western part of Costa del Sol and is only approximately 30 km away from the center of Marbella. In a westerly direction, the distance to Sotogrande is approximately the same. It is about 80 kilometers away from Malaga airport, easily accessible via the A7 and AP7 roads. Gibraltar airport is only 47 km away.  

The town is also very close to Benahavís, Tarifa, Gibraltar, Ronda, Manilva and San Pedro de Alcántara. Because of its great location within Costa del Sol, on its territory it boasts prestigious golf courses, marinas, equestrian facilities, international schools, hospitals and a wide range of restaurants; some of them are facilities of the town itself, and others belong to nearby towns.

1. Estepona is a very charming area of Costa del Sol. It offers more pristine natural areas in its surroundings in comparison to other neighbouring areas. In addition, in recent years, the government has invested heavily in beautifying it and making it more comfortable.
2. The urban area is very charming: it has its own life and entertainment, but it is far away from the media noise of other towns on Costa del Sol.
3. New developments with good services, with sea views and also on the beachfront are being built. It has a booming new-build market with the same prime qualities as other coastal residential areas.
4. It is a very well-located town on Costa del Sol. It is close to Marbella, Puerto Banús, and Puente Romano to the East, but, at the same time, it is close to Sotogrande and Gibraltar to the West.
5. It features beautiful beaches, a wide promenade, its own harbour, popular beach bars, amazing mountain areas and its Andalusian-style Old Town is very well-kept.
6. It is a quiet and safe town, according to objective data from the Spanish Ministry of Interior. There is hardly any crime and there are no slums.
7. Its value per square meter is increasing day by day, because Estepona and Manilva are the natural extension of Costa del Sol.
8. There are properties of different styles: from exclusive developments with private villas and gardens to luxury apartments with beautiful views and high-standing community services.
9. Estepona has all kinds of services on its territory: schools, banks, markets, pharmacies, restaurants, hospitals, lawyers... it is self-sufficient.
10. Property in Estepona is a good investment for the future, regardless of whether you are looking for a supplementary real-estate business ( rental or resale) or you want to enjoy a Mediterranean-style home under the sun. The real estate data augurs well for this town’s future.

Estepona is a growing town that preserves its historic charm, combining the best of old and new. Today, it offers a wide variety of properties, ranging from newly built developments and refurbished beachfront apartments to large villas with direct access to the sea. This diversity of options makes Estepona an attractive place for both residents and investors looking for a home near the coast.

Yes, Estepona has beautiful sea views, especially from its coastline, which stretches for 21 kilometres along the coast. Estepona's beaches, such as La Rada, El Saladillo, and El Cristo, offer breathtaking panoramas of Mar de Alborán (Alboran Sea), a part of the Mediterranean. In addition, from elevated areas and some developments, panoramic views of the sea and the coast can be enjoyed. The seaward orientation of many of its urban planning and landscaping projects also highlights the beauty of the marine environment in the town.

When talking about Estepona, the expression that comes to mind is ‘pure wellbeing’. In recent years, thanks to initiatives of the municipal and regional governments and the main builders in the area, a considerable effort has been made to improve the municipality’s infrastructure. These improvements seek to improve the quality of life of both permanent residents and occasional visitors.

The roads have been upgraded, the streets have been beautified, and the accesses to the urbanizations have been widened. In addition, almost two million euros have been invested in the port area, and these improvements will continue. An outstanding example is a beautiful landscape project to for a large boulevard in the centre, facing the sea. More public car parks will also be implemented in the town centre at reasonable prices, thus facilitating the traffic in the city.

Estepona is a constantly growing town, but it is essential to emphasize that it is growing in a sustainable manner, preserving its natural beauty and heritage. This is reflected in the town centre, where many streets have been pedestrianised and beautified with a rich floral variety. Thousands of flower pots, lush plants, and green shrubs adorn the avenues, especially the more central ones. In fact, Estepona has ‘bloomed’ so much that it has earned the title The Garden of the Costa del Sol.

With its enviable coastline, Estepona has several beaches that have been awarded the blue flag, a recognition that guarantees their quality. Of its 21 kilometres of coastline, the three most outstanding beaches, for their beauty and services, are La Rada, El Saladillo, and El Cristo.

The beach La Rada, located in front of the town centre, is wide and very busy. Whereas El Saladillo is the longest beach of the town offering excellent services, such as showers and toilets. Lastly, El Cristo is a charming cove with fine sand, ideally located next to the marina.

All Estepona's beaches are bathed by Mar de Alborán, which constitutes part of the Mediterranean. In the Bahía de Estepona (Bay of Estepona) a transition zone between two seas begins: the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. In the Strait of Gibraltar, where the distance from Africa is only 14 kilometres, there is a unique fusion between these two oceans.

Connectivity and accessibility of EsteponaEstepona is well-connected and accessible, with direct access to the A-7 motorway and the AP-7, allowing easy travel to Marbella, Malaga, and other towns on Costa del Sol. Malaga airport, a 50-minute drive away, offers national and international flights, making it easy to travel throughout Europe. In addition, Estepona has a good public transport system and taxi options for travel within and outside the town.

Estepona offers an excellent quality of life with a wide variety of shopping options, outstanding health services, both public and private, and multiple specialized centres.

Supermarkets:

• El Corte Ingles
• Carrefour
• For organic food Veritas

Fashion and decoration shops: To get a better idea of shopping in Estepona, we can divide the shopping between the town centre and the surrounding areas. The main shopping street in the town is Calle Real. The other important shopping street is Calle Terraza, also very lively, but with and even more local feel. moving away from the centre, Estepona has several generous shopping facilities. For example, Benavista Shopping Centre, the Cancelada area, and the chic shops of Laguna Beach.

Health centres:

• Hospital Vithas Xanit 
• Hospiten

In Estepona, one can distinguish several restaurant areas that go from the coast inland and in the municipality’s surroundings.

The coast of Estepona features a wide range of beach clubs and beach bars. One of the most exclusive is Anantara by the Beach, in the Costalita development, Playa del Sol Villacana. Associated with the luxurious Anantara Villa Padierna Hotel, it offers a sophisticated seaside experience and an exquisite menu. For those looking for spectacular views, El Ancla, the little brother of the famous restaurant of the same name in San Pedro, stands out. Not forgetting the Playa Bella restaurant, a classic with more than 50 years of tradition in local home cooking that continues to delight diners.

For those who prefer the traditional chiringuito (beach bar) experience, the Paseo Marítimo (Promenade) is home to El Pescador and La Escollera, both of which offer seafood dishes, such as sardine skewers, anchovies, and sangria, along with sea views.

Moving inland, Plazoleta Ortiz is another popular dining area. Its charming streets are home to a variety of restaurants, from tapas to vegetarian and Italian options, including La Bulla Gastrobar and Las Brasas de Alberto. In the heart of the Casco Histórico (historic centre), near Plaza de las Flores, you can also find excellent options, such as Bistro Casafina and Galpón 22.

Finally, in more distant areas surrounded by beautiful developments, Fons offers a unique experience in a beautiful farmhouse, ideal for a special dinner in a relaxed atmosphere.

In terms of education, the four main schools are the Atalaya bilingual school , the Atlas American School, the Mayfair International Academy, and The International School of Estepona. A little further away, but still within the area, is the Sotogrande International School, and also not too far away are some schools in Marbella, such as Colegio San José or the Montessori School.

To say golf is to say Costa del Sol: the golfing offer extends throughout the entire province of Malaga as far as Cadiz. In Estepona, there are courses of great beauty and quality, such as El Paraíso Golf Club, Atalaya Country Club, El Campanario Golf & Country House, and La Resina Golf & Country Club. Just a few minutes away are the prestigious courses of Valle del Golf (Golf Valley), between Benahavís and Nueva Andalucía, as well as those of San Pedro de Alcántara.

But Estepona is not just about golf. The town offers a wide variety of sports facilities: its municipal football pitch, several sports centres, and an indoor sports hall. Among the private centres are the Club de Pádel Los Reales (Paddle Club), the Bel Air Tennis Club, and the Escuela de Arte Ecuestre Costa del Sol (Equestrian school). In addition, the seafront promenade provides miles of outdoor training, and for unique activities, you can enjoy wakeboarding or cable-skiing in Medranas Park in San Pedro, very close to the edge of Estepona.

Hiking is another strong point, with routes of different levels that include sea, mountain, and rivers. Among the most recommended is the one to the Charca de las Nutrias (Otter Pond) and those that go through the forests of Spanish firs, a type of prehistoric fir tree that grows only in Malaga, Cadiz, and Morocco. The pinsapar de Los Reales in Estepona is a jewel of nature that should not be missed.

In addition, Estepona has embellished its town with spectacular murals on the façades of various buildings. The Ruta de los Murales already has 60 works of urban art by graffiti artists and painters of national and international renown, including authors from Japan and South Africa.

Yes, Estepona is considered to be a safe town to live in. It has a low crime rate and is known for its peaceful family atmosphere, which makes it popular with both families and retirees. It also has a good infrastructure of services and security, which contribute to a high quality of life.

• Ideal climate and natural beauty: Over 300 days of sunshine, with such beaches as Playa del Cristo and hiking trails in the Sierra Bermeja Mountain range.
• Investment Potential and Luxury Developments: Growing luxury market with appreciating properties and high international demand.
• Services and Infrastructure: Modern marina, historic Spanish centre, and renowned international schools.
• Community and Cultural Attractiveness: Active multicultural community with festivals, markets, and the Orchidarium, unique in the area.
• Proximity to Golf Courses and Leisure: Close to prestigious golf courses and dining, shopping and spa options.
• Accessibility: Optimal connectivity to Malaga and Marbella, plus easy access to the airport.